Ok, I've had it with the Caprice.

In the last month, the tranny has gotten worse, the wiper motor burned out, the AC stopped functioning, and the interior wiring has developed several shorts. Add all that to the the new radiator, muffler, alignment, and tranny service, and it's getting too expensive to keep it running (kbb on the car is somewhere between $500 and $1500).

So, sometime in the next several weeks (ie before I have to tow anywhere), I'll be looking for a slightly used vehicle. So, what do peope know about the new Chevy and Ford engines (looking at 2000+ Silverado/Tahoe or Ford F150/Expedition). I don't know squat about the new motors or trannies.

 

as far as chebbie goes, the 5.3 tows better than the vortec 350. the 6.0 doesn't seem to be well loved. I havent towed with one myself, but what I've heard is it doesn't pull much better than the 5.3 and gets almost as bad gas mileage as the 8.1 The 8.1 tows better than the vortec 454, which tows great.

I think if you were happy w/ your old 350, you'd love the 5.3.

cant help ya on the ford side.

joel


[Modified by JoelG, 11:39 AM 2/28/2003]

 

Yeah, I'd be looking at the Chevy 5.3 and the Ford 5.4 (which I assume are the closest thing to my current 350). If the smaller V8s will tow as well as my current 350, I could be convinced to use them and save some money.

 

I towed to NorCal from Seattle last may with my Expedition (5.4L auto w/3.55 rear end). It did surprisingly well with the 4200ish pounds behind it. 14mpg towing over the trip as an average and that is with 3 pretty good passes to go over.

I added a brake contoller and went with BFG AT-TA's as they seem to be the well loved tire for a tow rig. The tires made a big difference in trailer stability. All in all I was very happy. But if I were doing it again knowing I would be towing with it I would have opted for the 3.73 rear end if it were available in with the option package we ended up with.

Nash

[edit]typo - spelling skills own


[Modified by rambler, 11:59 AM 2/28/2003]

 

Aw, man, you were my HERO for towing with an old caprice.

You owe it to all your fans to at least CONSIDER an LT1 Caprice or Buick Roadmaster. The wagons from 94-96 came with the 260hp/330ft-lb LT1.

Buy one one E-bay. Cheap.

Jon

PS - They're rated to tow something like 5000lbs. And they're cool.

 

You know you want a diesel pickup or van. Come on. It's cool when your tow vehicle is louder than your race car @ idle.

Warren

 

My ITA RX-7 is currently unmuffled, so not even a your almighty diesel will drown at that wankel music.

I'd consider a 96 Caprice, but I'm afraid I'll just run into all the same problems with my current ride. I'd like something newer so I can keep it for a while. Going through beater cars every third year really isn't saving me much money (the copcar has cost me ~$300/month, including tow kit, wheels, suspension mods). A newish truck would probably be $350-$400/month, but with greater peace of mind and more socially acceptable (ie girls don't dig the mullet mobile).

 

Ok, I have it on good authority that Chicks dig the big glass panorama roof on the roadmaster...... Imagine camping at the track in the back!!

Have you considered an Astro-Van? Better fuel mileage, a few people I've talked to have had very good results and high-teens fuel mileage on the Interstate.

I've pretty much ruled out the Coprice/Roadmonster because of fuel mileage, and the fact that an Astro van is much cheaper and easier to find.

Guess I'll have to find a new role model.

J

 

Have you no love for Mopar?

Even the (midsize) Dakota equipped the 4.7 can tow 6250lbs. The Ram can pull a house off of its foundation...

Just another avenue for thought.

 

No love what-so-ever. My family and friends have had such bad luck with Chrysler that I will very likely never buy one. My father bought a Vision TSi new a few years ago and it was complete junk. The Aries he had when we moved to the country was also junk. The Grand Cherokee a friend owns is also junk. Every owner of a Durango/Dakota I've ever met has had some drivetrain problem or another within the first three years of ownership. And I've never had a good experience in a Dodge showroom or service bay. Even if Dodge gave me one, I'd more than likely drive straight to a Ford/Chevy dealer and trade it.

 

 

only one downside to getting the truck for a tow vehicle; no backup for track events when the RX-7 is down! unless you plan on tracking a Tahoe or F-150!

I towed for 5 years with a 351 Ford F-150 with zero problems. Enclosed trailer, too. at least 50k tow miles on it when i traded it to a friend. he is currently using it for a tow vehicle for his PS-2 car....

I am currently towing with the Chevy variants; one is a 6 liter, the other is a 8100. both are awesome tow machines; the 8100 with the Allison tranny is amazing, but would be mega overkill for you. I borrow them from my Dad as needed and return them gassed up and washed. What a dealio!!!

for the last month I have been driving a 97 one ton Dodge Turbo Cummins 5 speed with tow pac (shop truck where i work). I hate driving it. would not recommend it for everyday transport. extremely "trucky" handling. very noisy, clacky, smelly. have to warm it up 10 minutes before it drives well. redline top speed is in the 78 mph range (3000 rpm); comfortable speed limit in it feels like 65 mph. on the good side, it feels like it will run forever and it currently has 120k miles on it. but not a good commuter car; the 8100 chevy drives like a Corvette compared to the Dodge. smooth, comfortable, and very good brakes....

good luck in your search, man.

 

i ahve to agree, Dodge i snot exactly at the top of my list either
Chevy is probably first. My dad had a 92 1500, V6 5spd, and all i can say is god damn, they had a pintal hitch on it and used it to tow aorund empty trailers (not very big but not your avg. lightweight triler) it was also CONSTANTly overloaded with cement blocks, and steel. It chugged right up to 256,000km of hard HARD work, when the tranny finally gave up. They also didi very little maintence on it, at many points the tranny was run with little to no oil
When i buy a truck Chevy is ont he top of the list

 

Astro Van =

Can't beat it for towing/racetrack suport vehicle/emergency hotel. I get over 16mph pulling my Civic at 75-80mph. 27gal tank is nice too, and they're much cheaper than the pickups or SUVs.

Stay away from a 4.6L Ford truck. The mileage when towing really sucks. 5.4s are better, and have more power too.

-Chris (99 Astro tow vehicle)

 

I was doing the same search you are, but with a slightly broader year range. Ended up getting an "old body style" '99 Tahoe with the Vortec 350. Went SUV over pickup for the additional doors & seats in a shorter wheelbase than a crewcab truck, and more secure stowage. Now if it would just stop snowing enough for me to go pick up my trailer, I could tell you how it tows.

Not engine/tranny related, but I've been impressed with the utility of the panel doors (barn doors) in back, as opposed to a tailgate/liftgate. It seems a lot easier to get stuff in without having to lean over a tailgate.

 

I just towed my Type R (2600lbs) w/ uhaul trailer (2000lbs) and extra wheels and tools (about 200lbs) with a 1998 Toyota Tacoma V6 Xtracab(5sp) from New York City to VIR (600miles).

This was at the limit of it's towing capacity but it did surprisingly well. From this experience:
Positives:
Acceleration of the V6 was good. I had no problems merging on the highway or going uphills. I was able to do uphill highway grades at 60-65mph and maintain 70 mph no problems with good gas mileage (maybe low to high teens).

Negatives:
Helper springs and/or self-leveling hitch are needed and definitely better brakes. The Uhaul trailer only had surge brakes. They worked, but electric brakes would of been much safer.

If you are only doing casual towing then I recommend the Tacoma. I like the Toyota for the daily gas mileage, towing gas mileage, decent power, reliability, etc. I would like more power and better brakes.

But, a friend towed with me and he had a Chevy Tahoe. He definitely out accelerated me, but worst gas mileage and not sure about reliability.

 

Hmmm, my girlfriend's family owns a chrysler dealership and she's made it clear that if I'm shopping for a tow vehicle, it better have a star on the front (and not be a Benz). I guess I could buy a trade in Chev of the Chrysler lot.

 

Found a pimpy, pewter '99 Yukon today. 36k miles, 350ci, 4wd, factory tow kit, barn doors, leather, heated seats, good paint, etc. Somebody please talk me out of it. They're asking $19,800 (Edmunds lists the car at ~$18,000).

 

OK, the search is narrowed to the Yukon described above, or a '99 Expedition 5.4L XLT, leather, tow package. Basically asking the same price as the Yukon. I think the Expedition has a higher tow capacity, but I'm unlikely to ever use it, so not really an issue.

Anybody have opinions on either?

PS - I also tested a Toyota Tundra. Kick *** truck - engine pulls well, truck goes like a bat out of hell, and brakes feel fantastic. But, they want way too much money for them (asking $24,000 for a '00 4x4 with 40k miles and pretty basic interior).

 

The new FORD Diesels are supposed to be the chit! They're the quietest diesel yet, from what I hear, and the power per liter ratio supposedly kicks butt... or something like that... anyway, if I had money to blow, I'd consider an F250 diesel.

 

You have a relatively light car and are on a budget. Big blocks and diesels are overkill. Anything with a 5000lb capacity will do fine.

I still have to stress the Tundra (7200lb capacity). It costs a little more but it is surely worth it. Mine is 2.5 years old, has 50K on the odometer, and hasn't had any trouble yet. This is with me towing a 4000lb load all over gods creation for the who time I've owned it. The mountainous trip up to Summit Point... no problem, not even when the trailer brakes stopped working (the Tundrallac has 4 piston calipers and HUGE rotors up front baby!!!).
I drove all the trucks in its class and the Tundra smoked them all. Not even close. The Ford Supercrew was 2nd in my opinion. The Dodge and GM products were already creaking and rattling on the test drive (they were brand new ).

The reason they cost so much... resell baby resell. I can sell my truck right now for just a few thousand less than I paid for it in 2000. Can't beat that.
"Cost a little more, but its worth it." Yep. True in this case without a doubt.

Scott, who hates trucks but loves his Tundra.

 

I just towed a car back from Roebling behind a 2003 (new school) Expedition. IRS, Eddie Bauer, heated and cooled seats, the works. It pulled so well that I started calculating what it would take for me to ditch the Suburban and get one. Being able to sit in the back and watch a James Bond movie while the other guy drives a stint =

The owner just traded in his 99 Expy. Told me that as far as drivetrain was concerned, there was no difference in the performance at all. The new IRS model rides a little better and is certainly pimpy but 99 Expy Eddie Bauers are getting cheap.

We averaged probably 12.75mpg both ways and you'll get about 17-18 on the highway unloaded.

Once again, phat-S got it right where I got it so, so wrong.

--Rice, owner of a 454 Suburban that is causing massive ozone layer damage

 

what about a V8 Explorer?

More daily driveable than one of those gargantuans, and should be cheaper too.

 

None of the dealers I have visited have them in stock.

 

psd!