Need a truck for towing

[Shaun @ Tru6]

here's a Euro hitch for my car with 1900kg/4188lb towing capacity.

German SPOB: TRAILER HITCH FIXED - W124, C124, S124, BRINK, 1900KG MERCEDES BENZ / BRINK TYP 1882 A1243100295 / TYP 1882 1243100295 1243100395 A1243100295 A1243100395

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

This biggest issue I see is so many people pulling big trailers with short wheelbase vehicles. Like I said any vehicle can "move" a trailer. I don't care what its towing capacity is, you still have to be able to control it. That's what some don't think about.

any thoughts on 110 inches for my wagon?

I think a Chevy longbed is 131. Shortbed is only 117

21 inches is a lot.

[Zeke]

I think that's a brilliant solution. Low COG has something to do with it as well. Go for it.

[Mrmerlin]

Hey how about an Autocar,
prolly more than you need but its a BIG Dog

[GWN7]

Suburban: designed to tow and if the business buys it you can use it to haul samples and display fixtures.

[Rick V]

If you can find one of these up your way that isn't rotted out then you will have more than you need. Simple to work on, cheap parts, and will do anything you could ever need. This is Peggy, 318, granny 4spd, 4X4 straight up work truck and she will tow with anything out there

[Shaun @ Tru6]

this truck looks like a good candidate. Thoughts?

97 Ford F-250

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

this truck looks like a good candidate. Thoughts?

97 Ford F-250

Two wheel drive in Boston? Only you would know if that's okay.

The F250 Light Duty was a funny truck. 7 lug axles (vs 8 on HD), semi-floating rear end (vs full-float HD), bigger brakes and springs, but with a half-ton frame and body. It was a 7700 GVWR where the HDs were 8600 GVWR-up.

Is it a 5.4L V8, or 4.6L V8? They were made with both. I suppose for a 4000 pound trailer it wouldn't make much difference, but the 5.4L would be preferred. A quick search will highlight all the early 5.4L's maladies, mostly spark-plug related. I'd want to know why this one has new head gasket(s?).....did it have a spark plug issue that necessitated head removal? Or an overheating issue?

For $1700, you really can't go wrong. It will do the job.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

it will be used just for towing cars Eric, thanks, so no real winter use on bad roads, but on that topic, my RWD wagon with limited slip does find in the winter on summer tires.

[berettafan]

No compact trucks (Tacoma, small Nissan , ranger, etc) and IMO no small SUV's.

Towing safely requires wheelbase and weight. Tundra will tow that just fine but no smaller than a Tundra. You can find older Ford diesels like you borrowed for reasonable prices. Be sure to get a quality brake controller as well.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Two wheel drive in Boston? Only you would know if that's okay.

The F250 Light Duty was a funny truck. 7 lug axles (vs 8 on HD), semi-floating rear end (vs full-float HD), bigger brakes and springs, but with a half-ton frame and body. It was a 7700 GVWR where the HDs were 8600 GVWR-up.

Is it a 5.4L V8, or 4.6L V8? They were made with both. I suppose for a 4000 pound trailer it wouldn't make much difference, but the 5.4L would be preferred. A quick search will highlight all the early 5.4L's maladies, mostly spark-plug related. I'd want to know why this one has new head gasket(s?).....did it have a spark plug issue that necessitated head removal? Or an overheating issue?

For $1700, you really can't go wrong. It will do the job.

The only part of this that I would differ with you is the "can't go wrong"...I recently bought a Chevy PU that I have put the entire purchase price back into in repairs and I'm not finished yet.

Of course that is my fault for not doing a better PPI, but these old cheap trucks can wind-up needing some serious cash injections if the last guy didn't do it. Everything costs on trucks; brakes, tires, suspension parts and labor, etc., etc...

That F-250 light-duty is not a very desirable truck but it would tow a light trailer like a 911 race car with zero drama.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Hey Angela, yes, I got the exact same car. Curb weight is 3700 pounds. I've seen forum specs of 3500 to 4400 pounds max tow capacity, which is within a 911 and the Featherlight, but pushing it. [/img]

Whoa - Talk about the tail wagging the dog -- I wouldn't tow 4000+ lbs with a 3700 lb car. 'Pushing it' is not a phrase you want to use when towing something...

-Z

[daepp]

We maintain a fleet of F-150's and 250's. IIRC that model has two fuel tanks. Common problem area is the switchable valve between the tanks. Expensive and a pain to replace. Perhaps cycle it a couple of times letting it draw from one tank and then the other several times.

Depending on prior service, it's the plugs are really old it's a good idea to replace as they are prone to freezing in place and breaking on the way out, or flying out of the head under compression. PM hear is worth it.

And BTW - the diesels of that are were very rugged.

[kaisen]

Just one tank on the 1997 F250 Light Duty 7700 discussed here .....Two tanks on the old body style 1997 F250 Heavy Duty 8600. That was the last model with two tanks.

[RANDY P]

I did 4K tow (big trailer + full bed of parts) in my 4.3 S10 across the Cascades...

Well- I put a lot of weight in the bed- car parts including a Chevy 12 Bolt Rearend for ballast.

Go slow, very slow.

rjp

[Brian 162]

Helped a co-worker tow a boat (25 ft. w/centre console) from Sarasota to Toronto. Truck was a 2002 GMC 3500 long box with crew cab. Truck had a 6 litre gas engine. It towed o/k but the centre console and tonneau cover acted like a sail so the truck couldn't go over 65mph. Had to stop for gas every 200 miles.
The truck was comfortable to drive. The gas engine was the only negative. A diesel would have been better.