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Noob tow rig questions

L

LT.

Well-Known Member
Location
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Mbryson is right on. He has an excellent trailer for towing two rigs at once and has also hit on the hitch weight and load arrangements. Towing two vehicles on one tag (bumper pull) trailer is not what I would consider for the first timer. Load position is more critical with a tag trailer than it is with a gooseneck. If you are willing to shop around then finding a 2003 to 2006 Dodge with the quad cab and short bed maybe within your spending limits. The Dodge does offer the best turning radius of the big three and the Cummins motor can't be beat for work. A manual tranny would be a big improvement. Nothing rides like a Chevy and the Ford is also a great foundation. Ideally my perfect tow rig would be a newer Ford truck, with a Cummins engine, and a built Allison tranny, with the interior ride of the Chevy as well. You can't really go wrong with any of the big three. As far as your daily driver, look for something else other than a Diesel. Perhaps a 6.0 Chevy, Hemi Dodge, or 5.4 Ford. Going slower is not much of a hassle and would be much better for your daily driving habits. Don't expect to tow with two rigs on a big trailer as well as the Diesel.

LT.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Very helpful info everyone, thanks.

I'm starting to re-think my criteria (sorry to be a shifting target). It's going to be a few years before I build my wife's rig, so I'll just be towing the toyota for now. So I really only need a truck that'll pull 8000 lbs easily, and still be a daily driver. i'm ok with something that's not a truck (like a blazer or tahoe, or van or whatever). It'll be my daily driver, so it sounds like I need to go with a gasser. If I do end up building my wife a rig soon, then I'll worry about a gooseneck and a diesel, but for the next few years, I won't be pulling two, so no need to put wear and tear on a giant truck that's only going to pull 8000 lbs (and that's over-estimating).
 
mbryson

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Location
Bountiful, land of rocks
sixstringsteve said:
Very helpful info everyone, thanks.

I'm starting to re-think my criteria (sorry to be a shifting target). It's going to be a few years before I build my wife's rig, so I'll just be towing the toyota for now. So I really only need a truck that'll pull 8000 lbs easily, and still be a daily driver. i'm ok with something that's not a truck (like a blazer or tahoe, or van or whatever). It'll be my daily driver, so it sounds like I need to go with a gasser. If I do end up building my wife a rig soon, then I'll worry about a gooseneck and a diesel, but for the next few years, I won't be pulling two, so no need to put wear and tear on a giant truck that's only going to pull 8000 lbs (and that's over-estimating).
Click to expand...


I think an E250 or E350 (whatever brand) van would be a great tow rig. Get a cargo model and build some living quarters in it for the two of you. VERY pimptastic but functional at the same time. A tag trailer like mine would work AWESOME with a van. You may need to tune the rear suspension with different springs or airbags or whatnot, but some of the van platforms have some EXCELLENT powertrain options and could work very nicely for someone with some imagination.

If you're in the 8000 lb range, I'd get a 3/4 ton or better truck. If you're under 6000 lbs., a half ton rig would work fine. From 6000 to 8000 the decision is up to you. You can WORK a 1/2 ton platform (1/2 ton SUV, pickup whatever) while towing (and they can take it for the most part) but you'll be losing a little towing speed and if you're running an auto (how many stick 1/2 tons have been sold in the past 10 years---few I'm sure), you'll want to address tranny cooling issues.

Personally, I'd buy more truck/SUV/van than less. Likely with the gasser motor if I was in your situation. The heavier duty stuff will handle loads better and more reliably than the lighter duty stuff. The trade off being that the lighter duty stuff is easier to daily drive and more comfortable.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
mbryson said:
Personally, I'd buy more truck/SUV/van than less. Likely with the gasser motor if I was in your situation. The heavier duty stuff will handle loads better and more reliably than the lighter duty stuff. The trade off being that the lighter duty stuff is easier to daily drive and more comfortable.
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VERY helpful, thanks. A cargo van would rock. I'm thinking 3/4-1 ton (is that the 2500 series, or the 3500)?

Thanks again everyone.
 
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Gravy

Gravy

Ant Anstead of Dirtbikes
Supporting Member
Location
The Land Northward (Bountiful), Utah
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I'd love to find a van like that that's 8-passenger. 12-pass is a little big for a family of 2 :rofl:

Would a duallie be out of the question for daily driving?
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Man, my brain is going a thousand miles an hour in all directions. how tough/stupid would it be to get an older classic truck and beef it up for towing? Like an old 72 chevy or something like that? I don't mind swapping in a 14 bolt or whatever, it might be fun. I've never done an engine swap, so I'd be clueless in that arena. Or maybe throw a cummins in an old classic truck... It sounds like it'll probably run me a lot more than I want to spend anyway...
 
BCGPER

BCGPER

Starting Another Thread
Location
Sunny Arizona
A 454 is almost a direct bolt in replacement. I towed with a big block 72 for years. If you can find a decent 3/4 ton, you'll be money ahead in the long run. I'd also go with the 71 to 72 for the better brakes, not to mention looks, but I'm kinda biased that way.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Sweet. Well, I"ll just cross my fingers that my taco sells soon. I'd love the suburban, but a flatbed '67-72 would be sweet too.

I love that 67 heist truck on fast & furious.

vf%20truck.jpg


and it's for sale too. only $35k
http://volocars.com/1967-chevrolet-truck-fast-&-furious-c-1254.htm#16


Man, now I sound like a total mall-crawler. Yes, I'm a noob at tow rigs, but not to crawling...
 
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Houndoc

Houndoc

Registered User
Location
Grantsville
For towing, I have loved my 05 Dodge. Handles the boats (with trailer gas a gear runs 5-6k pounds, so pretty light load for the truck). I have only done shorter drives (less than 50 miles each way) with the horses, but it has handled that very well also (figure 4 horses in a fully enclosed steel trailer with tack is probably in the 9k range, and not very aerodynamic either.)


It is also our main family car and is better on fuel than my Montero or the Yukon the truck replaced.

Mechanically, only real issue is the 'death wobble' discussed on my other thread. Even with that episode, it is a truck I would recommend.
 
BCGPER

BCGPER

Starting Another Thread
Location
Sunny Arizona
The nice thing about thinking the 68 to 72 route is that if you shop carefully you'll be able to drive it for years, and still sell it for what you have into it.

The down side, it may not have the dependabilty you're looking for without doing some work.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Houndoc said:
For towing, I have loved my 05 Dodge. Handles the boats (with trailer gas a gear runs 5-6k pounds, so pretty light load for the truck). I have only done shorter drives (less than 50 miles each way) with the horses, but it has handled that very well also (figure 4 horses in a fully enclosed steel trailer with tack is probably in the 9k range, and not very aerodynamic either.)


It is also our main family car and is better on fuel than my Montero or the Yukon the truck replaced.

Mechanically, only real issue is the 'death wobble' discussed on my other thread. Even with that episode, it is a truck I would recommend.
Click to expand...


Which model do you have? is it a gasser or a diesel?
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
BCGPER said:
The nice thing about thinking the 68 to 72 route is that if you shop carefully you'll be able to drive it for years, and still sell it for what you have into it.

The down side, it may not have the dependabilty you're looking for without doing some work.
Click to expand...

This is true... How sweet would that be to have a cummins in a 72?
 
jentzschman

jentzschman

Well-Known Member
Location
Sandy, Utah
Steve,

I would, personally, stay away from older rigs and vans. Just my opinion, but a suv or truck is what I would do.

If you are for real about building a rig for your wife, then get one that can pull em' both now, instead of worrying about it all again when you have hers.

You said 15k is your absolute limit. You can find some great trucks on ksl within that amount.

I still say you go diesel. Even though you work literally across the street, it will work more for you in the long run. Plus, like you mentioned, you can always drive the 81 to work every now and then....

happy hunting man...
 
skippy

skippy

Pretend Fabricator
Location
Tooele
sixstringsteve said:
This is true... How sweet would that be to have a cummins in a 72?
Click to expand...

It would be awesome and actually very easy to do we have done quite a few cummins swaps lately we just finished putting one in a buddies 55 chevy pick-up they are great motors the hardest part of the swap is fabbin your own motor mounts but im sure you wouldnt have any problem with that after that you wire up your starter,alternator and shut-off solenoid and your golden
 
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