Dodge/Ford/GM

[r carl]

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Support Capitalism, Just buy the Ford.



Shane

Government Loan Guarantees Help Ford Beat The Debt | The Truth About Cars

[Gene]

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Support Capitalism, Just buy the Ford.

Shane

This getting far afield of the original poster's query, however, I can't resist. We own 61% of GM in the US (Canadians own a big piece too), so if everyone avoids GM vehicles, we lose our taxpayer money because GM stock won't sell for much when the government starts to sell it. Cutting off our noses?

Buy the best vehicle for what you need and avoid the politics.

Gene

[THEPILL]

Originally Posted by r carl

Government Loan Guarantees Help Ford Beat The Debt | The Truth About Cars

Your Faulting Ford for being smarter?


NEXT!!!

Shane

[silverleeper]

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Your Faulting Ford for being smarter?


NEXT!!!

Shane

Does there need to be a "next"?

[Gene]

Brian,

Check out post #30 on this thread: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...tml#post886298

SmokelessJoe carries a MiniCooper on a Mercedes flatbed and tows an Airstream—maybe there's a version of this Mercedes that you can put a truck camper on.

Gene

[48Bob]

CrawfordGene has it right. Forget the politics, test drive them all, diesel and gas if that helps you, and make your decision on which vehicle you like the best and which best suits your needs. It can be amazing how pre-conceived ideas can go out the window after making back-to-back test drives of the various makes and models. It happened to us when we did.

[2airishuman]

the sprinter chassis is grossly UNDER capacity for this purpose...

and while smokeless' has crafted a FINE LOOKING combination...

how many MILES have been logged towing with it?

the only person here with MANY reported miles on the "sprinter as tow vehicle" had issues, a lot of them.

see post #9 here...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...ate-46110.html
___________

i met a couple towing a safari with a sprinter b van conversion...

they would drop the safari at a rv park

then use the van for excursions into wilderness areas and LIKEed that combo.

keep in mind the sprinter is 2 wheel drive

and handles REALLY POORLY in snow or loose off road stuff or even rain soaked highways.

and the repair/reliability records for the sprinter...

are VERY much below average even when NOT used for towing.

cheers
2air'

[Gene]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

the sprinter chassis is grossly UNDER capacity for this purpose...

It did look cool.

And, there are truck manufacturers besides Ford, GM and Dodge—don't any of them have something that would fit the proposed combination?

Gene

[2airishuman]

the op proposes towing 7,000lbs WHILE carrying 2-3000 lbs...

that clearly puts the mule in the one TON range (except for the unique f150 noted eariler)

the manufactures providing true capacity for BOTH of these requirements...

make for a short list.

trading the diesel option for a new stronger gasser gets MORE payload by ~500 lbs.

but the vehicle options are still essentially true 3/4 or 1 ton trucks and vans.

unless the reqirements/variables change to LESSER weighing mobile shelters.

cheers
2air'

[crispyboy]

For the work your asking of the tow vehicle I would definitely look to the diesel engine truck. That is a lot of weight your carrying around and diesel engines excel at working hard. Modern gas motors have come a long way from what they once were but I would definitely go diesel if you can swing it.
While the cost is higher on the front end it will pay dividends in a higher resale value should you ever sell it - I have been looking into used 3/4 ton trucks that are approximately 2 years to 7 years old - there is a BIG difference in the values of a diesel/gas - often $10,000! WOW!
Personally I would be a bit leery of the 1st generation Ford engine. They are probably fine but would give them a year or two to get the bugs worked out. There is a lot of bad feelings of the poor souls who were burned by the first generation 6.0 Power Stroke engine. Ford paid dearly to get this fixed.
If your buying right of way I would look to the GM or Dodge pickup with proven power plants. I know a general contractor with a 98 one ton Dodge/Cummins - 475,000 miles of work pulling excavators, bobcats etc.. used hard and put up wet daily and has been through only one transmission thus far.
If your not brand biased I would pick the one with the best warranty and curb appeal - They are all good trucks they will all do the job.

[Johndigbydog]

Hey~ Guess I found you! Johndigbydog here (Your Pumpkin Patch neighbor !!!!)