Input on towing with a high mileage trucks/ SUV

In my quest to find a new to me tow rig I have been let down by one after another "just sold it an hour ago" phone call/ E-mail about trucks that have checked all the right boxes. I am coming to the point that I will have to make a decision, either repair my Ram (more on this) or buy a much higher mileage truck/ SUV than I was planing. The Ram is a 1996 5.9 gas (good power) engine with 180K miles 4X4 that will need a large amount of money put into it due to VERY heavy rust in the body and frame, six of the last seven repairs were due to rust and three of the next four repairs that I know of are also rust related not including needing tires, rear carrier ($$) section, and who knows what else I might find. The one upside to this truck is the transmission was rebuilt about 7K miles ago. This has been my go to truck for a long time but the tin/ frame worms are killing this truck.

I have found a number of 3/4 ton trucks and SUVs that can tow within my weight range of 7K but I will be towing an enclosed trailer, most seem to be Ford's and one Suburban all with 170K miles or more. Am I crazy for trying this or should I just stick with the devil I know and buy more MIG wire?

Nice place to spend a few hours on the road and not bad looking.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Suburban-2500-4WD-/172094091508?forcerrptr=true&hash=item28119b70f4:g:PFAAAOSwnipWbJP4&item=172094091508

I kind of like this one, not sure why.

http://york.craigslist.org/cto/5448962425.html

I have heard some bad things about the V10 engine and older than I want to go.

http://york.craigslist.org/cto/5448569444.html

I am put off a bit by the MD title and it will need a windshield.

http://york.craigslist.org/cto/5403295918.html"

Thanks, Paul

Mileage doesn't bother me. Rust does.

My daily driver will break 500K this week. No rust. I tow all the time.

I can't figure out what you are looking for.

You've got 2 extended cabs, 1 standard cab, and an SUV. A 6.0L, a Triton V8, and a V10. No Dodges. AND you've got a purple truck in there.

The only thing I see common is that they are probably all pigs on gas. And they are all probably capable of towing significantly more than what you need.

The Burb will not sell for a similar price as the trucks. It will be higher.

Other than towing, what else are you looking for? You seem like a perfect candidate for a road trip to pick up a rust free Southern vehicle.

Forget welding. Find a frame and body for pennies down south, and swap your solid running gear into it.

They really do not rust down here. You would be amazed. Vehicles get banged up and have mechanical failures, but the bodies are mostly solid.

SVreX, my selections posted here are based on price, location, cost, and available trucks in my area. As for why I am looking at 3/4 ton trucks. I have used both 1/2 and 3/4 ton truck for towing and always (IMO) find the 3/4 ton truck to have better manners when towing, as for why I did not list any Dodge truck is three part, first I know all about them and what to look out for, second the only one's I can find (still listed) are either 30K mile truck for $20K+ or 350K mile trucks beat to hell and missing parts for $5K , third all the others have been sucked up by other people.

My main use for this truck/ SUV will be just to tow and used for other heavy projects hence the main focus on pick up trucks and little care about fuel. I would go South and buy a truck but moving it and getting it registered in PA can be a major PIA.

Thanks, Paul

SVreX wrote: Mileage doesn't bother me. Rust does. My daily driver will break 500K this week. No rust. I tow all the time.

With or without mileage, one needs to take careful account of the condition of the powertrain. Check the fluids and how the smell, especially the trans. It's easy to change the engine oil and coolant to cover up poor maintenance, but I suspect most will forget the trans.

Generally, though, I agree that mileage isn't an issue. Condition is.

In reply to Donebrokeit:

Why the big concern about out of state titles?

In my experience, its actually been significantly easier buying out of state and registering in PA. Just make sure the title is signed in the right place and bring it on in to your local tax/tag/notary place, no need to coordinate with the seller to arrange a time to meet there that ends up being inconvenient for you both.

my vote would be to find a clean dodge to swap your drivetrain into or find a nice f250 like you have listed.

are you against manuals at all? probably better long term durability for towing, i found this in a quick search. some super duties seem to be priced high but the right deal can be had if you wait. I just picked up a f250 like the one i linked but with less miles for $2500

I think towing with a high mileage truck is fine as long as the engine/trans in question has a good reputation for longevity and you keep the maintenance up. I recently bought a 230k mile F250 powerstroke to be a dedicated tow pig because I want to upgrade my boat to one that will be in the 8k lb range trailered. If I had bought a low mile tow mule, there wouldn't be money for the boat. The truck will be replacing a 215k mile 302/4R70W Explorer that I towed a smaller boat and camper with on a regular basis and never worried about. I would hang that camper on the bumper and head to California today with zero concerns about making it.

I'm not a Dodge fan, but if you've found it to be a reliable drivetrain and really want to keep it I would certainly look into a rust-free body swap from down this way. They are common enough in good shape that it would be less work to do it that way than to fix all the rust.

IMO, if it's not structurally rusty and it's maintained, I see no reason for high mileage to matter as far as how well it can tow.

I tow a 28ft enclosed trailer with an 03 Suburban 2500 with 240K miles on it. If has been maintained decently, the mileage isn't an issue.

As for your Ram, with body and frame rust issues, I would look for another vehicle. You may spend more fixing it than just buying another vehicle.

rslifkin wrote: IMO, if it's not structurally rusty and it's maintained, I see no reason for high mileage to matter as far as how well it can tow.

PA is -very- picky about rust. Cousin had his truck fail due to a rust hole in the bumper.. so he removed the bumper and it passed inspection.

I think the truck I'm towing my car with tomorrow is 250k miles.

Worry not about miles, worry about condition. I've seen a lot of ragged, thrashed POS trucks with under 100k.

A V-10 Superduty would be a nice tow rig.

A while back I rented a U-haul box van that was basically a cutaway E350 with the V10. Since we have a truck with a 7.3 PSD I was expecting the V-10 to be a huge let-down. I was amazed, that V-10 not only moved that box van fine, it was peppy and ran like a champ even loaded down with a full load of furniture and junk. I have never driven a big truck, diesel or gas, that had the throttle response that thing had. Maybe that was just a really good example but I gotta think U-haul isn't being too kind to those things in terms of maintenance.

All that said, you may still want to check the Ford Truck forums and see what they say about V-10 reliability, but I wouldn't worry about power with one.

The V10s will move stuff quite well, probably better than the kinda sluggish unless modded 7.3. But it'll drink gas at a terrifying rate in the process. IIRC, driving a Uhaul E-450 box van with the V10 and a car trailer on the back (around 6k lbs, 16k total, IIRC), it got 7.5 - 8 mpg doing 60 - 65 on mostly flat ground with no wind.

SEADave wrote: A V-10 Superduty would be a nice tow rig. A while back I rented a U-haul box van that was basically a cutaway E350 with the V10. Since we have a truck with a 7.3 PSD I was expecting the V-10 to be a huge let-down. I was amazed, that V-10 not only moved that box van fine, it was peppy and ran like a champ even loaded down with a full load of furniture and junk. I have never driven a big truck, diesel or gas, that had the throttle response that thing had. Maybe that was just a really good example but I gotta think U-haul isn't being too kind to those things in terms of maintenance. All that said, you may still want to check the Ford Truck forums and see what they say about V-10 reliability, but I wouldn't worry about power with one.

Are you kidding? A Ford V10 can't drive around the block without firing all 10 plugs through the hood!!!!

Or so the internet tells me....

Have you considered a van? I have found that if you check out an E150 and F150, the F is going to be more expensive used than the E.. even if they are equipped to be as similar as possible. People want pickups, not vans.

You will get more secure enclosed storage and the Van's body should be closer in size to your enclosed trailer, so you might get better mileage.

mad_machine wrote: Have you considered a van? I have found that if you check out an E150 and F150, the F is going to be more expensive used than the E.. even if they are equipped to be as similar as possible. People want pickups, not vans. You will get more secure enclosed storage and the Van's body should be closer in size to your enclosed trailer, so you might get better mileage.

That's true, but a van takes away the option of a future upgrade to a gooseneck trailer, while a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck would allow that.

In reply to rslifkin:

Yeah, but he opened the door to a Suburban. Gooseneck trailer is already out.

I was going to say, I didn't read any mention of gooseneck or 5th wheel hauling

I tow with a 180K mile, 21 year old, big block gas, Ford. The last heavy hauling it did was a 35' camper that tips the scales at 14k# and this past summer it did a 3700 mile round trip to Canada hauling a 2500# slide in truck camper. Mileage isn't a problem as long as it's properly maintained.