I am looking for specific help on hardware details in ordering a 2011 truck. It would be much more helpful to me if we limit this particular discussion to 4x4 HALF TON VS A 4x4 THREE QUARTER TON in a fairly specific application, as follows, please;
1. It must be 4x4
2. It must have an 8 foot bed.
3. It must be maneuverable enough for the White Rim Trail.
4. It must fit a Keystone that is 60 inches wide at the rear.
5. The rig is to be driven long distance from east to west and return on many trips, including Alaska.
In my search, I have driven two trucks so far, a 2008 Chevy 1500 4x4 long bed, standard cab. This is a very nice truck for the highway and would probably do just fine on the White Rim Trail. However, the tailgate opening is too narrow for my camper. So, no Chevy this time.
I drove a 2007 Dodge 2500 diesel 4x4 with a standard cab and 8 foot bed. To tell the truth, this seems like too much truck for hauling a camper that weighs only 1500 pounds loaded. Many of the readers here drive short bed trucks. There is no useful comparison between short bed and long bed trucks when it comes to load carrying because the center of gravity of the loaded short bed is quite different from a loaded long bed.
The half ton 4x4 Chevy 1500 long bed standard cab was much nicer on the highway than the Dodge 2500 4x4 long bed standard cab. However, the Dodge was empty when I drove it. It was not a fair comparison. Does anyone have a long bed three quarter ton truck of any brand loaded with a FWC or an ATC? Does your truck have a straight front axle and how does it ride on the interstate?
I believe there may be a problem with the Dodge 2500 with the straight front axle. Off roaders may like the straight axle for durability, but I am afraid it will be miserable for long distance driving on the highway. Is there any merit to this concern?
An important discussion for me will focus on straight axle vs independent front axle. Can a straight axle drive as well on the road as an independent axle?
Because the Dodge fits my camper so well, I have presently been going back and forth between the 2011 Dodge 1500 4x4 with the 4.7 overhead cam flex fuel engine and the 2011 Dodge 2500 4x4 with a diesel and 6 speed manual. There is a big price difference between the two but that is not my primary consideration because I plan to keep this truck a long time. My last truck had 450,000 mile on it when I sold it. (The Ford does not fit so well. No Ford this time. But maybe a Tundra 8 foot bed???)
a. Does the 2011 Dodge 1500 4x4 have an independent front axle?
b. At present, there is no diesel available for the 2011 Dodge 1500. I like the 4.7 V8. I am aware of the enthusiasm around the Hemi and published fuel economy figures nearly identical for both the 4.7 and the 5.7. However, I believe the fuel economy figures for the 4.7 are based on e-85 fuel. The 4.7 is a flex fuel engine and should achieve better fuel economy when running 89 or 92 octane gasoline. Thus, published fuel economy figures may compare apples and oranges, but I cannot find authoritative answers to my questions or assumptions.
c. I very much prefer a manual transmission, which is a strong point for the Dodge 2500 diesel with 6 speed manual.
d. At present, I am limiting the scope of my comparisons to standard cab trucks because I know from driving my last long bed truck with an extended cab that it is more difficult to maneuver these long trucks and I might have real problems off road. I have decided to buy a standard cab, remove the rear window of the truck and the large front window of the Keystone. Then I plan to install a full boot, which almost makes the camper itself an extension of the truck cab. This use to be a common practice but has become rare with all the extended cab trucks on the market. If someone has actually owned a full boot truck camper setup like this, it would be helpful to have your input.
Many thanks in advance for your help, John D
1. It must be 4x4
2. It must have an 8 foot bed.
3. It must be maneuverable enough for the White Rim Trail.
4. It must fit a Keystone that is 60 inches wide at the rear.
5. The rig is to be driven long distance from east to west and return on many trips, including Alaska.
In my search, I have driven two trucks so far, a 2008 Chevy 1500 4x4 long bed, standard cab. This is a very nice truck for the highway and would probably do just fine on the White Rim Trail. However, the tailgate opening is too narrow for my camper. So, no Chevy this time.
I drove a 2007 Dodge 2500 diesel 4x4 with a standard cab and 8 foot bed. To tell the truth, this seems like too much truck for hauling a camper that weighs only 1500 pounds loaded. Many of the readers here drive short bed trucks. There is no useful comparison between short bed and long bed trucks when it comes to load carrying because the center of gravity of the loaded short bed is quite different from a loaded long bed.
The half ton 4x4 Chevy 1500 long bed standard cab was much nicer on the highway than the Dodge 2500 4x4 long bed standard cab. However, the Dodge was empty when I drove it. It was not a fair comparison. Does anyone have a long bed three quarter ton truck of any brand loaded with a FWC or an ATC? Does your truck have a straight front axle and how does it ride on the interstate?
I believe there may be a problem with the Dodge 2500 with the straight front axle. Off roaders may like the straight axle for durability, but I am afraid it will be miserable for long distance driving on the highway. Is there any merit to this concern?
An important discussion for me will focus on straight axle vs independent front axle. Can a straight axle drive as well on the road as an independent axle?
Because the Dodge fits my camper so well, I have presently been going back and forth between the 2011 Dodge 1500 4x4 with the 4.7 overhead cam flex fuel engine and the 2011 Dodge 2500 4x4 with a diesel and 6 speed manual. There is a big price difference between the two but that is not my primary consideration because I plan to keep this truck a long time. My last truck had 450,000 mile on it when I sold it. (The Ford does not fit so well. No Ford this time. But maybe a Tundra 8 foot bed???)
a. Does the 2011 Dodge 1500 4x4 have an independent front axle?
b. At present, there is no diesel available for the 2011 Dodge 1500. I like the 4.7 V8. I am aware of the enthusiasm around the Hemi and published fuel economy figures nearly identical for both the 4.7 and the 5.7. However, I believe the fuel economy figures for the 4.7 are based on e-85 fuel. The 4.7 is a flex fuel engine and should achieve better fuel economy when running 89 or 92 octane gasoline. Thus, published fuel economy figures may compare apples and oranges, but I cannot find authoritative answers to my questions or assumptions.
c. I very much prefer a manual transmission, which is a strong point for the Dodge 2500 diesel with 6 speed manual.
d. At present, I am limiting the scope of my comparisons to standard cab trucks because I know from driving my last long bed truck with an extended cab that it is more difficult to maneuver these long trucks and I might have real problems off road. I have decided to buy a standard cab, remove the rear window of the truck and the large front window of the Keystone. Then I plan to install a full boot, which almost makes the camper itself an extension of the truck cab. This use to be a common practice but has become rare with all the extended cab trucks on the market. If someone has actually owned a full boot truck camper setup like this, it would be helpful to have your input.
Many thanks in advance for your help, John D
