looking at 94-98 Rams for a tow rig

[jeep-N-montero]

After taking the ZJ camping and fishing over the weekend we realized that a Jeep on 35's just isn't very fun or practical to drive anymore, so it's time to buy a truck that will serve the purpose of tow rig and camping/fishing vehicle. I'm fairly set on a 94-98 Cummins, but do you guys think I could get by with a 5.9 gas engine Ram 2500 with a manual? I realize the Cummins will get 2-3 mpg better and have more power, but will it be better in the long run if I am only towing the Jeep 4 or 5 times a year? The Cummins runs $2-4k more in price and diesel is more per gallon, so will I be that much happier with the Cummins over the gas motor? If I get the gas motor I will just do an intake and electric fan swap to maybe see 1 mpg improvement.

Post up your thoughts, but do not turn this into a Dodge vs Ford or Chevy debate, as these are not options.

 

[kobyhud]

How many miles a year are you putting on this vehicle?

I just ran some quick numbers based upon my experience.
At 10,000 miles a year the payout for a difference of $2000 will come in a couple years.
At 5,000 miles a year it will take twice as long at 5 years.

 

[bschroeder]

My old man had a 97 cummins, he would only use it for towing, he would get 18mpg regardless if he was towing his boat, fifth wheel, or wheeler. He has told me the only down fall he had was the tranny, he finally built his up and had no more problems, the old twelve valves in my opinion are the best motor around. Good gas mileage, easy to sup up by shaving the fuel plate, if I had a choice I would do the cummins, but thats my opinion.

 

[Zombie]

I had a 98 ZJ with a 5.9 gas motor, and my dad has a 98 cummins which I drive every once in a while, and pulled my ZJ around with from time to time.

The Cummins usually gets 17ish MPG average, where my ZJ got about 12 MPG. Same size tire more or less, not really sure on gearing, but it's close... the Cummins does outweigh a ZJ by a little bit. I'd go for the cummins... nothing is more expensive than regret.

 

[SLC97SR5]

Unless it has a Cummins, I cannot think of any reason to own a Dodge. This is just my opinion, and coming from a stuck up Ford owner as well but I can't think of anything good about a gas powered 2500 RAM other than maybe the price. Get the Cummins and be done.

 

[skippy]

for sure 2k more for a cummins is a great deal you would be stupid to buy a 2500 dodge without the cummins

 

[sixstringsteve]

Unless it has a Cummins, I cannot think of any reason to own a Dodge.

x2. If you're only towing 4-5 times a year, I think that a gasser would be the way to go (but not a Dodge). If it were me, I'd go with a chevy 8.1L 2500, or a 5.3 L tundra (or even the 4.7 L tundra would get the job done).


I think a ZJ on 35's would be more comfortable for camping than a big diesel, but that's just me. Big trucks ride like big trucks. If you're staying on pavement and very smooth roads, I could see a big truck being nice to load up. If there are rocky/bumpy roads (like up in the Uintas), I'd rather be in a ZJ on 35's that any full size truck.

What kind of MPG are you getting out of your ZJ? Do you have stock gears in the diffs?

 

[zukijames]

if your tow rig is going to see any dirt road get a chevy. i dont live chevys but i drive a 2001 dodge cummins 2500 and my brother in law had a 98 2500 gas chevy.. he can go so miuch faster on dirt roads than me and not feel like he's beating the crap out of it..


the gasser dodges might ride a little better than the heavy duty cummins but still

 

[LT.]

Don't bother with a V-8 in the Dodge. Get the Cummins and be done. Being a big Dodge fan (I own five of them) I would not want a V-8 for a hauler. Even my little Hemi has yet to see any hauling duties.

LT.

 

[N-Smooth]

i bought a '99 cummins in 2004 to haul my jeep and it was awesome. i loved that truck! that being said, it became too much of a pain for me to keep that truck and have to daily it as well just so i could tow my jeep to moab once a year.

i bought '12 ram 1500 last night and intend to get a trailer to tow my jeep on longer trips like moab and sand hollow and i'll daily it a couple days a week just for fun. is it the ideal tow vehicle? no... it's a compromise though, just like everything else. it'll handle my jeep like a champ but it's still no cummins.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Right now we own 4 cars, the 2 ZJ's and 2 other cars that get 30 mpg, so the truck would never need to be a DD. The plan would be to sell the "smaller" ZJ and buy the truck. The bigger, more built ZJ has the 5.2 v8 and the smaller ZJ has the 4.0, both have 4.56's. Another option would be to find some BFG 33x9.50 skinnies to throw under it and save the 35's for harder trails, the skinnies would get the Jeep back into the 14-15 mpg ballpark. The main thing I do not like about it right now is how it feels going around even the slightest corner, the 35x12.50x15 KM2's just feel so spongy that I have to lower my speed even more than the posted yellow signs for truckers. My tires are at around 35psi and I have crossover steering, but it still feels uncomfortable on corners. What to do....

 

[N-Smooth]

35 psi is really high for km2's. i run my 33x12.50's at 25 psi. that's the pressure i landed on to get them to wear evenly and they handle way better too. there are obvious differences in our vehicles so i suggest a chalk test to see what psi is the best for your setup.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Right now we own 4 cars, the 2 ZJ's and 2 other cars that get 30 mpg, so the truck would never need to be a DD. The plan would be to sell the "smaller" ZJ and buy the truck. The bigger, more built ZJ has the 5.2 v8 and the smaller ZJ has the 4.0, both have 4.56's. Another option would be to find some BFG 33x9.50 skinnies to throw under it and save the 35's for harder trails, the skinnies would get the Jeep back into the 14-15 mpg ballpark. The main thing I do not like about it right now is how it feels going around even the slightest corner, the 35x12.50x15 KM2's just feel so spongy that I have to lower my speed even more than the posted yellow signs for truckers. My tires are at around 35psi and I have crossover steering, but it still feels uncomfortable on corners. What to do....

Interesting. Too late now, but I'll bet if 17" wheels would make it feel less spongy. I also wonder if some swaybars would help you out there. My 35x12.50x17s don't feel the least bit spongy @30 psi. Mine drive just like my stock 28" tires.

Do ZJ's originally come with a stock swaybar? I'll bet it wouldn't take much to get that thing driving closer to stock. What kind of MPG are you getting with the 35s?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Interesting. Too late now, but I'll bet if 17" wheels would make it feel less spongy. I also wonder if some swaybars would help you out there. My 35x12.50x17s don't feel the least bit spongy @30 psi. Mine drive just like my stock 28" tires.

Do ZJ's originally come with a stock swaybar? I'll bet it wouldn't take much to get that thing driving closer to stock. What kind of MPG are you getting with the 35s?

They come with sway bars, still running the front bar and the rear has progressive rate springs to make up for removing the rear bar due to the triangulated setup. But body roll isn't the issue, it definitely feels like it is in the tires. And mpg average is around 12-13, the gas light was coming on just as we were driving into Bountiful from Moab a few weeks ago, ZJ's have a 21 gallon tank.