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Old 04-05-2018, 07:59 PM   #1
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New Tow Vehicle Recommendations

I just sold my 4 door Silverado Z71 and I am in the market for a new tow vehicle for my Scamp 19 goose neck (yes it has a goose neck). I must have 4 doors, prefer manual transmission, and as best fuel economy as available. I have been looking at Tacomas and that is where I am leaning. I would take any of the new diesels but I can't find any below $30K.

Any recommendations?
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Old 04-05-2018, 08:35 PM   #2
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I just bought a F250 diesel for $13000 but it's a 2002. ..
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Old 04-06-2018, 03:04 AM   #3
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I too am looking for a new Tow to replace my 05 Chevy Trail Blazer. It's a pain to go on a trip and worry if the will make the next hill of if the tranny is going to crap out.
The price of new vehicles are so high it has driven the price of used ones high to. How important is it go have a factory tow package when hauling a 13 ft trailer?
And would a dealer even know if a used car had a factory installed tow package in it?
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Old 04-06-2018, 03:58 AM   #4
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Gerry, if your TB is in good shape a new tranny is way cheaper than those dreaded monthly payments .
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Old 04-06-2018, 06:35 AM   #5
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I have no recommendations for a tow vehicle except to say that your Silverado would have filled the bill for me .
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Old 04-06-2018, 06:49 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Borrego Dave View Post
Gerry, if your TB is in good shape a new tranny is way cheaper than those dreaded monthly payments .
Baught it used 4 years ago and lost tranny within 3 months.... had it rebuilt and maybe it's just me but just can't trust it. Even though I have run it for 4 years.
Went on a 200 mile trip last summer and it didn't want to shift to good unless I tromped on it.
I put anti slip fluid in it and it works fine all winter but planning a 4 week journey this summer and always on the back of my mind is "When is it going to give out.
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Old 04-06-2018, 07:12 AM   #7
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New Tow Vehicle Recommendations

@ Gerry- Thinking the same as Dave. There may be other things wrong with the Trailblazer, so you have to evaluate based on the bigger picture. After reading your second post, though, maybe it's time to move on.

If you do decide to start looking for a new tow vehicle, you have to establish some parameters. What do you need, both for everyday and towing use? Brand preferences? Budget? New or used?

Regarding "factory tow packages"... You have to evaluate them case by case. Not all models even have one, content varies widely, and often you can add the important stuff aftermarket. If a model does offer an optional factory tow package, a dealer can look up the VIN to determine what was on the factory build sheet, including a factory tow package.

How important is it? Depends. What does it include? What is the tow rating without it? Class II or III hitch, 7-pin wiring with brake line, transmission fluid cooler- that's typically the basic content you want.

@JB- Have you also looked at the Nissan Frontier? I would.
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Old 04-06-2018, 11:36 AM   #8
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2004 Ford Ranger Extended cab

I have a 2004 Ford Ranger Extended Cab. Electric Brake control, New hitch, both seven and flat pin connections, new battery, sprayed in bed liner, 6 cylinder engine. Rear shocks change 2 years ago. I bought a brand new truck. The only reason is I am selling is I bought a big 8 cylinder truck and will retire soon and don't want truck payment. This truck is in great shape and has 112,000 miles. I still don't have to add oil between oil changes. $6000. If anyone is interested in buying it let me know.
I live about 30 miles west of Chicago, IL.
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Old 04-06-2018, 01:30 PM   #9
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There is the old axiom that the person who buys a 1/4" drill bit doesn't particularly want the drill bit, he wants a 1/4" hole somewhere.

Apply that principle to a vehicle purchase and you realize that the person who buys a vehicle may not particularly want the vehicle, he wants a 100,000 mile trip down the road.

Since vehicles are so expensive it is a good idea to calculate how much that 100,000 mile trip down the road will cost per mile.

Decades ago I purchased a new 1994 Chevrolet Z-71 pickup. After two years I decided to order a new one with the same options. The old one had 47,000 miles on it. I made five printouts of the one with the options, color, etc. that I wanted to order, then visited five dealerships to find out what it would cost to trade in my "old" truck and get the new one. They all evaluated my truck and gave me a price. The variation in prices for the first four was over $3,000. I told the last dealer that and told the salesman I was going to order a truck that afternoon and my choice of dealers was dependent solely on price. The salesman went and got the sales manager and within five minutes I had a price of $4,700 to trade (which increased the bid spread by another $700).

Those 47,000 miles cost me 10 cents per mile in depreciation. Far and away the most economical vehicle I have ever owned.

I ran the new truck 173,000 miles then gave it to my son when he graduated from high school. After the first 100,000 miles the expenses increased. There were tires, belts, hoses, water pumps, alternators, oxygen sensors, you name it. He ran it to 292,000 miles then traded it on a "cash for clunkers" deal for a new Ford Ranger. The last 100,000 miles was way more expensive than 10 cents per mile. He was going to college in Tulsa and I had to go down there once or twice per month and tow the thing to a repair shop. The last time, we took it to a Chevrolet dealership and they deduced that the fuel pump inside the gas tank had failed (this was the fourth time for that particular problem). They wanted $1,000 to fix it. I had twice paid over $700 for new fuel pump repairs and once I went down there and we spent five hours on a parking lot (during a rain storm) draining and pulling the gas tank ourselves, taking the plate off of the top, going to Pep Boys and buying a new one for $69.00 and putting it in ourselves. My response to the $1,000 repair estimate was: I don't know what is going to happen but I know what is NOT going to happen.

For the past 15 years I have traded trucks every three years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. My most recently traded 2013 Ford Lariat ecoboost truck had 99,860 miles that wound up costing 17 cents per mile depreciation. You really can't know the exact cost until you trade. I change the oil every 5,000 miles, never have repair bills and I never have to buy tires. I make regular three to four thousand mile trips pulling my trailer and I have never broken down in one of these new trucks.

In my experience a used truck costs more per mile to run. But even if it didn't I would now pay extra to avoid potential breakdowns.
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Old 04-06-2018, 01:43 PM   #10
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I want to add to this: I admit I am falling victim to the car companies who deliberately design their vehicles and components to shoot craps after 100,000 miles. They further design them not to be repairable by the owners. New commercial trucks, Peterbilt, Freightliner, etc., come with a 500,000 mile warranty, and those vehicles are subject really strenuous use. Think about that.

The "technology" exists to manufacture vehicles that will be dependable for hundreds of thousands of miles. The difference is that commercial truck purchasers are hard nosed business men who can figure this stuff out and the manufacturers have to compete for their business. Thus the manufacturers are forced to build durability into those vehicles.
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Old 04-06-2018, 02:38 PM   #11
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Hmmm... Last three (used) vehicles I bought were still going strong without major repairs past 200K miles. Our two current vehicles are at 165K and 127K miles and I would take either anywhere.

I know it is fashionable to discount Consumer Reports, but they have generally steered me well so far. Or maybe I should be hitting the casinos...
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Old 04-06-2018, 02:47 PM   #12
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My experience with used vehicles both cars and trucks is that they are bottomless money pits. I have stated my mistrust of consumer reports in the past , so no need to restate them now
I do not believe my experiences can automatically transfer to others . As far as Casinos , I only go there for inexpensive meals.
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Old 04-06-2018, 03:14 PM   #13
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Ford Ranger

Great truck and Great price. Whoever buys it will be very happy.
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Old 04-06-2018, 03:42 PM   #14
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[QUOTE=Bruce H;691265 New commercial trucks, Peterbilt, Freightliner, etc., come with a 500,000 mile warranty, and those vehicles are subject really strenuous use. Think about that.

I worked on those big trucks for many years. I couldn't believe the constant problems we had to fix on them. Those problems started at well under 50,000 miles. We were authorized to do warranty work but I have no idea how much the company was reimbursed under warranty.
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Old 04-06-2018, 04:17 PM   #15
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My 1993 Mercedes cabriolet has about 245000 miles, my wife's 1994 Mercedes wagon has 280,000 miles, the 2002 F250 7.3 Diesel we just bought has 225000 miles. What counts is how well maintained these vehicles were.

sure, I could have bought a new F250 diesel, lets see, they are about $58000. I paid $13000 for this one. that $45000 difference will pay for a LOT of repairs.
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Old 04-06-2018, 04:57 PM   #16
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Trailer: 1985 Uhaul VT-16 Vacationer, 1957 Avion R20 & 1977 Argosy 6.0 Minuet
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2001 Chevrolet 1500HD 2WD Crew Cab GAS 6.0 LS Engine with LT trim Package. 353,000 miles on this truck. Still Original engine, 1 transmission replacement, 1 steering box and PS pump. Rest just regular service and maintenance. Always synthetic fluids. I change oil at 5,000 mile service intervals. Last oil change this truck only used 3/4 of 1 qt of oil over 5,000 miles driven at over 350,000 miles. Not to shabby for a GAS 6.0 LS engine! My daughter drives this truck everyday to school and work. She drives 20,000+ miles/year. I would hitch a trailer onto this truck and go anywhere with confidence not giving it a second thought.

Of the 6 pickup trucks we own (3 are diesel) the newest truck is a 2008 Dodge crew cab and it has the lowest mileage of all the trucks at 162,000 miles. The other 5 trucks are ALL over 200,000+ miles. Miles don't mean crap! It's ALL about the service and maintenance you do on a vehicle especially later model vehicles which are SO much better than the the "Vintage" vehicles of old.

A well maintained "Older" tow vehicle will give you many years of service. Of course this comes from a person who has only purchased 1 new vehicle in their life and that was a diesel crew cab truck in September of 1994. That truck is a 1995 Ford Powerstroke crew cab that I will own today, will keep for many years to come, has 205,000 miles. I will also hook a loaded 2 car trailer to this truck and go anywhere on a moments notice without any hesitation or thought of breakdown.

Older and higher mileage does NOT necessarily mean unreliable! Just like opinions EVERYONE appears to look at tow vehicles from different perspectives. Given that fact there is NO perfect tow vehicle so everyone needs to buy, own and drive the tow THEY believe is perfect for their wants, needs and desires. New? Used? Whatever gets the job and makes you the owner confident in your equipment.

The picture below is of that 1995 Ford I purchased new pulling the 1957 T20 Avion trailer.
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Old 04-06-2018, 06:28 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by vintageracer View Post
The picture below is of that 1995 Ford I purchased new pulling the 1957 T20 Avion trailer.
yikes, what's the wheelbase on that thing? I can't say I've seen a crew cab that also has an extended cab behind the back seats.
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Old 04-06-2018, 08:23 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
yikes, what's the wheelbase on that thing? I can't say I've seen a crew cab that also has an extended cab behind the back seats.
And looks like an 8' bed too...never seen one that long. I can't imagine trying to turn into a parking spot in that thing. Probably tows nice though.
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Old 04-06-2018, 08:37 PM   #19
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[QUOTE=mary and bob;691281][QUOTE=Bruce H;691265 New commercial trucks, Peterbilt, Freightliner, etc., come with a 500,000 mile warranty, and those vehicles are subject really strenuous use. Think about that.

I worked on those big trucks for many years. I couldn't believe the constant problems we had to fix on them. Those problems started at well under 50,000 miles. We were authorized to do warranty work but I have no idea how much the company was reimbursed under warranty.[/QUOTE]
True Dat!
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Old 04-06-2018, 08:57 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by Steve Carlson View Post
And looks like an 8' bed too...never seen one that long. I can't imagine trying to turn into a parking spot in that thing. Probably tows nice though.
Having driven the truck for years I have never thought of the truck as long as it is ONLY 2 ft longer than a standard long bed crew cab.

Parking is a breeze. Especially when you use the "Touchy and Feely" method as others tend to move!
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