This is great stuff, thanks all for you input.
Next year I’ll be replacing my ’01 Durango (4.7 V8, tow package, 3.90’s, lsd, etc) with something bigger and better. I ‘thought’ the Durango had enough power… Until I pulled a car through the mountains of Virginia- Holly @#$#@*!
Lesson learned.
Towing in a flat area is one thing, but man, oh man, those mountain grades had me putting my foot to the floor on both the pedals! Not the proper tool for the job, and once my race car is done I’ll be towing more and more.
I expect 200,000 miles out of any vehicle, and I take care of them appropriately. The Durango has 170,000 with no drive-train issues at the moment, but it's showing its age elsewhere. In the past the Diesel drive trains were just plain made to run longer than the gas units. Not sure that this is still the case?
I’m very seriously looking at that next purchase being a used Dodge with the Diesel. But I could be swayed at this point. I already find that I tow “stuff” more than I ever thought I would, from my enclosed motorcycle trailer to whatever random car needs to be moved around, or patio block, or ???. Plus, 4x4 winter duty is important here.
It’s fun to shop, but when I write the check I want to make damn sure it’s for the correct tool!