What Beater Tow Vehicle?

I tow with a 1991 Dodge Dakota 2WD with a 318 (5.2L) V8. Except for the automatic in mine, it meets all of your criteria.

I'm not sure if they made them with a V8 and a manual transmission, but if they did, I would recommend one. Great truck.

What do y'all think of this? That should hold all the tools and spare parts! A little pricey and not much cabin space, but I could likely keep about every tool I own in it.

http://evansville.craigslist.org/cto/3114654021.html

If it's a pre-turbo 7.3, it's going to be slow.

I like the ambulance idea the best, but not sure you will find one as cheap as you are looking for.

ClemSparks wrote: from the econoline ad above:

"This is a 1994 e350 with the v-8 ice cold air 251,000 miles runs out great new trans can be seen at 4618 covert ave call/text steve 812453185six

"Runs out great" is code for "I'm a dealer and it didn't go up in flames before I got it on the trailer at the acution." Not at all relavent to the topic, sorry, but I just had to mention it I've never heard "Runs out" used by anybody that I thought had any actual integrity. (Doesn't mean it can't happen...this is my experience only)

Some googling says you are correct!

http://evansville.craigslist.org/aos/3017987302.html

http://www.dmv.com/directory/indiana/evansville/c-js-auto-sales-4618-covert-ave

sporqster wrote: What do y'all think of this? That should hold all the tools and spare parts! A little pricey and not much cabin space, but I could likely keep about every tool I own in it. http://evansville.craigslist.org/cto/3114654021.html

They are slow but pretty dependable. They will pull darn near anything, just don't be in a hurry to get there.

I would check with your insurance first though. Since it doesn't have a pickup bed, they are not considered Recreational Vehicles (i.e. pickup bed) and usually have to have commercial level insurance (i.e. higher rates). If the VIN says it was a cab chassis then insurance will charge you commercial rates. This is info State Farm told me when I was looking for trucks. Just a heads up.

sporqster wrote: In reply to Gasoline: ^^ had this one specifically in mind... lots of miles and lots of motor, suspect will be terrible on gas, but otherwise serious contender.

That looks like a pretty good deal. Show up with $1,200 cash and see if he bites.

The resale is also great on work vans.

It is hard to have both gas mileage and a workhorse for the cheap. Anyway $500 under budget goes a good ways on gas.

In reply to 81cpcamaro:

Call into Allstate and they're OK treating as a regular passenger truck as long as it is for personal use only.

I'm in no hurry when dragging a trailer around. I just want to get there without breaking anything or killing anyone, and maybe with enough money left over to put fuel in the race car.

Sporqster, then the 7.3L IDI will do the job just fine. I had one and loved the simplicity of the engine, all mechanical, no computer other than the one for the transmission. Easy to work on as well..

sporqster wrote: What do y'all think of this? ...... http://evansville.craigslist.org/cto/3114654021.html

Neat, but what now is the budget?

My needs: 1) Cost not one penny over $2000 purchase price minus any modifications needed to suit all my needs,

Another suggestion watch military surplus sites. Sometimes things like ambulances and maintenance trucks, etc come up for stupidly low prices.

In reply to Gasoline:

Budget is the same. Would require seller taking a lowball offer (I will show up with a wad of $20 bills which is hard to say no to?), eating PB&J for lunch for the rest of the year, or some other sort of similar sacrifice.

Was this already posted in here?

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/200x-classifieds/2003-chevy-express-2500-cargopassenger-van-60-4l80e-2012/51312/page1/

In reply to ProDarwin:

yeah, Gainsville is just a long way to travel for a $2000 van. I'm in southern Indiana.

I get 10 mpg with my 95 302 F150. So much torque, you'll blow the driveshaft off. By the way, anyone got an F150 driveshaft sitting around?

Current contenders:
http://evansville.craigslist.org/cto/3088373479.html
http://evansville.craigslist.org/cto/3097456972.html
http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/3113867156.html
http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/3114686729.html
http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/3114471417.html

I like there work bench in the 150. As for the dodge:

If there's no pics, its a lie.

Just test drove a '95 E250 Ambulance. It was awesome and totally in budget with money to spare (which I may use to fix the broken AC!). Made an offer contingent on a trans flush and an OBD1 check... we'll see if it all works out!

Sweet, hope you get it!

4-liter Ranger/B4000 with 5-speed. Get 4x4 to prevent getting stuck on grass, get extended-cab for helpful additional wheelbase.

I towed a maybe 3500lb trailer with one, no worries even though the trailer brakes didn't work*, pulled surprisingly well up hills in top gear as long as you kept your speed up, and the kicker is that I got nearly 20mpg. A++ would tow again.

*Well, only one did, but it was binary, rolling or locked up

M030 wrote: I tow with a 1991 Dodge Dakota 2WD with a 318 (5.2L) V8. Except for the automatic in mine, it meets all of your criteria. I'm not sure if they made them with a V8 and a manual transmission, but if they did, I would recommend one. Great truck.

I know for certain that they did in 1997, because I was this close to buying a 5.2 Dakota with a manual. $15,000 out the door. I loved that new bodystyle. You couldn't get the 3.91 gears with the V8, though.

I held out because allegedly the WRX was coming to town, but that's a different story.