What diesel tow rig for $15k?

[Lil'John]

I'm hoping to begin the new year with a new to me tow rig for around $15k. This will be taking over daily driver duties too.

To that end, I'm looking at the following "minimums":
- 3/4 ton and non duelly
- 4wd
- manual tranny

From there, the sky is the limit.

I don't really have a brand set in my heart but I've been leaning toward a Dodge because of the drivetrain reputation. My part time work truck is a 98 F150 extra cab 4x4 and that SOB is about as fawking uncomfortable a car as I've ever been in. For that reason, I'm shying away from similar model Fords.

I don't intend to bomb the holy shit out of the truck. Probably open up the exhaust and intake a little bit in hopes of squeezing a little more MPG out of it.

I'm looking at two types of loads:
1) About a 4k Cruiser on the appropriately rated trailer with spares(I'd guess 8k max... yes, a lot of spares )
2) A construction scrap dump trailer.. not sure on trailer weight... I believe dimensions are 6' wide, 10' deep, and 6' tall. Lighter load I recall dumping was about 4k.

Towing for #1 would mostly be in the Sierra foothills(ie Fordyce and Rubicon). Towing for #2 would mostly be SF Bayarea flat land type shit.

In general, what type of trucks should I be looking toward? Assume none of the "I'm getting a divorce" type fire sales

One that has popped up consistantly is 96-98 Dodge. Assuming the 12v got tweaked to the 300hp 500ft/lb range, what type of milage could one eek out?

[crashnzuk]

Just start looking in your price range and see what comes up. Beware that your choices will be fewer because you want a manual. Most trucks now a days are auto . The 96-98 12v Cummins is 215 hp with a manual trans, would be a good choice. Even if bombed, the mileage should still be good if you keep your foot out of it. Lifted trucks and trucks with 4.10s will get worse mileage too, especially since it sounds like you'll be on the freeway alot.
Travis..

[Lil'John]

Yeah... I know the auto preference nowdays way too well. I've been looking a lot lately... and I saw one that looked pretty good initially... got all jazzed up then saw the little "automatic" and said SHIT

I've been reading here a bit and it sounds like 3.73s with stock tires works pretty well if not 3.54s for towing with a mildly hopped up engine(up to about 300hp 500ft/lbs) for milage and power. I'm not looking at lifting it or putting monster tires on it.

[crashnzuk]

If you are looking at Dodges, older ones will have 3.54 or 4.10, the 3.73 wasn't available until recently.
Travis..

[Trailer Guy]

Too bad you need 4wd and a manual. The old man (my father) is selling his F250. Besides the 3 miles to work and home each day, all the miles are highway miles. I think he is asking 13k for it. I almost cried when I found out that I can't buy it from him. It has been a great truck. Probably going to post it in the for sale forum within the next week.

[u2slow]

I vote 94-97 F350 with PSD. Might be able to get 2 for that price

[wheelin66bronco]

When I lived in the Bay and was in the market for a truck it took FOREVER to find a manual. Eventually got my 96, F-350, SC, PSD. Paik 10K and that was about 4 years ago.
I'd look for a 99-2000 F-350 or a 96-98.5 Dodge in Texas. May be worth a plane trip to pick something up for the price difference in Texas or Oklahoma.

[nooblet]

Originally Posted by wheelin66bronco

When I lived in the Bay and was in the market for a truck it took FOREVER to find a manual. Eventually got my 96, F-350, SC, PSD. Paik 10K and that was about 4 years ago.
I'd look for a 99-2000 F-350 or a 96-98.5 Dodge in Texas. May be worth a plane trip to pick something up for the price difference in Texas or Oklahoma.

Thats funny, my buddy just got a CTD shipped from CA

When I was looking for my CTD I found a lot of them in Colorado, but for the kind of truck your looking for I doubt you'll have to go too far to get it. 94-98.5 CTD's sound like what your looking for, you should be able to get one fairly easily with 15k. Good luck

Chris

[BigDan]

Yeah its possable to find newer 98.5-02 CTD with 4 doors 24V ABS, etc close to that price range. I loved my 02HO with 6 speed and its alot easier to get 300HP out of it and have the adjustability between 60hp-130hp. Yeah 12V's are cheaper to bomb but you can find a used comp box for $350 for 24V easily and never have to pick up a wrench to gain the HP.

Just make sure you stick yo your gunz and get a manual. Never trust a used auto unless its a built auto from one of the few performance diesel tranny builders. Not Jose from accross town that says he know diesels

[BIG PERM]

Here, not sure if this is a good deal, but a buddy of mine is selling his in Texas and he typically takes damn good care of his stuff:

The Company finally put me in a truck and I no longer need it. As the title says its a 1999 Dodge 4x4 diesel.
203K miles, White, Quad Cab, Laramie SLT (Power Everything), 24v Cummins, 5spd manual transmission, Short Bed, Clean title in hand.
$11,000 obo
Email or call with questions,

Jeremy @ 972-880-7873
jcuda70@yahoo.com

[axle59]

Got a local dealer here selling a '00 F250 crew cab short bed with the PSD and 116,000 miles for only $15K. Unfortuanely it is an automatic.


Axle

[Kookadala]

Originally Posted by Trailer Guy

The old man (my father) is selling his F250. Besides the 3 miles to work and home each day, all the miles are highway miles. I think he is asking 13k for it.

I am looking for an F250 crewcab 4x4 diesel automatic to pull my boat. What year and how many miles on it?

[Pavemen]

There is at least one for sale on my site. Built Dodge 98 2500 Ext Cab 5spd, $15k

There are a few autos on there as well.