Just got a '73 Overlander. Now we need a tow vehicle!

[duojet]

Hi. We're new to the forum so we just wanted to say hello.

Hello.

We recently obtained a '73 27' Overlander from a family member and are just beginning to look for a tow vehicle.

Any opinions?

(I'm about to seach the forums for this subject so forgive a newbie's impatience!)

Thanks.

Jordan

[TomW]

Let me say welcome.

Welcome.

No need to search - the right answer is Suburban C20. Or a Silverado 2500.

Tom

[Buttercup]

Well I might be a little biased here but there's something special about an Overlander and a Hummer H2 (IMHO)

[joewinfield]

Welcome and good luck on your search for a tow. I love my Nissan Titan. joe

[Pschoerrn]

Welcome and nice to have you on board!!

You´ll probably get as many different opinions as there are potential Tow Vehicles... So good luck, when filtering and evaluating the data you´ll get.

You should try a search for Tow Vehicles by the Search Function of this page and if you want some informations on Gasmileage this could be a thread fro your...

Take C'air

Bjoern

[bill benton]

Ford that is. Most any full size truck or SUV with a large motor will do.I'm partial to Fords. F150s, Expeditions, F250s, Excursions will all tow it. Just check the weights. I have even seen Airstreams towed with other vehicles.

[juel]

Oh, let us not forget the Tundra folks on here.

[Safari-Rick]

Welcome aboard ! )
First of all, you want to know the weight of your trailer so you can choose the right truck for you. The guys are right, a 2500 Dodge, ford, Chevy, GMC, Titan (oops, they don't make a 2500! hehehe), is the way to go. If not, check the weight the each can tow. Diffiently get one with a tow package!/V8
Rear end is also an issue, 3.55/392, 4.10 etc.

Well, enough of my 2 cents. Once again, welcome aboard! may all your trips be safe ones!

R/
Safari-Rick

[overlander63]

Welcome, and I'll second what everybody else said about a tow vehicle. Your Overlander should have a GVW (msax weight) of around 6000 pounds, so look for a tow vehicle that will tow at least that much, and preferable about 20% more, to be on the safe side. We tow our Overlander with a Chevy 3/4 ton van with a 6000 pound tow capacity, and there are times I wish we had a little more than that.

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by duojet

Hi. We're new to the forum so we just wanted to say hello.

Hello.

We recently obtained a '73 27' Overlander from a family member and are just beginning to look for a tow vehicle.

Any opinions?

(I'm about to seach the forums for this subject so forgive a newbie's impatience!)

Thanks.

Jordan

Jordan,

I suggest a 1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, it is the same year as your Overlander.

Bill

[Frank S]

Hi Jordan--We have successfully towed our 1973 Overlander 27' with a number of 1/2 ton, 1500 series, Chevys, all with success, since 1988, when we became its 3rd owner. Florida, Midwest, Eastcoast, Colorado, and all points in between. The beauty of the vintage 27'er is that it only weighs 6000 lbs. light by modern standards as it doesn't have oak cabinets and all the extra stuff they load in now. Started with an '89 Beauville window van 5.7 & 3.73 rear, OK, but a little lacking. Next a '91 van 5.7 & 4.10 rear, much better. Then a '95 followed by a '97 Suburban 5.7 & 4.10, really liking it now. But best of all a '01 Suburban 5.3 & 4.10, with the 4-speed auto trans with Tow Haul, which is a perfect balance for 1973 Overlander 27'. You should have a trans cooler, and a load equalizing hitch. All of the 4-speeds have a 3.06 first gear which is low enough to get you started anywhere. I always tow in 3rd gear which is comfortable at 70 mph and average 9 mpg. Without the trailer, in 4th gear I get 16 mpg highway, and 13/14 around town. The ride, handling and 16" tires of the '01 is a marked improvement over the "95 & '97. Tahoe is also a consideration, but few if any have a 4.10 rear, you might as well have the extra space of a Suburban for the same price and they aren't any harder to drive or park, and will fit in most garages. '00 thru '03 Suburbans came with 3.73 or 4.10 rear, while '04 thru '06 have 3.42 or 4.10 (I may be a year off on the switch). You don't want a 3.42. Of course a 3/4 ton 2500 suburban will do a better job towing, however it rides rougher, and uses more fuel. Unless you plan to cross the rockies a lot, the 1/2 ton will work just fine. The '01 I have is the only one of the bunch that has 4-wheel drive which I have never had to use, even in MN snow. I got stuck twice with some of the other suburbans and the trailer on soft grass in a flat area. A couple of boards under the wheel, and I was out. I know you will enjoy your 27' Overlander. It's small enough to tow with ease, and big enough to live in comfortably. Good luck on your towvehicle selection. Frank S

[Frank S]

Hi Jordan--We have successfully towed our 1973 Overlander 27' with a number of 1/2 ton, 1500 series, Chevys, all with success, since 1988, when we became its 3rd owner. Florida, Midwest, Eastcoast, Colorado, and all points in between. The beauty of the vintage 27'er is that it only weighs 6000 lbs. light by modern standards as it doesn't have oak cabinets and all the extra stuff they load in now. Started with an '89 Beauville window van 5.7 & 3.73 rear, OK, but a little lacking. Next a '91 van 5.7 & 4.10 rear, much better. Then a '95 followed by a '97 Suburban 5.7 & 4.10, really liking it now. But best of all a '01 Suburban 5.3 & 4.10, with the 4-speed auto trans with Tow Haul, which is a perfect balance for 1973 Overlander 27'. You should have a trans cooler, and a load equalizing hitch. All of the 4-speeds have a 3.06 first gear which is low enough to get you started anywhere. I always tow in 3rd gear which is comfortable at 70 mph and average 9 mpg. Without the trailer, in 4th gear I get 16 mpg highway, and 13/14 around town. The ride, handling and 16" tires of the '01 is a marked improvement over the "95 & '97. Tahoe is also a consideration, but few if any have a 4.10 rear, you might as well have the extra space of a Suburban for the same price and they aren't any harder to drive or park, and will fit in most garages. '00 thru '03 Suburbans came with 3.73 or 4.10 rear, while '04 thru '06 have 3.42 or 4.10 (I may be a year off on the switch). You don't want a 3.42. Of course a 3/4 ton 2500 suburban will do a better job towing, however it rides rougher, and uses more fuel. Unless you plan to cross the rockies a lot, the 1/2 ton will work just fine. The '01 I have is the only one of the bunch that has 4-wheel drive which I have never had to use, even in MN snow. I got stuck twice with some of the other suburbans and the trailer on soft grass in a flat area. A couple of boards under the wheel, and I was out. I know you will enjoy your 27' Overlander. It's small enough to tow with ease, and big enough to live in comfortably. Good luck on your towvehicle selection. Frank S

[duojet]

Thanks for all of your replies. We're kind of leaning towards an older Suburban diesel. If anyone has any leads, please let me know.

Thanks again.

[Frank S]

Hi Jordan--Would go slow on acquiring an older used diesel as a tow vehicle, if you haven't had a diesel before. I didn't see any mention of diesel in any of the responses you received, maybe for good reason. Used diesels usually have worked hard, which is why originial purchaser went the extra money for a diesel in the first place. Diesels are louder, smellier, require more expensive maintenance, and are quirkier. Talk with some people who own the brand you are considering, and some mechanics before you commit. If you are considering diesel for fuel economy, forget it. If you travel 15K miles/year, and fuel cost $2.30/gal, the difference between an average of 15mpg and 20mpg is just $575/year. This is small in relation to the real costs of tow vehicle ownership, which are maintenance, repair, and the big one, depreciation. Good luck with your quest. Frank S