What's your tow vehicle's rating?

[John]

Hi All,

I'm curious of how many folks tow with either a 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck/van. I'm betting myself that the 3/4 ton will have the most users. If you would be kind enough to poll your tow vehicle, I'd be greatful !

John

P.S. Happy Holidays to All!!!!!!!!!!!!

[overlander64]

Greetings John!

I have four tow vehicles that I use for different purposes.

1.) The all-purpose tow-vehicle is my 1999 GMC K2500 Suburban that I special ordered in December of 1997. It has the full 10,000 pound trailer towing package including the 7400 VORTEC V8 and 4.10 differentials. After 97,000 miles, it is one of the most pleasant vehicles that I have owned - - I fully expect this vehicle to go at least 350,000 miles before it becomes troublesome.

2.) Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre towcar. It is a 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible with th 501 cubic inch V8 and a 6,000 pound trailering rating. It is an adequate match for the Minuet, but would struggle too much with the Overlander if any grades were to be encountered. If all goes well, this will be my tow vehicle teamed with the Minuet for the trip to the International Rally in Vermont next summer.

3.) Supplemental tow vehicle - - has proven its ability to handle either the Overlander or Minuet. 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 Convertible. It is equipped with the 383 cubic inch/335 horse power V8 with 3.73 differential and 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission. I have been unable to locate any definitive information regarding its tow rating. It has been equipped with a custom 4-row core radiator and auxiliary transmission oil cooler - - it was factory equipped with all of the other heavy duty features.

4.) Reserve tow vehicle - - rated at 5,000 pounds it is being kept in reserve for the Minuet. 1985 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royal Brougham Luxury Sedan. It was special ordered in January of 1985. The complete heavy duty trailering package was ordered including automatic level ride, touring suspension, HD cooling, HD alternator, and 3.23 posi-trac differential. (Fortunately, the luck of the draw was with me as it came equipped with the 307 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8 rather than the 305 cubic inch Chevrolet motor that had caused me inumerable problems in the car's predecessor.)

Kevin

[airstreamcaravel]

Kevin,

I hope that you don't keep all of those car and trailers ....

IN THE FRONT YARD!

Always enjoy and benefit from your posts!

Thanks!

DMC

[John]

Kevin,

You'll be starting your on caravan pretty soon!! Good to see you have sure a strong interest in Rving.

John

[John]

should have read- such a . . . .

[overlander64]

RE: Number of Tow Vehicles

The four vehicles listed are just the ones that I own that are capable of towing. I am afraid that selling a car doesn't come easy for me as I have six total cars in addition to my '64 Airstream Overlander and the '78 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre.

Fortunately, I have barn space for all of the cars on my family farm - - the frustrating thing is that the post and beam construction is such that there isn't enough clearance to store the Airstream - - the Argosy (without air conditioner) can clear the opening, but I don't know whether it will once the air conditioner is added.

Kevin

[Pick]

OMG!! All those people with half tons, better upgrade soon before they crash and burn!

Just kidding!

The "Big 3" keep blurring the model designations more and more. The GM 1500HD Crew Cab is really a 2500, the 2500HD is really a 3500. You can't get a 3500 single rear wheel anymore, it's a 2500HD. You can't get a 2500 Crew Cab because it's a 1500HD.

Dodge never offered a 3500 Single Rear Wheel, now they do.

I think they should do away the the 1500, 2500, and 3500 designations, (F-150, F-250, and F-350 for Ford) and just use the GVW ratings. Then my 3500 would become a "9200".

I am considering a Mack CH612, or Freightliner FL70 for my next truck. Before you start laughing me off the forum, stop by your local GM, Ford, or Dodge dealer and look at the sticker prices. It makes you wonder when you can find a pickup truck on the lot priced close to a new Corvette!

For under $20K, I can get a used Mack single axle tractor, with over 500,000 miles of life left in her. These trucks will get about the same mileage, or better than Duramax, PSD, or Cummins diesel in a pickup towing a heavy trailer. With air ride cabs and suspension, they ride almost like a standard pickup truck. While the average person, wouldn't or couldn't use this as a "daily driver", there are some fulltimers that do. I won't go on, as this topic has been widely covered on other RV websites. Just something I have been mulling around in my mind. I still have two years left on my current lease. Who knows, I like my current truck so much, I may just buy it at the end of the lease.

[joe hall]

2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4, 8.1, 3.73 rear end, Reese hitch. A sweet ride for the relatively-flat or modest hill country of Georgia, Alabama, north Florida.

[Tripp]

I tow my 25' 1978 tradewind with a 99 1/2 ton suburban, reese dual cam hitch with NO problems. I have over 100K mi on it and over 20K of those towing. Still haven't had any problems!

I am looking at a 31 sovereign and will probably pull that with my 1992 3/4 ton van.


Tripp

[Action]

Since I am employed full time and have several other interests other than RVing. My use for towing is less than a full timer. And I have a car for commuting to work.

So my towing vehicle is a 1/2 ton full size van. It's towing capacity from the factory is 7500 #'s based on the axle and engine combo. I have added air shocks, trans cooler, a radiator fan, (mostly cause it's hot here and the incoming air to the radiator in a van is not the best) and a shift kit for firmer shifts. (There are mountains here!) I bought it used for $5000 in 1997 when it was 7 years old and it had 113,000 mile on it.

My guess is the A/S trailer weighs about 5000 #'s. However my boat weighs closer to 7000 #'s. Both are areodynamic and that helps lots when pulling.

I planned on a life expectancy of 5 years for my van and it now has 132,000 on it. I have also gotten married and acquired another car. So I am selling the 2nd car, and the van, and will be buying a 2000 Navigator. It has the towing capacity of 8100 or 8900#'s depending on 4X4 or 4x2. It will be used as a daily driver by my wife. Not sure what to call the Navigator. Is it a 3/4 ton?

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[john hd]

i went with a 3/4 ton truck because i like to take my 1955 harley with me when i travel.

my trailer is listed at 6800# so if i add the harley, water and other gear i figure i'm at 8000#. that puts me at 80% of my trucks capacity.

the other benefit of having a truck (chev) of this size is the 4l80E tranny that allows me to tow in overdrive. i was never able to do this with a 1/2 ton and the 700r4 tranny.

my truck towing with the tow/haul switched on turns lower revs at 65+ mph than at 55 mph

john

[John]

I tow with a 2000 Chevy K-1500 and I too use the tow-haul mode while towing, but this tranny isn't as strong as the 2500HD and I have to tow in 3rd gear. The owners manual says that you can tow in overdrive, but I've been told by the dealer and others that it wouldn't hold up. So I'm cranking out 2100RPM @ 55MPH.

But I still surprised myself with getting 13 MPG on the hwy while towing. Too bad I can't use the overdrive because I'm sure the mileage would be even better.

John

[Gordon Watt]

Hey Pick:

I think you are right.

I was in Panama City Beach a few years ago and a young fellow around 75 pulled into the camp ground wuth a very old restored Kenworth single axle with his trailer mounted on the truck frame and faired in. (not an Airstream)

I was towing with a Ford F150 4.6 standard tranny with a 5.3 Diff.

It worked well for the towing I did which was about 2500 miles a year.

[Sav'h Steve]

Hi Action,

I have the 1/2 ton EXPY. The Navigator is the Lincoln's gussied up version of the Expedition. And you can set it up for greater towing capacities with engine and rear ends.

I bought mine with towing my '63 Globetrotter in mind. However I upgraded to a 25' Excella and now wish I had bought the 3/4 ton Suburban.

The 4.6 Expy pulls the 5000+ lb trailer OK on Georgia soil, but I know that getting into the hills will be a problem. Just don't know how long before I will make the purchase of the 3/4 ton.

Ford just doesn't have a good 3/4 SUV.... the Excursion has too much weight of it's own to pull around and is really big.

The Navigator is well appointed, but you may be disappointed in pulling 5500 to 6000 lbs with that shorter wheelbase.

Just some thoughts...

Steve in Savannah

[RoadKingMoe]

With 448 lbs of extended cab, 400 lbs of 4WD, 500+ pounds of diesel engine (over V8 gas), 280 lbs of fuel, and 400 lbs of people, my F250SD long bed weights just under 7400 lbs out of its 8800 GVWR. I haven't had it loaded up all the way, but the trailer GVWR is 9800 lbs so 11% tongue weight would be 1080 lbs. The WD bars should shift about 80-100 of that back to the trailer axles, leaving about 400 lbs for stuff in the cab and bed. I'm not worried about cutting it close on GVWR because I've had it up to 9500 lbs (2300 lbs of shingles) where the bed was still level and the overload springs were just beginning to touch, but not compress. Truck and trailer should be about 17,500 lbs out of 20,000 GCWR.

[NewStreamer]

I only engage the tow/haul when on slopes. Otherwise it seems ok although not much torque. (I am waiting for the trans cooler I ordered for Xmas)
1500 with Airlift & Firestone bags.

Ron

[John]

RKMoe,

While in BC, I met a couple how are full timing in a 2001 34' Limited w/slide and they use a 1998 Yukon 5.7 3:73 and they said that they had no problems pulling over the Canadian Rockies.
It just seemed that the Yukon wheel base was a little too short for the lenght of their trailer, but they were happy and I guess that's all that really matters Eh! You have a really nice set-up and I was wondering when you plan to start full timming?
John

[Action]

Steve,

Thanks for your input. However the Expy with a 4.6 ain't gonna cut it. The 4.6 does not have the cubes to do the job and is not even a consideration. The only engine/axle that's gonna cut is 5.4 with a 3.73. It is an option on Expy and not easy to find. However, that combo is standard on Navigator. There is no options for engine/axle on Navigator.

So the tow rating varies with 4x4 and 4x2. I prefer 4X2 however in the used market my choices are dictated by the market. And I am too cheap to buy new. The rating being 8100 #'s for 4X4 and 8900 #'s for 4X2

The wheelbase maybe an issue. I have been towing a large boat since 1989. That one was 9000 #'s and 35' long. (Ball to prop) I did it with a 1974 1/2 ton very modified van. It was short wheelbase too. (I think 113) My current van is 138" WB, however it is a little light in the hp department for the current crusier (7380#'s of Wellcraft) For the stream it's fine. Navigator is 119" WB. I do need to drive more of them to get a feel.

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[niknas]

My towing machine is probably overkill, NOT. I am using a 2001 Ford E350 SuperDuty Powerstroke Van 4x4 to pull a little 1995 21' Classic Airstream 5500# loaded. I first used a full size Bronco with a 351 V8. Handling was an issue, the wheel base on the Bronco was too short. Next I got a 97 F150 4x4 with 5.4 V8. Handling issue went away. Power became an issue, the torque on the 5.4 is developed at high rpms, so mpg was very poor because I could never pull in overdrive. Now I have the E350 van, 7.3 diesel power with a long wheelbase. Handling, trailer what trailer? That silver thing following us my dear. Power, hill what hill? I don't remember any hill. Keep in mind I live at 7200 elevation and travel all over the American West and Baja. I also have a lot of toys to pack around. Dirt bike, Mountain bikes and windsurfing gear. The van tow capacity is rated at 10,000#. The Gross Combined Weight Rating is rated at 20,000#, I have stopped at weight stations in Oregon to check my weights; Trailer loaded, 5500#, Van loaded 9200# with trailer attached, Amazing 16,000# and still able to get 13 mpg average cruising at 65 to 70 mph on the open road. I could trade in my 21' and still be able to pull 34'er with all of my toys. Check out my van web page, pictures of van and Airstream. (slowloading).Van Link

Gotta go, I packing for a two month Baja trip starting on the 26th of December, returning first week of March.

Happy camping and Merry Christmas,

Nik

[Silver Bullet]

I've been pulling our '62 Overlander for the past 16 yrs. with a '78 Ford Bronco, (first year full size). The original 351 cid was gutless on mountains and in head winds, time for a swap. 11 yrs ago I built and swapped in a 460 cid (bored .060 over) and added the usual goodies to create a "stump puller".


Handling has never been an issue. Ford built these on F150 frames, the front and rear live axles both sport stabilizer bars (1' on front, 1 1/8 " on rear), heavy duty springs front and rear and high perfomance adjustable shocks front and rear.

As with ANY sport/ut, (pulling or not), they demand more attention while driving. The biggest advantage I have found is I can squeek into tighter areas easier due to the shorter turning radius. Oscar