issues with old tow rigs...

I need a rig that can tow my K5 and a (someday) a 5th wheel. I see old (late 60s - late 70s) 2wd fords all the time with 390 or 460 and a C6 in the paper all the time for $1200-2500. Every once in a while I'll see a chevy with a 454/400 at a sane price... but not often. Anyway, seems like a lot of people here want or talk about super bling new tow rigs. Anyone use an old school truck to tow with? Any years I should avoid? any features I should be looking for specifically other than the BB and beefy auto? I'll probably flat bed whatever I get and put some tool boxes near the cab... leave the rest of the rear for hitching/spare parts/tires storage.

j

 

I would look for a mid 80's Ford F350 with the 6.9 diesel.

 

but I don't want a desiel...

j

 

May I ask why not???????
Scott

 

i am happy slow-towing my stuff with my rig.

Yes,its a Diesel.Yes,its slow.Yes,its old.Yes,its reliable.Yes,it does the job without $500/month payments.



Why would you say NO to a oil burner?


Any older tow rig you are going to be stuck in the slow lane,why not get good fuel economy while there?

 

I can get a good running 460 for like $400.... any good desiel is going to cost more. Repairs cost more, parts cost more etc. Cost = bad. I also want fuel interchangability with my K5. Lastly, the gas station by my fav wheelin spot doesn't even have desiel. People have been towing for decades with gas rigs, some even with small blocks... I'm sure towing my little truggy around with a 460 isn't a problem.

don't want speed... and the fuel economy has to be quite a bit better when desiel is 30 cents a gallon more than el cheapo regular...

j

 

Dont let people try and talk you out of a gas tow rig.......sure it wont make 500hp and 1000 tq easily, and sure, its gonna drink some fuel, but a gasser, big block or not will get the job done. Itll take some time, and a little more driver effort at times, but you will be just fine. With the chevy/ford 1 ton drivetrain combos you listed, you should have no problem, both of them are time tested units. Fuel mileage may be quite different between an old diesel, and an old gasser however. The older big blocks can be down around 5-6mpg when working fairly hard, but the ol 6.9 International will still get damn good mileage, even when working fairly hard. However it seems like you are all about the gas motors, and with either a 460 or a 454 you will be just fine.

 

yeah, this thing will only be used for recreational purposes... it it got 5 mpg towing, I'm not really worried about it. My k5 only gets about 10 with the 40s on. lol!

j

 

Old gasser tow rigs get the job done just as well as the newer stuff. We used to tow with a cherry '68 C20 with a 290 and a swapped in SM465. Had a set of 19.5" rims and 33" tall michelin's that wore like iron on it. My dad sold it probobally 12 or so years ago and "upgraded" to a 3/4 ton dodge, and to be honest that '68 towed just as well as the dodge with the fuel injected 360 according to my dad. Similar fuel economy to boot. Ive got pictures of it in action, but no scanner.


Not everybody needs a diesel, most just want it for the bling and to say they have it, at least arround here. I say go for the old school stuff. Those old fords with the FE motors are great old rigs, and if you get a good one you will not be permanently stuck in the slow lane. Although i am convinced that "FE" stood for "Fuel Eater".

 

You do hae a point that a diesel costs more to work on but with an older naturally aspirated engine there is no turbo to worry about going out, which is an expensive part on the newer turbo'd trucks. But....diesels in my opinion are fairly more reliable because of the lack of of an ignition system that adds parts that can fail, not to mention the cost of numerous tune ups for them over the years.

I would agree that a good 'ol 460 or 454 will be fine, my 406 in my K5 has plenty of pulling power for all the loads I pulled behind it (around 7-8K at times) but it loved the gas, like 6-7mpg kind of loving. I would bet a BB would be a even worse. Regardless, I think the only gain with a 6.9 diesel would be the fuel mileage, the main benifet of pulling with a diesel is having a turbo with forced air. Obviously, that can't be had stock with the 6.9 and would imagine it and a 460 would basically have the same characteristics.

Anyway, do what you think is best and also who knows what kind of truck might come along. Heck, you might come across a clean 6.9 F350 tommorrow, you'll just have to decide when the time comes. Factor in your towing distance. The farther you think you will be towing to the trail head the more I would look for a 6.9 because the mileage gain will have a bigger effect.

 

Don't over look a 351W(ford) or a 350(sbc) rig if it's in good shape. They may be a little slower on the hills but will get the job done too.

 

I disagree totally. In my time excavating I can tell you the 351 is a gutless turd for towing. I had been using a F250 4x4 with a 351 and manual tranny. The truck weighed 6,300lbs and the trailer/backhoe combo was at about 7,500lbs or so. I would not tow with that combo for more than 5 miles. We now have a F350 2wd dually with a 351 and manual and it's even worse. It weighs 6,700lbs and I almost have to use granny gear to get it up the hill with the backhoe. It may do ok on the flat but if that small block sniffs a hill your buggy and trailer will turn into a dead elephant you'll be dragging.

 

yeah, I'll probably almost certainly go BB.... mainly because over the long term even a tired 460/454 has plenty of grunt. A tired small block is going to be gutless trying to pull 7000 lbs. My K5 and 5th wheel will probably be taken up into the hills more than a few times, thats where the camping/wheelin tends to be. I don't mind going slow up hills... but I do want to have the power to get up 'n' over.

j

 

Take a early '70's 351W put a mild cam (1500-5000rpm), a dual plane intake, and headers. That would wake it right up for preety cheap. I only sugested a small block if it was between one in real good shape over a worn out big block.

 

Only comment I have is diesel is now cheaper than regular at FlyingJ in Troutdale.

 

Yep and the 6.9NA/4spd/ 4.11s I had would get over 14 mpg with a 11' cabover camper loaded to 11k gross.

 

ok, but we're getting off topic. Even if desiel was free, it isn't fuel compatible with my Blazer... so the tow rig will be a gas burner unless someone comes along and gives me a bad azz desiel tow rig for free.

I started this thread to get some tips on what features to look for in an older tow rig and it somehow turned into a "buy a desiel!!!!!" thread... I don't want a desiel so drop it already!

j

 

We don't mean to try and convince you otherwise, most of us don't care one way or the other but I think the interest is in more of your dislike towards them. Go with the gas, that will be fine. Just don't hog the road when the diesel boys need to get around. oke:

 

There were a lot of 1981 to 1987 C20's built with the C6P option and 454's in them.Either 465 or a TH400 would be reliable if in good shape and cheap to maintain.
There's nothing wrong with a strong running gaser for an occasional tow rig !

Older Fords with a FE motors will pull houses but suck some serious fuel - problem is that Henry has not put one in a pick up since about 1976/1977 so they are pretty old and tired by now.

For me a C20 with a BBC in good shape is a great candidate for a reliable non-diesel tow rig.
Good luck !
Tom

 

my friend has a 78 F350 w/a smogged 460 and C6 and it is gutless. The truck is all original with only 70,000 orig. mi. It pulls his boat (5000lbs) up hills as fast as my old C-2500 with a 180,000 small block did (read:slow) if going with a gasser definatly get a BB but take all of the Smog crap off of it so that you can get more than 150HP. opcorn: