3/4 Ton Truck

How big is the trailer you've towed with both trucks?

 

16’ with 8k of tractor. Total is around 10.5-11k. First two pics are the results of the exact same 83mile loop. Last photo is my setup now.

 

1,700 mile road trip from Phoenix, AZ to Tyler, TX in the Cummins. Averaged 20.1 MPG on 35's! Speed limits ranged between 70-80mph so wasn't the most efficient speeds. First big road trip in the Ram and was super impressed. My iPhone is glitching being older but trying to send some pics

 

Ive had all 3 over the years but in 1-ton form. To me, a 3/4 ton is like a .40 cal. Makes no sense but people get them for some reason. You either legitimately need to pull weight or you dont, but I guess theres a group of folks that do need the capability from time to time but still want a somewhat comfortable daily truck.

The Ford was garbage, and pretty much has been since the 7.3. Theyre getting some of the 6.7 issues ironed out supposedly now (only took nearly a decade) but I still am not convinced. Transmission was garbage also, not sure about now but I wouldnt trust it.
Duramax runs great and is the “peppiest” of all three. They have their own sets of issues but nothing overall catastrophic other than CP4 and other random things, but this is across the board for all 3.
Cummins (in stock form) doesn’t feel fast, and it really won’t until you have a trailer behind it. That’s where youll see where it shines. It is essentially a medium duty diesel (see Paccar applications) and was made to tow and move weight, and with the inline 6 torque curve, its always there. Hills dont matter. And the Cummins will go 1 million miles or more. Its the rest of the truck you have to worry about, just like the others. Make sure to get the Aisin transmission if able.
My pick is and will always be the Cummins.

 

Huge reason for 3/4 ton in many regions is GVWR can cause a lot more work with regards to commercial use for 1 tons. I know in BC here 3/4 tons are treated like a sedan - no weigh scale visits required, and there's other jurisdictions that require 1 tons to use a log book and limit hours, while 3/4 tons don't. So for personal use may as well get the slightly more beefed up 1 ton, but if commercial use is in the cards getting a de-rated (under 10000 lb GVWR) 3/4 ton could be very advantageous.

Also around my area trying to find a gas 1 ton is like a unicorn (I've dealt with far too many DEF issues to want a personal diesel, if I'm not towing 20k lbs I'd rather pass on the diesel) but 3/4 tons have far more gassers to choose from. So in pre-crazy vehicle price times a 3/4 ton gasser could be negotiated on far easier and get the price down a lot more.

 

Agreed night and day difference, 1/2 tons are no match for 3/4 tons and above.

 

If I was towing that much weight, I'd definitely be in a heavy duty. My Tundra seems to do fine with my 6500 lb trailer for what it is (i.e. a halfton). Obviously an HD would tow nicer. If I had to replace it today, it would most likely be with a GM 3500 gas crew cab standard box. Maaaaaaaaybe a GM 1500 with the max trailering package but they're having enough issues that it would be a tough sell. It's not like the 1500s are any cheaper than the HDs...

 

My unofficial survey of the campground says the Super Duty is the most popular new heavy duty and it's not even close. I think I've seen two current gen GMs and no current gen Dodges.

 

That’s exactly why I upgraded. I love the tundras. I’ve owned 2 of them. My favorite truck ever was my 2018 Tundra Crewmax in cement gray. But my needs changed so I had to get a truck to match. My GMC 3500 I got for $47k OTD. My tundras and comparable GMC 1500 would be $45-$46k back then. Now the 1500s might be more

 

Campground is probably not the best indicator. Look at the commercial use, especially hot shot freight guys. Id say over 85% Cummins. Its not even close.

 

True. Over here all the vehicle transporter trucks I see are RAMs and maybe 1 or 2 Fords.

 

I haven't seen a lot of pickups being used commercially but most of the horse trailers I see on the highway are behind Cummins.

 

If I get a diesel it will be a Cummins. Especially if they mate that Allison to it. Towing is never a race so I’ll go for longevity

 

This is exactly my point. Powerstroke and DirtyMax are always going to beat you off the line.
The Cummins will feel like a pig off the line but when you get a trailer behind them, you just know.
When I first got mine I thought I’d made a mistake. My dad, who has also had all 3 and has rocked the cummins since forever, said “put a trailer behind that sumbitch and then lemme know…”

 

True. I would only go Ram HO. Duramax after that.

 

Duramax GM would be my choice here. The Cummins/Aisin is great, but the rest of the truck is important, too.

 

Shouldn't drive faster than the speed limit anyway...

 

I'd love a 3500 with the HO Cummins, a 6 speed manual and front bucket seats. Based on my brief research (I find the Ram website hard to maneuver), that combo doesn't exist.

 

I think manual stopped a year before the HO went into production. A guy I do tree work with has a manual and upgraded the turbo. 1ton SRW Laramie. That thing is a beast. I think it’s a 2018

 

That makes sense. If I was Ram I wouldn’t trust me with that much torq and a manual

 

Would be fun though…

 

Hell yeah it would be