Learn me Tow Vehicle - Budget $4k max

If you're considering a 1st gen Cummins truck stay away from the ones that had the too-big turbine housing.. i think it was the 12cm squared one or something. I think it only came on the 1st year but that info is easy enough to find online for sure.

I spent a good amount of time driving cummins trucks when i worked as a trans builder, and the ones with that big turbo housing are.. worse than not having any turbo at all, when it comes to the frustration. Of course if you find a great truck its worth buying and swapping the housing i suppose.

So I'm getting closer to buying a tow vehicle. Have upped the budget to ~ $6k or so.

What do you guys think about the 96+ Dodge Ram trucks with the V10? They are in my price range. Any reliability problems with them?

I think I asked that question a while ago and someone pointed out that the V10 wasn't that torquey (which you'd want it to be for towing purposes). They certainly seem to be cheap up here, might have something to do with the fuel consumption.

I would shy away from vans with a big block or a diesel, servicing the engine is a nightmare. 460 Ford vans have 10 hours flat rate just to change valve cover gaskets.

A Suburban, Excursion, Expedition, Tahoe, or full size truck will be significantly easier to service and have better resale at the expense of a higher buy in and arguably less utility for an occasional tow vehicle than a full size van.

All the brands have their plusses and minuses. I am partial to the Dodge with the Cummins since its a real truck motor in a pretty decent truck, but all the big 3 make a nice vehicle that can tow well. I am guessing that with a max $4k buy-in, you are gonna be stuck in the gas and 1/2 ton range unless you get very lucky or your tow vehicle is a major hoopty.

I agree with the previous posters that have stated they would not want to tow with a gasser after towing with a diesel. Diesels just do everything better.

I increased the budget to $6k

amg_rx7 wrote: So I'm getting closer to buying a tow vehicle. Have upped the budget to ~ $6k or so. What do you guys think about the 96+ Dodge Ram trucks with the V10? They are in my price range. Any reliability problems with them?

When my dad left his foreman job with a construction company to start his own business, he bought a used 4x4 V10 Ram until he got up running and has had 3 new Cummins pickups since.

Anyhow, the V10 Ram had over 200K miles and ran great. You could tell it was used for work as the bed had a goosneck hitch and was full of old hay.

But as others have mentioned, it feels powerful until you compare it to a diesel... .

I have three suggestions

1.) Think outside the box, go to local Uhaul (Ryder and Penske trucks are usually newer/better shape) and ask when they get rid of trucks and where they take them. You can get a serious tow rig for all of no money also easily converted to RV type living in the box

2.) Take advantage of yuppy tax around here old Esclades and the like are cheap. The rage of diesel performance has raised good stock cummins dodoge trucks to insane prices but ones with a bad trans are fairly cheap and fairly cheap to get going.

3.) Buy a Grand Wagoneer they're awesome

maybe not what you want, but works for me and cheap and rides like car not at big truck.

It really works well for the miata on the dolly, I replaced the tires, shocks, flush the trans fluid and added a full size spare (it only had a "dounut" tire) I added some lead tongue weight on the dolly and got some "D" rated trailer tires.

Here is the best part with all the seats out of the van I can carry all of my tires and tools to the track inside and still put spare tires on the roof rack if needed. On the last trip to Button Willow I got 19mpg with this setup. over the grapevine from LA

http://www.brakefade.com/files/pics/Auto/Mercury_Villager_1998/Towing/Mercury_Vill...

What more could you ask for, total investment:

Van $1,200 class III hitch $160 tires: $300 tow D tires: $180 rear shocks: $50 trans flush: $40 steel wheel: $30 Lead: FREE

to the OP: E150 on teh cheap

So what did ya get?
Honestly, I can't even understand buying a pick-up that's not a diesel. My Dodge had almost 370K when I sold it and I averated 21 mph (mostly highway, mostly unloaded). But when I'd load the bed up and hook a double axle trailer with a heavy vehicle in it, I'd still get 18! My buddy had a Dodge, 1 year newer, quarter or a million miles less than mine but the same size engine (gas though) and he would be delighted with 14 mpg empty, 9 loaded.

If someone waived $4K in my face for my Cummins 4x4 club cab, I'd probably take it.

Reliable, my ass....

Ian F wrote: If someone waived $4K in my face for my Cummins 4x4 club cab, I'd probably take it. Reliable, my ass....

What's the history on your truck? Didn't it turn out to be a hack job or something?
My 95 12v has been extremely reliable. I had to install a new radiator and balljoints....that's it other than routine maintenance. I know you love to hate your truck, but it seems like the rest of the Cummins guys here have had good luck with theirs.

BTW I'd take around 6k for mine, but only because I want a 4x4 dually in place of the 2wd.

Ian F wrote: If someone waived $4K in my face for my Cummins 4x4 club cab, I'd probably take it. Reliable, my ass....

Don't tempt me, my wife's put her foot down regarding me buying more vehicles, at least until I get the Celica finished.

I'm still looking. Taking my time and exploring all options.

The E150 doesn't have enough capacity to tow a 20' enclosed trailer. The Uhaul/Budget trucks don't fit my needs. I don't need to live in it but I do need to be able to park it in front of the house and not be embarrassed. Plus all of the moving trucks I have driven have sucked and none were ever maintained. Escalade = Tahoe = too short of a wheel base to tow a 20' enclosed trailer.

I just missed a 96 Dodge 2500 with Cummins TD 183k miles for $5,500.

There are a few high mileage Ford Powerstrokes around that I may eventually look at. They have been on the market for weeks so the owner's are either delusional with their prices and ready to finally sell or its a POS.

There are also some F250s with the big block gas motor for roughly half the cost of the Powerstrokes and half the mileage so those are still looking like the best candidates.

Looking at a 95 Ram with the V10 later for $2,500 but it is high mileage at 190k. That motor has to be tired by now. There are a few others but I'm still learning about Dodge V10s so not as much confidence.

What are the common problems with 96-99 Suburbans with the big block again? I had heard they were headaches but can't remember why...

Intake gaskets leak? People putting 'green' coolant into Dexcool? Don't know if that's specific to the small blocks or big blocks, though.

I am partial to vans myself, Gm 2500 or Ford E250, they offer a more comfortable passenger ride for the family and if you pull out the seats you can easily carry sheets of plywood, another bonus is all the stuff you might want to carry that doesn't go in the trailer is secure inside a van. I tow up and down the mountains on the east coast with a GMC 3/4 ton and it has been a good deal so far.

amg_rx7 wrote: I'm still looking. Taking my time and exploring all options.

Smartest thing you can do.

amg_rx7 wrote: There are also some F250s with the big block gas motor for roughly half the cost of the Powerstrokes and half the mileage so those are still looking like the best candidates.

Yeah, but a gas motor with 200K is pretty used up, a (Cummins) diesel with 200K has at least another quarter million left, more than likely 1/2 a million left.

amg_rx7 wrote: Looking at a 95 Ram with the V10 later for $2,500 but it is high mileage at 190k. That motor has to be tired by now. There are a few others but I'm still learning about Dodge V10s so not as much confidence.

Yup, all the benefits of of a heavy duty chassis but a HUGE penalty in fuel costs.

I'd be really tempted to buy a gasser F-250 and do a Cummins swap.

In fact, it's on "the list."

DrBoost wrote:

amg_rx7 wrote: I'm still looking. Taking my time and exploring all options.

Smartest thing you can do.

amg_rx7 wrote: There are also some F250s with the big block gas motor for roughly half the cost of the Powerstrokes and half the mileage so those are still looking like the best candidates.

Yeah, but a gas motor with 200K is pretty used up, a (Cummins) diesel with 200K has at least another quarter million left, more than likely 1/2 a million left.

amg_rx7 wrote: Looking at a 95 Ram with the V10 later for $2,500 but it is high mileage at 190k. That motor has to be tired by now. There are a few others but I'm still learning about Dodge V10s so not as much confidence.

Yup, all the benefits of of a heavy duty chassis but a HUGE penalty in fuel costs.

Thanks for the confirmation. The high mileage diesels I'm looking at are 200k miles. The high mileage gassers have 110-125k miles.

Ian F wrote: If someone waived $4K in my face for my Cummins 4x4 club cab, I'd probably take it. Reliable, my ass....

In just shy of 370K the trans was rebuilt once (125K I think), the ball joints and tie rod ends have been replaced a couple times, the batt cables once, lift pump once.
I think that's good for a trip to the moon and about 1/2 way back.

It's not the engine that brings down the Dodge. It's the POS that it propels... Especially if you get a RAM (94+). I wanted an older '93 (box styling), but SWMBO won. Same reason I have an E30 and not the Miata I wanted...

Going the other direction- it's just a miata (weight wise)- what about an Astro van? Plenty of those in your price range. I think they tow 5k lbs. Make sure your trailer has brakes and you're set.

^^Add on the 20' enclosed trailer I mentioned earlier. 5k won't cut it.

A quick search reveals that a 2002 Chevy 2500HD with a 8.1L is around your price range. It has been a truck that I have personally lusted over so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. The 8.1L/Allison combo would be optimal but they are rare beasts.

Anyway, check it out and see if it fits your needs.

amg_rx7 wrote: ^^Add on the 20' enclosed trailer I mentioned earlier. 5k won't cut it.

Ouch, didn't see that.