Cheap tow rig.

[jdub]

If one was to tow 2 rigs one short wheelbase and one long. but didn't want to buy an 18 wheeler would this be a valid option?

It would only need to be used a handful of times a year 5-10.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=&nid=443&tab=list/view&ad=768819

 

[ChestonScout]

so ........your talking load the short wheelbase on the flatbed and tow the other??

 

[1993yj]

I would think that pulling that much of a load with an old 454 would get slow going up places like Spanish Fork Canyon. Although, my dad used to do a 5th wheel flat towing a jeep with an old 350. After a year of that he got a Duramax.

 

[ChestonScout]

Im sure it would do it but ya....it will be slow and the gas mileage???? OUCH


But, it would look dang cool going down the road

 

[NYCEGUY01]

I think this would work a little better. Still a good budget towrig.

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/815254966.html

 

[Maverick]

Yup, that would be awesome! You can seat 6, and when you get tired of the 454, you can sell it to a jeeper and drop in a cummins.

 

[jdub]

I know that the gas/diesel banter has gone on for years, but from what I hear cummins are great but diesels sometimes have less GWR than a 454. I read in a recent 4wheeler mag that the Suburban with a 454 was a better rig with the exception of the mileage.

 

[jdub]

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=&nid=443&tab=list/view&ad=802572

This is another grand and not the before-mentioned set up. But is the diesel that much more worth it?

 

[Maverick]

I've done both: '99 vortec 454 burb and 2002 7.3psd Excursion. I'll take the excursion. However...the 454 did pretty darn good, and I could pull most hills almost as fast as the psd...although it was spinning around 5000rpm to do it. The diesel accelerated under load better than the gasser.

You just have to plan on going a little slower with the 454 in some places. But for a price of $1500, you can buy a lot of gas. The other thing to consider is that the 454 (except for the '96-99 vortec) runs out of poop at around 3800rpm, but has gobs of torque before than happens.

Btw, the GVWR was higher for the X than the burb...even though the X weighs more, the tow rating was 12,000lbs instead of 10,000 for the burb.

 

[jdub]

The other thing to consider is that the 454 (except for the '96-99 vortec) runs out of poop at around 3800rpm,

Btw, the GVWR was higher for the X than the burb...even though the X weighs more, the tow rating was 12,000lbs instead of 10,000 for the burb.[/QUOTE]

Funny, No, that's where I was confused in my reading comprehension of the mag. article is the Diesel burb. has a higher GVWR. When considering multiple rigs and a trailer that's BIG.

 

[sixb]

If your towing 2 rigs plus a capable trailer and passengers and are looking to do it on the cheap, I would consider looking at the 95-97 4 door power stroke with low miles. Probably gonna be more than 1500.00 but I bet a nice one could be had for less than 10k. That 84 chev is gonna be one of those rigs you always see on the side of the road broke down

 

[Meat_]

The diesel options will pull the pants off of any RAT motor put out from the mid 70's until the 8L. The 8L can pull very well, and the mileage isn't terrible. Now if you were to buy that 4 door and rebuild the 454 right, it would be a VERY respectable tow rig. The problem is that due to emissions and mpg BS they stopped building RATs to their potential, and thus stock RATs are owned by stock diesels. Now if you start talking about non stock diesels, forget about comparing them to gas motors.

 

[jdub]

Yeah, the diesel is the best choice. From what I understand it's not a bad Idea even if it's driven regularly, can get high teens unloaded. I'm so scared of ford(maintenance) but they seem to be less dollar that the old dodge cummins. I probably want an auto, But I've heard that the dodge auto is weak. Hows the late 90's fords on reliability.

 

[Meat_]

...but they seem to be less dollar that the old dodge cummins...

That should tell you something. Dodges auto gets a bum wrap, it's not any worse than the others. The biggest killer of the Dodge auto was the fact that they didn't bother to tell anyone that the trannys require +3 and +4 atf and will melt down if you put Dexron in them.

 

[sixb]

Yeah, the diesel is the best choice. From what I understand it's not a bad Idea even if it's driven regularly, can get high teens unloaded. I'm so scared of ford(maintenance) but they seem to be less dollar that the old dodge cummins. I probably want an auto, But I've heard that the dodge auto is weak. Hows the late 90's fords on reliability.

I think the best fords were from 95-97 for the power stroke,reliability wise. Other than the allison all the autos struggle behind the diesels. If your only going to use it for towing 5-10 times a year why not go for a manual?

Edit; The early Dodges are the best by far as far as cost of ownership is concerend but you can't get it in a crew cab.

 

[Maverick]

Funny, No, that's where I was confused in my reading comprehension of the mag. article is the Diesel burb. has a higher GVWR. When considering multiple rigs and a trailer that's BIG.

What was the diesel burb GVWR? What article? Highest burb tow rating I ever saw was 10,000. I don't know what the GVWR was.

 

[jdub]

Now I remember, I was looking at the mag subscriptions that you can get through the U4 membership and I went to the diesel power website and there was the Burb one.

 

[jdub]

You can get them cheap;
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=&nid=443&tab=list/view&ad=807313

Are they that much more worth it. This one has low miles for the year and everything, Could you squeeze another hundredK if you maintained it

I wouldn't get a manual for the sole reason so my wife could drive it. Sad huh! I'd prefer manual.

 

[Meat_]

You could squeeze another hundred K out of the motor if you beat it.

 

[sixb]

It could be fun teaching her to drive a manual, and I would look for a intercooled version.