tow vehicle

[cowtipper]

I am in the market for a tow vehicle...what's the cheapest way out?

I have about a 4500 pound pulling tractor and I would guess my trailer weighs about a ton...give or take plus pulling weights so I would guestimate like 6500-7000 pounds I can buy a ford f150 with d tow package for ab out 12K...but similarly I can buy a nissan titan with a 9500 towing capacity for 21K...I'm looking for the cheapest way out...hard to find anything used around here with a tow package that won't burn up the truck...looking for it to double as a commuter truck too...worried about burning up the f150

 

[old]

For that type of wieght you need to go with a 3/4 ton min. And even then you might be pushing it some. I know thats at the very top limit of a 1/2 ton
Hobby farm

 

[cowtipper]

an appriately equiped f150 will tow 10,000 pounds in an 07 model...the top in the one I'm looking at is about 7000 pounds

will I burn her up, if I use her every couple of weekends to haul.

 

[Pair-a-dice farm]

Pulling is not a problem, stopping is. I agree with old a 3/4 ton minimum. From the prices you gave you should be able to find a good 3/4 ton they will also get almost the same fuel milage as a 1/2 ton.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a friend thats hauled a 4500 lb M Farmall puller around for over 30 years behind a 1/2 ton 1974 IH pickup and hes never had any problems.

 

[cowtipper]

3/4 ton around here run about another 10K over a 1/2 ton in the used market and same in the new market...i found a 3/4 ton 94 for 7K with 35000 miles or I can have a half ton 2004 with 30K for 12K...the 3/4 ton cost alot more for various reasons

 

[Anonymous-0]

You should be able to find a 1996 f-250 powerstroke for around $13,000. We have one with a 7.0 in it. My dad bought it brand new in 1996 for $40,000. It has about 170,000 miles on it now, but it still looks and runs great. After 11 years the blue book value is only around $11,000. It gets about 25 mpg empty, but will probably get about 16 or 17 loaded. Trust me, if your going to get a pick up for towing, get a good used ford. When and if you get a pick-up, go to kbb.com. They will ask you questions about the vehicle and once you get everything typed in it will tell you an average price. It is free, so might as well do it just to make sure you dont get ripped off. Hope this helps.

 

[old]

Well if an auto type tranny probably but a standard probably not

 

[Anonymous-0]

I would worry more about the trailer, 2000# trailer not much of one.
How many axeles & what r they rated?

Maybe u underestimated the weight, I'd find out for sure before buying a truck. You could have alot heavier trailer than u think.

 

[cowtipper]

good point about the trailer she aint light...it's two 3500 pound axles. next it looks darn heavy. I have puller her with a half ton dodge that I have rented carrying a farmall H on several occasions...my buddie with a half ton dodge 99 is going to load his 50's F150 on the trailer and bring it about 1000 miles without worrying about it...I agree about the comments about the 97 power stroke but again your paying over 10K for a truck with 170,000 miles on it...frankly around here your going to pay closer to 15000 and if I drive to work in a year it'll be up to 250,000 compared I can get an f150 with 30K miles for less money...and she's only going to haul on weekends...

 

[Anonymous-0]

If the F-150 has a towing package and you keep it out of OD on hills you will be fine.

Heres my 1967 Ford Ranger F-100 pulling my 1600 lb car trailer with 2-3500 lb axles.The load is a 5500 lb Model T Gleaner SP combine.

The Ranger has had some upgrades and I'd hate to say how many miles I've towed loads like this.Its a 352 V-8 with the C-6 automatic and I have a good tranny cooler on it.Its gets 12 mpg empty and 6-7 mpg loaded.

I keep good tires on it that are rated for far more than what I'm hauling.I drive a long ways ahead and stay out of heavy traffic.I've never had any problems or close calls.

 

[paul4168]

that's what I needed to hear

 

[Oldmax]

"My F-150 will pull 10,000 lbs.", My Dodge Hemi will pull", I here this all the time, when I hear this I just shake my head & go on. It is a 1/2 ton truck with a small engine just will not hold up under a constant heavy load just ask my brother-n-law after 3 years of pulling a 4 horse trailer with a 1/2 ton , I had to go get him about 200 miles from home & pull his truck back home . Blown engine 2002 Chev . so he gos and buys a F-150 the Salesman says it will pull trailer I am waiting for him to call again I will go get him with my Silverado K-2500 .

 

[MSM]

A half ton pickup is not a tow vehicle,unless you are pulling a small camper,or bass boat. They do not have the frame strength,braking capacity,wheel and axle bearings to tow heavy. Most are equipped with passenger rated tires.
Try to find an older heavy 3/4 ton or 1 ton in the flavor of your choice to do your towing,and save the show truck to drive to work in.

 

[Oldmax]

Bravo MSM That was what I was trying to say in my last reply.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I would be more concerned with stopping the load. Trailer brakes are a must, you owe it to the other people driving to be able to stop, and control your load. I see people all the time pushing there luck and I have done it myself but 3/4 ton brakes, frames, axles are larger and engineered to carry the load.

 

[02XLT4X4]

I tow that plus a tad more a couple times a year (5000lb tractor + 2000lb) trailer with my 2002 F-150 and to does fine. I have the 5.4 and the automatic, if I did more towing at that weight I would look into a heavier truck, but 3-4 voyages with it per year shouldn't bother it much. Get a aux trans cooler and go.

I have heard of Nissan having problems blowing up the rear ends towing, they use the same axle in the rear that everybody else use to use in the front (Dana 44) and it can't take it.

The newer (04+) F-150 probably has a stronger frame than most older 3/4 tons on the road, bigger disc brakes on all 4 corners, they don't make these things to just look good in yet. When I go to a pull there are just as many half tons in the pits as anything else, most are pulling more than I am.

 

[Dick L]

If you are inclined to build things you can not get out much cheaper than I did with the truck below. 6 grand with only 40,000 miles. 800 more in bed and cab extension.

 

[cowtipper]

The tradeoff is that it is possible to find used late model fords chevys etc that will haul 8,000 to 10,000 pounds, but you have to look and be careful. To get to the 8000 to 10000 pounds towing capacity you need to find a 2005 or later. Otherwise a 3/4 or 1 ton has a rated capacity of 12,500 or 15,000 pounds but you can find 3/4 tons rated down as low as 10,000 pounds. The issue is in this market, a diesel with 120,000 miles on it from 2001 runs over 20K. Now you can have a brand new nissan titan with a rated towing capacity of 9500 pounds for the same price. Its all what you want to pay vs your needs...thanks for everyones inputs.

 

[hunting4junk]

be leary of the Nissan My brother in law had one of those and while it seemed to have lots of power You couldn't put much in it. I've got an 18 foot car trailer (not a reall heavy one) and the trailer alone put the nissan down on the stops. it definitly needed a better seat of springs on the back or a set of those air bag overloads.

 

[mj]

You can pull a lot of weight on flat ground with an auto/half ton but for my money you can't beat a 3/4 or 1 ton with a manual 5 or 6 speed hooked to a Cummins with an exhaust brake. 8)