Best tow rig ~12K

[CA_YJ]

Ok...so I searched with not much luck.

I am looking to spend about 12K for a tow rig/dd. I am looking at 97 F250's

Other rigs I should be looking at?
Its gonna see a flat bed towing my jeep at least one weekend a month so I don't think a F150 is a great idea.

Suggestions? I am all ears.

Thanks
-Quinn

[Po' riggity]

you want diesel or gas? And are you set on a Ford?
Scott

[The Jerk]

neither is a 250 unless your going ad a leafs and air bags as well.

jIMMy

[GRMhick]

Buy a clean v10 dodge for about $4000 (easy to do with 200k on the ticker), and get a nice $8000 commuter. I personally like VW GTI's or Audi A4's, but a honda civic is a good choice.

Putting under 5k a year on the dodge will make it last a LONG time. And you will be saving money on gas and maintance.

[ramv]

Buy a clean v10 dodge for about $4000 (easy to do with 200k on the ticker), and get a nice $8000 commuter. I personally like VW GTI's or Audi A4's, but a honda civic is a good choice.

Putting under 5k a year on the dodge will make it last a LONG time. And you will be saving money on gas and maintance.

Don't rule out GMs. A 454 won't be good on gas, but runs good, and will tow good, especially in dually where 4.10s were std and 4.56s were optional.

I would probably just buy a '96-'99 K3500 in that price range.

[TEX]

I am looking at 97 F250's



I don't think I'd be looking at old TTB equipped trucks. Too many issues that could come up (I'm assuming you're wanting a 4wd).

TEX

[smurfsdad]

I'll sell you my 97 F350 4wd PSD 5 spd XL AC 169,000 mi always maintained well for $13,000

[CA_YJ]

I am pretty sure I want to go diesel for several reasons. One main one being that I will be driving it daily and I don't want to get raped on gas prices.

smurfsdad...gonna pm you later today. Thanks

[GRMhick]

Don't rule out GMs. A 454 won't be good on gas, but runs good, and will tow good, especially in dually where 4.10s were std and 4.56s were optional.

I would probably just buy a '96-'99 K3500 in that price range.


I actually second this one. the 95+ have a comfy interrior too.

But I still vote to not daily drive the tow rig.

[ckolloff]

Does it have to be 4x4? You can get 2wd 12v CTD Doooolies all day long for 12K. When I was looking for my CTD (atlanta area) it seemed like there were tons of 2wd 3500's. It was also easier to find 4x4 3500's then 4x4 2500's. I lived intown and many of the local streets are real narrow and I don't tow much at all so I didn't want a daully as my DD.

I ended up paying $16k for a clean '98 Extended Cab Long Bed with only 117,000 on the clock and EVERY option, that was over a year ago. I paid more than I wanted to but this truck had more than everything I wanted and the mileage was way low for a Deisel. I passed on several $11-14k trucks w/ 140-200k on them- Either because they weren't 4x4 or were duallies or weren't extended cab. It seemed strange to me that the 3500s were less than the 2500s.

The 12v Cummins is a legend in its own time for a reason. There are people everywhere to help you wrench- its like a little cult. Be warned though- it sucks when the DD/towrig that you bought to tow your primary toy becomes another toy/hobby too.

Hope that helps,
Chris

PS. If you buy an Auto, start a "tranny fund" immediately. I just had mine done! ($3800 @ 151K mi)

[pcorssmit]

If you want a diesel 4x4, I would say F350 or 2500/3500 Dodge if you can get what you want in your price range. TTB sucks.

Pete

[Po' riggity]

Guys that are saying to buy a truck, and buy a daily driver, tend to forget that there's a little thing called insurance, and for some of us, to cover our rig and tow rig, and daily driver is expensive... Quinn, if you are looking to save money on gas, its gonna be close to a toss up. Gas for the V10 runs about 215/gallon around here, and diesel runs $2.35/gallon.. I don't know that Im saving much by driving a diesel, even if I do get twice the gas mileage. That being said, Id bet you can find a 98-99 CTD 4x4 for that price.. I found a few around here before I bought new.
Scott

[LandCroozer]

Guys that are saying to buy a truck, and buy a daily driver, tend to forget that there's a little thing called insurance, and for some of us, to cover our rig and tow rig, and daily driver is expensive... Quinn, if you are looking to save money on gas, its gonna be close to a toss up. Gas for the V10 runs about 215/gallon around here, and diesel runs $2.35/gallon.. I don't know that Im saving much by driving a diesel, even if I do get twice the gas mileage. That being said, Id bet you can find a 98-99 CTD 4x4 for that price.. I found a few around here before I bought new.
Scott

But, if you spend less on the truck and buy a cheap DD, then insurance will be less. Also, if your DD is a four-door 4-cylinder, your second vehicle is just incrementally more. Especially if you get one that already has it's first few dings then you don't bother with full coverage, just liability.

I have an 87 Volvo, 73 Chevy 4x4 truck and a 68 Cruiser. All are insured with basic liability combined for less then my 2000 Harley with full coverage.

-t

[Rocktoyo]

My 96 CTD 2500 4x4 is cheaper to insure than the wifes 95 ZJ. Wierd, if you hit someone in the hauler odds are they are gonna die or at least get badly hurt. The zj would bounce off most stuff out there.

[DRM]

When I was DD'ing my 87 4Runner, I was paying a whopping $200 a year for liability only. Even if the tow rig is more expensive, most places give a discount if you are only putting a low number of miles per year on it.

[CA_YJ]

Does it have to be 4x4? You can get 2wd 12v CTD Doooolies all day long for 12K. When I was looking for my CTD (atlanta area) it seemed like there were tons of 2wd 3500's. It was also easier to find 4x4 3500's then 4x4 2500's. I lived intown and many of the local streets are real narrow and I don't tow much at all so I didn't want a daully as my DD.

I ended up paying $16k for a clean '98 Extended Cab Long Bed with only 117,000 on the clock and EVERY option, that was over a year ago. I paid more than I wanted to but this truck had more than everything I wanted and the mileage was way low for a Deisel. I passed on several $11-14k trucks w/ 140-200k on them- Either because they weren't 4x4 or were duallies or weren't extended cab. It seemed strange to me that the 3500s were less than the 2500s.

The 12v Cummins is a legend in its own time for a reason. There are people everywhere to help you wrench- its like a little cult. Be warned though- it sucks when the DD/towrig that you bought to tow your primary toy becomes another toy/hobby too.

Hope that helps,
Chris

PS. If you buy an Auto, start a "tranny fund" immediately. I just had mine done! ($3800 @ 151K mi)

Interesting...I was only looking at 2500's...I guess I should look at the 3500s as well

[TEX]

Guys that are saying to buy a truck, and buy a daily driver, tend to forget that there's a little thing called insurance, and for some of us, to cover our rig and tow rig, and daily driver is expensive...

For me, it's quite cheap. Once you end up with more rigs than drivers, the cost drops dramatically. Plus, my $30,000, 5,600lb towrig is considered a "recreational" vehicle & my $500, 2,600lb gas-sipping car is the "primary" car. And by insuring our house through the same company, the volume discount makes the insurance almost free for the 3rd car.

I no longer have the mega-commute, so gas isn't as much of an issue, but I like the fact that the truck I purchased brand-new 34 months ago has not quite 20,000 miles on it & will not be replaced for a LONG time. 'Cause for the price of that truck, I can buy several used "disposable" 4-cylinder cars.

That being said, my situation isn't for everyone. But, insurance isn't an issue for me. Now, if I had HIGH insurance, that might be different.


TEX

[ddestruel]

Guys that are saying to buy a t.... Gas for the V10 runs about 215/gallon around here, and diesel runs $2.35/gallon.. I don't know that Im saving much by driving a diesel, even if I do get twice the gas mileage. ......
Scott



Maybe maybe not

@2.15 a gallon unleaded in a V-10 you get 8 mpg towing and you tow say 5000 miles a year and maybe you drive empty 11000 miles a year getting 11 mpg. And you had 5 oil changes@ $16.00 changing it yourself.

$3573.75 for the year in fuel&oil

@$2.35 in diesel typically with less than 7000lbs behind the truck my records show i get 14 mpg Towing 5000 miles and i average 19 Empty same mileage 11000, but my oil changes cost 25.00 doing it myself every 4000 miles so 4 oil changes and two $14 fuel filters.

$2327.82 for the year for fuel, fuel filter and oil


Thats just in a short strech, but a considerable savings. Last year i cooked 83,000 miles and and 54,000 of those had a trailer behind the truck. Just depends on how much you tow and use the vehicle.

[Eskimo]

I got my '98 Dodge 3500 4x4 CTD quad cab 12v sport for $12,500. 214k miles, and slightly rough around the edges, but it also has an ATS Stage IV tranny in it... :D

Texas man, they're all in Texas.