Kodiak 4500/5500 as tow vehicle

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by rowekmr, Feb 23, 2020.

  1. rowekmr

    rowekmr Light Load Member

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    Chicago, IL
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    How are the 4500/5500 Kodiaks for towing loads up to 25K with the 6.6l Duramax with gooseneck? They have more capacity than the typical 1 ton and I like the crew cab and available 4wd.
     
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  3. baerpath

    baerpath Light Load Member

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    You need to compare equal trucks, Look at the Dodge 5500/4500 or the Ford F450/F550 .
     
  4. Slay

    Slay Light Load Member

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    You need to ask a better question. What exactly do you want to know? Ford guys are going to tell you to get a Ford. The Rams will tell you the same. I run under 26,000 with a 04 GMC 3500 with 440,000 plus miles. There are 2 problems on that truck. The hydro boost leaks and needs new seals often and it eats injectors.

    My 07 GMC 3500 with 280,000 miles runs very well but it also leaks at the hydro boost.

    As I understand it the injector problems are now fewer but I have heard nothing about improvements on the hydro boost.
     
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  5. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    We ran a fleet of C5500 service trucks this is the first I've ever heard of hydroboost leaks. Guess we got lucky. Even injectors weren't much of an issue after we added an additional fuel filter.

    They ate u-joints and rear hub seals for sure though. Exhaust brake worked great. Mine was around 11k kilos with the service body loaded up with tools and parts and I could come down a 5% without ever touching the brakes. I liked the higher vantage point too.
     
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  6. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    Probably more comfortable than a comparable class 4 or 5 Ford or Ram of that era but 25k is probably well above what those were conservatively rated to tow. If you are going to be regularly towing that heavy over longer distances a 2 axle class 7 tractor would be a better idea. You wont get crapola for MPG with a little 6.6 duramax loaded down that heavy anyway. In town short haul stuff would be fine but if you're talking about running 65-70 down the interstate all day that would be a bad idea.
     
  7. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    eats injectors? Is that the $3k a set LB7 injectors? That's what scared me away from Duramax is I saw all the problems my dad had with his 01.
     
  8. Slay

    Slay Light Load Member

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    I did not keep a good count and since it was my first diesel I replaced them as needed instead of all at once. I know one of them I did twice.That was on the 04. The 07 has not been touched.
     
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