Truck - Boat Towing Opinions

[Ray]

Originally Posted by whunter29

Here is my take as I am in the hotshot business. How many times are you going to tow your boat as diesels are more expensive to operate and maintain. Plus diesels are designed to be run not driven a block and shut off. I have a 07 dodge that when hooked to my 40 ft mini float I have pulled over 27000 pounds with. My truck has 225000 miles on the 6.7 Cummins Motor with the aisan six speed automatic transmission in it. I just spent my first 3000$ on repairs on the truck because of the clean burn exhaust malfunctioning and taking the turbo out. My engine uses no oil and my transmission performs like the day it came from the factory. But I change the tranny oil and the engine oil as the book says. I recently chipped it as to bypass my egr valve and to turn off the clean burn exhaust feature as I don't need that on my truck anymore. I average around 10mpg loaded and around 14 unloaded but my trailer weighs in at 9000 empty. Just remember guys that when you chip a truck your tranny and other componets will be weekend and that is why I only put 60 more hp on mine. In my opinion most gas engines should pull a boat of that weight with 0 problems and you will save money on fuel if you don't pull the boat everyday.

My brother in law is a hot shot driver, he has the Dodge 5.9L diesel.
It is a good engine, but with all the heavy weight he pulls, it does have more break downs than one would if they only pull a boat.

I had the old loud 5.9L and did good pulling a loaded cattle trailer. But the 7.3L Ford does better and the truck lasted longer. The Dodge was not a well built truck.