Dye Autos Denver Area Truck and Automotive Blog

best-pickup-trucks-for-towing-denver-1

What Are The Best Pickup Trucks for Towing?

By Dye Autos / May 31, 2018 / Comments Off on What Are The Best Pickup Trucks for Towing?

best-pickup-trucks-for-towing-denver-1We sell a lot of pickup trucks here at Dye Autos. With our level of experience, we get a lot of questions from consumers about trucks and towing capacity. It’s important to know the details of the truck you’re considering to purchase and we’re here to help you figure that out.

To choose the best pickup for towing, truck shoppers should consider the factors that contribute to towing capability.

Start by asking yourself two simple questions will help you narrow your choices:

  1. What do you plan to tow?
  2. How will you use your pickup when you’re not towing?

If you’ll often use your pickup without the trailer, you’ll want to choose a vehicle that suits those needs, too. You’ll want to choose a lighter or more-efficient pickup that’s able to handle your trailer but is also a ride that you can live with every day.

Determine the size and weight of your trailer.

You’ll need to find out the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of what you’re going to tow.

You’ll find this on the trailer “VIN plate” (Vehicle Identification Number) or by contacting the trailer manufacturer. The GVWR is the dry weight of the trailer (empty weight) plus the maximum allowed payload.

  • Your trailer may be as little as a 12-ft pop-up camper with a GVWR of under 3,000 lbs.
  • Perhaps, it’s a behemoth conventional camping trailer that is 40-ft long and approaching 14,000 lbs GVWR.
  • How about a triple-axle 43-ft long 5th-wheel toy hauler that is pushing a total weight rating of 20,000 lbs?
  • It may be a large boat, a cargo trailer, or a horse trailer.

Figure out the GVWR of the trailer, as well as the loaded weight of your specific setup.

Light Duty or Heavy Duty Pickup Truck?

Some light-duty trucks offer huge towing capacities in excess of 10,000 pounds, but drivers with big trailers, such as fifth-wheel campers or gooseneck horse trailers, may be better off with a heavy-duty pickup, such as the Ford F250 Super Duty,  Dodge Ram 2500, or Chevy Silverado. Again, frequency of use is a consideration.

“The Ford F150 Ecoboost with Max Tow has trailer pulling capability that works well for many of our customers. It’s actually better than a diesel because it generally costs less and has less maintenance.” – Scott Dye

If you plan to tow a personal watercraft or a light-utility trailer, you may not even need a full-size pickup. Consider a smaller truck, such as the Toyota Tacoma or the upcoming Chevy Colorado, if you’re only pulling a light trailer.

Do I need a 4×4?

A 4×4 can be very handy, especially for pulling a trailer on uneven surfaces. A slippery boat ramp, soft ground or a hill with loose gravel might spell trouble for a 2-wheel-drive pickup, but a 4×4 should be able to climb right out, trailer in tow.

Four-wheel-drive pickups typically have slightly lower towing capacities than their 2-wheel-drive counterparts due to the extra weight of the 4-wheel-drive components.

What all this means for you…

Bottom Line? The best pickup for towing is the one that’s rated to pull your trailer and will suit your needs even when you don’t have a trailer behind you.

The task of determining the towing capacity of a particular pickup may seem daunting with so many factors coming into play. We can help you determine the best pickup truck for your specific lifestyle and needs. Get in touch >>here<< or call us at (303) 286-1665.

We’re here to help!

Read More

Duramax, Chevrolet and GMC Horse Power and Torque

By scott / February 28, 2017 / Comments Off on Duramax, Chevrolet and GMC Horse Power and Torque

Duramax, Chevrolet and GMC Horse Power and Torque

2006 GMC Sierra Crew LBZ Duramax Diesel for sale by dyeautos.com in Denver

 

This article is about the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra (GM) pickup trucks mated with Duramax diesel engine with some specifications and history.  The Isuzu and GM coop'd the 6.6l turbo diesel engine design that has put Chevrolet and GMC on the map for consumers and diesel truck lovers.  In 2001, the Duramax turbo diesel was introduced to the GM 3/4 ton, 1 ton trucks and commerical trucks.  In 2004.5, the EPA required a catalytic converters (Cat) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on the LLY engines.  In 2008, the EPA again required stricter emissions and required the first Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) as well as the Cat/EGR.  In 2011, improvements were made in the emissions systems by the new Urea injection system that didnt hurt performance.

The Allison 1000 automatic transmission has been the in the large amount of GM trucks built with the Duramax however you could order a 2001-2007 GM truck with a ZF S6-650 manual transmission.  Interesting enough, the ZF S6-650 manual transmission ZF Friedrichshafen AG was used in the 1999-2003 Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks previously.  This transmission was discountinued in 2007 by GM.

Chevrolet diesel trucks:

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/Chevrolet/?search=diesel

GMC diesel trucks:

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/Gmc/?search=diesel

2013 GMC Denali Duramax diesel for sale by dyeautos.com in Denver

 

Duramax diesels with Allison 1000 automatic transmissions
Year.                  Engine  Vin code  HP    Torque   Allison or  ZF S6-650
2001-2003       LB7        1               235    500        5 spd          6 spd man.
2004                  LB7        1               300   520        5 spd          6 spd man.
2004.5               LLY       2               310    520        5 spd          6 spd man.
2005                  LLY       2               310    520        5 spd          6 spd man.
2006                  LLY       2               310    605        6 spd          6 spd man.
2006.5-2007   LBZ       D               360   650         6 spd          6 spd man.
2007.5               LMM    6               365    660        6 spd
2008-2010       LMM    6               365    660        6spd
2011-2016         LML     8               397    765        6 spd
2017                  L5P        Y              445    910         6spd

We always carry serval Chevrolet and GMC trucks with Duramax engine and Allison transmissions.

Chevrolet diesel trucks:

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/Chevrolet/?search=diesel

GMC diesel trucks:

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/Gmc/?search=diesel

2010 Chevrolet Duramax diesel for sale by dyeautos.com in Denver

 

 

Here are my sources of information and highly recommended information of Duramax's.

http://www.dieselarmy.com/features/history/family-lineage-the-evolution-of-gm-diesel-truck-engines/

http://www.trucktrend.com/cool-trucks/1303dp-history-of-the-duramax-diesel-engine/

http://www.duramaxhub.com/

Vehicles with 6.6l duramax diesel engines included but not limited to Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 3/4, 1 ton light duty trucks.

2008 chevrolet LTZ Duramax crew Z71 for sale by dyeautos.com in Denver

 

Chevrolet diesel trucks:

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/Chevrolet/?search=diesel

GMC diesel trucks:

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/Gmc/?search=diesel

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d5948.110100269772!2d-105.1159037490826!3d39.78491008090201!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x876c7bb587927685%3A0xd570e369efe2f246!2sdyeautos.com+and+Denver+Truck+and+Autos!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1488239908546" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.dyeautos.com/

 

Read More

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

By scott / January 26, 2017 / Comments Off on Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs have changed a lot from 1989 to 2017.  The Cummins corporation actually made the engines for the Chrysler corporation bda Dodge and Ram companies.  All these Cummins diesel engines are inline 6 cylinders.  You can find these Cummins engines in many Dodge Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 truck models.  The original design in 1989 to 1993 started with  a 5.9l VE-Rotary pump and 12 valves.  These engine produced 160 horsepower (HP) and 400 foot pounds of torque (lb-ft).  In the next generation of 5.9l Cummins engines they would change the pump to a P-7100 from 1994-1998 but was still only 12 valves.  These Cummins engines produced from 175 to 235 HP and 440-460 lb-ft torque.  In the third generation of 5.9l Cummins engines they would replaced the pump with the VP44 model and would move to 24 valves from 1998.5  to 2002.  These Cummins engines produced 235-245 HP and 460-505 lb-ft of torque.  These Dodge Ram trucks were also the first to get a catalytic converters which were required for EPA regulations.  The last generation 5.9l Cummins engines from 2003 to 2007 used HPCR pump and 24 valves.  They have 305-325 HP and 600-650 lb-ft of torque.  Cummins made a displacement change in 2007.5 to the 6.7l Cummins diesel.  This new generation of 6.7l engines started to use a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) as well as a catalytic converter for new stricter EPA regulations.  The new Cummins 6.7l engine from 2007.5 to 2015 had 350-385 HP and 865 lb-ft of torque.   In 2016 Cummins broke the 900 lb-ft torque mark.  For both 2015 and 2016 Cummins had broken the torque records for any massed produced road worthy vehicle in the United States.  The 2017 6.7L Cummins has the same engine as the impressive 900 lb-ft torque of the 2015 6.7L Cummins engine in the Ram trucks.  Below is a chart from 1989 to 2107 to show the changes of HP, lb-ft, pumps and valves.  Dyeautos.com has diesel trucks for sale many of these trucks are Dodge and Ram diesels.  As a side note you can denote the 5.9l’s and 6.7l’s by the 8 digit of the VIN as a “C” or an “A,” respectfully.

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/?search=dodge%20ram%20diesel

Dodge diesels truck and later Ram diesel truck engines specs:

Pumps and years

VE-Rotary 1989-1993

P-7100 Pump 1994 t0 1998,

VP44 1998.5 to 2002,

HPCR pump from 2003 to 2017

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs:

Year Displacement (Disp) Horsepower (Hp) Torque (T) # of valves (V)

Year       Disp       Hp           T               V

1989     5.9L     160         400         12V
1990     5.9L     160         400         12V
1991      5.9L     160         400         12V
1992     5.9L     160         400          12V
1993     5.9L     160         400          12V

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

Year      Disp     Hp      T       V

1994      5.9L     175      420   12V
1995      5.9L     175      420   12V
1996     5.9L      215     440   12V

1997     5.9L      215     440   12V 

1998     5.9L     235     460   12V

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

Year      Disp     Hp      T        V

1998.5     5.9L   235    460    24V
1999        5.9L  235     460    24V
2000       5.9L   235     460   24V
2001        5.9L   245     505   24V 

2002       5.9L   245     505    24V

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

Year      Disp    Hp      T       V

2003       5.9L   305    555    24V
2004       5.9L   325    600   24V
2005       5.9L   325    610    24V
2006       5.9L   325    610    24V

2007       5.9L   350    650    24V

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs 2005

 

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

Year      Displ    Hp      T       V

2007.5   6.7L     350    650   24V
2008      6.7L     350    650   24V
2009      6.7L     350    650   24V
2010      6.7L    350    650   24V
2011       6.7L    350    800   24V 

2012      6.7L     350   800   24V

2013      6.7L    385    850   24V
2014      6.7L   385    865    24V
2015      6.7L   385    865   24V
2016      6.7L    385    900   24V
2017      6.7L   385    900   24V

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9l 6.7l diesel engine specs

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/?search=dodge%20ram%20diesel

I believe these numbers to accurate from various articles, Dodge/Ram forms and websites. 

References:

https://cumminsengines.com/pickup-truck-cummins-ram-history

http://blog.caranddriver.com/do-all-of-the-twist-ram-snatches-truck-torque-crown-with-865-lb-ft-cummins-diesel-for-2015/

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/195081-Catalytic-Converter

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/2016-ram-cummins-diesel-900-lb-ft-of-torque-stock-and-1713029867

http://www.ramtrucks.com/2017/ram_3500/index.html

Get approved today with our easy auto loans!

https://www.dyeautos.com/inventory/Used/?search=dodge%20ram%20diesel

Read More

Dye Autos – Your One Stop for Commercial Trucks in Denver

By / December 21, 2015 / Comments Off on Dye Autos – Your One Stop for Commercial Trucks in Denver

dodgeDye Autos, located in Wheat Ridge, has a plethora of commercial trucks. When you shop with us, you’re bound to find one that can meet your business need. We have trucks ranging from Ford F-450’s, F-550’s, to Dodge 4500 and 5500’s. We also carry moving trucks, cargo vans, and have trucks with beds as long as 21 feet. If we don’t have what you need on our lot, we can surely find it for you.

Dye Autos makes it easy to buy a diesel or gas commercial vehicle. You’ll find we have the lowest prices in Denver and a simple buying process. We can finance for as low as 1.99%.

You want ‘em – We got ‘em. Stop by Colorado’s largest truck center in Colorado today. You’ll find us at 4855 Miller Street, Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033.

 

Dyeautos sells trucks in Denver for great prices and we have easy auto loans!

Read More