Which dually - 8.1 vs pre-DEF 6.6?

[bucket]

I'm not sure, but there are loads of them around still.

Someone i know got some off amazon and hasn't ran into any issues yet. It's been like 6 months on those plates.

When I last looked into it, it was like 6 months from going into effect and the local hardware store had all the farm plates on clearance, lol. They were marked down to like $1.99 or something. I thought they used to be around 10 bucks.

 

[Frankenchevy]

This is not even a debate, Dmax period end of any gas motor nonsense for towing... If you're going to tow anything heavier than a moped gassers SUCK anyone who tells you otherwise has never towed with a Dmax, Powerstroke or Cummins... Not to mention the vast tuning options with the Dmax, toss a 120hp non delete tune in it you wont even know that camper is behind you and that's from experience...

A lot of fleets are switching back to gassers due to diesels having higher initial costs and significantly more expensive maintenance. Towing a dump trailer, not a camper. FWIW, I’ve towed equipment and dump trailers with a 5.3 in a 1500, just not with a big block.

If you’re not doing daily work with it, I’m not certain what you could possibly do with a dump trailer that your 3rd gen wouldn’t handle just fine. Don’t even need a dually unless you have a GN trailer and GN pin weights. Which the 3rd gen will still handle over 4k of pin weight easily.
If you are using it regularly and highway speeds/mountains, the 8.1 makes sense to me other than it’s cheaper than a diesel. Otherwise a LLY or LBZ will walk a 8.1 easily with a trailer. And a small tune and it’ll absolutely destroy the 8.1 but not the Allison.
Idk why the 8.1 is even a consideration unless infrequent use.

It is intended to be a work truck. My 04 Cummins will be primarily to tote around my slide in truck camper and my 2020 Laramie Longhorn is my cowboy Cadillac and only my wife and I are allowed to drive it. This truck will be for others to use for work related purposes. A dually gives me more option for the future.

 

[Grit dog]

Oh, employee-mobile? Got a gmt900 6.0 duallly. They’re basically indestructible and dumb **** proof and newer than the 800s, hypothetically a bit better.
Who cares if it’s slow and eats brakes on the the hills. You’re paying them by the hour. An 8.1 will too although I’d rather have the Alli trans. So maybe a toss up. As long as the 8.1 doesn’t drink oil. = bad feature in an employee-mobile. I never check the oil in my company truck, lol. Unless Jippo Lube pulling the dipstick every 3-4 months during an oil change counts!
I thought you wanted something for YOU to tow with. Who cares if the engine is screaming in Jose’s ears…..

 

[Grit dog]

Honestly if I was looking for the best bang for buck in a reliable gasser dually, the Ford V10 (5 speed auto not 4 speed) or 6.2 6 speed would be on my short list.
And I don’t even like Fords!

 

[Frankenchevy]

Honestly if I was looking for the best bang for buck in a reliable gasser dually, the Ford V10 (5 speed auto not 4 speed) or 6.2 6 speed would be on my short list.
And I don’t even like Fords!

A lot of guys are liking the 7.3 Godzilla gasser. I’d consider one of those if the price was right. Talked to a tranny shop and the said the 10-speeds seem pretty decent so far.

 

[Grit dog]

A lot of guys are liking the 7.3 Godzilla gasser. I’d consider one of those if the price was right. Talked to a tranny shop and the said the 10-speeds seem pretty decent so far.

I haven’t seen any issues with the 6.8 and 7.3 V8s in our trucks but they’re all pretty new low miles.
I don’t think GM or Ford 10 speed HD trans are issues. Half tons either. Half tons are actually same trans Ford or GM. And with Ram having versions of the 8speed ZF now in all trucks including new diesels, there isn’t a suspect trans in the big 3 lineup anywhere.
I was thinking in the cheaper used budget range with the 6.2 or V10 reccomendation.