My first tow rig... Need suggestions

I've finally built my Jeep to where I want to trailer it to the trails instead of driving it. So I'm in the market for a tow rig.

I've got a XJ that weighs in at about 4K and a 16' trailer with a wood bed. Not too sure of the weight of it.

I'm sure that I'm looking for a 3/4 ton truck due to all I've read.

My budget... Around $10k

Diesel or gas... I don't perfer one more than the other.
Manual or auto... Again, not a deal breaker. Although I perfer a manual.
Don't need 4wd. I live in Texas and will take some trips with the truck to the north now and again but for the most part I'll be on clean highways.

I'll usually have the wife and my twin 6yr old boys with me on wheelin trips so I'll need a extended cab truck.

What is the best bang for my buck? I need a quality truck to do the family truck and tow rig duty.

Thanks.

 

Hmm, well you've got so many options.....

I'll stretch my neck out here and say a 1/2ton *could* work for you. Is 4K on the Jeep wet weight ready to wheel? Is this trailer a 7K or 10K trailer? If it's a 7K trailer and thats your Jeep's wet weight than shoot, you are going to only have around a 5,500-6,000lbs trailer behind you. With most late model 1/2tons, that at their upper limit, but under their manu. weight rating.

Are you a heavy packer or light packer? I know guys that even bring their barbaque (rotfl ), and then there are guys like me that is lucky if I remember to bring a sleeping bag...


If you can keep the trailer weight at or under 6k and don't completely load the bed with gear, I'd say a 1/2ton could work. You'd save on insurance, maintenance, and registration fees.

Today's 1/2ton is yesterdays 3/4ton... Just look at some of their weight ratings vs. an 80's 3/4t.

I'd hunt for a 2003-2006ish GM 1500HD model. They come in crew cab short beds, have a nice 6.0L motor that pulls well, and a 9.75" rear end vs. the venerable 10b. That truck would be perfect, but might take a little time to find used as there isn't a ton of them around.

 

I have been leaning that way as well. But I've been told that If I plan on taking at least one trip a year to the mountains, like Colorado, then I should go with a 3/4.

I pack light. I usually sleep in the jeep so I don't even take a tent.
I wouldn't pack more for a week trip than what would fit in the back of the pickup. The trailer is a 7k trailer (two 3.5k axles with elec brakes on the back axle)

If you would go 1/2 ton where would you put your money?

 

Please take a look at this

FS-98 Dodge DRW 24v CTD Auto, NO Rust
I thought I would list this truck here before I put it on eBay. I have used this truck primarily for transporting antique and classic cars through the states and parts of Canada. The truck was originally from Houston and I have not driven it in the two Michigan winters it has been here.
1998.5 Dodge SLT Club Cab, DRW, long bed, 24v CTD with 244K miles. Automatic trans was rebuilt by Roadmaster of Chicago for heavy duty hauling less than two years ago (24k miles) and it works great. The truck runs, 4" exhaust turbo back, edge EZ (reman-2006), K&N air box, 3.55 rear gear, 3 pod pillar gauges & column mount fuel pressure gauge. F.A.S.S. system installed and recent new injector pump, 6 new tires (less than 10k miles), gooseneck hitch, brake controller, class IV Hitch, bedliner. Factory options - air, pw, pl, am/fm w/single CD. Tilt, Cruise and everything functions properly. Remote control driving/fog lights.
This truck has done a great job for me usually pulling a 30' gooseneck enclosed with one car (9-10K lbs). Pulls most grades in O/D. 20 mpg empty and 13-14 loaded, depending on terrain. I'm downsizing to a 2500 SRW to pull my new 24' enclosed tag for pleasure trips only.
I'm asking $11,000, delivery may be available and I can email many pictures. I also have most receipts for work done. Please email me Halletts1@chartermi.net

If your serious, $10,500 will get it delivered to your door.

 

Like I said, a Gm 1500HD model. But, even a 5.3L extended cab short bed GM 1500 would do it too. Having a 3/4ton won't help you inthe mountains, as most of the gas engine options are almost the same between 1/2tons and 3/4tons, and you don't want a big block. You don't need a diesel at all, you could get a much nicer truck that has a gas engine that will do just fine compared to not nearly as nice of a truck with a diesel. (with a 10K limit, that buys a late model nice gas truck, 10K barely buys a 10 year old rig with a diesel).

You'll be fine in the Mountains, you'll just have to slow down some and it won't pull big hills at 60mph. I would imagine you will be traveling Colorado in the summer do you don't have to worry about bad weather. If you were going to travel through lots of rough weather than a heavier 3/4ton would definantly be better.

 

Two quick points -

Does fuel mileage matter? Diesel wins this one.
Safety for towing? 3/4 ton wins this one.

 

you shouldnt have a problem finding a second gen dodge or an older D-Max out there that fits the bill. the problem with an older dodge is the extended cab vice full doors and 2 6 year olds....

go diesel, and 3/4 ton would be nice, but a half ton with towing package and air bags will do you just fine as long as you pack lite. fule mileage will suck bad though...

Grant

 

I've been looking at alot of 2000 / 2001 trucks, extended cab, Less than 150k miles, diesel and gas for just at 10k. I did a little breakdown on gas milage and upkeep cost as well. Seems like the diesel wins every time.

I'm doing temporary duty away from home right now. My wife and buddy are going to take my XJ and throw it on my trailer this week to weigh it and let me know how much I'm pulling.

I'll be doing the buy in about a month so I'm researching now.

 

I've been searching but haven't found this answer yet... what kind of gas milage does a 6.0 chev get while towing?
I'm looking at a 01 GMC 2500HD extended cab w/ the 6.0 and 4L80E 2wd trans. It's got 128k on it and they are asking 10k for it.

Also found a 00 dodge 2500 extended cab, 24v Diesel, 5spd, 2wd, 150k miles for the same price...

Gas milage is a big factor of course. Military life doesn't pay that well.

 

Gas Mileage on a GM 6.0

A recent post in "GM gas engine rigs" entitled, "Here's an article I put together on my 2500HD", includes this link,

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Chevy/

I also would like to buy a 3/4 ton after I sell my Dodge Diesel DRW. I will not be transporting antiques and classics for other car owners. I have purchased a 24' tag and will only use it for my cars and parts.
I have been looking at both the 2006 3/4 Dodge Diesel and the Chevy/GMC 2007 Silverado 6.0 gas. I will be pulling 9-10K lbs. and my current Dodge usually gets 13-14 mpg. Well, read this article and form your own opinion on what you might expect towing with a 6.0 GM gas truck.

 

tons of info in there, thanks. I'm reading away.

 

here's my 2 cents

I wouldn't haul anything bigger than a garden tractor with a half ton. By and large most people overload their pickups when it comes to hauling. Its not that the truck can't pull the weight. Its that the truck can't hold it still in a gust of wind. But you definitly don't need anything bigger than 3/4. Here's some facts that could help you decide what to buy. In our area finding a good mechanic that knows something about a diesel is harder than finding a good physician. So if you aren't going to put a lot of miles on the rig, save yourself some trouble and money and stick to gas. You have to put a lot of fuel through a truck to pay the difference in cost. Secondly, (and I'm not picking on GM, just referencing some published data) the GM trucks don't hold their value as well as a Ford or Dodge for whatever reason(s) so you can probably get more truck for your money buying a used GM (assuming you aren't anti GM). If you look after your truck and you find a good one worth holding onto the truck could outlast the time the boys will be going with you. So you might want to consider a crewcab rather than an extended cab. Used there proably isn't much difference in cost. Happy shopping.

 

This past weekend I had to haul a grand cherokee on a trailer from San Antonio to Wichita Falls, TX. About a 6 hour drive. I pulled it with my buddies Ram 1500 with the Hemi. I hated it. Not enough power and it didn't handle the bad weather well at all. Also only got about 8mpg towing. I'm narrowing down my choices to a 3/4 ton dodge with the cummings or a 3/4 GM with the 6.0. My budget is keeping me a

Code:

t around 99-01 model years. I'm just searching for the right deal.

 

If I were you I'd be calling fore-speed ASAP.

 

I towed a couple of times with my friends 2000 2500 4x4 w/6.0 and on flat terrain it got 8-9 max (hand calculated.) I was using a 16 ft. car hauler towing a 74 bronco. This was driving about 70 mph.

Brian

 

I don't really have a use for a drw truck or I would have been all over fore-speeds truck. Right now I'm looking at a 00 gm with a 454 and manual. Guy is claiming mid teens while towing with the truck. Does that sound right?

 

Nope! and I've got three different trucks with 454s on my ranch to prove it, from carbed to that same Vortec.

 

RJF is right. You will see mid teens (as in 14) empty on the freeway if you keep your foot out of it. If I were you Id go for a 6.0 if you can. You will see better MPGs and about the same towing power.

 

Shoot, if that. My '98 C3500 dually with a manual transmission only gets like 10/13 or so, maybe 14 in perfect conditions.

 

Well, I've been doing a ton of research and testing a few rigs out. I got really sore after about 3-4 hours in a set of 03 dodge seats. Wasnt' impressed. The same truck convinced me I needed more than a half ton truck. The cabs on the pre 02 dodge body are too small for my boys to fit for the long hauls so Dodge is out. I'm only going to be towing about 15% of the time with my truck so I'm probalby not going to need a diesel. I have never been a fan of fords so it looks like I'll be settling on a 3/4 ton GM truck. My budget is still around 10-12k so I'm looking at a 99-02. The extended cab is just big enough but I'm looking for a quad cab. Guess I'm looking at the 6.0 engine.
Is the late 90's vortec 5.7 enough for the job of pulling about 7k (trailer and Jeep)?

This site has alot of information and y'all are very helpful in my research. Thanks for the help.