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Noob tow rig questions

ricsrx

ricsrx

Well-Known Member
jentzschman said:
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...
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X2
Steve I also have a 70 GMC 4X4 (since1984)and i dreamed for years of updating the motor to a diesel( i even purchased a chev diesel for it at one time thinking it would be my tow rig) it would be sweet but don't for get the rest of the drive train like the brakes, when you get done its still an old truck... After buying my Ford crew cab i am so glad i didn't go with the GMC. The newer truck is better at every thing you can throw at it. I would go with the 04 Dodge Cummings then you are done and you can DD it also. like i said earlier i loved my older ford crewcab and probably should have done a Cummings swap but i am liking having even a newer model of truck, even the bad parts of my 04 dodge i can live with. Cummings with a 6spd manual, Sweeeet!
And if you get a truck, get a crew cab. could you imagine your Tacoma being a single cab??
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
ricsrx said:
And if you get a truck, get a crew cab. could you imagine your Tacoma being a single cab??
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uh, yes, I could. It'd be just like my '81 and it would drive me crazy. Allright, I'll be on the lookout for an '98-'04 dodge, unless y'all recommend a different year.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I had a guy offer me a 96 extended cab long bed dodge 2500 cummins on a partial trade for my taco. It's 4 wheel drive, 5 speed, gooseneck hitch. 265K on the truck. Truck is stock, not a hot rodded up diesel, has a jacobs exhaust brake and an electric brake controler.

What's that worth? Is it worth looking into, or should I go for the '98-04
 
L

LT.

Well-Known Member
Location
Los Alamos, New Mexico
A 71 or 72 Chevy would make a killer tow rig with just a few upgrades. If I remember correctly in 1971 Chevy introduced real power steering and power disk brakes (on the front axle). When I first started looking for a hunting truck the 71 - 72 is what I was looking for. Big blocks will swap right in, four wheel drive was common, disk brakes, power steering, standard trannys, and killer classic lines. Big block Chevy's are easy to find and are the most inexpensive of the big motors to build or purchase a new crate motor. 14 bolt rear ends can be swapped in easily enough to replace the Eaton rear axle. The Eaton is a good unit there is just not as much in the after market world for them like there is for the 14 bolt.

On a side note, daily driving a dually is possible and not much more difficult to drive and especially park than a regular single wheel. But, for towing one rig I don't think you would need one. Heck, even if you tow both rigs on one trailer you can do it with a single rear wheel anyways. I think if you do get a dually you will wonder why anyone would ever tow with a single. Yes, the duallys do make that much of a difference but, are not required by any means.

LT.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I like the way you think LT...

So many options... Thanks for the replies everyone, I'm getting excited with the possibilities. Keep 'em coming.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
If I do go with an old 71-72, would a turbo 400 trans be good, or should i be looking for the manual? I found one that I LOVE.
 
Chevycrew

Chevycrew

Well-Known Member
Location
WVC, UT
mbryson said:
400 is about as bulletproof as you can find for an auto. Manual is a 465 and is even more bulletproof than that.
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x2

Just without overdrive you may find that a truck designed for 55mph roads 30-40 years ago may be turning higher rpms on the freeway. Easy fix though, drive slower.
 
L

LT.

Well-Known Member
Location
Los Alamos, New Mexico
The TH-400 is a great tranny. The draw backs is that it has a fairly high first gear ratio, and no overdrive, as already pointed out. The over drive can be added to the back end by using a Gear vendors over drive unit. They are expensive and you will need to modify your rear drive shaft to make it work so in the long run it may be worth it but, I think you will be just fine with out it. The manual tranny would be a step better until you start daily driving it. The auto is just so much easier. If you are really interested in a manual tranny I think I have one laying around that came out of a 70's era truck. I can't be for sure as I bought it at an auction for the T-case on the back of it for $35.00. I rebuilt the T-case only to find that someone had to braze the case back after it took some damage. SM-465 is the model number and they can be had cheaply and they are plentiful as well.

LT.
 
T

Toad

Well-Known Member
Location
Millville(logan)
I tow with a 1996 powerstroke. f-250 crew cab. I get 17-18 empty and 12-13 pulling. i only wish it had 3.55 gears instead of the 4.10s( I say I could get better mileage but I would just drive faster).The crew cab is great and I couldnt imagine it otherwise.

The cummins is a great motor. My whole hang up with the Dodge is the Dodge. They didnt have a real crew cab until they intruduced the mega cab in 2006 or whatever. I know they have four dours starting in 2003 but the back seat is tiny. I personally dont care for the dodge.

When you consider mileage and power the only way to go is with a diesel. Were you have future plans to tow a 35 foot gooseneck with two rigs that would suck with a gas motor.

If I had to do it over again I would look for a 90-97 ford crewcab with a gas motor(cheaper) as long as the truck was in good shape. Swap in a 5.9 12 valve cummins(all mechanical and fairly easy to get close to 400 horse and still get 20 mpg) put a nv4500 trans with a southbend clutch. Then youd have something cool.
 
Corban_White

Corban_White

Well-Known Member
Location
Payson, AZ
I don't think the creature comforts are lacking that much. Put a tool box on it to make up for no back seat and relish the extra leg room/more upright seating position! I had a '71 truck like that (not quite as nice though! ;)) for a few years and I would still have it if someone hadn't decided he wanted to drive on the left side of the road. :( If your taco sells quick and you can get that I think you will LOVE it!.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Sweet, thanks for the input everyone. Gas mileage would suck, but I think it'd be a decent rig, and it's classy. it's got a corporate 10 bolt in the rear and a dana 40 in front. It's got 4.11 gears, and the brakes have been redone recently, so I think it'd be a good truck. I like that it's not all pimped out or lifted sky-high, or beat. Hopefully that taco sells soon, that'd be a fun truck. not looking forward to 9-12 mpg, but i guess that's the price you pay for a 454 gasser. i dont' drive much though, so i'm sure it wouldn't be too bad.

The only bummer is that it's been hit in the front once, but he swears it didn't bend the frame or do much damage... but that does make me leery.
 
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sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
does anyone know of a company that does cummins swaps? I don't feel confident enough to do it myself, but I think it'd be cool to swap one in to an older truck.
 
ricsrx

ricsrx

Well-Known Member
Toad said:
If I had to do it over again I would look for a 90-97 ford crewcab with a gas motor(cheaper) as long as the truck was in good shape. Swap in a 5.9 12 valve cummins(all mechanical and fairly easy to get close to 400 horse and still get 20 mpg) put a nv4500 trans with a southbend clutch. Then youd have something cool.
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Steve this is what i was saying on saturday about my ford..exactly!!
 
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