International 4700 crew cab VS Dodge 3500

[easyshell]

Been looking for a while and decided to ask for some input. I have read lots of good ideas

I have a 1997 International 4700 crew cab with a 8' flat deck 2wd (soon to be 4x4 hopefully) I also have a 2006 dodge 3500 crew cab 4x4 3" lift, winch, arb locker, and all the usual power upgrades and a built tranny.

Just got a bigfoot 10.6 camper and don't know which truck to use. The dodge is kind of light duty for the camper but is 13" lower than the international (the international is not 4x4 yet will be another 6" higher most likely)
The camper also is a bit over weight for the dodge but I can remove the a/c and the generator and only fill the water tank half full (full is 53 gal) and put most of our junk in the trailer. The other part is the cab on the dodge is smaller than the International (Two adults two kids and two 85lb labs) don't fit so well in the cab.

If I put the camper on the International I get lots more storage down the sides of the deck and it drives like there is nothing on it. My bigest problem is the back door is 62" from the ground regular fold up stairs are not going to cut it
some thing is going to have to be fabbed up with a railing at least on one side probly both(kids are young)
The camper is 10.5' long and it needs to sit 6" higher than the deck to clear the cab so I've been thinking of building a whole cradle/storage/ stair contraption that will sit on the deck.

We mainly go on logging roads with the odd rough section to get to the places where we like to camp so the truck will have to be 4wd we also camp alot in the winter (Snow and lots of it chains front and rear) We will also be towing a trailer with a 12' aluminum boat and a rhino in it

Any thoughts???
Thanks

 

[Revco]

Show off!:Wow1:

 

[Rovertrader]

International for sure- why be so close to overloaded on the Dodge- not to mention the trailer, etc. What a problem to have, eyh?

 

[Ponyracer]

Def the international, unless you convert the dodge to a dually? Basically a bolt on deal for less that $1500 or trade parts with someone who is going the other route.

 

[redthies]

I would go with the corn-binder too. Keep the Dodge for daily use, and make the IH a camper hauler. Where are you in BC? There must be someone near you, (if not you) who can fab your 6" spacer/stair contraption. Don't forget to use the spacer area for storage. Stairs in there?

 

[Redline]

The larger cab on the International seems like an important point.

Is that an 8274 on the front of the Dodge? Nice.

 

[Saiyan66]

The two best diesels ever made: 5.9 Cummins and DT466. Lucky guy with tough choices. The Dodge will go places the International wont, even with a 4x4 conversion. But I understand the cab space issue as my cousin has a quad cab dodge with 3 kids and needs a mega cab desparately. If you stick with the International are you going to go with super singles? That and moving those bed boxes will help with your off road ability.

 

[Redline]

The two best diesels ever made: 5.9 Cummins and DT466. Lucky guy with tough choices. Snip...

Is the 4700 in fact a DT466 (probably) or a T444E?

 

[addicted56]

International. More cab room for the children and we always know that leads to a need for more storage. Sounds like you won't need the 4x4 capability of the dodge that often and doubt you will be going anywhere with that camper that it is going to make a difference either way. Plus once it is 4x4 you will be just fine.

Most definitely the international.

 

[Buliwyf]

The Interntional looks too big, and the Dodge looks too small.....

Trade the International is for another Dodge 3500 DRW CC or F350/450??? Upgrading the Int to 4wd is going to be serious $$$, and don't the 4x4 dumptruck Int's sit even higher?

I'd hate to see the little Dodge go after all the nice mods you have into it. I thought for a second that just adding longer stairs or building your own would be an option with the International, but that thing wouldn't fit down any of my camp roads at that height.

 

[easyshell]

If it was only $1500 to change the truck to a dually and get the higher gvw rateing would have done it already.


I'm in the lower mainland area. I can pretty much fab anything up that I need i just need to decide what???? The truck will also be used for equipment hauling and for moving honey bees into feilds for polination.

The 8274 is on a reciver mount that I built in behind the bumper. I had another bolt on reciver but it was way to low for the winch to be on it.

The dodge is one of the last with the 5.9 (thats why i got it) The IH has the 466e the only down side to it is it's only 210 hp
which sucks when you are used to a 450 hp truck.
I was thinking of putting Goodyear G178 SS 385/65/22.5 front and rear....

I like to go places there are no people so that usually means I need 4x4 to get there or at least to get out.

I alreay sold a dodge to get the international I needed a truck that could handle towing 20,000+ lbs I thought of a new 5500 but the are way to much money and are still a small pickup and they don't come in a mega cab.

I usually try most roads the tree branches and scratches never bothered me (only the missing roof vents do)

 

[bftank]

i vote international. the nice thing with that is it gives you options. you could always tow a 4door suv crawler behind you if you knew you were going places that were gonna get nasty.

 

[BIGdaddy]

The Interntional looks too big, and the Dodge looks too small.....

Trade the International is for another Dodge 3500 DRW CC or F350/450??? Upgrading the Int to 4wd is going to be serious $$$, and don't the 4x4 dumptruck Int's sit even higher?

I'd hate to see the little Dodge go after all the nice mods you have into it. I thought for a second that just adding longer stairs or building your own would be an option with the International, but that thing wouldn't fit down any of my camp roads at that height.

This is my thought, too. I think neither of your trucks really suit your camping needs...

 

[Calplaya]

I think you already know the answer, the logical choice is definately the International. It just fits your wants and needs better then does the Dodge. But that is one nice looking Dodge, so keep that one for more of your solo expeditions. just my 2 cents lol.

 

[Carlyle]

I vote for the International and never be overloaded again