Looking at a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT quad cab 4x4 with 33k miles for $16,900. I was wanting to get it to be a DD and pull an XJ about once a month and I'm about 25 miles from the trail. Will this be enough truck? Its more DD than hauler, but when its used I want it to work.

I had one for 2 1/2 years. Dont know how "light" your XJ is, but my Jeep is 4200-4400# and my trailer is 1200#. It towed fine on flat ground at 60-65, but I had to back off to 55 on the hills. I towed mostly 150-175 miles to either Paragon or Raucsh Creek over mild hills, 5-7% a most. I also towed 860 miles to Tellico one summer. I averaged 10 mpg towing while driving like I had all year to get there. It's no diesel, but certainly up to the task.

16K is a little much. When I traded my 03 2500 last spring for an 02 CTD, the dealer gave me 14K for it and sold it for 15.5K. It had 70,000 on it but it was fairly optioned out (SLT every interior option except leather, sport apperance package). I'd try and work them down a little.

Looking at a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT quad cab 4x4 with 33k miles for $16,900. I was wanting to get it to be a DD and pull an XJ about once a month and I'm about 25 miles from the trail. Will this be enough truck? Its more DD than hauler, but when its used I want it to work.

It will work great for your needs and should work fine on longer trips....just be patient on longer trips and remember that it's not a diesel....

good luck on the purchase...

It will be fine, it's a 3/4 ton truck. You would be fine with a 1/2 ton, you don't really need a 3/4 ton gasser or diesel to tow a normal jeep on a normal car trailer, the POR diesel gods might say otherwise but if you look around at most wheeling spots lots of people tow with gasser 1/2 and 3/4 tons. Every one i wheel with has a small block gasser tow rig except 2 of my buddies and everyone gets to and from the trail just fine. We might not pull 75mph the entire way but the lack of payments/ cheaper trucks make up for it.

:rolleyes: Hell no it's not big enough, Buy a pete 379 http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j230/hale988_photos/deadhorce.jpg

Dead horses need to be beaten... dogs deserve tenderized meat, too! LOL
I agree that you'll be fine with that choice. You'll see horrid mileage when towing and will have to take it easier up hills and such. Just properly maintain the truck so you don't get in the way of my Cummins on those hills :flipoff2:

You can get a 01.5-02 CTD for about the same price. That seems like alot of money for a 4 year old gasser. People are having a hard time trying to sell off there 3/4 ton gassers and you could probably get a better deal since its a buyers market.

Good choice on the 3/4 ton though.

Its a 3/4 ton truck with over 300 hp, why do you even need to ask if its up to towing an XJ 25 miles at a time? :rolleyes:

Pete

[QUOTE=BigDan] People are having a hard time trying to sell off there 3/4 ton gassers and you could probably get a better deal since its a buyers market.
QUOTE]

ageed. both the ford and the dodge 3/4 ton gassers are waaaaayyy cheap right now.

with the price difference in diesel over 87, for most part time weekend warriors, you need to think long and hard if the diesel is worth it.

SeanP

diesel isn't worth it.

25 miles is just to the local trail, I'd like to go to tellico and other places one day...can't think about that while fighting cancer.

I have a 05 1500 Hemi. I have towed my XJ 170 miles from sea level to 6000'. The truck also had 2 adults, 3 kids and camping gear for 3 days. The two things that kept me from going fast were gas milage and sharp turns.

If I wanted to pass someone I could, except the milage would go from 10 to 4 mpg. This was on the uphill grades.

The hemi will work just fine. If I'd known diesel was gonna do what its done, and go up so much after I bought my CTD, I'd probably have stuck with a used gasser truck. That being said, I LOVE my CTD.. And have loved it since the day I bought it.
Scott