Howdy all,<br><br> I just got out of Duramax Hell with my Chevy (GM buy-back), and I am looking to order a 2500 QC SB 4X4 with the H.O. and 48RE trans. It will be a loaded out Laramie, and I will not be hauling anywhere near what this truck should be capable of...as a 4500# bass boat will be about it.<br><br>I have read a lot of posts before signing on, and I guess I should ask if towing a ~4500 pound load will be any problem with what I have in mind to order? I got really good mileage from the D-Max when it ran, can I expect the same from the H.O./48RE set-up? I know the engine is over kill for my needs, but I fihure that with the extra &quot;umph: it would just making towing and mileage that much better.<br><br>Looked and read a lot about the new Fords, and I do not feel like hiring a lawyer again to have Ford do a buy-back (6.0's are having MAJOR problems).

 

[quote author=angleiron link=board=20;threadid=14294;start=0#134410 date=1051910919]I have read a lot of posts before signing on, and I guess I should ask if towing a ~4500 pound load will be any problem with what I have in mind to order?[/quote]<br><br>You are kidding aren't you? I would haul a 4,500 pound boat with my wife's Ford Escape and not give it a second thought. You won't even notice it behind your truck.<br><br>Good luck!

 

angleiron,<br> First, welcome to the best forum on the net ;D Second, with the load you are planning to tow, I would suggest you get the 3.73 rearend instead of the 4.11. I tow a 27 foot boat (~7500 to 8000 lbs with trailer and gear) and have no trouble running any speed I want to in over-drive on cruise control. With the 3.73, the lower engine rpm allows for easier high speed running in your wide open spaces when empty.<br> And don't tell anyone but I also looked at a F**d and C***y but the reliability of the Cummins was too good to pass up. I also liked a lot of features on the Dodge better than the competition. You will not be sorry ;D<br><br>The Boss Hog<br>(10,000 trouble free ;D)

 

I intend to go with the 3.73 LS, as this worked on my Chevy CC with D-Max and Allison tranny. I test drove a H.O. and was very impressed with the acceleration, how quiet it was, ride height/ground clearance (Chevy does not have any) and the extra fuel capacity (34 gallons versus 26 that was on my Chevy). <br><br>I only hope that this combo can get the same mileage as my previous truck (22 mpg as a high, averaged 19.2mpg between city/hwy). Being that I may never tow the heavy weight that some of you folks use your trucks for, the downshifting is not an issue for me.

 

angleiron,<br> I'm a bit short of the fuel mileage you list in your post. The 2WD guys seam to get those numbers but not the 4WD guys. The front axle on the '03 Dodge is always turning. There is no way to disconnect the &quot;hubs&quot;. I believe that causes the decrease in mileage. I have 10,000 miles on Smoke including a trip to Canada and I have an overall average of just over 18 mpg.<br><br>The Boss Hog<br>(just being honest )

 

If your going to go to a bigger tire like the 315/70R17's a lot of us are running you might want to stick to the 4.10s, I have read several posts where guys have mentioned that the 3.73/big tire combo was a little too much with the auto. If not then it would make sense to go to the 3.73 ratio. More than one person has thought that the heated seats came with the laramie package and ended up with a truck that didnt have it. The truck is not going to have rear floor mats or rear wheel well liners. Might want to get the dealer to throw those in. Good to have a fellow bass fisherman on the board.

 

Where the heck is that Luke guy when you want him?? :-X

 

[quote author=spots link=board=20;threadid=14294;start=0#134661 date=1051997354]<br>Where the heck is that Luke guy when you want him?? :-X<br>[/quote]<br><br>Luke S must have fallen off the edge of the Earth or had some other major personal disaster. I thought surely he would reply to my post on the leaking tail light issue. Luke S come out come out wherever you are. ;D

 

Oh probably bashing our CTD on the Chevy boards....

 

You won't be sorry with your decision to walk away from the General. I have the HO with a stick and 3:73's. Unless your pulling a real load, over 8 or 9K LB and do it a lot, I'd stick with the 3:73.<br><br>I opted for a stick because I want to wait a few years for the bugs to be worked out of the 48RE. I have already read several posts with some problems over the new tranny.<br><br>Good luck and welcome to the forum.<br><br>Gary<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b r><br><br><br><br>

 

[quote author=mymaur link=board=20;threadid=14294;start=0#134886 date=1052095969]<br>You won't be sorry with your decision to walk away from the General. <br>I opted for a stick because I want to wait a few years for the bugs to be worked out of the 48RE. I have already read several posts with some problems over the new tranny.<br><br>Good luck and welcome to the forum.<br><br>Gary<br><br> Boy, howdy, you're not kidding. Walking away from the General is the best thing I've done in years.<br><br> I would have preferred an auto transmission but, like you, I'll wait 5-7 years and see if Dodge got it right. I've had problems with the autos in my last two rigs, a 2001 GMC 1/2 ton and a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5.2 V8. The Jeep was one of my favorite rigs but mechanically, it was pretty bad. Transmission replaced at 70,000, two intake manifold gaskets, rod bearings shot and replaced at 80,000. Thank goodness for the extended warranty. The GMC was under warranty but they couldn't fix the rough shifting auto transmission. I was upset at the time but it worked out fine. If the GMC transmission wouldn't have been junk, I probably wouldn't be driving a really great truck, now!<br><br>Bob<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br ><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>< br><br><br>[/quote]

 

Welcome to the site Angleiron. The 3.73's are a good choice for what you intend to pull, and I don't know enough about the auto transmissions to critique them. With my '99 I had (5 sp SO), I had a 4500# tongue pull travel trailer that my '99 never knew was back there except for fuel mileage - when towing it the wind resistance would cost me 3 - 4 mpg, but never slow me down for hills or headwinds. After getting the 28' 5er, I really wanted the 6sp for better gear spread accelerating/decelerating when towing, and the manual for increased lifespan of the tranny. I did not go with the 4.10's because I run empty most of the time and wanted the increased fuel mileage, and the 6sp made up the difference when towing by having the extra gears. HTH.

 

As long as you put more power to it 3.73's and a 48re are still fine for a 12k goose with a very hight flat frt. I just had an ez on 4 and towed easily at 75-85mph still got 10.7 -11.5 mpg. Now I have the ez. dd3's,turbo,airbox,exhaust,dtt torque conv and shift kit and pusher pump on the way. Not that it doesn't tow perfectly fine now but there is a certain d-max buddy running his mouth

 

I ordered my new truck 2 weeks ago, and found out that it has a build date of June 1st. From this point, what would be a realistic time for delivery?

 

Angeliron, I ordered my 03 on Feb 15. Build sheet from DC says it left the factory on April 17. Still haven't seen it. See my new post on paint issues. Will let everyone know when it turns up.