but for what?

I'm towing a 10,000# FW with about 1400# on the pin and my 04-2500 does just dandy. Now the wife is talking about going to a triple slide FW and showing me numbers from 11,500# to 14,000# which means maybe as much as 2800# on the pin. Add to that an aux fuel and a generator on the truck and I don't think my SRW 6' bed is up to the task. We have been averaging 8,000 miles/year towing and with the bigger rig may do substantially more in the years to come.

My priorities are safety, safety and safety
then
reliability
economy
and comfort

I'm thinking I'll trade for a 3500DRW 8' bed QC 4x4 auto, but which one???

Right now I'm getting 16mpg city/bobtail and 20 mpg highway/bobtail. Towing I'm getting 11-13 highway depending on terrain and winds. I can live with that. I know that bumping up the weight will cost me a few percent in mpg but I'd hate to give up a few more percent on emissions junk too.

If I traded an 04 for an 04 I could not add the exhaust brake and would be pushing the CGVWR, though OK on pin.
I could trade for an 04.5, 05 or 06, but I don't know much about them. Aren't they mostly like the 04 except you can add the EB?
I'm skittish on the 07 and could actually wait this all out until 08's are out. But it sure looks like I'll be losing out on economy and paying top dollar for a new truck (not that new is all bad).

What other options am I missing? Maybe refurbish a 2nd gen or find a 2nd gen creampuff somehow? other ideas? Anyone out there pulling a 14,000# tripleslide FW? What are you using and how's it working for you?

 

No chance in talking you into a 6 speed manual?

If not, I would go 05.5-06 3500 DRW SLT Big horn (lone star, whatever) Pass on the Jacobs and get the Pac, better retarding HP, supposedly more reliable, plus on-board air when you need it.

 

Can you do cruise control w/manual?
I could be convinced to shift... but I'd never get my wife to take a turn driving.

So - actually, I guess I am stuck on the idea of a auto trans.

On-board air seems nice - I carry a compressor anyway and would like to ditch that if possible.

 

Yes, I have a 6 speed with cruise.

I would ditch the compressor and put the genny on a 2" receiver "cargo" platform. I'm going that this year with mine, the bed of the truck is just too high to keep lugging heavy stuff in and out of.
All my firewood and the generator are riding on the back of the 5'er from now on.

 

how heavy are you towing? and what kind of mpg are you getting?

From a reliability perspective I like getting an 06... I've gotta look up the specs to see if I can do 14,000# with it. It could be a cost effective route to.
Maybe I can find someone sick of the training wheels to swap with me.
If I didn't need them for the pin I'd pass on them.

 

You can do 14k with an '06 SRW, but the pin will put you over the GVWR. An '06 DRW would be just fine.

 

I'm towing right around 10,500, mid profile. I think if it were me (which it was at one point) I would go with the DRW, there is more to be said about it other than just GVWR, comfort and as you mentioned SAFETY is important too.

I was getting about 11.75-12.75 towing this past fall, keeping it below 65 or so, on mostly flat ground. One thing about that is that I had less than 5K miles on during all that towing, so I am under the impression it will loosen up a bit for me with some more miles.

You might be a good candidate for a 1 ton SRW, that was what I was originally searching for, it will give you an additional 900 lbs of capacity back there without the duals.

 

I've got a nice 2005 DRW quad cab, CTD, six speed w/upgrades listed in the classifieds. If you want more info, let me know. Sounds like it would work for you.

 

I'd say keep your truck, add airbags, 19.5's and your good to go for a lot less then trading yours. Do you have 3.73's or 4.10's???

 

you can install a PAC Brake on an 04. I have the fixed orfice and it works fine with my auto. they do recommend the ATS torque converter lockup box in line with the EB controller, and its a requirement with the PRXB system.