Re: towing loads
Hate to burst your bubble (all in fun though
), but the reason they detune the Cummins is because the rest of the drivetrain cannot handle it. Same reason the Allison will be detuned in the Suburban. A truck is a truck and should be used as such. The Dodges couldn't keep an auto behind the V-10's until they made mucho improvements (I know, same as the GM 700r), but when they dropped the Cummins in forget it. Detune or drivetrain breakage. Chevy was smart (for once) and built a truck to handle the motor, that's why it is rated at a higher GVW for towing and hauling. The motor can move it and the drivetrain can handle it, unlike the Dodge. It's like the guy who puts a 600 ft/lbs of torque motor in a stock S-10. It will smoke the ever-living snot out of the tires, but the tranny, driveshafts and axles won't last long. If I am going to buy a work truck, I am going to get a truck that will take the abuse. For those who make weekend trips to the dump with 3 bags of garbage, the Dodge is more than enough, but if you are going to haul goosenecks with the bed weighed down with stone, I'll take the GM over the Dodge, for that matter I'll take the Superduty Ford over the Dodge in that respect. I will admit, GM missed out for many years in the Heavy Duty light truck market but they are back. As for Ford (I hate to admit it but they have always been at or near the top), and for Dodge, the Powerwagon was a brute and they should have kept the design simple. Yes the newer style trucks look sweet and they are fairly powerful in the engine classes and comfy-coziness, but the drivetrains leave the most to be desired. And drivetrains my friend is what makes $$$ when it comes to a business and working hard. Thats why I used to hate GM with their weaker Diesels and crappy (read pathetically weak) IFS components. Take a look at the new IFS units. Granted they don't have 90" of articulation, but for a true work truck you don't need it (unless you take your fullsize duelly dump on trailrides), but they are light years stronger than the old units and the driveshaft should break before these do.
Again this is fact with opinion, but I know many mechanics (personal friends) and all except the ones that work for Daimler-Chrysler HATE Dodge trucks (from a heavy duty and prone to failure respect), and most of them owned the new style Dodge at one point or another because they "liked the looks". One guy bought one with the V-10 (with plow) and had 3 trannys put in by the Dealer before he got sick of it and bought a Superduty. He is very hard on equipment and does things that make you cringe, but I have to admit (as much as I like GM), that Superduty has taken ALL his ABUSE.
Remember I'm not trying to start a pissing contest, BUT I do like a good debate.
See my rig at <a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/Leadfoot>http://coloradok5.com/gallery/Leadfoot</a>
