Time for a truck change....

pELYgroso

'Merica
Location
LEHI, UT
The '15s dropped 700lb by going to an aluminum bed so the tow ratings went up. Engine is the same. Engine tq/hp gets a bump for '18.
For your use I'd search for two things
1: HD towing package which should get you 3.73 gears vs 3.55 (mine has 3.55 but with 33" vs 32" stock tire so equivalent 3.43 diff)
2: HD payload package which gains you stiffer frame, higher payload, and higher capacity axles (easily spotted by 7 bolt wheels vs 6)

Also note that the advertised towing capacity is the maximum possible and takes a very specifically configured truck.
You need to look at the door sticker to see the actual towing capacity for the truck as configured.

Did you notice any loss in power or mpg's with the upgrade to 33's?
 

Pike2350

Registered User
Location
Salt Lake City
Thanks for all the info guys! I'll definitely look for the options that will get the payload #'s up. I haven't seen one with 7 lug wheels but I'll keep my eye out. I feel like that will be the tough option to find....

Thanks for all the info guys! I'll definitely look for the options that will get the payload #'s up. I haven't seen one with 7 lug wheels but I'll keep my eye out. I feel like that will be the tough option to find....

I don't know about the 7 lug thing....this post is the first I've heard of it actually. While it won't be the most common thing out there, it shouldn't be too difficult.

This one does, and is actually 7 lug, so maybe it is true
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/3727779?ad_cid=10#
 

frieed

Jeepless in Draper
Supporting Member
Location
Draper, UT
Did you notice any loss in power or mpg's with the upgrade to 33's?

Slight drop in mpg after correcting computer readout for the size difference, no noticeable difference in power.
On my bike trip to the Wedge a couple weeks ago a got 19.5 mpg.
Far more noticeable difference with the change to 10 ply tires.
 
I'm following this thread with interest. Have nothing valuable to contribute except a rant: Seriously, Ford engineers? We need a brand new 7 bolt lug pattern to reach a perfect balance between strength and weight?
 

sawtooth4x4

Totally Awesome
Maybe someone should make a 2000 or 2/3 ton truck. Solid axles. Lockers. 8 speed automatic. Cummins turbo diesel, crewcab, 2/3 length bed. And great ground clearance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Toad

Well-Known Member
Location
Millville(logan)
Ford did a 7 lug f250 back the late 99 ish to very early 2000 models. Was basically the same truck a the f150. Had a slightly higher GVW than the f150 and a semi float sterling 10.25.
 

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
Is there anything else to look out for on the LB7 Duramax's besides the injectors?

Not really. With all diesels try to buy one that hasn't been raced around town everywhere. If the previous owner had a tuner and pushed it too hard the transmission will slip. Since the Allison transmission remembers the driver it will slip easier each time it's pushed hard.

I'd try to only buy one that's never had a tuner installed.
 

pELYgroso

'Merica
Location
LEHI, UT
Funny that you guys say those things....the front end on one that I'm looking at rattles around like crazy, and the guy (recently) put a tuner on it. I'll have to see how recent.
 

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
Funny that you guys say those things....the front end on one that I'm looking at rattles around like crazy, and the guy (recently) put a tuner on it. I'll have to see how recent.

That's what they all say... I'd seriously only buy one from someone that had never seen a tuner.

Keep in mind I used to have a heavily modified duramax
 

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
Does a tuner ruin our wear out the engine prematurely?

I don't think that's much of an issue. The big concern is transmission wear. The Allison will only safely handle an additional 100hp without going into limp mode. Even cheap tuners can add more power than that and most people love racing around.
 

frieed

Jeepless in Draper
Supporting Member
Location
Draper, UT
Speaking of tunes, 5star has an 87 octane tune for the ecoboost that nets about 30HP, 80 lb-ft of torque, and firms up the shifting.
Not sure what the 93 octane tune yields.
 

pELYgroso

'Merica
Location
LEHI, UT
The Ecoboost is definitely tempting...my thought now is that if I buy something in the $13-15k range I'll have enough left of my $20k budget to get a wheeler and have a rig again. That's what I'm currently shooting for.

That said, should I be scared of a Duramax with 236k miles? I went to look at one that feels solid. It has the very first Edge Juice chip that only puts out +90hp max. The guy that owns it knows the only other 2 owners and he is the type of guy that I like to buy trucks from. He has babied it and tells me that the previous owners took great care of it as well and it shows. He actually took it off KSL the day I called and told me that he decided to keep it but since I had texted before he took it down, he'd "honor" the posting. It is an '03, body and interior are in incredible shape and it had injectors done about 40k miles ago.

The one I drove the other day has only 206k miles (also chipped) but the front end shakes around like crazy and the kid selling it admitted that he "drives like an asshole." Also admitted that he recently got ticketed twice in one trip for going 98 mph in it. (governor tops at 98) I'm thinking I'll pass on that one....

I'm also going to look at a 2009 6.7 cummins this week. Any thoughts on those?

Thanks for all of your input guys!
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Is there a link to mbryon's cummins rant thread? I can't seem to find it...


LOL....I'm sure there are 10 of those. Summary: Interior---broke the SEATS (I'm not that big of a fat ass), HVAC blend doors. Front axle: unit bearings, trackbar, axle joints, ball joints and steering (some of those parts replaced multiple times in 70k miles). Transmission---you know you're buying one of those in a Dodge--$4k

No issues whatsoever with the engine in the 70k miles I owned the truck.
 

pELYgroso

'Merica
Location
LEHI, UT
LOL....I'm sure there are 10 of those. Summary: Interior---broke the SEATS (I'm not that big of a fat ass), HVAC blend doors. Front axle: unit bearings, trackbar, axle joints, ball joints and steering (some of those parts replaced multiple times in 70k miles). Transmission---you know you're buying one of those in a Dodge--$4k

No issues whatsoever with the engine in the 70k miles I owned the truck.

Great to know, thank you! I hate being nickel and dimed...besides fuel, oil changes, brakes, batteries, glowplugs, AC pump, alternator, and tires (once each) in 6 years and 60k miles I didn't have to put a dime into my '95 7.3 PSD and it all worked great.

I'm pretty interested in the Duramax that I'm looking at. It's at the top of the price range for similar trucks with 236k miles but the guy seems to have babied it....
 
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