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jgriffis
provisional solo poster
52 Posts |
 Posted - 11/29/2010 : 11:26:23
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I'm looking for advice on a tow vehicle/trailer. It'd be an open trailer with a car up to 3500 lbs max (assume 1500 lb for the trailer max). So a vehicle that could tow 5000-5500 lb trailer. I currently have a 2100 lb miata but I want something that could tow a different car if I ever needed to switch. I'm thinking an affordable V8 gasoline vehicle (dual cab truck, suv, etc).
Does anyone have any advice on a tow vehicle or trailer options? Budget would be about $10k for a used tow vehicle, and about $1500 for a used trailer.
Jason
1991 Red Miata |
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BuZZword
intermediate solo poster
93 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 12:10:37
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You could probably use any vehicle that has a V8 engine with no problem at all.
Supercharged 1998 BMW Z3 1.9 liter |
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JeremyGSU
Instructor poster
438 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 13:17:11
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Based on my experiences with towing I would try to find a used diesel. Towing with a gas engine is an absolute joke compared to a diesel.
Jeremy
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BuZZword
intermediate solo poster
93 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 14:27:53
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I agree. I had an F250 7.3 liter diesel and you hardly know there is a trailer behind, however he is working with a 10 grand budget. I don't think you are going to find much of a diesel for that whereas he has a large choice of V8's since he is talking about pulling only 5000 lbs. Just my 2 cents worth. By the way, I just moved to a 5.7 liter V8 to tow my car on a flat trailer and my 25 foot camper. The vehicle has a 10500 lb towing capacity. Both my trailers are around 5000 lbs.
Supercharged 1998 BMW Z3 1.9 liter |
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jgriffis
provisional solo poster
52 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 16:25:53
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What is your 5.7L V8?
I expect to tow to tracks that are 4+ hours away and drive to the ones that are less than 4 hours (riding in a car with low clearance, no A/C, and a very tight suspension is not fun). This includes towing up to VIR and Road Atlanta, and I was only planning on towing about twice a year. So this would be a to-from work truck otherwise. That's why I was opening it up to SUV's also if it would do the trick. Although I don't think any V6 is going to do the job.
Anyone have any experience with a Dodge Ram? I have a friend selling a longbed Ram 1500 with a V8.
Jason
1991 Red Miata |
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BuZZword
intermediate solo poster
93 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 17:56:18
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My truck is a 2011 Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD. I've not towed with it yet, but have no qualms about doing so. Am planning to tow my camper from PA to FL in March.
Supercharged 1998 BMW Z3 1.9 liter |
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Joshua
advanced solo poster
167 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2010 : 23:22:41
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Here's a thread I created a few years ago. Some of the information is dated, but still valuable.
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=204446&st=0#entry3857741
Short version - any of the Ford/Chevy/Dodge 150/1500 series trucks with a V8 will do just fine towing 5k pounds. Make sure the truck is set up for towing with a transmission cooler and brake controller.
Joshua
One of the Chief Instructors
1993 HPDE/TTE/SSM Miata |
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jgriffis
provisional solo poster
52 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2010 : 09:50:44
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Wow Joshua, that is a great thread! I've searched the internet and nothing comes close to as much consolidated, easy to understand information as your post on the S2k forum. Thanks!
Of course if I could take another 100lbs out of the miata I'd have less to tow. 
Jason
1991 Red Miata |
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dew-e
novice poster
18 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2010 : 13:23:47
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I have a 2006 F150 with the 5.4l engine. Has the full factory equipped tow package. No problems towing my 2350# car using a 2,000# u-haul steel trailer. I bought my truck two years ago for just a little more than your budget lists and with only 28k miles on it. I'm sure you could find the same truck with more mileage for 10k right now.
Good look finding a nice trailer under 1,500# for less than 1,500$. The open featherlites and other good trailers sell for at least twice that amount.
Now, you might be able to find a steel trailer with wooden deck for that price, but will be hard to find a lightweight aluminum trailer for that price. |
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jgriffis
provisional solo poster
52 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2010 : 14:57:49
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Thanks for the input on the F150.
I'm not too worried about finding a trailer, I've found a few new steel trailers with wood decks for under $2k, they weigh a tad less than 1500lbs. And found a couple of suitable used trailers for $1k, obviously I'm staying away from aluminum ones. I'd rather put a couple more $k into the towing vehicle than the trailer.
Jason
1991 Red Miata |
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davesnavy
intermediate solo poster
98 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 10:19:39
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If you are only going to tow twice a year consider renting a pickup from Enterprise. They come equipped with the hitch bar.
Dave Taylor
Mid-Ohio image by Sideline Sports Photography, LLC.
'88 325is S-50 conversion by Sports and Imports, Chesapeake, VA.
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jgriffis
provisional solo poster
52 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2010 : 13:18:17
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Thanks Dave that's a great idea. I just checked their website and it's about $60/day for a truck. 
Jason
1991 Red Miata |
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henryr
novice poster
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2010 : 18:11:09
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| enterprise doesn't rent trucks for towing i'd double check that |
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JeremyGSU
Instructor poster
438 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2010 : 16:28:31
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quote:
Originally posted by henryr
enterprise doesn't rent trucks for towing i'd double check that
Their website says they do. You have to go to their commercial truck site, not car.
Jeremy
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henryr
novice poster
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2010 : 20:27:42
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i've called. i was told they rent HD pickup but NOT for towing. WTF else would u use a HD pickup for....
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henryr
novice poster
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2010 : 20:30:02
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| look at the * on the website. says towing not available for consumer rentals. likely need to have some sort of corporate account |
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MX5RACER
provisional solo poster
34 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2010 : 17:01:28
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The experience I have had is that they have a much higher rate for towing, and the trucks are very ragged out.
Douglas Quara Jr "DJ"
Racing, the only sport that requires the use of two balls! |
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Steveh
novice poster
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2010 : 21:33:53
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I have had really good luck with a GMC Envoy SUV. Big in-line 6 or V8 option. Mine's the 6; it has 275 hp and pulls an E36 sedan on a 1,500 lb. trailer just fine. It was also pre-wired for a brake controller, which is really nice in an SUV.
Kind of cheapo GM parts bin interior, but if you get the SLT version you can get a good tow package (self-leveling rear shocks), Bose stereo and some other creature comforts.
So far everything works -- the truck has 118k, the last 30k of which have included tows from just outside Philly to VIR, Mid-O, Nelson, WGI, Limerock, Summit, NJMP and Pocono with only one fail (lost an alternator on the way home from WGI). Around here low mileage used ones are often less than $10,000.
Good luck in your search. |
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davesnavy
intermediate solo poster
98 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2010 : 12:07:48
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quote:
Originally posted by MX5RACER
The experience I have had is that they have a much higher rate for towing, and the trucks are very ragged out.
Douglas Quara Jr "DJ"
Racing, the only sport that requires the use of two balls!
I mentioned the rental because in my travels I ran into a guy hauling a 911 on an open trailer with an Enterprise Rental. His tow vehicle had broken down. He was happy with the rates for the brand new Chevy 2500 he was driving. Not sure about rates, but it HAS to be cheaper than buying for two trips/year. The condition of the rental may be a function of the market in which your rental center is located. In my rural area most of the rentals are in great shape - probably not so much at a major airport.
Dave Taylor
Mid-Ohio image by Sideline Sports Photography, LLC.
'88 325is S-50 conversion by Sports and Imports, Chesapeake, VA.
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JeremyGSU
Instructor poster
438 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2010 : 11:57:24
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quote:
Originally posted by henryr
look at the * on the website. says towing not available for consumer rentals. likely need to have some sort of corporate account
I googled towing with an Enterprise truck and found other forums where some locations had rented Diesel trucks to people and others not. So I guess it's area dependent.
If you want to rent a truck capable of towing something I would checkw with the following in your areas.
Enterprise Rent-a-truck (Location dependent)
Penske
United Rentals
Hertz Equipment Rental
Ryder
Yellow pages
Hope this helps.
Jeremy |
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pdisme
Instructor poster
663 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2010 : 11:27:13
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| I towed an enclosed trailer and sports racer to Barber once with my '07 Avalanche 1500 V8. A month later I traded it in for a 2500 diesel. Once I got out of Florida the hills and semi trucks blowing by made towing with the 1/2 ton really scary. The 2500 towed the same configuration like it wasn't even there and got 14 mpg @ 75 mph doing it, versus 7 mpg on the V8 gasser. I've since started having someone else transport my car but if I were to tow again it would not be with a 1/2 ton. |
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Tow vehicle selection
