[Procrastinator]

JW,

I went from a Dodge Ram 1500 short wheel base with the 5.9 gas engine my advice for a pull vehicle.

GO DIESEL!

I bought my first diesel truck ('98 dodge 3500 with 5.9 24 valve Cummins) over a year ago. In less than a month of driving it, I swore that I would never buy a gas powered truck again.

Its the best of both worlds power/performance and fuel economy. I get 18 MPG on average when driving it without my huge "full timer" 5th wheel trailer. I get 14 MPG pulling my trailer. My truck and trailer combo was weighed last month at 17,790 pounds. Pulls like a dream.

If you go with a diesel, you can have it "modifed" for insane amonts of horsepower and torque. If your a true gearhead you can't leave well enough alone. My diesel has a Bully Dog chip, a complete 5" exhaust, and K&N air filter. It easily puts out 300 horsepower and 610 pounds of torque at the rear axles.

The only down side to some is the engine noise. Diesels have a clack,clack,clack,clack sound to them. To me its not noise, its music. The same kind of music I hear when listening to a well built gasoline powered engine running. Its the sound of true Power! Engine noise is listening to a stock four cylinder with an exhaust tip.

My wife was not that impressed with the sound of the diesel when she first heard it. Now since I tuned it up, and she has driven it several times, she wants to buy diesel for herself. I caught her a month ago streetlight racing a Ford SuperDuty and blowing his doors off! Ah, the look on his face, beaten by a chick driving a diesel!

Good luck with your decision,

James Hunter