What do you guys think of my new SKIFF PULLER???

[jongurley]

I bought my new 218dlv skiff in sept of 09 and didn't get to use it but about 5 times at the coast, I had a 2006 z71 Chevy pickup crewcab gas burner,, it pulled it OK but not as good or easy as I would like,, this coming up season I am goin to try and run the boat hard,, so I figured I might as well buy something to pull the skiff,,, so I purchased a Brandnew 2010 Duramax Diesel, crew cab , LTZ(loaded) ,,,, I had it home for 1 day and carryed it up to Downeastoffroad.com in wilson, NC and had them level it and put 20" KMC xd series SPY rims and 33" Nitto terragrappler tires on,, and a full 4" exhaust with a programmer for gas mileage and power,, then I had the front windows tinted to match the back,, I hooked it up to the skiff today and pulled it to the local store and it didn't even know it was back there I was tickled,, I don't think I will ever own another gas pickup,, ,, and I can still outrun camaros and mustangs*Cheers* anyway just seeing what you guys think and how many diesel owners out there,,

[Whatever]

Very nice...*thumbsup*

[Striper huntin]

I have owned Dodge Cummins diesels since 1999, a 1999 3/4 ton that I pulled a 7500lb horse trailer with and it had 251,000 miles on it and still running strong when I got my new loaded out Dodge 1 ton dually a year and a half ago. After moving up to the dually, I moved up to a 36'x8' living quarters horse trailer weighing 13,200 lbs., the Dodge has pulled it all through the NC mountains. I have never owned a Duramax, but they say it is a good engine. I have no intentions on going back to gas either.

[dwightce]

As far as I am concerned, there is nothing else made but a Chevy. Awesome looking truck!!!!

[Striper huntin]

Dwightce,
Understood about the Chevy. Best riding truck on the market. I had nothing but Chevy trucks until 1999 when I wanted to purchase my first diesel and Chevy was not in the market of diesel trucks at that time. I had a Z71 and a chevy dually, I needed a pulling truck and the dually had a 454 at 11 mpg. I pulled a 7500lb horse trailer to Boone, NC and had a loaded dump truck pass me going up the mountain and my poor 454 was screaming for all it had. So it was time to step into a diesel, if Chevy would have been building a good diesel at the time that is what I would have purchased. I will not bad mouth Chevy or Ford but I know what the Dodge Cummins diesel is capable of.

[dwightce]

Striper,

I was not taking a shot at your Dodge or at your post. I was commenting on Jongurley's post and showing my support for his Chevy. (Like old school Ford and Chevy debates in NASCAR) Dodge makes a fine vehical, especially diesel's. I understand why you purchased what you did, especially if you were getting passed by a dump truck. Sorry for any confusion, but my post wasn't aimed at your's. I was merely supporting one mans new Skiff Puller.

[Loki]

That's one helluva truck! Very nice.

[218Elite08]

*thumbsup* You'll love that truck. I put over 23,000 on my last year and it has not missed a beat. I would add the rear wheel liners to your truck. (That was one of the first things I did to mine.) It makes the rear wheel house look complete and the kit will cost around $80 or so depending on your dealers markup matrix. :cool:

[TooTall]

Nice looking truck!!! But what is that around it?... brown grass? where are you from?rotflmao Doesn't look like my grass ....all white

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Very nice truck, congrats.

I thought that the LTZ upgrade included chrome mirror covers and chrome door handles. Did they(Chevy) change that?

[akdocauer]

That is a bad *** truck. The only thing that would make it better is if it were a Ford;D

[yellowdog]

I've got a 2000 Ford Excursion deisel and love it. My mileage isn't that different whether the boats back there or not! 194K on mine.

[texasspud]

*001* Didn't know "skiffs" were so darn heavy they needed this kinda tow vehicle. *fingerscrossed*Hope I'm ok with my jeep, its only rated at 2,000 lbs.

[throrope]

I'm all for getting the truck you want. I've always took better care, kept longer and got more money out of what I wanted then what I settled for.

My what I wanted is a '94 Chevy Astro AWD bought new and now with 189K. My 12 yr old and I just towed our "new" '04 2180 DLX w/ 90 Yamaha 2s from Chesapeake VA to SE PA from a guy who wasn't happy about parting with it, but glad I'm the guy who bought it. Our boat is the lightest thing the Astro towed and I didn't know it was back there.

A Duramax stump puller is an awesome ride, but IMHO completely overkill. Have a ball.

[roostriz]

*001* Didn't know "skiffs" were so darn heavy they needed this kinda tow vehicle. *fingerscrossed*Hope I'm ok with my jeep, its only rated at 2,000 lbs.

I just got out of a Jeep Wrangler. You should be ok but depending on your boat give yourself plenty of room to brake. Mine was a stick Rubicon, towing a 1965 semi-v. I wouldn't want to use it for more than towing the few miles to the ramp and back. Good luck!

BTW I stepped up to a Dodge Cummins. Firs thing my brother in law said was "are you sure it will pull that boat" haha

[texasspud]

What year wrangler were you haulin with and what tow weight was it rated for?

[roostriz]

What year wrangler were you haulin with and what tow weight was it rated for?

It was a 2003 Rubicon so it had the Dana 44 axles with the 4:10 gears in it where as most of others had only 3.73's. It is still only rated at 2000 lbs. It was also a 5 speed. Disc brakes all around too but it just was not a great tow vehicle. Very bouncy, brakes were definetely taxed. It did ok but like I said I only used it to ferry my rig a short distance and back.

On the other hand it was great as far as manueverability goes. Backing up was a cinch. What are your specs on your Jeep?

[throrope]

Rear end ratio makes a big difference.

GM is famous for telling you the max tow rating, but you need to look close at the axle ratio's. I don't pay attention to Ford & Dodge, am sure their great trucks and guess they do the same.

With 3.42 ratio, the 200hp/225ft-lb Astro can do only around 3500#. With our 3.73 rears the same car & engine is rated at 5000#. We pay for it in gas every day, but it acts less like a truck between red lights and 1500# is a big difference. We pulled a 4500# dry camper for years to OBX with the Astro. It bogged down on grades and the fan clutch kicked in regularly on hot days with the AC, but it still goes. We have a tranny cooler and haven't touched it or the engine for 189K.

Our 300hp/330ft-lb V8 Trailblazer Ext also has the 3.73 rears and is rated for 6500#. Most trailblazers were build with the 291hp/277ft-lb straight six with 3.42 rear and are rated for 5400# (5000# for the Ext). The power between the two engines doesn't make as much difference as the rear ratio, but you need to go to 4.10 rears on the six to get the same pull and your engine will scream all the time. The OBX drive with the Trailblazer and same camper is much less fatiguing than with the Astro.

Moral: If you can get by with what you have, its cheaper to wait until it gives out. You're not towing every day.

[texasspud]

Roostriz. Thanks for the reply. Ours in an 08 JK 2 door. Dana 44 rear, 3.73 gears, auto tranny with the 3.8 v6. Much improved over the earlier 97-06 TJ's. The 4 door JK is actually rated at 3500 lbs. The 2 door is limited to 2000 lbs due the DOT safety restrictions of the shorter wheelbase. The wheelbase and 2 more doors are the only difference in the new JK's. We're only towing 1300 lbs with no trailer brake. Have 4 wheel disc brakes and a wider track on them now. Don't even know its back there. We also have an 07 Xterra rated for 5000 lbs. Of the two we prefer towing with the JK. But, you gotta miss that 03 Rubi for off-roadin. *kickrock*

[roostriz]

Yes the new ones drive much nicer than the TJ's. My wife actually contemplated getting an 08 4 door for a while. The Rubi was fun but it was one of those deals were it was kinda in limbo. I took it it into some pits and fire trails but it was just to darn nice to really beat the poop out of it. At the same time it was my daily driver so I couldn't afford to break it either. I think at some point I may build one with an aftermarket frame and fiberglass body that I won't have to worry about but that won't be for a while.

[texasspud]

We bought our's primarily to go exploring old historic areas in Texas. A lot of history along the Red River bordering Oklahoma. Places that aren't on a map. Have to research Texas Ghost Town sites to find them. Some of the places were off on trails that we weren't comfortable on with in a 2wd Xterra. So we got the JK and threw some decent all terrains on her. Somewhere along the way we decided to get a Carolina Skiff. Don't do much exploring anymore except in the winter. Spring, Summer and Fall, were on the lakes. Makes a good tow vehicle as long as the weight is reasonably light.

What are you pullin with your Dodge Cummins. I know, probably anything you want. *thumbsup* But, I mean boatwise.

[Striper huntin]

Like you said texasspud, the Dodge Cummins pulls anything and still gets decent fuel mileage.

[roostriz]

I have the red headed step child of the CS line a 1965 semi-v. It works for me in the bays around here where I do most of my fishing. Took it out in the open once but the kids said they were getting seasick haha.
I'd definetly have a jeep in Texas, in fact I'd be there right now if my wifes family didn't all live up here. Had her on board to move at one point. But in return for my proximity to her family I get astronomical property taxes, insurance, and well the price of just about anything else except fuel.

[texasspud]

What state do you currently live in? Texas has low property taxes, housing is inexpensive compared to many states and the job market hasn't been hit nearly as hard as most states. There's some dang decent lakes down here as well. Not salt water, but we've got 50lb+ Blue Cats, tons of white bass and some decent Large Mouth Bass.

[roostriz]

New Jersey.... guess I should fill out my profile huh.

[Tawn]

I bought a F-250 Powerstroke Lariat last year. Pull a 218DLV with it. Bought the diesel for the "next" boat - which will be a 23-25' Parker, Judge or Maycraft Pilothouse boat. No problem pulling the CS with my previous gas truck but like I said the next one will be 3 to 4 times the weight of the DLV.

[jongurley]

Nice even though its a ford,,LOL

[throrope]

Tawn

If your thinking Maycraft, you may want to talk to Rudy.

http://www.thehookupcharter.com/

He is pure helpful, a top shelf guy and very particular about the boats he runs to make a living. He also has a '99 CS and guided us for our skiff.

He worked so close with Maycraft on his that they wanted to put it on the cover of the brochure. He adores his boat, but declined because they didn't work with him on price.

Just tell him Paul thought you could help and ask about Bette.