When looking at tow vehicles, do you guys pretty much look for over kill, in case you end up going with a bigger race car, or adding more equipment to bring, better trailer etc...

Or do you go with the very minimal to do the job?

Reason I ask is I was looking at trucks, as we'll be needing one down the line for home projects as well as my hobby related duty. I was looking at Toyota Tacoma crew cabs vs something like a Ford F150 Supercrew.

The Ford is much bigger, more comfortable i assume with all the room in cab, and it has a higher tow capcity, but it also drinks way more gas, and I know nothing about it's reliability. Toyotas i know could pretty much run forever with maintenance, it's a bit smaller dimension wise so maybe easier to handle.

I guess I'm looking for input as far as these two go if anyone has firsthand experience. I'd be pulling either a 91 Crx, 89 Civic or a 70's datsun on more likely an open trailer.

Thanks in advance.

 

If you're talking about an open trailer, I'd say get what you like best. We've got guys in SoCal towing with both of those trucks who like them fine.

If you think an enclosed trailer might be in your future, Ford F350s V10s are quite the bargain these days. Getting cheaper and cheaper everyday, too.

I've got an Excursion diesel pulling my 24' enclosed and I love that thing like a member of the family.

 

I think both would be up to the task for an open trailer.

Why not go with a Toyota Tundra though?

I've actually got one, and I've yet to put it up for sale because I've been lazy. It's a 2001 4x2 V8 limited with 80k on it and I'm gonna be selling it fairly cheap. It used to be my tow vehicle for my H4 CRX, and then I upgrade to a much larger trailer and truck.
Shoot me a PM if you think you'd be interested.
It's been a great truck for me and I've owned it since new.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by prkiller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think both would be up to the task for an open trailer.

Why not go with a Toyota Tundra though?

I've actually got one, and I've yet to put it up for sale because I've been lazy. It's a 2001 4x2 V8 limited with 80k on it and I'm gonna be selling it fairly cheap. It used to be my tow vehicle for my H4 CRX, and then I upgrade to a much larger trailer and truck.
Shoot me a PM if you think you'd be interested.
It's been a great truck for me and I've owned it since new. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I actually have a CL I still need to get rid of first before I can pick anything else up. What ever it is it does need to be at least a 4 door open bed. I want to be able to dump stupp in the bed without worrying if it's clean or not and I need 4 doors, cause my wife and daughter will be coming with, so i'd like them to be comfy as much as possible too.

I actually am a little more partial to the taco since I'm a smaller guy, but I have to admit, the extra interior space of the supercrew looks inviting. And I'm sure it's even more comfy the longer the drive - I think the taco has more of an upright position in the rear right?

 

Send me a PM, I have towed with a 1998 Toyota Tacoma V6 Xtracab 4X4 5 speed for a few years. I added an extra leaf spring to the rear and it tows my open trailer and car no problems. Acceleration is good, braking (with dual axle trailer brakes) is good AND I get 12-13mpg towing. I think my good gas mileage is also based on the fact that I have an bed cap.

 

I tow mine with a 02 tundra and my brother has a 02 tacoma
hands down the tundra is much more comfortable and does a better job
insurance is the same on each and the trucks are really priced about the same-
your not going to save that much more gas with the taco-
id recomend the tundra as jeremy did

 

Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab... Roomy, pulls nice with the 4.7L
A few bolt ons make a bit more power. Gas mileage is about what one could expect from a truck of it's size and what its towing...

 

having towed the same trailer with "the very minimal" and "way overkill" go for overkill.

with the very minimal NOTHING happened in a hurry, accelerating, maneuvering, lane changes, DECELERATING.

same 5,000lb trailer and my F250 diesel doesn't even notice it's there.

 

whats everyones input on the diesel route?... while were on the subject
better than gas or no?
dont they last way longer?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marsvolta &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">whats everyones input on the diesel route?... while were on the subject
better than gas or no?
dont they last way longer?</TD></TR></TABLE>

They cost a lot more to buy, more to maintain, and more to fill up with fuel because diesel is now $.80 more a gal than gas!

They do the job that gas trucks can't sometimes and that's why I currently own one!

 

i have an 06 2500hd Duramax that i tow an open trailer my race car with. I love it. that said i have towed the same combo with a 2001ish ford f150, and it wasn't something i wanted to do again.

It just didn't feel that safe, and i was having to mash the gas pedal EVERY were i went. After doing that for 2 race weekend i knew i needed something bigger.


I bought my truck right at the end of the "family" plan thing GM was doing. I got it out the door for a good bit less then the sticker price (no mark up). Just for the fun of it i did KBB on my truck a few months ago, KBB came back with a private party value of right around 3500 dollar less then what i paid for it out the door.

That kind of resale value isn't going to happen with ANYTHING.

A buddy of mine has an VW diesel it is 4 or 5 years old now, it blue books out for more then he paid for!


Diesel seem to really hold its resale value much better then the gas vehicles.

If you can i'd hold out a year or so and see if toyota doesn't have a diesel by that time. If they come out with a 2500 diesel i'd sell my truck and get one in the next day!

 

We use a Nissan Pathfinder 4x2 V6 to tow the datsun with an open dual axle trailer (no brakes.) It does the job but it would be nice to have something a little bit bigger.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Diesel seem to really hold its resale value much better then the gas vehicles.

A buddy of mine has an VW diesel it is 4 or 5 years old now, it blue books out for more then he paid for!</TD></TR></TABLE>
You talkin' about me? Both our family vehicles are diesel. I'm not sure of the exact economic advantages, but I've got no regrets. The Golf we bought new in 2003 and got VW financing for 1.9%... Hard to beat it for 42-50mpg.

 

Wow, you guys have really given me a bit to think about and research. I think I'll definately wait just a bit longer to benefit more from the dropping prices on large trucks as it is.

Diersel though huh? Sounds like a winnar. Anyone know offhand what a trailer & civic/crx combo weighs? Thawley, what's your towed weight?

 

I tow with an 05 Tahoe Z71 4WD. We bought it off of the inlaws for a very good price. It tows great now that I've done a couple of mods. I tow the Prelude on an 18ft (heavy) trailer. Total weight is probably a bit over 5k lbs with tools, spares, etc. I'm get about 13 to 13.5 MPG towing. The air intake and ECU reprogramming made a huge difference. It's the only thing I've changed so far. I've been thinking about adding a larger trans cooler this summer, though.

Right after we bought the Tahoe, I found an 04 Suburban 2500 4x4 with 80k miles for only $15k. I would have bought that had we not had the Tahoe already (plus the Tahoe had less than 20k miles on it!).

While I'd LOVE to have a diesel, I don't see the point right now. My setup tows just fine. I have an acceptable amount of passing and acceleration power (of course a diesel will have more), but with the mileage I'm getting and the additional cost of diesel equipment and fuel, I'm happy with gas for now. That would all change if I went with an enclosed trailer, of course.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RSZero1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thawley, what's your towed weight?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I've never weighed it but its a LOT. I think the trailer alone is 4000-5000lbs.

The blessing of an enclosed trailer is you can put as much chit in it as you want. That's also the curse. By the time you add coolers, fuel jugs (filled), chairs, tables, awnings, tools, spares, extra wheels/tires, a bicycle and all the chit your friends don't have room for in their trailers it can really add up. I would not be at all surprised if I was over 10,000lbs.

This trailer business is a slippery slope. A real love/hate relationship.

 

Man, don't bother with the diesel for an open trailer!
You'll spend a lot more for the same thing that the gas truck could do.

If you've got the expendable income, go for it, but it's just not needed until you get to much heavier weights.

Jimmy, your an anomaly!
I towed my enclosed around for a season with my Tundra and never felt like it was unsafe in the slightest. Most important thing to remember you've got some weight back there, and drive accordingly. Always keep it out of OD, and plan ahead!
Granted, the dually diesel dodge didn't even know it was back there, but there's no way I'd spend the extra 15K over my Tundra now if I didn't need to...

Good luck in whatever you choose OP!

 

5 speed 2wd and a straight six... cheep to buy... cheap to own... cheap to fix.. easy to work on ect ect. I have about $1100 into this. Including new tranny ect. I am surprised on how well it pulls.

I see tandem axle trailer for like $1200 around here ... pretty cheap IMO

If I am using it for work it just has to be reliable. I mean as long as you are using it as a truck is gonna get banged up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by prkiller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Man, don't bother with the diesel for an open trailer!
You'll spend a lot more for the same thing that the gas truck could do.</TD></TR></TABLE>
True.

I did just fine with my small block Suburban even towing a light 20' enclosed. But the day I got the 24' Carson Racer was the beginning of the end for that old Jimmy. R.I.P.

 

I have an enclosed 24' featherlight plus all of the crap I keep in there. Tools, tool boxes, spares (parts, tranny, tires, brakes, wheels) Plus the stuff I use on a weekend coolers, ez ups, chairs, tables, gear.

I pull all of this with an 04 Nissan Titan...that's lifted....with big off road tires...Honestly it puls without any issues what so ever. Even going up the grapevine no issues

Unless you're towing an uber trailer I think any 1/2 ton will get the job done. If you pulling in the 32'+ enclosed range 3/4 ton diesel is the way to go.

If you like/want to pay for Diesel. There's a rumor in the industry that very soon 1/2 tons are going to be availiable with Diesels.

If you own a house you could always sell that an buy a bus or toter home an live whereever the weather takes you.

 

what v6 powered vehicles would you guys recommend? Im thinking id want to go with a v6 because i would need to daily it, but it will also see towing about one-three times a month. And also because i dont have a whole lot to spend id be interested in something from the 1990's most likely. Id be towing my h1 ek on an open trailer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
You talkin' about me? Both our family vehicles are diesel. I'm not sure of the exact economic advantages, but I've got no regrets. The Golf we bought new in 2003 and got VW financing for 1.9%... Hard to beat it for 42-50mpg.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

No it is roger, but sounds like he has what you have.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chairwitharmrests &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what v6 powered vehicles would you guys recommend? Im thinking id want to go with a v6 because i would need to daily it, but it will also see towing about one-three times a month. And also because i dont have a whole lot to spend id be interested in something from the 1990's most likely. Id be towing my h1 ek on an open trailer. </TD></TR></TABLE>

A worthy V6, like the 4.0L in the Tacoma, won't get you decent daily gas mileage. The Tacoma's 4.0L V6 is rated at 16/20 mph. I'm talking about the new, "more realistic" 2008 ratings, too. My 5.3L Sierra is rated for 15/20 and I actually get 22 on the highway, due to a 3.42 rear-end and 20" wheels. I haven't yet towed with this truck, so I can't comment on the towing performance of the 3.42, but it's certain that a 3.73, or even better, a 4.10, with any decent V8 will pull a trailer a lot better than a Tacoma. A 3.73 would probably be best for daily driving and towing 3 times a month.

You can go to fueleconomy.gov to compare the mileage of different vehicles.


Modified by ThoseDarnKids at 11:08 PM 3/28/2008

 

another great thing about diesels, i get 18-23mpg on the hwy, and 14-16mpg in the "city". Towing i get 16-14mpg, unless i am following a friend then i get 18-20mpg.

 

Dodge Ram 1500, GMC, Chevy Silverdo, and Ford F150 are running 0% for 60 months on all of their trucks.

Good deals are out there....