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New Tow Pig
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:52 pm
by ArticRubi
Well I thought I could live with a gas truck for towing and have it do well for DD economy, hasn't been the case. 15 mpg DD and 9 mpg towing. Craptastic 66RFE transmission. I mean absolute crap. So today I'm saying buh-bye to my Hemi Ram - and I'm not really going to miss it.
The new tow pig is a 2011 Chevy 2500 HD crew cab with Duramax and Allison transmission. 4x4, LT package, 38k miles. Did quite well on my trade in and managed to beat them up pretty well on their price. As we all know, they still won, but I'm happy with the price I paid.
Here she is, chrome bumpahs and all!
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:23 pm
by Marky
Very nice!
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:47 pm
by Kurt
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:26 pm
by Hoodoo Man
so when do the mods start and axles come out from under this and go under the YJ?
very nice!
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:27 am
by Kodi
Oh wait...it's not a Dodge...
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 1:55 pm
by ChrisD
Won't you get the same gas milage?
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:03 pm
by ChrisD
BTW... it is nice..
New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:49 pm
by ArticRubi
Gas mileage will be significantly better. With a good tune and dumping some of the emissions crap you can get 25 mpg easy. Big difference will come towing where my 9 mpg Hemi really sucked. Fuel costs will be fairly close to a wash with diesel being more expensive.
Highway speeds were a joke with the 66rfe trans behind the Hemi. Moderate uphill grades and it was dropping to 3rd gear near redline to maintain 70 mph.
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:16 pm
by Hoodoo Man
IDK Duncan, my Commander with a HEMI does about 9-10 mpg when I trailer my TJ, but I can barley feel the load on the engine... Hills and such were not an issue especially when I got the tongue weight right...
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:56 pm
by ZAEDOCK
I averaged 15-16 in my 5.0L Ford pulling my friends '83 Caprice home or pulling the YJ.
Hills are a piece of cake with the tranny never shifting below 4th. Typically, it's 5th for long hills.
I have no brand loyalty though. My older Ford averaged about 10-11 MPG trailering the YJ to Moab.
I heard Nissan is going to run a 5.0L Cummins V8 soon. Nice engine, but I don't think I would get a Nissan unless they step up their quality (they only sold 10,000 Titans as of July this year).
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:57 pm
by ArticRubi
Glad it works for you, I guess I'm just biased. I've tasted the sweet fruit of towing with a diesel and I'm not sure I could be satisfied otherwise. One of the reasons I went with a 1/2 ton originally was fitting it into my driveway in Somerville. It was tight, definitely no way I would have for a 3/4 ton truck in there. I think the biggest issue is if I don't have a huge truck how will people know I have a huge....
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 10:51 pm
by Carl McFly
Joliet Jake Blues wrote:so when do the mods start and axles come out from under this and go under the YJ?
nice rig D-dawg
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:27 am
by mrfreakinwhite
(If I was going to buy a tow rig, I think I'd get something similar. Or a flat bed tow truck. If...)
New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 6:04 pm
by ArticRubi
Towed beautifully today. Down to the cape with empty trailer, 70 mph, 17 mpg. On the way back with smurf in tow, 70 mph 14 mpg.
Re: New Tow Pig
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 7:11 pm
by Kurt
Nice!
Is the angry Smurf feeling better?