What Tow Vehicle For < $3k?

So, I'll be moving to Indiana from Atlanta sometime this fall/winter and I have several cars that I'd like to move out there. I might rent a truck or big moving van that could tow, but I've been thinking about just buying a truck/van/SUV instead. I'd like to get something that I can also use for the next 1-2 years to tow to track days (just weekend amateur stuff), and haul around garage/home improvement stuff. In a year or two, I'll probably buy a nicer/newer truck, but it's not gonna happen at the moment.

I have a friend with an open all-aluminum car trailer that I can use for the move to Indiana. It's a "2-car" trailer, something like this:
The trailer weighs 3k lbs or a little less (15k lb GVWR) and I'd want to tow with two cars on it; one weighing just under 2k lbs, one just under 3k lbs.

I've been thinking about the following vehicles as possible options. They're all in the $2-3k range locally and have towing capacities of ~8k lbs+.
- 1998-2004(ish) Expedition/Navigator
- 1998+ F250 (gas V8), needs some kind of back seat
- 2000+ Chevy/GMC work van (2500/3500 gas V8)
- 2000+ Suburban/Tahoe (1500 SUV)
- 1990-1998 Chevy 2500 truck

I don't mind getting something that needs a little work, and I don't mind spending a few hundred on a good towing setup (brake controller, weight distributing hitch, etc).

So, what do you guys think? Anything on this list that looks good. Anything to avoid? Anything I didn't think of that I should keep an eye out for?

V10 Excursion?

My last tow vehicle was a 1993 Suburban 2500, 454, 4x4, in your price range. Towed like a champ, drank fuel at an alarming rate, sounded excellent, 10/10, would buy again.

In reply to m4ff3w:

I do look for those occasionally, they tend to be a little more than $3k and replacing 10 coil packs scares my wallet, but I'll take another look at that.

I will second the 2500 suburban recommendation. Great trucks...

With that trailer, I would suggest a 3/4 ton truck, van or Suburban/Excursion. Not sure how nice of one you will get for less than $3K though. I would avoid the 1/2 ton SUVs personally. If you were pulling a single car trailer, then any of the ones you listed would work.

I'd mention that my '78 C-30 CC dually is available, but you won't want that rusty thing in Atlanta.

bravenrace wrote: I'd mention that my '78 C-30 CC dually is available, but you won't want that rusty thing in Atlanta.

Well, he is moving to Indiana, so your truck would fit in perfectly. We don't mind rusty trucks here, they usually make great off road vehicles.

In reply to 81cpcamaro:

I should just go home and start over tomorrow. This is about the 5th thing I've read incorrectly today.

Yeah, I would like to get something down here to avoid the rust. I've really been spoiled by clean under-bodies since moving here from NY.

What do you guys think about the trade off between an older (pre-2000) Suburban 2500 and a newer (say 2000-2004) Suburban 1500. After the move, I don't think I'll ever tow more than 6k-7k lbs. The newer 'burbs seem a bit more comfortable and fuel efficient and the 1500s are so easy to find. Thoughts? I know the 2500s have beefcake everything and are ideal for towing...

I wouldn't want to tow longer distances with a 1/2-ton truck that hasn't been modified for towing (extra transcooler and all that jazz) and I'd probably still rather have a 3/4 ton one anyway for the (usually) stronger transmission.

Hands down newer vs older, there is no contest in everything from fit and finish to durability to gas mileage.

I have a 2004 crew cab 1500 gmc, it is awesome. Make sure to find one with the 4.10's, it seems to be a steep rear gear, but the stock 17" tires are massive. The same effective ratio is with a 3.73 rear in the older trucks.

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Trans-cooler would be an easy add-on. Wouldn't mind doing that along with the brake controller, etc. Would definitely prefer a 3/4 ton chassis, but just not sure what the best compromise is for my budget.

In reply to HiTempguy:

Good to know. Any idea how common the 4.10 gears are on a crew/extended cab that isn't a work truck?

JohnyHachi6 wrote: In reply to HiTempguy: Good to know. Any idea how common the 4.10 gears are on a crew/extended cab that isn't a work truck?

In Canada, you're more likely to find the 4.10's "Merica, no idea. Inside the glovebox will be a rpo sticker sheet, look for GT5. GT4 is 3.73 and G80 is locking diff.

In your situation, a Suburban is a much more family friendly mobile, especially if you don't need the bed space but just the ability to haul trailers and lots of people.

Yeah, I'm a little torn between a truck and SUV. I hope to be running 3-5 crapcan races a year and it would be nice to be able to take 4-6 people and all our gear in a minimum number of vehicles, so SUV sounds good. Plus, it's a little more secure and comfortable. On the other hand, it would be great to have a bed for lumber, junkyard crap, and 55 gal drums of fuel for the enduros...

A newer beefcake SUV and a really old compact pickup is probably what I'll end up with eventually, but at the moment I'm just focused on a cheap way to move and have something I can tow with for a while.

m4ff3w wrote: V10 Excursion?

Oh yes!

If you're not gonna get 3/4 diesel (and you'd be hard pressed to find one for < $3K) then I'm +1 on the 2500 Suburban. Not something I'd want to do with a half ton.

I picked up this for $2900.

The truck, not the camper. The camper is 35' and 12K pounds. The truck will pull it at 75 mph for as long as you can afford to feed the 460 under the hood.

I love the crew cab.