Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I need a different truck to pull the 21. I currently run a 5 speed manual, 2WD Toyota T100. It slides a bit pulling the Seafari up wet local ramps and has suspect stopping power in rush hour traffic.

The 21 rig is probably a bit over 5K lbs. Should I even consider a half ton or jump straight into a 3/4 ton. Local ramps are good and only about 15 miles away. The tow is all down hill & the return all uphill to 700 ft above sea level. I really doubt I'll be towing to Mex or any farther than San Clemente (about 70 miles) to go to Catalina Is.

I was hoping to go to an automatic transmission. And I'd love to find decent economy.

Any favorites out there? Thanks.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Hey Gilly,
I think the size truck will depend on how far you think you'll haul the boat. For short runs to a ramp, an hour or less, you'll probably be ok with a half ton truck. if you're going to haul it 300+ miles, you'll want something with a beefier drive train and cooling system.

As for stopping power, I would suggest trailer brakes for anything over 3000 lbs. Oh, and make sure your tow vehicle has anti-lock brakes. I speak from unfortunate experience.
Dave

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I'm partial to Fords and have an F350 with the 7.3 powerstroke, I get 15 mpg pulling my 23cc and 20 when I'm not towing. I got the 1 ton because the price was right but a 3/4 will serve you well. If your patient you can pick one up for a good price, try to find one made between 96 and 02. Stay away from the 6.0's unless they're made after 04

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I pulled a 24 Seabird with a half ton E150 truck equiped with the appropriate towing package for a decade or so. Mostly highway towing. Worked fine, no problems towing, at the ramp or anywhere else, but I never really trusted it.

I pull the Seafari 25 with a E250 van, 3/4 ton, 6800 lb tow package and hardly know its back there. Just had the tranny inspected (60,000 miles) and everything looks perfect.

Fair warning, good mileage is not in the cards. The 150 used to get about 11mpg highway and the 250 only gets about 9, if that.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

The first gen. Strokes were the best mid between power and economy, next to a ist and 2nd gen. cummins dodge with taller gears. The cummins has dead flat big torque numbers just above idle. I've personally seen 20 mpg towing 7000to 8000 lbs at 65 mph on the back of a cheap 2wd 1st gen cummins that's turned up mechanically to about 700lbs of torque. Love those early cummins and powerstrokes.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I tow my sceptre 8-10,000 miles a year. I have 251,000 on an 01' f350 powerstroke and dont have any plans on changing trucks for a while. Plenty of power, I quit checking fuel milage 100.000 miles ago though.

I would get a 3/4 ton for the added stability and some more braking power. I dont think there is a while lot of difference between 3/4 ton and 1 tons other than some springs.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

If you have some wheel spin at the ramp already you need more weight in the rear of the tow vehicle or one with 4 wheel drive. Not much weight difference between a 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickup. If you just want a tow vehicle look for an old 1/2 ton 4 x 4 with a good motor and tranny with a cooler. Should be quite a few available in areas where there was once lots of construction. We sure do have a few here in Florida. Trailer brakes will stop the trailer.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I used to have a '00 F150 4x4 with the 5.4L that towed my 24 Seabird and my father's 23 Sceptre with no problems. My towing profile was very similar to McGillicuddy's, so I would think something like an F150 would work just fine. The tow/haul mode was nice to have, so make sure it has the factory tow pkg already. I believe that pkg also includes a tranny cooler and oil cooler. Braking never seemed to be a problem but admittedly I never had any emergency stops to really test them out.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Not 100% sure about Dodge or Ford, but GM 1/2 ton 4x4s are all 3/4 ton axles and suspension. The 3/4 ton 4x4s are pure profit. Same truck w/ an extra spring leaf.

We had a guy at the shop who was spinning his Dually w/ a 27 Contender at the ramp. An old tire guru said he had little siping in his tires. He got some with lots and no worries. Couldn`t believe the difference.

Cheers,
GFS

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Gilly

Scott is right.I pulled my 23' for 13 years with a fullsize Bronco (1/2 ton). If you don't upgrade then here's help....

Three things you need ;)

1.) Brakes on the tralier (stopping power)
2.) Limited Slip Differential (no slide at the ramp)
3.) Transmission Oil Cooler

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Not sure if you are looking at diesels but I'm going on almost 280K on my 01 F350 7.3L work truck. Probably the best running truck I've ever had and I've ran nothing but diesels since 1987. I average about 15mpg but the truck is loaded to the hilt with a custom fiberglass box and 50 gallons water plus lots of gear.

Never had a duramax but my buddies like them. I've had 3 dodge cummins diesels and all were good trucks. You can expect excellent fuel economy with a cummins. Right now I've got an 3/4 ton 06 mega cab and I average 18mpg towing the 25 seafari and 20-22 mpg empty. Power up the ying yang.

Be very careful if you are looking at Fords 2003-2006 6L diesels.

Also I'd stay away from the new trucks and the diesel particulate filter until they work out the bugs in those.

strick

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Not positive about all the details, however my brother has a new 2010 F250 diesel (I think it's a 2010) and he went to a muffler shop had them take his filter/cleaner off, had a exhaust pipe welded in it's place and changed a chip or something in the computer. Runs like a completely differnt truck, tons of power, double the mileage (a biggie at the price of diesel fuel), pulls like crazy and accelerates like a gas truck. However it's not real good for the warranty.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

2008 1 Ton Dodge dually 6.7L Cummings diesel (40,000 miles) for big loads... :cool:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...ster215015.jpg

1999 1/2 ton Dodge 5.9L gas (294,000 miles) for weenie loads... :eek:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27.../Searay010.jpg

Or "Blondies" 2003 4.7L Durango for the flats boat.. :rolleyes:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...Durango004.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...Camping019.jpg

OK, I'm a Dodge fan.... :D
They have all been great trucks!!

See ya, Ken

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

mr no bones

hear da piture of U wit yer first weenie load


http://earlyrods.com/WeinerMobile_My...an_JoeyWeb.JPG

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Well Sam,
Can u cee my hands???
Thats what I thought......
If u can't ram it, dodge it!!!!!

Have a good day, Ken

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Wow! - thanks for the tremendous responses, y'all...

I am definitely considering all of your redneck responses, but none more than my gator chewin', alligator gar shootin', 2nd cuzin lovin, Dixie brother Sam's idea of upgradin' the little weenie puller to a bigger weenie pullin' rig.

Here we have the mini weenie euro-trash alpine road rig vs the big American freeway weenie, ergo, left coast free-love muh-cheen... my gal says go big or go home, and chose the one on the left... something about a duramax powerstroke cummins being a better ride... :D
http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/...rmeyerrigs.jpg

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Where do you guys come up with this stuff?

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I ask the same question. You guys crack me up! How is it....ROFLMAO :D :D :D :D
(I'm still learning the codes.)

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Good stuff!

How many jokes came from this event.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hiO3e9VP9S...er%2BWreck.jpg

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Soon we are going to have to smog our diesels here in CA. I think they do a visual inspection.

strick

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Yeah, there's no doubt on hard acceleration it now smokes, never did before. However at 75+ mph running back and forth from his hunting lease his fuel costs were cut in half. I'm sure the folks in CA would freak out if they saw this. :rolleyes:

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

That's a problem we deal with daily! :cool:

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

What, pulling out wedged weiners? :D (I couldn't resist!)

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Thank God the weinermobile was not on viagra.....would have wiped out the second floor!!

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

No, not having enough room for the girth! ;)

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Touche' :o

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I have a 2008 ford f250 5.4 litre (gas) 4x4 truck. It pulls my 23 SC fairly well. I pulled the 23 SC for a few years with my previous truck, a 2001 1500 series Dodge Ram. My transmission went. I am not sure if the transmission failure was a direct result of towing the 23 or not...However, the transmission did begin to fail at the boat ramp and I barely made it home from the ramp on this one day.....I decided to step up to the F250 and it has been a good decision... My next truck will be one of those weenie-mobiles though.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I would tend to think the tranny failed due to the crap trannies that Chrysler puts it most of its vehicles. If you had a V6, perhaps that version wouldn't have been enough for a 23, but that truck with even the base V8 would be more than adequate.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

My 2007 Tundra Double Cab with the 5.7 liter engine has a towing capacity of 10,600 lbs and it pulls my 25 footer very well, it even accelerates on hills to pass slower trucks. Yeah, the gas mileage drops to about 10 mpg when towing but that's OK, I don't tow that far anymore.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

We had a Mercedes r350 v6 and it did fine for just at 5k.
I believe the r500 with the v8 is rated higher.
But we switched over to an Armada and it tow's with no issues.
The plan is to take the boat to others locations in Florida and maybe even a few Keys trip's so we had to upgrade.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

'02 F250 Lariat Crew Cab 2WD, 7.3L V8 diesel (Navistar), 199,280 miles. Factory "Command Tow" package, incl Limited slip diff. The Command Tow package includes the heavier axle and differential used on the F350/450 with single rear wheel set. Rated at 16,400 lbs bumper pull, and over 21k with a gooseneck.

Never had wheel spin with either the Seafari, or my old 23' Tsunami. I get 14 mpg pulling my Seafari, and about 18 mpg combined mileage, 21 mpg straight highway, (and that with injector erosion issues from once getting badly contaminated fuel).

By contrast, the same '02 truck with the 5.4L V8 gas motor was factory* rated at 10 mpg city and 14 highway, and the V10 was factory rated at 8 mpg city and 11 highway, and that's pulling nothing. *(EPA doesn't rate pickups)

I echo keeping away from the '03 to '06 6.0L Ford diesels. Get the older 7.3L, or the newer 6.6L. There are early 7.3L motors with over 1 million miles on them. It can't be beat for longevity.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Like Father Frank said those 7.3's can't be beat. I'm pulling a 23 footer with my 2003 excursion with the 7.3 powerstroke. I love the truck for keeping the gear and rods in.Plenty of room.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

I was watching a show the other day, might have been Two Guys Garage, and they were talking Dodges with the Cummins and those that go 1 million+. That is pretty impressive when you're talking light trucks. They had a guy's '01 2WD 2500 with 900K on it in the shop for some maintenance. The owner used it to haul boats around the country.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

How about the Chevy Dura Max diesel? Are they as good as the Dodge/Cummins and Ford/Powerstroke in terms or longterm durability? Just curious.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

We have a f-250 PSD 7.3, 1999, has been a great truck...230K miles...admittedly not all mine. Pretty good on miledge...really mad a difference when I sent the the computer off to DP tunes, they flashed it for like $100, totally different truck...nice big brakes too.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Not very scientific, but looking on Ebay, I find only 16 Chevy or GMC diesel pickup trucks listed with over 200K miles. In contrast, I found 41 Dodge diesels with over 200K miles, and 92 Ford diesels with over 200K miles.

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

That tells me the Ford guys are dumping theirs.....but they're not selling :)

:D

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

In the past 20 years or so, Ford has about 50% of the HD truck market & Dodge 30%. I presume Chevy holds the balance. So maybe reelescape is on to something... I've heard it said that the Cummins 5.9 and the 7.3 Powerstroke are million mile motors but they have a penchant for destroying everything after them with their torque and hp... Maybe these guys ought to be using Allison transmissions. I currently have any number of Fords with the 7.3 L Powerstroke in my market but I am hard pressed to find a 5.9 L Cummins Dodges... When they pop up you must be decisive or they are gone.

I wonder Toyota will do something with a Hino diesel?

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

When you do the math on the FF survey, it is pretty close to your statement.

149 total trucks for sale

92 Ford= 61%

41 Dodge= 27%

16 GMC= 11%

Let us know what you get...that 21 is waiting to get wet :D

Re: Tow Vehicle Preferences for more than 5K lbs
 

Roger, that Mr. T.

:cool: