Mounted search and rescue

["David Skofstad" <dbs54neigh@earthlink.net>]

Irv:

Putting a gooseneck on the truck should not reduce the weight on the front
end.  The hitch is supposed to be slightly ahead of the rear axle so as to
ADD weight to the front end.  The weight ratio may be changed, but the
total force on the front axle will not go down.




> [Original Message]
> From: IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN <ilichten1@verizon.net>
> To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Date: 6/17/2007 10:09:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [MSAR] Trucks?
>
> I have a 3/4 ton Suburban with a 6.5 Liter Detroit you can have, only 92K
> miles and the engine warranty doesn't wear out until January or another
30K
> miles. 
>
> In reality, what you want to look at is the combined gross vehicle
weight. A
> half ton may pull 10K pounds but may have no capacity left for you,
> passengers, or stuff in the truck.  I use a 3/4 ton Suburban to pull a 4
> horse stock with only horse in it (admittedly a big horse) and you can
still
> run into problems.  The 1998 Diesel is rated to pull 8,000 pounds, it
weighs
> 7551 empty according to the factory but has a combined gross of only
15500. 
> This means that at max trailer load there is no capacity left for a
driver,
> fuel, or anything else in the truck. This is the deciding factor for 2500
v
> 1500 (or maybe a 3500?)
>
> I just acquired a 6.0 L gas 4x4 3/4 ton Suburban and will be towing the
> empty trailer for the first time Tuesday. It has 366 HP v the 157 of the
> Diesel and about the same torque, same rear end (4.10 limited slip) and
has
> a dual mode transmission. 
>
> I would be careful of weight balance and distribution with a pickup. I
had a
> 2500 Silverado 4x4 on rental and with the bed empty it was a bear. A
> gooseneck should help by putting weight over the back axle but the weight
> shift off the front axle can destroy your control forces. 
>
> The deciding factor should be the comfort level you have with dealership
and
> the way the truck handles and what options you need that one has but the
> other doesn't.  The other difference is getting the Cummins fixed versus
the
> DuraMax which is used by Chevy, GMC, Izzu, and a lot of chassis buyers.
And
> the Cummins model is unique to Chrysler.  It is not used in any of the
> Mercedes trucks, or any other truck I know of. 
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Pennbo's
> Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2007 10:10 PM
> To: Mounted search and rescue
> Subject: [MSAR] Trucks?
>
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