tow rig?

[oem6pak]

looking for a new tow rig.thinking 96-02 chevy,dodge,ford.maybe 3/4 ton suburban 4+4 with a 350,any thoughts or suggestions from out there? it'll need to handle 4000lbs car + inclosed trailer.

[L-88 CORVETTE]

Ive had few tow rigs the past ten years,Had good luck with diesels mostly.If you want a diesel,Ford,Dodge and Gm all make quiet,very powerful and long lasting diesel engines.I just bought a 2001 chev C3500 dually with the Duramax and Allison auto,I like it so far,but I'm hearing of injector issues these engines are tending to have.If your into gas rigs,then Gm big blocks are hard to beat,I would think a 350 may work a little hard pulling the kind of weight you have.Maybe a 6.0 Chev would work out for you?Rated at 300 hp.I don't see many of them in our shop either!That's a good sign. Sorry for the long post,its -20 here and I'm at work just waiting for the next wrecker call!:(

[Brian Stefina]

What he said! :TU:

I'm into diesel, typically long lasting, good economy, good resale.

If you really want a gas engine, the GM is hard to beat. I towed with Tim Clary's 2500 Silverado........it was a very good towing experience.

I like the higher stance of my Dodge though, but that's minor.

[RACEBUICKS]

Well the injector problems that our dealership has had , were the result of the fuel filters not being changed on a regular basis. AND always look where you get fuel too. the cheap out of the way places may not always have the cleanest fuel. My Duramax just drove 1500 miles in 36 hours at about 80 mph pulling a trailor
see the story here (http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=265383#post265383)

I have only had a simple flywheel problem with mine in 25000 miles. I have a 6 speed in my dually

[Dave H]

I've been real happy so far with my 97 F250 Power Stroke.

Had 154k on it when I got it in Alabama, but looked like only 20k. Climate down there is a lot easier on them than up here. Couldn't afford a new one, so paid the price and found the nicest 97 I could.


Doesn't like to start in the single digits here without plugging in the block heater, though. Sounds like rods are coming out of the block when it starts cold.

Fun to roar around my back yard in 4WD granny low in 18 inches of snow! Towed twice with it and what a piece of cake compared to the little 5.0 in the 95 F150.

[BUICK528]

The early Dmax had some sporadic injector issues which resulted in severe crankcase dilution. The injector body's were cracking. The common rail pressure runs about 28,400 psi at full load. You read that right...:jd: those issues have been resolved, as well as the drivability issues with the early 01's. They have a built in de-torque calibration in first gear only of about 75-80% of max power, to assist driveline reliability, but with a GOOD aftermarket box, once they are in second gear.... they flat out fly. I have been pretty impresed with a 4.10 geared new 6.0 in the 2500's. I may just buy one for myself in a 4wd platform with a 6.0.. I have pulled with a new 8.1 and 4.10's and they are awesome, but mileage sucks. Considering it takes about 150,000 miles to break even on the Dmax vs 8.1 initial price/fuel, the 8.1 looks REAL good right now. 90% of the motoring public doesn't drive 150,000 anyways.

J

[Brian Stefina]

The question of diesel fuel economy vs return on investment
came up during a coversation I had with one of our turbo division sales guy's.

I mentioned resale value........it changed his whole equation on the diesels.

Especially when I gave him a first hand account of my '92 Dodge, It would have been worth half with the mileage had it not been a diesel. The resale paid for the initial investment on that truck.

[RACEBUICKS]

I got 13 empty going south and 8-9 coming back loaded @ 80 mph

[Dave H]

Brian Stefina said:
I mentioned resale value........it changed his whole equation on the diesels.

Especially when I gave him a first hand account of my '92 Dodge, It would have been worth half with the mileage had it not been a diesel. The resale paid for the initial investment on that truck.

Kelly Blue Book listed the difference between the truck I bought with the Power Stroke vs an identical one with a 460 gas engine as $5500 in favor of the diesel. That's well over 1/3 what it cost me. Same goes for 4WD vs 2WD. Resale.

I'd never consider buying a gas motor truck with over 100k, but didn't even blink at the 154k on this one with the good maintenance history.

Don't know if Ford/Navistar has sorted out the bugs in the 6.0 they're selling now, but they were buying them back right and left last Fall under the lemon law.

[LON]

read my post in the pure stock section. The new DOT laws are tough:puzzled: :eek2:

[oem6pak]

maybe i'll start looking more closely at diesel's, thanx

[Big Squeeze]

I've got a '95 1 ton, 4WD, 4-door, single wheel, Power Stroke, automatic truck that's got 227,000+ miles on it and the only thing that's been done is it's had a new Turbo installed at 190,000 miles and I just had the radiater re-cored yesterday because I noticed it was running a little hotter than normal. I LOVE that truck. It gets 15mpg empty and 8mpg running 70mph hooked to a 48' car hauler with two B-body's loaded on it weighing 21,000+ pounds. I bought it, in like new condition, about four years ago for $12,000 with 150,000 miles.

[Joe Z]

I know I will get LOTS of barbs thrown my way, but I'll tell you what my tow "rig" was when I last raced in 2002.
A 94' Caprice LT1/9C1 (police package) with aftermarket 3.42 gears (3.08 was stock.) When a 94-96 Fleetwood was equipped with the trailer tow package in 94-96, they were rated for 7000#, and came with 3.42 gears. Roadmaster sedans and wagons, and civilian Caprices, have 2.93 gears and are rated for 5000#.
I had a class III hitch, frame mounted, bolted (because I'm selling the car.) I did not add any rear-spring air bags, just the stock police springs and shocks. The rear rode a little low, which would be easily solved by adding the AirLifts. Car handled fine with me, my wife, my dad, some tools, and my 3700# H/O. OPEN trailer was about 1100-1200#. I didn't use a sway control but we had it with us just in case. Trailer brakes worked fine. The rig was completely controllable and I even achieved 12.9 mpg on the return trip. I was one of only 2 CARS that towed another car.
Now, for longer grades, etc. I would wire a toggle switch for the electric fans, but all in all the car, with 120k on it, did fine!
Admittedly a closed trailer might be a bit, no, make that MUCH more of a challenge, but it sure was fun! I say go get a wagon! Let the barbs begin........:pp

[opeltwinturbo]

6 MPG fully loaded. 450 HP Cummins. :grin:

[Big Squeeze]

opeltwinturbo; Where do you work at? Are they hiring?:laugh: :Brow:

[TuBBeD]

Here's one :)

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=242926#post242926

[Greg Schmelzer]

I've got an 01 K3500 4X4 withg the 8.1L. In my opinion, it beats the 6.0 hands down. Empty, I get 12.5 - 13.0 on the interstate between here and Lincoln and around 10.5 - 11.0 around town. It does drop significantly when towing, though. With Eric's lifted Dakota on the 23' trailer, around 9,000# total, mileage on the interstate dropped to around 8.0, however that was driving at around 90 mph with the cruise on and the A/C blasting away. I also have the Allison 5 speed auto and love it.

If you want, PM me and we'll go for a test drive so you can see what it is like. I know you are in Gretna and if you want, we can do it. Might help with the decision.

Let me know.

[oem6pak]

sounds good but thats out of my $ range,maybe i could borrow it for stanton:laugh:

[vista461]

RACEBUICKS said:
I have only had a simple flywheel problem with mine in 25000 miles. I have a 6 speed in my dually

What was the problem? A Co-worker has a duramax and he had 1 or 2 Torque converter bolts come out and broke the bellhousing adapter if I remember correctly. His truck has ~20K mi. Just wondering if that is a common prob or not. He loves the truck though and I am jealous:laugh:

[COPO PETE]

Looking for a truck myself! So you guys are saying Diesel is the only way to go, correct???? Also, they have a 2500 diesel on the lot here. Whats the difference between the heavy 3/4 (2500) and 1 ton (3500) as far a brakes go????Any real difference????
Peter

[RACEBUICKS]

GM had a buletin on the flywheel for a noise when you release the clutch. The fix was a new flywheel.......

[Dave H]

Have to copy and paste this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6210&item=2456308268&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1

These old cabovers are cool! I could see you sitting up high and mighty in this, but probably not pulling anything but a Mopar.

Casey! I gave you first heads up here. A great addtiion to your wayward Dodge truck collection! Put a Hemi behind the cab, shorten up the frame, and make it into a wheelie truck!

[Casey Marks]

I've got that 12Valve Cummins Diesel in the '92 that runs real strong. I could transplant that in there ......... :Brow:

[Dave H]

Giving away my age again, but I remember these cabover trucks delivering coal and ice when we were kids. They were big, ugly beasts, just like the guys who drove them.

[vista461]

What kinda mileage are you Cummins and Powerstroke guys getting ? I don't have D-max money the trucks are too new:laugh:

High teens without trailer possible?

[Dave H]

I got 17 on the initial trip home from Alabama last Fall running 75-80 the entire way. Haven't pulled anything far enough to get a reading on that.

It's got some reprogrammed chip in it that's set up on the power program. Supposed to be a towing program also. Plan to experiment with that when the weather's better.

[SmallHurst]

I know of several guys who have "chipped" their Strokes (the 7.3) and are getting about 100 more horses and about 19-21 mpg unloaded. If you have the right stuff, it sounds like it is easy to make those oil burners really hum. Hey Casey, when are you putting Nitrous and Propane injection on the Cummins!:laugh:

[Dave H]

Anybody familiar with this one? It came with my truck and he said it has the "power" program in it. From the way it pulls, I can believe it's doing something more than it's supposed to. Didn't get an owners manual with it, so almost afraid to plug it in and try something.

Last month or so, it hasn't been out of granny low 4WD with the weather and pulling people up the hill here. (Well at least we call it a hill....after all it is Michigan, doesn't take much to be called a hill here)

[GBUICK]

Guys, I have a truck for sale.
2000 Chevy 2500 HD LS trim
ext. cab long bed Carmine Red (Burgundy)
third door
4WD
6.o litre
3.73 posi
bed liner
shell
73000 mi. Excellent condition-have maintenance record
basically loaded but without leather--90% hi-way miles
tow package-snow plow package(never been a plow on it)
Michelin LTX tires
Royal Purple oil since I have owned it(bought it with 22K from a friend who ordered it new)
I have not advertised locally yet.
$17800 firm (Kelly Blue Book "private party price") NADA $16525 average trade in) NADA average retail $19600
$32188 was the sticker price

[Joe Z]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2457348548&category=6144

Now, the down side is that this thing has no A/C.
But it even has the trailer tow package!
Perfect for towing your 70' Stage 1.
Put on some Buick Ralleys and presto!

Yea, I know all about the advantages of a big truck. If I could afford a $17k truck, then, sure, that would be great.
I just don't have the dollars that 90% of the racers in these classes have - so I tow with a Caprice (after DRIVING my H/O to the races twice!) Anyway, I have major work ahead on my new ride, so I'll tow with whatever will get me there.

A truck? Ford 444 Powerstroke. Nuf ced.
:pp

[ECM68442]

I saw something of interest in the newest issue of Car Craft http://www.dhraonline.com