grantx5

So, I decided today was the day for my first pull with our '05 2500 CTD LB Auto. Hooked up our 27 foot SunnyBrook TV, about 6500 lbs worth loaded, and headed out for a drive.

No big thrills at first, just a real great ride, the trailer was hardly noticeable. As I was headed back to the house my wife says, "Why don't you try that hill at the beginning of Woodland Ave." Uh-Oh!

My previous tow-vehicle was a '93 Ford 250 with a 460, auto, 4.10. I never tried to pull the trailer up that hill with the Ford 'cause a day only has 24 hours in it and I didn't want to pay for a new tranny or whatever. Besides, the Ford really struggled on steep grades. Now I'm not bashing Ford or the truck, just that it didn't pull very well in certain places.

Well, all of you convinced me the CTD would do just fine. So I head for the hill. Now it starts at a light controlled intersection, so I cannot get a run at the hill. THE JOKE WAS ON ME. That CTD not only pulled the trailer up and over, it accelerated up it until I backed off so as not to exceed the 35 MPH limit.

End of story. CTD is unbelievable. Anyone want a Ford???

TxDiesel007

Welcome to DTR

If you truck is stock this is just the begining of your power addiction, i had a ford, now i have the only towing choice...

(sinister laughter)

Tx

Hannibal

Now you can get that "BIG" 5th wheel your Mrs has been wanting!

Tiny

How much for the ferd??

RifRaf

Anyone want a Ford???


I'll take it Lol

redhauler

Dog needs a good House, does it leak?

98, 24v, Ram 3500, SB Con O Fe Clutch, New NV4500 5 spd trans w all spline shaft, Edge Ez, all Iss Pro Gauges ,F.A.S.S, Air Raid Mass Air Flo Filter,Mod Air Box, L.E.D tail lamps.Jake brake, Western Hauler bed, 40gal aux fuel tank, low profile Polished aluminum tool box,25k Air Ride 5th wheel hitch,4" out pipe,Sirius satt radio,backup camera w 5"color monitor,freeze you out a/c and 3000 watts of Alpine Stereo.(Oh.... and ear plugs)and pulls a 42' Mobile Scout 412 SUT containing(Not at the same time) 02 Honda TRX250X,99 Yamaha 350 Warrior,88 Honda TRX250R,89 Honda TRX250R,97 Kawasaki KLF400 4x4 Bayou and a Dog. Giddy up! (first VP still hangin in there,On F.A.S.S. after lp departed the scene 4/ 05 *RIP*).131,000Miles & Going!

OX1

I also came from a 95 F250 EFI 460 ford. I have not sold it yet (and who wants a fullsize big block gas truck these days), but from 0-30 unloaded, the ford would absolutely **** all over the new dodge. Didn't buy it for 0-30 runs and there is no comparison towing, but for someone that just hops in and takes each for a ride, 99% would say the ford has much more power. What was pathetic off the line was a new 6.0 ford. It was so slow off the line I honestly thought it would be a hazard pulling out into traffic.

My big issue has been "alignment". Truck pulls heavy (you have to physically hold wheel to the right) to left in fast lane on all highways (@ 55 and up, gets worse the faster you go), but checking alignment only yeilded .3 degrees cross caster. Is seems to pull straight (more or less) in the slow lane, where you would think it should pull slightly right (since road crowns in opposite direction). No caster adjustment, but I did find .5 degree offset ball joints from one company. One thing I didn't see on my alignment sheet was thrust angle, so I guess it could be the rear is out, who knows. When the dealer asked me how bad the pull was, I realized they weren't to interested in fixing it if they didn't even drive it to know.

grantx5

Sorry for the slow reply, Tiny. Probably let it go for $6K. Not a great market out there for 460s. Its been a good truck but no fun to tow with.

Thought about keeping it for my boys, at least they'd be safe if anyone hit them or vice versa, but the wife says it goes.

Funny thing about trucks, you can even get attached to the ones on the bottom rung, 'course its nothing like driving a CTD. They are going to have to pry my cold dead hands off my 2500.

Equalizer 2

Had a 93 Ford with the EFI and E4OD, really liked that truck. My son has it now. Pulled my 5er about 3500 miles with it and I thought it did a good job. Took it from my house here to Kingman, AZ by way of Laughlin, NV. Bought my Dodge and haven't taken Laughlin again but I have pulled some passes that exceeded 8,500 feet in elevation. Dramatic performance differerence! The Ford was a good truck but not in the same class as the CTD.

Geico266

Glad to hear you like the power. Make sure you are using the tow / haul mode correctly for optimum tranny life.

bmoeller

Nope. Need to sell my '86.

Dave88LX

Add another to the list of "I used to have a Ford" I've still got it actually. Mine too, is a 1993 F-250, but it's a 7.3L diesel. I'm actually going to be selling this soon. It's a great truck, I've just moved on from it. Used it for towing 4-5 times, it did "alright" I thought. Then I drove a Dodge...hoooooooly crap. Where my Ford could feel and bog down, and CREEP up hills with 3500-4000 lbs behind it, The Dodge didn't even feel the FORD behind it when I towed it from MA down to TX. Power is unbelievable.

yarddog

My old tow rig was a 94 chevy 454 ex cab long bed 5spd. It would pull 6500#'s on flat ground all day at 75mph. Off the line it was a dog but once up to speed on the flats it did fine. It really struggled pulling up the passes at 45mph. I would cringe the whole way up waiting for something to explode. It never let me down though. It only got 6-8 mpg towing

Now with the 02 Dodge I look forward to hills. It's really nice to accelerate UP the mountain passes and get 14mpg

Mcmopar

That was good mileage for a Chevy with the 4piggy4, I had a 94 dually crew for a work truck and I got 4 MPG on a good day!!

drew03

i used to have a 97 f-250 4x4 regular cab 5spd with a 351, it would bog down going up hill with 2 horses at 70mph. Now i can pull 4 horses up any hill at any speed. Every time someone asks me how the truck pulls, i say "fast as you wanna go".