Avislopnik

"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei) 05/21/2015 at 17:00 • Filed to: None

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I just took this week’s hire Grand Cherokee on a dirt road. It had some turns in it, and it was fun. Also, it’s a Grand Cherokee Limited, so it didn’t skimp on equipment. However, am I an idiot for thinking of replacing the pickup with a diesel Grand Cherokee?

The rental has the Pentastar V6, but I’d rather have the diesel. It tows the same as my F-150, but can be made a lot nicer. Also, I have a ton of space, which is good for me, plus room to carry tools and such.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:03

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That depends. How old is your truck? Isn’t the Grand Cherokee pretty darn pricey?

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:04

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Why not a ecodiesel Ram? I hear they are super cushy onroad and you get the same engine and a bigger tank.

Alex B > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 05/21/2015 at 17:05

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Not as pricey as the German competition.

WiscoProud > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:05

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It boils down to how you use it. Do you often use the bed? If so, the GC may not be the right fit. I like the GC, but I don’t have any experience with the diesels, other than knowing they exist.

Twism > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:06

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If you need a separate storage space : Ram diesel.

If not, GC diesel.

this thing is downright amazing.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 05/21/2015 at 17:06

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1995 F-150 with the 351 V8. It’s only RWD, and is showing it’s age. However it’s paid for...

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > WiscoProud 05/21/2015 at 17:09

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I have had times where the bed is handy, but I wouldn’t call it necessary. (About the only thing that I throw in there are the ramps for the trailer, but I could easily put a system in to store those under the car on the trailer.

What I really like is that for all the other stuff (the jack, stands, tools, and that stuff), it’s in the truck itself, and if need be, I could sleep in it. Since I don’t have a cap on the F-150, then I’d have to devise another system.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Alex B 05/21/2015 at 17:09

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Or a Range Rover.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:11

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Tough choice. Paid for sure is nice. But then again so is a new GC. Does that rental have the Chrysler eleventy billion speed auto? How is it?

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 17:11

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I’d still have the same issue as I do with the Ford, which is that all of the tools and such have to be put in a bin, which goes in the Audi, which gets unpacked at the track.

The Ford doesn’t have a toolbox, and I haven’t seen a bed toolbox that I really think would work. Plus I have limited space in the cab, so if I need dry storage, I get screwed over there.

(The screwy part there is that before 1997, SuperCabs on F-150s did not have suicide doors for the rear. That is what really makes me mad, and sometimes I get pissed that I don’t have them)

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:13

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what kind of tools are we talking about? you can get locking ramboxes on the ram. Not that i am against you getting a wagon as I prefer them to pickups.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 05/21/2015 at 17:15

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The ZF 8HP is quite sufficient with the Pentastar V6. I have no complaints.

My preferred GC is a 4WD Overland with the diesel. Because it already has a ton of equipment, the only necessary addition is the skid plate + QuadraDrive package. MSRP $52,500 or so.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 17:17

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It’s not just hand tools, but also the jack (with removable handle), jackstands, and possibly the air compressor.

The jack and air compressor is what worries me about being left out where there is the possibility of rain.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:17

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First gen range rover with Isuzu swap.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 05/21/2015 at 17:19

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This is possible. Could also do a mildly done up OM617.

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:20

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Fair enough. Bed cap? I’m really not trying to steer you truck but it sounds like dirty cargo is a requirement and putting it in a new car seems like a bad idea. I don’t like putting it in my old car.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:29

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I have a w123, it’s ok for that car but the extra power and Japanese (partly chevy I think) sounds good. I would have one but I have three cars.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 17:29

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The other thing is that the Jeep gives you more equipment for the same amount of money.

Jeep GC Overland with diesel, 4WD and off-road package is $52,500 MSRP.

To get a similarly equipped Ram 1500:

Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 6.5 foot bed (To get a leather interior, which is standard on the Jeep at this level), add 4WD, diesel engine, 4 corner air suspension (standard on the GC Overland), convenience group (keyless start etc, standard on the Jeep), Sat Nav (Standard on the Jeep), and RamBox (which is $1300!!!, and not needed on the Jeep)

$55,000 MSRP

And all you give up is about 2,000lbs towing capacity.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 17:46

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I guess I’d also need to see how each one would cope with the loaded trailer.

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 17:49

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How loaded? If you have a choice, I would choose a vehicle where you aren’t at or near your max each time you tow. I would say 80% is a good bet for anything but an HD truck for regular towing duties.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 17:59

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Trailer is 1750lbs, Audi is 3800lbs, so 5500lbs or so. The Audi is also likely to get lighter if I decide to strip the interior and install race seats.

It wouldn’t necessarily need weight distributing hitch, but it’s close.

My main choices to have a tow vehicle to get me to tracks look like this:

Keep the Ford and open trailer, do nothing.
It’s tiring to drive the Ford long distances with a trailer. Chicago and back with a U-Haul wasn’t what I’d call fun.

Keep the open trailer, go to a light duty diesel (JGC or Ram 1500)
I’d still have hotel bills, especially if I don’t have camping availability or a spacious enough cab.

Go to a HD Diesel and enclosed trailer, with possible camper provisions in the front of the trailer (So it becomes an RV trailer), or a slide in camper.
Need to watch GAWR rear on this setup. Allows for gooseneck and fifth wheels, but that becomes expensive ($$$$)

Keep the open trailer, tow it with a Class A RV.
I’ve seen inexpensive Class A gassers, but this depends on finding the right one. Could also install the air compressor near the generator, and do custom toolboxes, and I have a mobile garage and hotel room. Downside? I need to make a pad to park the RV at my house.

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 18:02

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What about a bigger suv like an expedition Ecoboost or something? plenty of overhead for towing, and a place to sleep in the truck.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 18:07

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Diesels don’t have emissions checks in GA. :) I guess I could go and find a diesel Suburban or something like that...

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 18:11

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if you are going that route, just get a diesel expedition. All the towing and space and the 7.3 was pretty economical and no DEF.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 18:19

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I guess that’s a sub option of the HD Diesel, since the Excursion was on the Super Duty platform.

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 18:24

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it would probably net you only 20% worse mileage than the GC, and the money you saved in the outright purchase can go towards a car hauler/camper. of course, if you are getting a hd truck and a camper you don’t need a wagon and you can just get any diesel truck. I guess it just depends on how comfy you want to be. I love sleeping in my cruiser, its comfy but if I was already hauling a trailer it would be nice to have something to stand up in and such. Back on topic, I have a hard time recommending the GC (or if im honest, any FCA product) as they are known for being really great...until they aren’t in a few years and then they become troublesome.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > HammerheadFistpunch 05/21/2015 at 18:28

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I still have the classic “3 year Chrysler syndrome” that the family is recovering from.

After 3 years, just about every Chrysler product anyone in the family has owned has had major mechanical problems (a few vans munched transmissions, and a LH Intrepid had motor issues).

To be honest, since I’m not really doing any off-roading, my personal view it towards the “Buy a 30 foot Class A Winnebago that some grandma only used to cart the grandkids from Atlanta to Disney World” (Those do exist by the way...) and using that to tow the open trailer.

HammerheadFistpunch > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 05/21/2015 at 18:35

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check out cruiser america, they sell off their rv’s after only a few years of use and you can get great deals. My buddy’s dad bought one in great shape for like $18,000.