alpinecrick
I'm Awesome
Big difference at sea level and flattish country compared to altitude and long climbs on two lane curvy highways.
With a 10k trailer a Vortec 7.4 is minimum in the Rockies. The 6.0's in the GMT 800's/900's do ok in this country towing 10k or less. The 8.1's are rare and parts prices are pretty rarefied too. At that point a TD is about the same option. One of the best arguments for a TD around here is the turbo makes it's own atmosphere and doesn't care too much about altitude. But as Andy396 said you really do have to pay to play with the TD's.
I have a 05 Silverado 2500 TD, and my neighbor, who ranches, gets a new Dodge TD every 5-6 years. In other words he's owned about every era of Cummins TD since they appeared almost 30 years ago. I have pulled 6 horses or a load of cattle in a 36 ft gooseneck with his Dodges at least a couple times a year, probably weighing roughly 15k, pull a 10k trailer with my 2500, and best mileage in all those trucks is mid to low teens at altitudes ranging from 6k to 11k ft. And that's on pavement. Wait 'till you get on gravel roads.......
With a 10k trailer a Vortec 7.4 is minimum in the Rockies. The 6.0's in the GMT 800's/900's do ok in this country towing 10k or less. The 8.1's are rare and parts prices are pretty rarefied too. At that point a TD is about the same option. One of the best arguments for a TD around here is the turbo makes it's own atmosphere and doesn't care too much about altitude. But as Andy396 said you really do have to pay to play with the TD's.
I have a 05 Silverado 2500 TD, and my neighbor, who ranches, gets a new Dodge TD every 5-6 years. In other words he's owned about every era of Cummins TD since they appeared almost 30 years ago. I have pulled 6 horses or a load of cattle in a 36 ft gooseneck with his Dodges at least a couple times a year, probably weighing roughly 15k, pull a 10k trailer with my 2500, and best mileage in all those trucks is mid to low teens at altitudes ranging from 6k to 11k ft. And that's on pavement. Wait 'till you get on gravel roads.......