Can anyone give me some suggestions for a good reasonably cheap tow vehicle? Do I need 4WD, or will a 2WD do the trick? I've got a wife and two kids I'd need to be able to fit as well. Is a 1/2 ton just too sissy, and should I just go straight for a 3/4 ton or 1 ton? What are good makes models and years?

Thanks for the help

Why don't you ask at the Towing Forum (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=30)

haha apparently naming something "Tow Rig Forum" isn't explicit enough.

-Steve

2wd will be fine for towing. You will have to be aware of the conditions in some parking areas but shouldn't be a big deal.

The diesels are gonna work harder for you and be more efficient if you tow thousands of miles annually. Gas motors will get the job done, just not as efficient. Bigger will be better if you need to load the gear and the family. It will also be insanely inefficient!

I like the Powerstrokes, but the Cummins will haul ass too. The later Fords (I have had both) have a better fit and finish, and the crew cabs have lot's more room. My Dodge had lots of nuisance problems, and the Ford has a marginal auto tranny, so I don't think there is a hands down recomendation to make.

My own experience with my F350 4x4 Crew Cab (not dually) is about 10.5 mpg loaded and getting it on the open road. I can milk more efficiency from it by slowing down, unloaded daily driven it gets closer to 15 mpg. Again this is my driving style. Hauling butt up Jellico mountain I have to slow for all the other traffic, cause it will cruise at 80 without hunting for gears.

With a full load of gear, firewood, spares, coolers and the rig on the trailer it sits down on the overloads. Stock suspension and it is level and a very nice ride. I could not carry all the stuff for a long trip in a 1/2 ton rig regardless of the powerplant, without some upgrades to the suspension.

I did chip it, add gauges, exhaust, synthetic fluids and a couple of other little gizmos but those are just a bonus! Stock with turbo will get the job done.

Sorry for the post to this section. I'm working on 3 hours sleep in the past three days and forgot there was a towing forum.

Spaceghost: Thanks for the info man. Kudos on using that cruiser the way it was intended. I dig it man!

yup, i agree. although i am new at this "tow your trail rig" game, I decided to get a 1997 GMC Sierra K2500 6.5 TD 4X4 extended cab shortbed. It pulls my K5 great, it has room for the wife, 2 kids, tools, and equipment. It gets 22 mpg empty, and if I tow it at 65mph on nice flat highway, i can milk about 12 out of it. Add a/c, 75 mph, and some hills, and those numbers drop to about 8. Now that the PSD in the super duty's are a few years old, you may be able to find one to fit your needs realativley cheap (18-20 g's if thats in your price range. Or hell, get a mid 70's crew cab ford/chevy with a big block for under 5000 and be done with it!!


rob

spaceghost u can drive under 90? last time i saw u on the interstate.. coming from bad lands u were haulin balls..i was runnin 80'ish and u left me like i was in retreat. hahahaha

I would say Dodge Cummins all the way... but I will admit that the power stroke is also a good engine... the Dodge will out do it in m.p.g. and also the life of the engine... as far as 4x4 vs 4x2 If you have the money go with a 4x4 i wish i would have had the money to do so... :rolleyes: