I Want to talk TRUCKS! Trucks for Hauling Trailers! Diesel Vs Gas.. 2500 vs 3500 etc.

**Pattercore** · 10-14-2013, 05:54 AM

I have a 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD extended cab with the 6.0L and a 4L80E Automatic Transmission. Almost has 350,000 miles on the Engine and uses 3/4 of a quart of oil every 3000 miles. I still to this day would hop in the truck and drive around the world, very relieable... I've replaced the transmission the transfer case and the normal front end parts (normal maint.) This truck was a former FABCO CAT truck it had a gooseneck hitch in the truck before I bought it and it also was a plow truck from the previous owner.. This truck has Been worked all of its life and Since I bought it. It has even a harder life now. I bought the truck with 145,541 miles on it. I've hauled everything from Rough Sawn Lumber to 2.5 Ton trucks.. and hauled a bumper pull 32ft enclosed trailer that weighed 18-20,000 LBS. My heaviest Load hauled in the box was 5,400 lbs of cut steel.. I highly recommend Getting this style Truck for any kind of hauling..

The Bad: 8-10 mpg when hauling and maybe on a good day 13mpg empty...
Cab noise -loud exhaust fixes that.

**sledge** · 10-14-2013, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Pattercore

I have a 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD extended cab with the 6.0L and a 4L80E Automatic Transmission. Almost has 350,000 miles on the Engine and uses 3/4 of a quart of oil every 3000 miles. I still to this day would hop in the truck and drive around the world, very relieable... I've replaced the transmission the transfer case and the normal front end parts (normal maint.) This truck was a former FABCO CAT truck it had a gooseneck hitch in the truck before I bought it and it also was a plow truck from the previous owner.. This truck has Been worked all of its life and Since I bought it. It has even a harder life now. I bought the truck with 145,541 miles on it. I've hauled everything from Rough Sawn Lumber to 2.5 Ton trucks.. and hauled a bumper pull 32ft enclosed trailer that weighed 18-20,000 LBS. My heaviest Load hauled in the box was 5,400 lbs of cut steel.. I highly recommend Getting this style Truck for any kind of hauling..

The Bad: 8-10 mpg when hauling and maybe on a good day 13mpg empty...
Cab noise -loud exhaust fixes that.

Pattercore: I thank you very much for the reply. From someone who owns and uses what I think may be my best bet.. it is great to get a real world review of someone who has put 200,000 miles on one and had the results I'm looking for. Thank you sir for chiming in on this one!

**NatBrnCO** · 10-14-2013, 01:47 PM

I drive a Nissan Frontier so I might not qualify to answer this. But in my regular day job, I haul 150 gallons of water, Polaris Ranger 6x6, pull 3000 feet elevation change in less than 20 miles on gravel/dirt roads. Done it with 2500 Chevy gas, just a little slower. But I think key to any hauling is a gear ratio of the transmission that you can actually tell the difference between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. The diesel is really nice to have coming down. My favorite trucks out of all the ones I have driven are: 1999 Dodge Cummins 2500- loaded it with 2 bundles of 12 foot 6x6 and drove 300 miles. 1997 extended cab long bed Ford F250 Powerstroke Diesel-needed a 40 acre field to turn it around but I could take it anywhere. 1999 5.2 L Dodge 1500-use to have to go out in the mornings and pull the Meadow Gold Semi-Truck out of the loading dock when it was icy.
I do very much dislike the Ford V-10- I have to fill it up every day and it is screaming coming off the hill in 2nd gear.

**sledge** · 10-14-2013, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by NatBrnCO

I drive a Nissan Frontier so I might not qualify to answer this. But in my regular day job, I haul 150 gallons of water, Polaris Ranger 6x6, pull 3000 feet elevation change in less than 20 miles on gravel/dirt roads. Done it with 2500 Chevy gas, just a little slower. But I think key to any hauling is a gear ratio of the transmission that you can actually tell the difference between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. The diesel is really nice to have coming down. My favorite trucks out of all the ones I have driven are: 1999 Dodge Cummins 2500- loaded it with 2 bundles of 12 foot 6x6 and drove 300 miles. 1997 extended cab long bed Ford F250 Powerstroke Diesel-needed a 40 acre field to turn it around but I could take it anywhere. 1999 5.2 L Dodge 1500-use to have to go out in the mornings and pull the Meadow Gold Semi-Truck out of the loading dock when it was icy.
I do very much dislike the Ford V-10- I have to fill it up every day and it is screaming coming off the hill in 2nd gear.

All input and information of what you guys drive or have driven, own or have owned.. is welcomed with open arms! Thank you for this.
Aaron