What to look for in a tow vehicle?

My 8.1 2500HD gets 10mpg towing at 80-85. I have no idea what it gets at 60, because I would kill myself if I had to tow at 60.

My 93 dodge with the cummins got in the low 20's loaded up with 7,000 of car and trailer all day long (65 mph though), got 22 empty. Can't beat that with a stick. Now I like the idea of a FS van but what about hauling dirt, crap or other bits you don't want in your van? And I LOVE the rear visibility of a P/U over a van.

alfadriver wrote:

SVreX wrote: Gas burners should be at least a 5.7L (350c.i.). Anything less will have issues towing long haul. Your 3500 lb car plus the trailer puts you in the 5000 lb towing capacity range. That's full sized truck, though an easy pull for a full sized truck.

My only issue are the above lines. For one Lease session (two years), we towed a 3500lb total package with a 3.0l Ranger, for 3 more of those (7 years since one was a 3 year lease) we did the same with a 4.0l ranger (205-220 hp)- both towed just fine. For the 3 Challenges, where we towed from Michigan to Florida, across the hills in the center, the 4.0l was the motive power- never a single issue.

I don't mind being wrong on this one at all, Eric. Especially since you included this line (Yeah!):

alfadriver wrote: As long as the vehicle is rated for the weight, the cooling system is capable in all locations in the east (the rating is based on a steep grade in the desert, hot day, just over max tow, high drag).

But I would also note that his rig will be a LOT more than your 3500lb total package was. He's got 3500 PLUS the weight of the trailer (and some other moving junk thrown on the trailer, and a few mopeds in the bed of the truck). Just a thought...

SVreX wrote: But I would also note that his rig will be a LOT more than your 3500lb total package was. He's got 3500 PLUS the weight of the trailer (and some other moving junk thrown on the trailer, and a few mopeds in the bed of the truck). Just a thought...

I fully understand that, and also fully know that if a vehicle is rated to 5500lb, then it has towed a trailer that weighs 6000lb with a nice little high drag wing up a really intimidating grade, in Arizona, on a very hot day.

So 5000lb will be fine for a truck rated for 5500lb (which is what Rangers are rated at).

One note- while dd's rig is cool, the 4.0l Rangers have more power, better brakes, and better cooling. Modern is good sometimes. You don't need a V8 to tow 5000lb. It may be nice (assuming it's been put together right, and you have correct cooling), but not needed.

Eric

SVreX wrote: Trucks suck gas. Get over it.

I agree on almost all of your points exept this one.

My truck does not use ANY gas

It also gets 19/22 MPG burning oil and 16 pulling 9600lbs over the hills of PA/NY/NJ/W VA.

I pulled stuff with gassers and pondered the diesel issue for 10yrs before buying one. I would not buy another gas powered truck now (well, for applications needing a full size, anyway). It has huge benefits and almost no downside that I can tell except that occasionally you have to drive around a place to find the diesel pump.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

SVreX wrote: Trucks suck gas. Get over it.

I agree on almost all of your points exept this one. My truck does not use ANY gas It also gets 19/22 MPG burning oil and 16 pulling 9600lbs over the hills of PA/NY/NJ/W VA. I pulled stuff with gassers and pondered the diesel issue for 10yrs before buying one. I would not buy another gas powered truck now (well, for applications needing a full size, anyway). It has huge benefits and almost no downside that I can tell except that occasionally you have to drive around a place to find the diesel pump.

If a diesel truck and a gas truck were the same cost to get them in the first place, I'd agree with you. But when the cost of the diesel is so much more that it will take many years to make up the cost difference in towing, then one really has to consider both.

For us, it's easy- we tow 3500lb, and buying an Edge returns about 16mpg towing, but having that crossover makes it so that we sold one of our primary cars (a '94 Alfa 164), which saved money on insurance, registration, and gas.

One has to factor in everything when considering a vehicle. That's the ONLY reason we got an F150 for one cycle- it's payment, insurance, and total costs made it a better choice even though it's non-towing mileage was very bad, relatively speaking.

I can never see getting a diesel pulling vehicle for the cost to get the truck in the first place. For me.

E-

Thanks for the input, guys. This will help a lot. I think maybe I should get something BIG to make the move easy, then dump it. I don't care about the mileage and whatnot while I'm moving. After that, I really don't need it.

BTW, I have no intention of towing with the Rabbit Pickup, but I almost never need to tow anything. Not having a truck around keeps me from bringing home dead cars all the time. When I had my old Rabbit Pickup (big motor and helper springs) I never needed a "real" truck, and it was still a great daily.