I'm just looking for opinions, nothing else required.

I have a 2001 Dodge dually, with 119,000 miles. I use it to tow my 5th wheel toyhauler, and we just bought a new one, a bit heavier than the old one.

The new one weighs in a touch over 16,000 lbs fully loaded. My old one was right at 15,000 lbs. The truck does very well I feel with no real downside,
but am I expecting too much from my 20 year old tow machine? It has 90 HP injectors, BHAF, Edge EZ, dual disc Valair clutch, 4 inch turbo back
exhaust, Air Dog lift pump, 6 speed manual. I feel that I have plenty of pulling power as long as I watch the EGT's.

I have no desire to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a new truck. This one has served me well for nearly 16 years I just want some reassurance
that this one will do just fine with the new trailer.

C'mon guys, tell me I'm doing the right thing by keepin' on keepin' on. TIA.

 

I don't see any benefits other than gaining creature comforts over reliability and $$ savings, to getting a newer truck.

I'll keep driving my old trucks myself.

 

That's what I want to hear.

 

If it’s doing the job and doing it well then I wouldn’t change a thing. Lot to be said for a truck that’s paid off AND still dependable in this day and age. I’ll continue on with my ‘98 12 valve. But like you, I get the itch from time to time to look for greener pastures 😂 but then come right back to the reliability of the 12 valve

 

I'm definitely keeping my 2000 truck as long as I can. It's a lot easier and cheaper to mod our older trucks than the newer ones. The newer trucks also have goofy stuff like DEF, which isn't a big deal, but bothers me on a fundamental level.

If you wanted to do some other things to your 2001 to help it be a better heavy towing machine, you might look at braking improvements. All too often we look at the go mods and don't pay enough attention to the stop mods.

I think the 2001 trucks still had rear drums with the proportioning valve mounted on the driver's side of the rear axle, so you could add the larger wheel cylinders to your rear drums and then play with the proportioning valve to get it where you want it. Some folks have even eliminated it as per a Dodge TSB that recommends it with a truck that tows heavy more than 75% of the time.

One of the best mods I ever did to my 2000 truck was my exhaust brake. When I had my camper in the truck and had to negotiate long downhill, twisty windy grades, it was absolutely wonderful.

With your 2001 you also have the ability to replace your front rotors with the larger rotors used by the 2003 or newer trucks. You also need the calipers and brackets I think, and you also need to go with 17" or larger wheels, but that's a huge braking improvement too.

Whatever route you choose, best of luck!
Mike

 

I regularly tow more than that with my 2001 three-quarter ton quad cab short bed And have never had an issue so, keep on enjoying the old girl and working her

 

Many thanks for all the input. Nice to know that I'm not the only one that feels my Dodge is good to go.

 

I keep my 2001.5 because it's in great condition and only needs general maintenece and occasional nickle and dime stuff, like a fan resistor right now. I haven't made a truck payment in 15 years and I've made all the reliability changes/fixes etc.

I get offers for it about 3 times a year and have a dozen colleauges that are always asking when I'm gonna trade up.....I still feel I would be trading down.

Keep it. Drive it.

 

I completely agree with this comment...I am a little surprised that you only get 3 offers a year on it!

 

My 2001 2500 Ram cummins 24 valve will out live me. She tows the TT just fine, too.

Go give yours a hug, and never talk about her behind her back again.

 

LOL

Now there's some fine advice.

 

No, your doing fine.

 

I've got 471,xxx on my '95 and it's only made me walk a couple of times--both times it was because my trans cooler (replacement) hose came off and I lost the trans fluid.
I intend to keep this truck the rest of my life. I'll never get a damm DEF dependent truck, that's for sure.

 

Keep it!

 

AMEN, Brother !

I recall saying that to you on the phone just the other day.

I just dropped almost $6,000 in the cleaning up and restoration of my undercarriage. I can't buy new, and I dont want new. I love simple, easy, reliable, and that's what I have now.

It's kind of like being married.

Do you want to go out and find a new, 20 year old woman, who you have nothing in common with, don't move at the same pace, and don't have the same goals in life ?

Sure, the sex would be OUT OF THIS WORLD fantastic for you (maybe not so much for her), but then what? You're all finished, wanting to make a sammich, and take a nap, and she wants to go at it all over again.

Grass isn't greener, and sometimes it can be really annoying. I mean seriously, look how miserable this guy is.