What overheats? The coolant temp, oil temp, or trans temp? Just curious. They do pull a lot more weight with the diesels on there tests up the Ike. I think the 2020 2500 6.4 8 speed truck they pulled 14k and it did better than the Chevy but not the Ford
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This is true, but the Ram was max'd for the 3.73 gears and the others were maxed at about 16k due to higher rear end ratios; TFL couldn't get a 4.10 equipped Ram for an apples to apples comparison.
If it were my choice, here's how it would play out. If you're towing at elevation frequently, the diesel seems like an easy choice especially if the gas/diesel costs are a wash. Getting a 3500 Cummins powered mega cab is giving you more mileage potential out of the drivetrain, higher towing potential, and we know that forced induction in the turbo diesel is going to show it's value exponentially as altitude increases. That's to get the load moving....now factor in the exhaust brake to keep the load slowing down and stable and there's no comparison. The 8 speed doesn't do a great job of slowing the load down for some reason. Yes, you're paying 10k more for the Cummins, but for regular towing duty, it would probably take quite a bit to talk me out of a Cummins. Don't get me wrong, my 6.4 handles my 11k 5w well, but I haven't really tested it yet on anything substantial.
Towing my last 33' and 7500# tt on some switchbacks through VT and NY rt 7, which is a miseable drive without anything behind you and about a 7% grade (I believe some signs showed higher), it was tough having to scrub speed on uphill corners and then get momentum going again. I say tough because the truck had to work for it but temps were not an issue. Going down the other side the exhaust brake would have been phenomenal.