My Pickup: Operation Tugboat, Part 2 - PickupTrucks.com
360 CID V-8 which put out 120 hp and 210 pounds-feet of torque through a four-speed automatic transmission. or the Cummins diesel at "170 horsepower and 399 pounds-feet of torque". We now have 1/2 ton pickups with 350-400+ hp and torque and tow ratings in the 10-12 k range. Is it just me or does this truck have one of the most nauseating interior colour sschemes on the planet. The seating position in these trucks were high up. I think that Dodge just pulled the seats & pedastal's out of the B series van with no changes. My Dad had a 1992 LE 2500 diesel & had to go to Dodge to get seat belt extenders to make the belts work. Real solid truck for back then, put ball joints in at a 100K. Dad drove it until he bought a 1995 Dodge Diesel. Some people claim they don't build them like they used to. I for one am glad they don't. and if you are running empty with no locking axles. And the locking axles in conjunction with a dual rear axle will prove to be the most advantageous. A tugboat (I define that as a trailer towing vehicle) will spend most of it's time on the highway or improved or semi improved dirt roads. Locking rear axle would most likely be enough. But if that's what you need, start with a cheap used truck and build it from. Source: news.pickuptrucks.com
