"an old four speed tranny", im guessing you mean Dodges automatic? i would never have a diesel truck with an automatic.

 

The weak link of the Dodge is the tranny, especially if its an automatic.
Octane

 

Yeppers gotta be a FORD . ,, On an on the Big Rig's , they got V-8, DETROITS, CATERPILLAR, An Yes Even CUMMINS , Most folks go with the 6 for cost, An Pulling , Ive seen those Detroits eat a Cummins on a straight way , but as soon as they hit the hills in Calif , you would see the Cummins start gaining , an gaining, an finally walk past them, till it leveled out again. Ford needed to get in the diesel market , they saw how bad GM done trying to make a Diesel , So they went to the failing International an made them a deal they couldnt refuse !!! , An yea there we some problems in the early days , But Ford has had International pick up the ball , an they started a running with it , no one thought the light duty truck side would have a strong following in the diesel market, Boy where they wrong. I remember being at a Farm equipment show an John Deere was showing off its new 4 cyl. Diesel , everyone was wanting to know how hard it would be to put one in a pick -up. An the rest is as they say HISTORY ...An that aint no "THINGY"

 

Go for the Dodge man [8D]

-Ron

 

I have driven both ford and a dodge pulling huge trialers
I recomend the dodge ram with the cummins because unlike the ford diesel's there is so much to do to the engine to increase HP but also
torque . The down side to the cummins is the auto transmission but as
long as you have a cooler with a fan on the front and a trans temp gauge
you should be fine . I f you go with the dodge cummins put a fuel pressure gauge in the cab . you can also get better fuel economy out of the dodge than the ford . the ford towing cap is 14,800 LBS the dodge is 15,800 LBS . I have owned both ford and dodge if I can answer any questians you may have please let me know