hi,
i have never owned a truck before and would like to kindly ask for recomendations.
i would like a turbo diesel but since i work hard for every penny that's just a dream. i would like to spend from 2-4k maybe a bit more if it's mint but have the following questions...
are 6cyl suitable or is it recommended to go with 8 cyl?
i know 4x4's cost twice as much when they break are 2 wheel drives recomended or am i being paranoid? if 6's are deemed appropriate are toyotas , nissans suitable or would i be better off with a ford or dodge? cost of replacements and reliability are big factors specially since daily driver is about to go to heaven :-(
i already saw the tow vehicle threads including the big rigs. i saw a few ones with what i can afford tow dollies they are called? any feedback would be appreciated
thank you,
regards,
m.a.d.

 

What are you towing? How much Gear? And what kind of distances are you looking to tow? You could probably get a 2wd 89-91ish Dodge Cummins for around 4 Grand

 

I have recently done much research on this and asking around;

-if you can get a diesel (6 OR 8); that is the best in the long run
-if its just a tow vehicle; get a 2WD; cheaper and less stuff to break/replace

those are universal rules, they can be bent, but it depends on what your weight is going to be, your budget and distance towing and how often you are going to be towing.

If it is just to go to the local track (1-2 hrs), almost any truck with a 6 will do, but if you are going cross-country, get a diesel.

Other points to think about;
-diesels rev lower while towing
-diesels get better gas mileage while daily driving

There are many more, but I think my response is getting too cluttered

 

my local strip is 20 minutes away. i plan on going 2 times a week.
however sometimes i get invited to indiana meets and if things go well i think i might go to ohio and illinois hence the 6 cyl vs. 8 dilemma.

would you guys maybe inform me of specific modles like for the dodge cummins and maybe some others. like f15o 250 ram etc?
some i see listed just have these numbers and don't specify if diesel.
i'm going to some used lots maybe i can get more info this weekend but thank you for the support
regards,
m.a.d.

 

F150, Chevy/GMC 1500, Dodge 1500 = 1/2 ton
F250, Chevy/GMC 2500, Dodge 2500 = 3/4 ton
F350, Chevy/GMC 3500, Dodge 3500 = 1 ton

I have never seen a half ton diesel....but there are 3/4, 1 ton gas models, generally the seller will specify if it is diesel though

For only 20 minutes away, even a little Mazda, Dodge or Toyota 6 Cylinder would do, and would be good for a few 3-500 mile trips per year (assuming you have a flatbed trailer)

 

[QUOTE=jdkindle]F150, Chevy/GMC 1500, Dodge 1500 = 1/2 ton
F250, Chevy/GMC 2500, Dodge 2500 = 3/4 ton
F350, Chevy/GMC 3500, Dodge 3500 = 1 ton

[QUOTE]

Ok ..im lot

I got a 97 dodge ram 1500 v-8 360
will this be cool to tow?
i heard the trannys are iffy i just havent been able to confirm it

 

I towed a car with my parent's old Chevy VAN. Top speed was like 55mph going downhill. Scariest 2 hour drive of my life.

 

i had my 22ft trailer towed by the dodge gas powered 95 model 1500 not a problem with the tranny or anyhting it pulled just fine. I then upgraded to the dually and had no problemd with it

 

I have a Toyota Tundra and it seems to pull good. I havent had my trailer behind it but we have towed some good weight with it. I just got a TRD supercharger today and havent got it on but i think it will probably be good enough for me. It seems that the size of the truck is what matters not the power of the vehicle. There are countless trucks with the power but size does matter. Just get a big truck and youll be fine.

 

[QUOTE=K20EG][QUOTE=jdkindle]F150, Chevy/GMC 1500, Dodge 1500 = 1/2 ton
F250, Chevy/GMC 2500, Dodge 2500 = 3/4 ton
F350, Chevy/GMC 3500, Dodge 3500 = 1 ton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ok ..im lot

I got a 97 dodge ram 1500 v-8 360
will this be cool to tow?
i heard the trannys are iffy i just havent been able to confirm it</TD></TR></TABLE>

My buddy owns a tranny shop and told me those tranny's are "garbage".

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boosted3g &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a Toyota Tundra and it seems to pull good. I havent had my trailer behind it but we have towed some good weight with it. I just got a TRD supercharger today and havent got it on but i think it will probably be good enough for me. It seems that the size of the truck is what matters not the power of the vehicle. There are countless trucks with the power but size does matter. Just get a big truck and youll be fine.</TD></TR></TABLE>

all the guys on Rado's team swear by the Tundra too.....they towed his car with it for a while, and now use it for short trips and around the shop, etc; said they beat the **** out of it and it never gets out; however, that is out of his price range

 

hey thank you so very much jdkindle and thanks everyone else for the info.

the information on the faulty ram tranny's is good.maybe i will have to do a ford.
oh trd sounds nice! chris rado is that the guy that is very loud but his car always breaks? i saw the rig picture thread and saw his vehicles. how did he make all his money? ummm like in the original post i wish for lots but work for a little so ....
i'm learning the marque codes but is there a designation for diesel in the fords or dodge's/ like f250d or hd or something? the ads only show f250. i need to call to get what engine?

speaking with my drag partner he mentioned the 6 cyl fords are real big 6's .
i'm going to do more research but if you gentlemen would like to comment on what stuff to look out for like the ram tranny's it would be much appreciated.

thanks again and just in case i hope everyone enjoys their newyears festivities (hope ya don't have to work :-( and wising a prosperous new year filled with speed and happiness
best regards,
m.a.d.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skunked &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

My buddy owns a tranny shop and told me those tranny's are "garbage". </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep ...i need to find out how i can upgrade the trans

 

The 6 cyl fords are a 300 cubic in, alot of torque for what it is. The ford diesel's in your price range are gonna be non turbo=not much power but better than gas for towing. Chevy diesels In my opinion stay away from. The dodge trannies are fully electronic so they have issues. My first tranny went out at 36000 miles, but that was my fault. Towing in O/D with a chipped Diesel isn't good on them. But there is alot of 5 speed models out there.

 

I used to tow a 28' enclosed with a Big Block Suburban, till it caught fire in the middle of Alabama, and burned to the ground with the race car, spare motor, tools, everything in it.. It is kinda traumatizing to watch a race program burn to the ground right before your eyes...

 

I haved a 97 Tahoe to tow with...but after so many problems encountered with the car(and countless comsumers with similar problems)I will never ever buy another GM product again.

I'd opt for the tundra or the newer rams(supposed to have great trannies now)

 

with an open trailer,i towed my civic for years with a 6cyl dodge ram.stick thow never had a prob

 

rado was pimpin the sequoi (sp?) at nopi. they love them 'Yota's.... great vehicle, IMO but back to the point here

is this going to be STRICTLY a tow vehicle? or are you going to start driving it to work, then to the store, then to the post office and eventaully make it a daily driver? or are you serious about wanting a vehicle strictly for towing? also, are you lookin for this for part of your hobby, or are you serious into this and this is a money making deal for you? i would let those situations dominate what you choose.

if it's just a tow vehicle, it doesn't have to be pretty, it doesn't have to have a bed, it doesn't need leather, etc.... just get a bare bones truck with a strong drivetrain. i'm a ford truck person myself but they aren't cheap... the ones that are usually have little life left in them.

personally, i'd go with a mid 90's chevy 1500 short bed standard cab gas v8.... you don't need a 454 in a tow vehicle when you're pulling a honda.... unless of course you have a 8k pound trailer.... anyway, that's my suggestion....

-Erik &lt;--- who's pulled plenty of large trailers and hondas with my '98 suburban 1500 4x4.... never used 4wd, never had a problem....

 

If you go with a chevy, just make sure its a 95 or above so you have the Vortech. My 94 1500 suburban had a very hard time towing an open trailer / Car. and it got like 4 mpg when towing. My dodge towing a 32' trailer w 2 cars=11,000 pounds gets around 12-13 mpg

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Paul_Vang &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I haved a 97 Tahoe to tow with...but after so many problems encountered with the car(and countless comsumers with similar problems)I will never ever buy another GM product again.

I'd opt for the tundra or the newer rams(supposed to have great trannies now)</TD></TR></TABLE>

What type of problems because I was looking to get like a 2001 Tahoe or Yukon?

About how much is a Tundra?

 

im forced to go simple and cheap right now , ill prob just get a dolly this week and just get a smaller pickup truck, My GF's uncle has one he'll sell me cheap its not like S10 size, but its also not huge, i forget the model , im checking now though.

 

good stuff thanks :-)
the truck can look like straight dookie as far as i am concerned. as a matter of fact a race car can look like straight dookie too as long as it's a bullet.
as previously mentioned the truck would serve dual purposes. get arounder+car tower. a nice big fatty would be great but at the price of $40 and up for refills is steep.

Erik, absolutley. i like to dream. 2 car midnight black 18 wheeler black sheep racing rig with a couple of fine cheerleaders handing out flyers and crew chief would be nice but i am also a realist and hobbyiest
i'll figure it out but it's nice to know what to look out for since i don't really know. thank you gentlemen. regards, m..ad.

 

i work at a diesel repair shop and ill say, run as far away from a ford as possible. there 5.4 v8's and the v10' will just shoot spark plugs out of the head while driving down the road. the ford diesels are made by international and are just absolute junk. ford still hasnt made a good auto tranny than can handle towing.
gm as we know a small block if taken care of is bullet proof. gm diesels are absolute junk. the older 6.5 like to blow the #7&8 cylinders up. the new duramax isnt too bad but those trucks have front end problems. but the 6 speed allisons are awsome.
dodge isnt perfect either mercedes is driving them down the tubes quick. the gas 5.9 is a real good motor. if you get a 01 or older truck with the actual dodge tranny its not as bad as most people think our service truck is a 01 dodge with the 5.9 gas motor and dodge tranny and we beat the **** out of it and no problems yet. the cummins is the best diesel engine availible in a pick up truck. its what i personaly have. i have an 01 w/101k on it now and the only thing ive changed is tires oil and air filters. we towwed a 36' trailer around the country with no problems.
basically every car maker has there faults. you just have to take the best set of comprimises. if i was in your shoes id look for a 95 2500 dodge with the cummins. the motor will still be running when the body rusts of the chasis.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GreenR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What type of problems because I was looking to get like a 2001 Tahoe or Yukon?

About how much is a Tundra?</TD></TR></TABLE>

what's going on with mine:

blown intake manifold gaskets
bad water pump
2 bad injectors(misfiring and get like 4MPg)
electronic steering unit busted(swerves form side to side). Very dangerous up here in MN(in the snow)
bad alternator
brakes are gone after 8-10K(twice)
other than that, the truck is fine.

other known problems are fucked up valve bodies in the tranny(which hasn't happened yet)***knock on wood***

it's little ****, but it starts getting annoying after the first couple of times.

tundras run around 16k-20K depending on year, miles, and features

 

This always worked fine for me