Learn me sub-$6000 Tow Vehicle

Right now, the prime suspects are late '90s/early '00s Chevrolet Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban (and their fancy-pants GMC doppelgangers). My towing needs are small, and I don't intend that to change much.

I'm also considering 3rd Gen. Toyota 4Runners, but they seem to actually be a little pricier, and don't have quite as much towing capacity. But are Toyotas, so they have that going for them.

I'm undecided on trailers at the moment. I want an all-aluminum Trailex, but also, I like having money in savings accounts. A steel/wood-deck trailer is probably more likely. So, estimating... 1500lbs trailer, 2500lbs car, leaves 1500lbs for cushion and maybe some stuff like a spare set of tires if I set a minimum towing capacity of 5000lbs. I'm pretty sure all of my potential targets meet this requirement

I'm leaning towards something that can reasonably (if not comfortably) hold four adults, as my current fleet is Miata and MINI, and if I'm acquiring an additional vehicle, I'd rather it not be two passenger only.

Go-Go-Gadget GRM boards!

P.S. I did use google search, and found some useful stuff, even on these boards specifically, but darn it, do I just like making a new thread.

Suburbans are great as are the Suburban drived Avalanches. Try and get a 2500 series version and you should be able to get one in your price range that is well taken care of.

I just got a 2002 Suburban 2500 4x4 with the 8.1 liter that has a 10,500 lb tow rating and tows like a champ. Crap for fuel mileage, but surprisingly on par with my diesel dually for MPGs while having a lower maintenance cost. Unfortunatly, it was just out of your price range at $6500, but I'd bet you could find a slightly older one or higher mileage one in your price range.

We've been towing with a 2003 GMC Envoy XL with tow package since we bought it new in 2004. The XL wheelbase is 1" shorter than the Suburban. We towed our 6200# wet, 32' travel trailer with relative ease and always got 10mpg. Comfortable machine that seats 7 adults. These things have completely depreciated to well within your price point.

Ours is for sale if you're interested.

Apparently the 3.4 in that gen 4Runners are dogs. I just bought an '07 V8 4Runner, but you'd need to triple your budget for a nice one.

A 3/4 Suburban (as mentioned), will tow anything you want, so no need to spend the money on a pricey aluminum trailer.

Steel deck trailer = less maintenance. Wood needs maintenance and eventually replacing like the wood on a deck in your back yard.

Aluminum trailers are way to expensive to be worthwhile considering you'll have a real tow vehicle that can handle the weight.

The Suburban or truck are both great options. Suburban might be easier to find w/ lower mileage and better interiors since trucks often get used for actual work.

I've noticed lots of 9th generation (92-96) F-150s and F-250s about in my price range (or half). Well maintained F-250s with the NA 7.3L or Turbo 7.3L with ~200,000mi seem to be available for around $4-6k. F-150s are obviously more plentiful, and I can even find some of them with sub-100k miles for under $5,000. Any thoughts on those? Better off with a newer Chevy?

OMG, dont start the Ford vs Chevy argument. I have towed with 'Burbs and with Expeditions and Excursions. Each have their good and bad points. The two best SUV tow vehicles are 3/4ton 'Burb and any model(except 5.4) Excursion. YMMV

LainfordExpress wrote: I've noticed lots of 9th generation (92-96) F-150s and F-250s about in my price range (or half). Well maintained F-250s with the NA 7.3L or Turbo 7.3L with ~200,000mi seem to be available for around $4-6k. F-150s are obviously more plentiful, and I can even find some of them with sub-100k miles for under $5,000. Any thoughts on those? Better off with a newer Chevy?

I consider 200,000miles a lot for a used vehicle older than 2000, but YMMV there.

The 9th gen Ford's are pretty meh IMO compared to the GM offerings of the era. They ride like crap compared to the GMs and the 5.0L/351 suck fuel like nobody's business. No point in the 7.3TD as they don't get "good" mpg unless you are comparing towing mpg between gas and diesel. And the 3/4 tons ride even worse/are huge.

A newer GM with the 5.3L will get the best mpg out of any small SUV/1/2 ton pickup and be the most versatile. You also get much better interiors/overall build quality IMO compared to the earlier generations of any of the domestics manufacturers trucks. Of course, the 4L60E may need a rebuild eventually, and the transfer cases in them also tend to need rebuilds (eventually). Its not as bad as the interweb makes it seem, but I know a guy who strictly does 4L60E's and the 1999+ GM transfer cases as his side business.

Edit- I really don't understand the boards fascination with the Suburban... if you don't want a truck, get a tahoe. But you are the kind of person who absolutely doesn't need a 3/4ton pickup or "large" SUV.

In reply to HiTempguy:

Exactly. If you don't need the 4wd, then the 2wd offerings come with R&P steering, better ride and handling and better fuel economy. the 2wd's last a bajillion miles between rebuilds and the parts are available EVERYWHERE. There isn't a parts store in North America that won't have the simple items like brakes, cooling parts, tune up stuff and filters for one.

'Burbs are nice if you want some place to sleep at night. Fold the middle row down and you have 4'x9' sleeping area. They are the exact same length as the 04-06 CC short beds bumper to bumper but more interior space.

HiTempguy wrote: I really don't understand the boards fascination with the Suburban... if you don't want a truck, get a tahoe. But you are the kind of person who absolutely doesn't need a 3/4ton pickup or "large" SUV.

I can't speak for anyone else on the board, but I don't understand the appeal of the Tahoe at all. It gets the same (bad, yet fair for a capable truck) fuel economy as the Suburban and can haul less stuff inside. They're both going to be more difficult than a car to maneuver in tight situations. They're both going to seat the same number of people, but one of them will still have room for luggage. The Suburban is going to be applicable to more situations, yet isn't any worse than the Tahoe at anything else (unless you have a parking space length limitation). Another strike against the Tahoe in the body style of my current one is that the only way you could get the diesel is if you bought a 2dr. Admittedly, this doesn't seem to apply to the OP.

I'm biased, of course. I've had two Suburbans.

If you rally or rallycross get 4x4. If you just go to autoX and track days, 2wd is fine. Also when your not racing the 4x4 makes for some fun expeditions.

1/2 tons hate towing (unless its a tow dolly) the heavier duty ones can come with trailer brake control which is nice and the suspension/brakes themselves might be larger and may already come with a hitch. so its less upfront cost.

Diesel is great but as mentioned before if not used they dont like to sit and maintanence costs are more so gas trucks get worse fuel mileage but are cheaper to maintain and do better for periods of sitting. Also anything towing gets bad fuel mileage, its just physics.

I bought a 3/4 ton suburban because of how I use it it made more sense than a Tahoe sized SUV, or truck, or van. I only drive it for truck things, and tow a substantial amount of that time. I wanted something that was good at towing, could seat 7 (which I do fairly regularly), had good enclosed storage and can be slept in at the track, can be driven through the snow we get here, and would fit 4x8 sheets in it. A Tahoe can't do most of those as well ( no 3/4 ton for towing, can't fit 8x4, can't fit enough inside for a lemons weekend). Neither can a truck (no seating for 7 or enclosed storage), or a van (no 4wd except for very rare conversions).

A suburban is an excellent beast of burden.

The OPP here uses 2wd Tahoes with a full Police package including the 5.3L. I think they would make a great tow rig. I am pretty sure that the Police package probably includes Trans and Oil Coolers.

Not sure if they go for sub $6K or not.

fidelity101 wrote: 1/2 tons hate towing

uMMM.... What? That has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read on this forum. I guess I've been doing it wrong all these years.

To top it all off, it's not 4wd, it's not the bigger 5.3 and it's not the tow friendly 3.42/3.73 rear end. Oh lawdy! It's so DANGEROUS!

Powar wrote: I can't speak for anyone else on the board, but I don't understand the appeal of the Tahoe at all. It gets the same (bad, yet fair for a capable truck) fuel economy as the Suburban and can haul less stuff inside. They're both going to be more difficult than a car to maneuver in tight situations. They're both going to seat the same number of people, but one of them will still have room for luggage. The Suburban is going to be applicable to more situations, yet isn't any worse than the Tahoe at anything else (unless you have a parking space length limitation). Another strike against the Tahoe in the body style of my current one is that the only way you could get the diesel is if you bought a 2dr. Admittedly, this doesn't seem to apply to the OP. I'm biased, of course. I've had two Suburbans.

Sonic wrote: I bought a 3/4 ton suburban because of how I use it it made more sense than a Tahoe sized SUV, or truck, or van. I only drive it for truck things, and tow a substantial amount of that time. I wanted something that was good at towing, could seat 7 (which I do fairly regularly), had good enclosed storage and can be slept in at the track, can be driven through the snow we get here, and would fit 4x8 sheets in it. A Tahoe can't do most of those as well ( no 3/4 ton for towing, can't fit 8x4, can't fit enough inside for a lemons weekend). Neither can a truck (no seating for 7 or enclosed storage), or a van (no 4wd except for very rare conversions). A suburban is an excellent beast of burden.

Neither of you are the OP, nor are using your vehicles for what the OP described. Christ people, work with me here a bit to help the OP rather than hear yourselves talk... :(

And also, no, a Suburban does NOT get the same mpg as a Tahoe. And fidelity, you are completely wrong about towing mpg. sigh

Bob, its just that larger trucks do it a bit better.

z31maniac wrote: Apparently the 3.4 in that gen 4Runners are dogs. I just bought an '07 V8 4Runner, but you'd need to triple your budget for a nice one. A 3/4 Suburban (as mentioned), will tow anything you want, so no need to spend the money on a pricey aluminum trailer.

I don't know what you mean by dog. I've got one and have had no problem with it. It does not like to tow a heavy trailer though. I ahve no idea what its rated to tow. A Spitfire on a U-haul on hotass Juy4th was about all mine could tow. I may be towing an MGB on a U-haul trailer soon so will see how that goes.

That would be my tow vehicle.

@hitemp- the voices in my head are better for hearing myself talk than typing a forum response on my phone.

The OP specifically mentioned suburbans and looking for experienced testimonial, which I could provide from a first hand account of how it meets certain needs.

I get that you prefer trucks and don't care for suburbans, that's fine, that's why there are lots of choices. I happen to think a suburban would meet the OPs needs.

I would be towing a Miata on a tandem axle flatbed bumper hitch trailer. Total loaded weight of the trailer with vehicle would be less than 4000lbs. Usually one person driving, potentially an occasional passenger or two.

For all the times that I'm not towing a Miata to a track or autocross, I'd probably prefer a pickup truck, but for actually using it for it's intended purpose, towing a Miata from Georgia to Lincoln, Nebraska, having enclosed lockable storage space and room for a couple of lackeys (er, friends) would be really nice.

For that reason, Suburban and Tahoe/Yukon sound like winners. Why the later 5.3L ones instead of the older 5.7Ls? I kinda prefer the boxier styling (it was what the cool Boy Scout leaders had when I was in middle school), but if the rolly-poly 2000ish+ ones are significantly better, then I guess I'd go with them. Pricing seems to be about the same, with maybe a little less mileage on the newer ones.

trans in the old versus newer body style in that era burb are all 4L60-e.

bonus in newer ones is the hydroformed(stronger) frame versus the old school C channel ones up to 99. the 5.3 is nice but the 350 in the older ones is fine too. i towed 8,000lbs behind my 1994 350 4x4 1500 suburban. it did it, but it was slow going. i pulled 8,000lbs of similar load on the same trailer with my 2005 avalanche(suburban with no back glass or roof) with a 5.3. it got it going much easier, kept it at speed with less effort, and felt much more stable at 55. the only thing keeping them from being comparable is that the burb had a 3.42 gear and the av has a 4.10. i'm not sure what the suburban is rated to pull as it's gone, but the avalanche is rated at 8,000 with the 4.10 gear.

i enjoyed my 90 suburban, liked my 94, and love my avalanche. they do keep getting better, and i would get as new a truck as you can get. i wouldn't kick the 92-99 body burb out of my driveway, but i'd try to get a newer one.

patgizz wrote: trans in the old versus newer body style in that era burb are all 4L60-e. bonus in newer ones is the hydroformed(stronger) frame versus the old school C channel ones up to 99. the 5.3 is nice but the 350 in the older ones is fine too. i towed 8,000lbs behind my 1994 350 4x4 1500 suburban. it did it, but it was slow going. i pulled 8,000lbs of similar load on the same trailer with my 2005 avalanche(suburban with no back glass or roof) with a 5.3. it got it going much easier, kept it at speed with less effort, and felt much more stable at 55. the only thing keeping them from being comparable is that the burb had a 3.42 gear and the av has a 4.10. i'm not sure what the suburban is rated to pull as it's gone, but the avalanche is rated at 8,000 with the 4.10 gear. i enjoyed my 90 suburban, liked my 94, and love my avalanche. they do keep getting better, and i would get as new a truck as you can get. i wouldn't kick the 92-99 body burb out of my driveway, but i'd try to get a newer one.

Just the well reasoned anecdotal advice I was looking for from GRM boards. To the Craigslist Machine!

The older engines were decent, but the LS engines are just better.

The 6.0L lsx powered should have the 4L65

Here's a few candidates:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4346026118.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/4340707910.html

Anything I should know/ask/look for?

yamaha wrote: The older engines were decent, but the LS engines are just better. The 6.0L lsx powered should have the 4L65

4L80E I believe.