Tow Beast Roll Call

[nedmiller]

1998 Dodge 1500 Conversion Van with a raised top. 6 cyl. --not enough for our steep Missouri hills. 13 mpg pulling heavily modified
Heavy tread snow tires all year to keep from slipping pulling out on wet ramps. I want a 4 x 4 pickup truck instead!

[beene]

2001 Toyota Sienna.

Rated at 3500. Not good enough IMHO.

But we only tow a couple times a year with the longest being spring and fall to the storage barn. About 1 hour each way.

We are looking at a 2008 Dodge Durango or Dakota. The Durango is much bigger than before with a Hemi and almost 9000 lb tow rating.

We figure we need at least a 5000 lb rated vehicle with a calss 3 hitch.

So much for fuel economy. Our car gets about 28 mpg hwy and 21 in town. There is no way a new V8 anything will get those numbers without being a hybrid.

G

[Frank C]

. . . There is no way a new V8 anything will get those numbers without being a hybrid. . .

. . . or a diesel.

For those who can wait a year or two, virtually all the major MFGs will be bringing out small diesels in a couple of years. These will range from a new 4.5L. diesel in the GM half-ton truck, to V-6 diesels in numerous of the SUVs. Considering the increasing cost of petrol fuels, it makes sense to wait for the clean diesels. Scuttlebutt economy estimates for the new GM half-ton pickup is 14 towing and 24 mpg highway. It's no BS. My monster diesel, 6.6L, was showing 19 mpg tonight on a run of 20 freeway miles, @ 65 MPH.

[Phillip]

This is how it was a year or so back.
It is the Brazillian Ford set-up, called an F1000 with the MWM 229-4-D motor (4cyl-4litre)



This sucker would pull your house of its stumps.


Got the new wheels and 40-20-40 seats in the shed. Just a matter of finding time to put it together. Turn the new tyres inside-out, drop it a bit, and bingo!!!


Love showing off the truck.
Cheers
Phillip

[Gazmn]

My toy puller was bought on Ebay - Hoped I $aved $ome

At the time, diesel made sense. [POWER ]
But What Doesn't Make Sense Is: Why is diesel so D@mn Expensive when it used to be considered refinery refuse

Sorry I digress; That's probably a question to be debated in the pub

Anyway, I just drove 400 miles in my truck sans boat. And think I was getting about 18 mpg doing the speed limit, nothing crazy.

That'd be 10mpg if I were lucky enough to be pulling "Ms. Ollie"...
At $3.79/ gal in NY, $3.19 thru NJ [lowest seen- not paid ] & $3.35 from DE through VA.

Couldn't resist printin' The Old '97s

[Cam]

Hummer H3!!!

Steve,

How does the H3 go? Is it rated high enough to tow the Mac. I have heard it is only a mid size 4x4. Would still love one though.

Cam

[March]

Dodge Caravan 3.3, front wheel drive at first. Worked fine, even for longer trips (one to Florida, one to Colorado, one to Great Lakes) No problems with the transmission, but it tended to overheat on steeper hills--used to pull over and have a coffeee fresh from the radiator) 18- mph

Changed to a Chevy Blazer, 2W It sucked big time. Too light: either the jeep, ot the tongue, or all of the above.

The one I use now is a Nissan Pathfinder--with the big engine. Works like a dream, at a price: 16 mpg. Even without the boat the Nissan is not easy on gas. Used the 4WD only to pull the boat out of the water

[Québec 1]

It is the Brazillian Ford set-up, called an F1000 with the MWM 229-4-D motor (4cyl-4litre)
Cheers
Phillip

Wow thats the nicest pick up I have seen in a long time! Congratulations on a job well done.
Q1

[Captain Steve]

Cam The H3 is rated at 4500 lbs so I am at the upper limit. What I noticed is that the full time 4WD makes it a joy to tow, over the Explorer and Expedition that I had before. It is fairly flat along the coast where I live so I cant speak to hilly terrain towing. But, its a joy to hit 4WD low and ease out of a slippery ramp at idle speed. With its 5 cylinder engine I get 17 mph around town and have broached 20 mph on long trips across the desert.

The lease is up in june and I am going to get the new H3 pickup truck. 7 inches longer wheelbase and an increase in tow capacity.

[Phillip]

Quebec 1.
Wait till you see the wheels I selected.
Went for the steel Ralley (Chev) made up for a ford. Nice plain wheel, big deep chrome trim, and in my case I selected the plain chrome cap.
Will turn tyres around so no name on outer, and use a car type tread.
Had to get tem from Ca.

Tell you what, you blokes don't know how fortunate you are.....you got all these toys at your fingertips and they cost buggxr-all. I had these made up and put in one of my containers for $1,100.

Everything is in the shed....it is just time that is a premium.
Cheers
Phillip

[Bransher]

I have a 1993 Ford F-150, 6 cylinder, with almost 200,000 miles on the odometer. It does the job, barely, but it isn't exactly "Old Reliable."

I carry towing insurance, a box of tools, and a cellphone. I also keep my fingers crossed. My round trip commute to the water and back is about 300 miles.

[NiceAft]

I have a 2002 GMC Envoy with a six cylinder engine. Normal mileage is 13 in the city, and 22mpg on the highway. When I tow, I only get 10mpg. I only tow about four times a year, but the longest trip is 280 miles (one way). I don't think GM offers the six anymore, but I like it.

For awhile, GMC used to have a television commercial showing an Envoy pulling a Mac. When I was in the market for purchasing a tow vehicle, there were many choices of adequate trucks. As you can see from the responses, you have a multitude of choices. I made mine because the Envoy was the most luxurious of them. What can I say I like my creature comfort Today there are even more choices I'm glad I'm not looking. If I was, I might be looking at the GMC Acadia crossover.

By the way, I did not purchase any towing package. I did however have a transmission cooler installed. Strongly recommended in any vehicle for towing the Mac. a distance.

Ray

[Terry]

I have the Envoy twin, a 2004 Chevy Tralblazer EXT (extended wheelbase - 129") with the inline 6, 275HP, 275 lbs/ft torque, 4WD and I find it tows just fine. Mine came from the factory with the towing package: 3:73 axle ratio, limited slip locking differentials, frame integrated tow hitch, built-in harness, transmission cooler & 7 quart oilpan. Properly outfitted the Traiblazer will tow 7200lbs (V-8 with 2 wheel drive) but mine is rated for about 5300-5700 lbs depending on what you read. As long as you have a class 3 tow vehicle (up to 5000lbs) you should be ok, a longer wheelbase helps as does a heavy tow vehicle - one that is heavier than the tow load. I also really like the 4WD because some ramps are steep and slippery with seaweed and the 4WD really helps. I do not tow as often as I used to because I slip for the season, but once I retire I plan to tow to some of the inland lakes.

[Catigale]

2002 VW Eurovan - torquey V6 engine but only 200 HP.

Longest tow is 200 mile one way to the Cape from Albany. I have to drop it into third gear (automatic) up the hills in the Berkshires and keep it at 55mph. Gets 14 mph towing Boat, 22 mpg without. Gets same 14 mpg at 55 mph and 65 mph. Have trailered it to Baltimore, Cleveland, Buffalo, Burlington, and all over Mass.

I stop every hour and do my trailer walkaround, and give the engine and tranny a 5 minute break on the long trip.

[Sleepy]

2005 F250 SuperDuty XL TurboDiesel 6.0L 325HP LWB LimitedSlipDifferential Reg. Cab 14/19mpg