What's your tow vehicle's rating?

[Silvertwinkie]

I don't think so. You just need to think outside the box! I just voted my Chevy 350 car as a 1/2 ton. Same engine and trans that was found in the 3/4 ton trucks pre 2000, so I figured my car has a weaker frame, but still the same drivetrain (with mods of course). Hell, my current tow vehicle has more HP and torque than our old '85 3/4 ton Suburban w/ a 454 had. It was rated at 230hp and my car stock was 250. Now modded,my current vehicle has about 270hp.

I'm rated at 5000lbs towing capacity.

She's real fun my LT1!

Regards,

Eric

[aluminauts]

This is our first adventure in towing anything above a pop-up and wanted to be as secure in our choices as our research and experience would allow.

[Happycampers]

Hi, We tow a 25ft tradewind 1976 with a 2002 gmc 1500, 5.3 and 373 rear. want a 30ft er but will keep the same truck.

[vajeep]

We decided on the 04 2500 Suburban with Quadra-Steer. I ordered our burb from our local Chevy dealer exactly as I wanted it. Camper mirrors, 2nd row captain's chairs, 4.10 rear end, block heater make our tow rig "ours"
We got 60 months 0% interest with 0 down. It was hard for me to learn that my 01 Jeep Grand with a v-8 and a factory tow package was just not up to the job of towing any Airstream larger than a Bambi. Sure you will hear from others that have pulled a large Airstream with their vehicle. I am always entertained when someone tells me how they are able or how they towed their Airstream with some (in my opinion) under sized vehicle.
I am all about safety, I cut my grass with eye and ear protection... Do I look silly... I don't care , I still can hear my wife when she wispers and I don't have to worry about debris in my eye... (off soapbox)
I think the 3/4 ton is really qualified for the tow job at hand and the Quadra-steer option is way cool and almost impossible to describe till you actually drive one for your self.
Good luck...

Abe

[Tarheel]

Pulling a combined weight of over 17,000 lbs I had no choice but to go with a 3/4 ton Dodge cummings rated at 16,000 lbs. I didn't realize when I bought it that I would be pulling this much weight. I had to go to Banks Engineering to add some goodies under the hood to get the added horsepower necessary to climb the hills. The 3.54 rear end is not the ratio of choice but since I bought it used I really didn't have a much to say. It climbed the mountains of the southwest. There were 12% grades that went on forever. I had to use the gearbox and on many of them 42 mph at 2200 RPM was as good as I could do, but I would hate to think that I would be faceing some of those grades with anything less than what I had. The exhaust brake was a wonderful aid in decending the grades.
I'm the green Mopar facing out with the 34' and flags behind.

[JeepinAudiophile]

Hmmm... I'm a bit underpowered...but does it count that I LOVE my tow vehicle. I have a 1968 Tradewind 24', and pull it with a...(gasp) Jeep Cherokee. Just a little 4.0L Inline 6 cylinder... and a short wheel base to add, when compared to the long bed, crew cab, diesel limo's that so many pull with. Sadly I do not have a picture of the trailer and the jeep together, but here are some pictures of each.

[RichardT]

I am considering replacing my f150 with this as a tow vehicle, anyone think that is a bad idea?

[JohnG]

Vintage Airstream and Vintage Auto............Sounds good to me.

[Tin Hut]

Currently have a 1997 1500 Suburban that I'll sell in August. Have a 2005 Suburban 2500, 3/4 ton, 8.1 liter, 4.1 gear ratio that'll pull 12,000 lbs on order.

[dbtolman]

Has the 5.4 Triton Engine and 3.73 rear end in it.

My 27" overlander is connected to it using a 4" drop ball mount (turned upside down for 4" lift), and it sits just right...

Brake Controller is a Tekonsha Envoy.

The whole setup works great. First trip was over 500 miles and I forgot I had a trailer behind me a few times. (well, until I looked and realized I was getting 7 to 8 mpg!) I experienced NO bounce, and NO swaying, even when big rigs flew by me!

[dbtolman]

My reserve tow vehicle:



Just wish it'd stop overheating before I got the trailer out of the driveway... oh well...

[krowsea]

[QUOTE=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 ![QUOTE]

Hi John

I tow my 1975 Sovereign with a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 (3/4 Ton). It's a regular cab / long bed 2WD. It's got the HEMI, with 345 HP and 370 ft lbs of torque, along with a 5spd auto and 3:23 gears with post-traction. It towed the 31'r back from Arizona with no problems. Here's a picture of the beast and the Airstream, just outside Yuma Arizona in 107 degree weather.

John-Boy

[Rodger with a D]

Hola

We also tow with cars that weigh in at 5900 pounds. The 63 has the 413 and the 66 has the 440. Both cars have the lessor vehicle optioned heavy duty transmission as a standard issue. Both cars do have the additional transmission cooler. Both cars also have a full frame which does not flex. The '63 has the factories " Sure-Grip " and standard A/C while the 66 has the dual air option.

For our new tow truck it is a 77 Dodge w/115" wheel base. The rear axle is the 9 1/4 with 11' brakes and held by the six leaf spring assembly ( four leaf, 8 1/4" & 10 inch brakes was the standard ). The 2 bbl'd 360 has a "X" exhaust system ( the '63 Le Baron has the "H" style whilist the "66 Le Baron also has the "X" ). If needed for passenger comfort the truck has a passenger door mounted swamp cooler. I have replaced the original OEM AM radio with a factory OEM AM/FM w/sterio.

As one can see I lean towards the vintage side of the house. ( our '70 InterNational has no phone line )

Rodger & Gabby

[takenitez]

Hey folks

We tow with a 2002 Ford F350 4X4, Crew Cab, long bed with the 7.3L diesel. We occasionally take our dogs with us camping (German Shepherd and Golden Retriever), and as a result of our GR's fondness for puking while traveling, we decided to purchase an ARE series Z cap for the bed of the truck to let them have free rein back there (no more puke and floating dog hair in the truck now )...

Bob

[LowellN]

I tow with a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins 24 Valve Turbo Diesel. Quad cab,4x4,shortbed. Tows the Sovereign like it's not even there. Awesome tow rig.
I did tow my 21' 1996 SOB (5000lbs) with my 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic, 4.0 litle straight 6 cyl. It towed great. Didn't even know the trailer was there. So JeepinAudiophile, you arn't alone. It's a Jeep thing...you wouldn't understand.
Lowell

[Theo]

I can't vote... My New tow vehicle is a Medium Duty.. I have not towed with it yet, maiden voyage next week.

Last year I towed with a '02 F250, 7.3 powerstroke, and it did really well. This year I went for a truck that has a 200,000 mile warranty.

Theo

[Silvertwinkie]

Funny how things change....read my post about the SS towing and that was before all major trips.

Looking back, it did work, but it wasn't the best idea. Towed only a very little bit w/ the 3/4 Burb and just out of the gate it was night and day difference. So, I guess if I could, I'd remove my vote for 1/2 ton and place it into the 3/4 ton......BTW, my LS1 is even more fun than my LT1.

[JeepinAudiophile]

Originally Posted by JeepinAudiophile

Hmmm... I'm a bit underpowered...but does it count that I LOVE my tow vehicle. I have a 1968 Tradewind 24', and pull it with a...(gasp) Jeep Cherokee. Just a little 4.0L Inline 6 cylinder... and a short wheel base to add, when compared to the long bed, crew cab, diesel limo's that so many pull with. Sadly I do not have a picture of the trailer and the jeep together, but here are some pictures of each.

I'm so happy to be able to update this, and don't mind bringing back a sleeping thread. I just bought a new tow vehicle, taking advantage of the GM Employee Pricing I picked up a 2005 GMC Sierra Denali, It is equipped with the LQ9 Engine- H.O. 6.0L used int he Cadillacs w/ 345HP, 380Tq, All-Wheel drive, 4.10 gear ratio, Huge Crew Cab, Short bed, 8100lb towing... Here's a picture of my new money-pit!

[SafeHarbor]

I tow with a rare one-ton capacity 1993 Dodge Dakota. It has the 318 (230 hp), 4.01 rear end, HD transimission, transmission and power steering coolers, 850 Ah battery, 120 amp alternator. In 1993 alone, I think, it came with Bendix fuel injectors. The same engine in '94 only made 220 HP.

I ordered it to tow the Argosy 28, but it towed my (empty) Excella 31 1,750 miles without problems except for hill-climbing in Appalachia.

For that, I spent some time earlier today counting rust holes in a 1975 Chevy "Big Ten" LWB 454 cid monster.

Lamar

[till]

I guess that I will have to read this thread to see if I am the only one that tows with a car. I truly have no idea what my Caprice is rated at, but it pulls with no problems.


It looks good doing it too.