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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    7

    Default Towing rig survey

    Hi,

    Haven't posted much yet - just getting back into doing some racing now that the kids are growing up and I'm gaining some free time back. So I'm sitting here looking at the snow outside the mind wanders.....to future plans. What to buy as the next Tow Rig.
    Looking for thoughts and opinions from others to either validate, or change my current opinions.

    I tow now with an 1987 Ford E250 Clubwagon, but it's getting pretty long in tooth, and rusty to boot! Carb needs another rebuild, and floors are going, but runs and tows well when it's well warmed up.

    So, here's the question(s):

    #1: firstly, I'm trying to decide on if I'm going to stick with a van or move to a pickup.

    I haul wood very regularly, and sheet goods, so a 8ft bed is a must (my current van is not the super long chassis, so with the bench seat in it is only a 6ft floor, kinda sucks taking it in and out all the time as ness).
    Also, an extended cab or long chassis van is a must so I can haul my kids if need be, and is better for towing anyways. (long wheelbase)

    2nd question: Ford or GM?

    I'm predisposed towards a Ford as I know them better, and have anecdotally seen better logivity with the C6 or AOD than a TH400 or some of the nwer GM trans when hauling and towing regularly.

    3rd qeustion: Gas or diesel.

    4th: IL6, 302, 351 or 7.3 D (Ford) GM 5.7 or other small V8?

    I only tow a small trailer and car, so absolute power really isn't an issue, gas milage might be, but will the smaller V8's or 6 do the job running around New England? Also in the future some 2 horse trailer towing may happen (wife and daughters fun).

    5th: 150/250/350? 1500,2500,3500? F or E series?

    I like the bigger brakes on the 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks, but maybe I could get away with 1/2 ton? I also like the bigger payload too, and there are a LOT more 150's out there to pick from.

    6th and final: 4x4 or 2 wheel drive?

    My van is almost un-drivable in the snow, as are most 2wd pickups, so I'm leaning towards a 4x4 (eliminating most vans unless it's a big buck Quigley or Quadra, which is too rich for me) in order to get a reasonably useable vehicle in the snow.

    My dream truck? Maybe a F250 extended cab 4x4 with a 351 fuelie, 8ft bed, resonable highway tires (not mudders), not rusty!
    2nd choice, a E250/350 Quigley with extended chassis, highway rubber, 351. Maybe a 7.3 D ...... though I'm always worried about wood I'm hauling smashing a Clubwagon's rear windows.

    What do YOU think?

    Jack

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    7

    Default Towing rig survey

    BTW,

    Got to cost less than than 5K...
    Stop laughing now! :-)

    Jack

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Mill, SC
    Posts
    328

    Default

    I would go with an F-250. I assume that you are in the rust belt. Just a quick search within 300 miles of Pgh, PA netted this find.
    http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...00&cardist=246

    I tow with a 1995 F-350 2wd crew cab Dually 8 feet bed Power Stroke 5spd with 76,xxx on it. Of course I am only towing a 2200lb neon on an open trailer, but I net 14mpg cruising 75 to 80mph on the highway. Almost all of the F-250's you will find will be a 351 at a minimum. You will also find some 460's as well.
    1987 ITS RX-7
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    Central Carolina Region

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Thanks for all the replies -
    I guess right now either a F150 or F250 Ext cab 4x4 are the front runners.
    There are about 50 F150's near me in my range- about a third are the extended cabs (I want and need) and are 4x4's.
    I do worry about the rear axles and the lesser brakes on an 150 though......and quite a few have the 302 or the 4.6. Not too sure they will not be overstressed if I start going on longer and hillier trips towing.
    F250's in the spec that I want that have not been plowed are pretty rare around here.
    I may jump on the next "owned by an old man" F250 that was never plowed with a 351 4x4 that I see.
    Any opinions on C6 vs. the AOD trans? I assume a few more MPG.
    I had been looking at the GM Suburban/yukon, ect, but have discounted due too the lack of space for sheet goods or cordwood.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Colchester, CT, USA
    Posts
    2,120

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FASTJACK View Post
    .
    I do worry about the rear axles and the lesser brakes on an 150 though......and quite a few have the 302 or the 4.6. Not too sure they will not be overstressed if I start going on longer and hillier trips towing.
    .
    I have the 5.4L in my 150 and have no problems with an open trailer with brakes or power. It does have 350lbs of torque........ And I'm very close to the weight limit I'm sure with all the spares, tires and other shit.......

    I wouldn't tow an enclosed with it.
    Jeff L

    ITA Miata



    2010 NARRC Champion

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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    New Bern, NC
    Posts
    340

    Default

    I am using something that hasn't been mentioned yet. I use a 2002 F250 ext cab long bed with the 6.8L V10.

    I pull an aluminum open trailer with a mustang on it and a full long bed. I get 12 miles per gallon and my hauls are always between 4 hours and 12. Nothing nearer.

    This truck gives me the option to move up to an aluminum enclosed if I wish. I like the flexibility. I like the difference in price between gas and diesel. I think the savings in oil changes and such with the gas engine.


    Rob Bodle
    Rob Bodle Images, LLC
    RBI Competition

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    358

    Default

    I had the following:
    1. Custom car hauler made from two 1978 Chevy pickups (to make it really long) - was a drive on. Not enough room in it for people/gear. $1200
    2. Ford F150 extra cab long box. another $1200 jobby. Too dang long, and not enough room in it for people and gear.
    3. Chevy astro. Forgot what I paid for that. It was great as a race support vehicle but it did eat transmissions and its many engineering faults were intolerable.
    4. 1991 Toyota 4Runner. No complaints, worked just fine. Should be able to get one in the price range.
    5. VW Touareg (current one). Can't even tell I'm towing anything, but maybe a bit out of the listed price range

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Colchester, CT, USA
    Posts
    2,120

    Default

    I Used to tow with a GM 1500, extended cab, 2X4 with a 305. Towed an open trailer great, got 15-16 MPG around town and put studded snow tires on it in the winter and did fine.

    How much does a horse trailer and two horses weigh? I would think with the shifting weight of the horses, you would want to go a little heavier??? (coming from a totally ignorant point of view)

    I now tow with a 4x4 F150 Super Crew. Shitty gas mileage but great everywhere else but it has the short bed.


    Where do you live Jack?
    Jeff L

    ITA Miata



    2010 NARRC Champion

    2007 NERRC Championship, 2nd place
    2008 NARRC Championship, 2nd place
    2009 NARRC Championship, 2nd place

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    134

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    My philosophy is that you can tow anything with anything. You just have to adjust your expectations about speed and arrival time. I drag my Neon on an open trailer with a 91 318 Dakota 4x4. The closest racetrack to me is 300 miles, into a westerly wind most of the time.

    I'm waiting until the price of gas goes way up again, so I can find a V10 Navigator or an 494 cid Sububan for pocket change, then I'll get an enclosed trailer.

    Jim Barnsley, Streetwise Service
    WCMA IT2 Neon Twincam
    2009/2010 Regional and Alberta IT2 Champion
    2009 Regional Overall Champion. Second this year, dammit.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Wheaton, IL
    Posts
    1,893

    Default

    I picked up my 95 GMC 2500 conversion van for $4200 4 or 5 years ago. It works fine pulling my open trailer. I just fold down the bed when hauling large boards/etc for home projects, or use the trailer for really big stuff.

    Mileage sucks at 8-10 towing and 12-14 otherwise, but I only do about 1 oilchange of miles each year.

    Having said that I am looking seriously at used diesel or v10 excursions and superdutys. They are not that expensive these days, and have a lot more capability.
    Chris Schaafsma
    Golf 2 HProd

    AMT Racing Engines - DIYAutoTune.com

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    7

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    I live in Ma.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Cragsmoor, NY
    Posts
    490

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    We tow with a 2008 F450 Dualie 2wd 6.4L twin turbo diesel.....sure we tow a 18,000 lb 40 ft gooseneck trailer usually full ( no more than 16,000 lb loaded) which is more than most with a race car, but I like the fact of having "too much power" rather than at the limit or close to it. I would look for a F250 with a 7.3 diesel 4wd with the towing package (this makes a difference) and an 8 ft bed. You can't kill the 7.3L motor, more than enough power to pull even an enclosed 10,000 lb trailer loaded and still have a decent ride when not towing and the advantage of 4wd when the weather gets crappy. On occasion I've used the 4wd drive at the track with the trailer hooked up to pull out of what ever swamp had been created by rain. We have a 97 F250 ext cab 4wd that we've had since new. I used to tow my car on an open aluminum trailer and had a cap put on the truck to protect my tools and such. Never was down on power, could cruise at 65-70 all day and got pretty good gas mileage towing (14-16 mpg).
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