1tonxj

My Jeep has made the turn down the path 2 becomming a high end trail only XJ needing a trailer ,So I'm thinking a used Dodge 2500 04 and up with I-6 diesel/trailer ...Anyone here have info on what to look for /years to avoid like auto vs stick My XJ will weigh trail ready around 5k and trailer maybe 1500 so I will not be taxing the tow vehicle like a huge fith wheel ,but want to move up hill with authority .

ck1

well I have a 03 Dually that empty gets 19 at 70mph....the more weight on its back the more better it pulls...silky smooth...as far as what to avoid they are all pretty decent after 03 so it doesnt really matter..prior years where simpler got better mileage but were a little louder (which doesnt bother me but it doest to some others) the 03-04 5 and six speeds had some issues in the begining but the bugs have been worked out of them by know...good luck...and when you get one...you will love how it pulls
cameron

Irongrave

if you can get any of the gen 3 02-06 rams with the 5.9. less emissions BS on it though they aint cheep. When i got my hemi 2 years ago i couldn't find a late model 5.9 for under 22k that didn't have over 100K on it or beat to hell

1tonxj

Plenty 03 -04 with about 120-140k mi here at 13-15k ,but I'll probably spend 20-ish I don't think 100k is much miles on a diesel ...the trans is what gets beat towing ,and I can pull/swap 1 in a weekend if I get unlucky or just get extended drive train warranty .

Irongrave

damn hate you guys with access to lower cost diesel rigs they are like gold out here

knuckleduster271

I drove an 04 2wd crew cab to ohio from fla, ran good and plenty of power. Id stay away from dodges with auto trannys. Id prefer a 12 valve 5 speed myself. The commonrails arent as eay to work on but the auto trans in the commonrail trucks seem to be better.03-04 rams have a engine mounted lift pump that seems to be pretty prone to failure, when they do fail- you run the risk of frying the injection pump which co$t alot to replace. The 05 and later have the pumps in the tank which seems to be more reliable but alot more $$ to replace and more difficult. The engine mounted lift pumps are cheap ($150) and easy. I like cheap and easy

Coach

Ok, I had an 03 and then an 07, I loved the 03 but it was a bit underpowered, hated the 07 but it had lots of power and a factory exhaust brake. 03 had 3 different engine options, all were 5.9 Cummins, 1. California model - 235 HP, 2. Standard Output - 250 HP and 3. HO - 300 HP, 04 came out with 325 HP. I unfortunately had the CA truck. The 07 was the 6.7 w/6speed auto, first year for both, lots of bugs to work out. I now have an 05 F350 w/6.0 Powerstroke because I wanted a "full size" truck (I always hated the small rear doors on the Dodge). The 03 Cummins consistently saw 22 mpg on the hiway, around 17 in town and 13+ towing, the 07 not even close and the Ford neither. Coach

1tonxj

I'll be looking for 03-06 the 07 year is the start of the DPF which has been a terrible ordeal for diesels big and small the dpf systems on big trucks are prone to break downs ,and on big trucks if clogged the truck de-rates and eventually shuts down if bad enough it will not go into regeneration without being hooked up to a computer and forced into regen...I've heard little diesels are no different ,So avoiding that I will...the DPF was California inspired ...Cali SUX .

xjmarc

I drag mine with a 97 12valve 2500 and ain't met a mountain it wouldn't pull. Jeep on the trailer is a smidge over 7k. I get about 25 mpg unloaded and 21-22 loaded. It is louder than the 24v but I like it.

1tonxj

That's what I figure this XJ/trailer will be feather weight to any dodge turbo diesel even early 185hp models ...I like the loud diesel semi truck sound nothing wrong with that .

xjmarc

My 12v has a few more ponies than that. You can turn up the fuel pressure for a few and injectors and fuel plates are cheap.

2Evil4U

If you insist on the Cummins, it's a great setup. Though, as has been said, quite an expensive adder.

The hemi Rams will more than adequately tow your rig. My '04 D2500 with the 3.73 gears, hemi and 5spd would tow very solidly. It got about 17mpg on a daily basis and 13-14 when towing. My race car and trailer combo weighs about 5500# and I never worried about being able to accelerate in traffic.

The diesel economy may be a little better, but you can buy a lot of gas for the $3500 extra the Cummins will cost. (Let alone the replacement parts if any do ever fail on the diesel.)

That's my two cents.

xjmarc

True but when's the last time you saw a hemi with over 300k that still runs like new. I ride with a guy who tows his with a Cummins pushing 600k and it still runs strong. Mine didn't even get good mileage till around 50k.

Irongrave

I'm knocking on 100K with my hemi and very few problems and none of them motor related. it drags my jeep fine out here 12-15 towing 16-21 dding it but if i could i'd have a CTD

ck1

I will add that mine is the 235 calif model and due to the low hp the trans tend to stay together longer. Mine is a very early 03 so it has a 47re which had a bad rap when hp is increased. I have towed my 15k lb toyhauler with my YJ inside for four years and got around 12 mpg and now have a large Lance (1055) and flat tow my XJ Heep and get 14mpg . trans is fine. supposedly the most reliable was the 03 model year with the 48re trans. I would not shy away from a clean low mileage Calif spec 235hp if you find one. I love my fuel mileage and it has 4:10...could only imagine what the 3:73 crowd gets for mileage...the 4wheel drives tend to go thru ball joints in all but the most recent years..
Cameron
p.s...once you tow with a diesel you wont turn back...and Yes i am biased as nothin PULLS like a Cummins