Electric fan vs. clutch fan

[rickf]

I took what I believe to be the EOM clutch fan off and replaced it with an electric fan, because my truck was overheating. I didn't have a fan shroud and was advised that might be the problem.

It wasn't, it still overheated. So I replaced the radiator, now it runs cool without even turning on the fan unless in real slow traffic, like stop lights and such. But that has been during winter and spring, cool air times.

I'm thinking of going back to EOM style, with shroud and clutch fan, as that electric fan is looking pretty tough on my whimpy little alternator, my charge guage almost pegs when the fan is on.

But looking at that clutch fan again, that thing is heavy. It seems it would be tough on the water pumps bearings, with all that weight out on a fulcrum. I know they are run that way, have been for decades. But how much longer might a water pump last if it didn't have that load, I wonder.

So what is the concensus here on fans?