Help me pick a vehicle

parker wrote: Where can I get a 1900lb pickup? I think you just like making things up.

Wait.... Other posters have claimed 24 mpg from a V8 F150 and 30 mpg from a V8 station wagon, and you think I'm making stuff up?

I was a bit off on the 1900, but not far.

2186-lb truck, EPA rated at 27 hwy, and that is with 4.10 gears:

A 2174-lb pickup that gets 50 mpg:

Get close to 30MPG and be able to tow 3500 (not at the same time)... Well, you're looking at minivans (which are kinda iffy on the towing, and I don't trust their transmissions on a boat ramp after hearing the awful noises our Odditty made). Real easy to get one or the other cheaply, but not both.

Best compromise is probably the Roadmonster--but you really have to change your driving habits to get mid 20's (it has been done).
We towed an 18 foot aluminum boat with 70 hp engine with a crown vic; that got 25 mpg highway (not towing). Transmission is again the weak point while towing.

curtis73 wrote: A 2174-lb pickup that gets 50 mpg:

Don't tow with that: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/old-builds-post-yours-up/28350/page1/

First generation Sienna with the tow package was rated for 3500 lbs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/83-Chevy-Diesel-Passenger-Window-Van-CA-Car-Rust-Free-/300562382586?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item45fae9fefa

This is a diesel van for $2000

mtn wrote:

curtis73 wrote: A 2174-lb pickup that gets 50 mpg:

Don't tow with that: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/old-builds-post-yours-up/28350/page1/

Yeah, I wouldn't... I was just responding to a different question. Always wanted one of those, though.

pilotbraden wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/83-Chevy-Diesel-Passenger-Window-Van-CA-Car-Rust-Free-/300562382586?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item45fae9fefa This is a diesel van for $2000

Good find!

Off topic for a minute... I have a saved search on Ebay for diesel vans and it turned up this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-FORD-E-350-15-PASSENGER-VAN-ONE-OWNER-/320708005495?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4aabafce77

A 2001 Ford van with 173k, and it can be yours for the buy-it-now price of just $15,000.

Somebody was smoking the wrong end of the crack pipe.

curtis73 wrote:

parker wrote: Where can I get a 1900lb pickup? I think you just like making things up.

Wait.... Other posters have claimed 24 mpg from a V8 F150 and 30 mpg from a V8 station wagon, and you think *I'm* making stuff up? I was a bit off on the 1900, but not far. 2186-lb truck, EPA rated at 27 hwy, and that is with 4.10 gears:

Would you want to tow a boat at 3500 lbs with that truck? More so would you do it on a slippery TX boat ramp? Looks to be a 2wd to me,and I bet it doesn't get that 27 that it is rated from the EPA to get at this point in its life. Small pickups really don't get great mileage in my opinion. They should on paper,but in the real world unless hypermiling (is that a word?) they don't get the mileage the should. Also the 2wd 4 banger trucks are usually not the best at towing a load that heavy,and aren't the most solid feeling vehicles in the first place. I know my REPU isn't the most solid feeling truck on the highway,but it is fast for what it is,and is very capable,and useful as a truck,but I wouldn't use it the way you intend.

Chris

My 720 gets 30mpg, but I wouldn't try to tow 350 lbs with it, much less 3500.

In reply to Mazdax605:

my Nissan got 33 all of the time.

Would you tow 3500lbs with it?

I think this looks like a hot setup. Does any one have a picture of one of these lowered?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LPG-GMC-SAFARI-PASSENGER-VAN-AWD-/290571607992?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item43a76adfb8

In reply to Mazdax605:

I dunno, maybe. It was pretty slow, so if I would I wouldn't go there quickly.

I have a 1997 Nissan 4X4, 4 cylinder, 5speed. I have gotten better than 20 mpg on 2 tanks of fuel. Average is 17-18mpg.

mmosbey wrote: The Crown Vic looked good until you went a brought mileage into it. They're really only rated to tow 2000lbs.

by 2000lb's did you actually mean 5000lb?

I routinely tow other vehicles with my P71, generally around 4000 pounds including the trailer. If I keep my speed around 55-60 with overdrive off, I still average 14mpg.

I used to own a 99 Mazda B4000 cab plus 4wd automatic with the 4 litre V6. I towed a 5000lb camper with it for many years as well. It was rated to tow 6000lbs I think,but let me tell you that even at 5000 lbs it wasn't a fun experience. The truck was underpowered,and with the camper weighing the same or more than the tow vehicle we had some of the tail wagging the dog action with it. This was with a weight distributing hitch,and a sway control bar on the hitch. I wouldn't even think of towing a 3500lb load with a regular cab 2wd 4 cylinder truck like the OP mentioned. It just isn't safe in my opinion. I am still a sceptic that the S10 he showed is capable of 27mpg at 15-20 years old as well. I am not sure it was even possible new.

Lots of good suggestions.

But is 2 $1000 vehicles out of the question?

A full size truck will get 40mpg if you replace it with a small car on trips. And a small car will easily pull 3500lb if you replace it with a truck.

(other than that, a P71 type car- oddly enough, they do manage to get better mileage than their truck bretheren, and can tow- whether the caprice vs. S10 or Vic vs. Ranger... odd)

alfadriver wrote: Lots of good suggestions. But is 2 $1000 vehicles out of the question?

Sure, but I need to buy this in the next couple weeks and then drive 4000 miles with cold A/C and hopefully no breakdowns. Can you think of a $1000 car that would do that reliably? Sure is asking a lot.

Not to mention, I'd be paying for two insurances, registrations, inspections, etc.

Mazdax605 wrote: I wouldn't even think of towing a 3500lb load with a regular cab 2wd 4 cylinder truck like the OP mentioned. It just isn't safe in my opinion. I am still a sceptic that the S10 he showed is capable of 27mpg at 15-20 years old as well. I am not sure it was even possible new.

I'm not talking about going on trips... I'm talking about driving 5 miles to the boat ramp. I have about 10 lakes within 20 miles of me.

My 1983 4-banger S10 got 28 with 250k on the clock. My LS1 S10 got 22 with a carburetor. Both had 4.10 gears.

Oh short trips are a different story. I wouldn't worry about it if you are only doing short hops like that,but I would never tow a heavy load like that on the interstate,or in the mountains around me with a truck like that.

Chris

My '89 Chevy C1500 (2WD) Regular Cab, Shortbed with the 4.3L V6 would get 26+ on highway trips. It had decent pep (and a super-low first grear), but I'm not sure how well it would have towed 3500 lbs. Never tried it, but just wanted to give you another data point.

Personally one thing i thought of was a 4.2/5spd f150. I dont know whats wrong with your neighbor's to get 17mpg (unless its auto and heavy with options, etc).

I actually like 4.2/5spd f150s the best of all 96-04 f150s. Not saying a WHOLE lot but i think it would sort of do the job you're thinking.

Also, 5spd manual caravan tbi. 27-30mpg highway, manual trannies dont break like autos, and the tbi motor is so friggin cheap and easy to fix your brain will take a nap while your hands work on it. Caravan brakes are decent and it would definitely tow the boat through flat country without issue. You just wouldnt have much acceleration.

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