What daily tow rig?

yupididit wrote:

patgizz wrote:

OHSCrifle wrote: F250 XL diesel. Friend of mine got one last year, 4 door 6' bed for $40k. High teens to twenty mpg running unloaded. Rubber (plastic?) floor. Nice truck.

Theres a reason Powerstrokes are way cheaper than duramax and cummins

You gonna expand on that? Or, is throwing a blanket statement out there without any type of information that will support your opinion what we coming to these days? Gotta love the Internet.

I researched for months before pulling the trigger on the biggest purchase since my house. I found the Powerstroke forum littered with posts about 2016's with issues that ford either wouldn't or couldn't fix. I was appalled by the lack of customer service more so than the problems, but also I didn't want to risk buying a problem for 40k. I could have had a f350 cheaper than the ram 3500, but honestly if I was going diesel I wanted to go with an engine that's literally in everything and not made by a brand for one line of truck. I was considering duramax until i sat in a '16 chevy. Didn't fit me well, couldn't get comfortable. I've put 15k on the ram since march, and enjoy it

KyAllroad wrote: A 24' trailer isn't an easy tow, you're pushing a lot of air and controlling a long beast. 3/4 ton anything will make that a LOT nicer than a 1500 near the top of its capabilities. 3/4 ton rigs aren't nearly the penalty boxes of yore either. Embrace the huge and while not fast, the kick of say a 6.0 GMC when unladen will get you out ahead of all but the most determined stoplight warriors. For that little towing the GM would be my recommendation. No point in dealing with the diesels issues to tow once a month.

I came here to say exactly this. The weight doesn't sound bad but enclosed trailers pull a lot harder than open trailers. Your budget will get you a really good used one, possibly new depeding on options (not sure, havent priced new trucks in a long time).

patgizz wrote:

yupididit wrote:

patgizz wrote:

OHSCrifle wrote: F250 XL diesel. Friend of mine got one last year, 4 door 6' bed for $40k. High teens to twenty mpg running unloaded. Rubber (plastic?) floor. Nice truck.

Theres a reason Powerstrokes are way cheaper than duramax and cummins

You gonna expand on that? Or, is throwing a blanket statement out there without any type of information that will support your opinion what we coming to these days? Gotta love the Internet.

I researched for months before pulling the trigger on the biggest purchase since my house. I found the Powerstroke forum littered with posts about 2016's with issues that ford either wouldn't or couldn't fix. I was appalled by the lack of customer service more so than the problems, but also I didn't want to risk buying a problem for 40k. I could have had a f350 cheaper than the ram 3500, but honestly if I was going diesel I wanted to go with an engine that's literally in everything and not made by a brand for one line of truck. I was considering duramax until i sat in a '16 chevy. Didn't fit me well, couldn't get comfortable. I've put 15k on the ram since march, and enjoy it

Good reasons for your situation but there are different years of power strokes, cummins, and duramaxes. For the most part they all seem like good buys and each have some pluses and minuses compared to others. My old power stroke was good cause it was cheap and is reliable. Mpg and interior is not as good as something newer though.

I'm coming from a 2015 F350 powerstroke. No issues, but not looking to spend that much again.

I've considered just renting, but it adds about $400 in cost to every race event and if I want to move the trailer for non-race issues I have to rent some more at $100 a day.

Is there really no way to have a big honking $10,000 truck AND a $20,000 nice car? Off site parking? Even a storage unit space somewhere if really needed. The right tool for the job and all says it's inefficient to daily all that extra capacity just so you can tow 8ish times per year.

There's a way to do that, but I'm still paying to insure, register and then store a truck that's just sitting. The People's Republic of Massachusetts isn't kind on such things.

To put numbers in perspective, my current 2006 Highlander Hybrid costs me $150 a month just to insure with my perfect driving record. A $10k truck would be roughly the same whether it's sitting in storage or not.

My Ducati is $280/month to insure as a pleasure vehicle.

What the...? My Duc is 200 per year.

DaveEstey wrote: There's a way to do that, but I'm still paying to insure, register and then store a truck that's just sitting. The People's Republic of Massachusetts isn't kind on such things. To put numbers in perspective, my current 2006 Highlander Hybrid costs me $150 a month just to insure with my perfect driving record. A $10k truck would be roughly the same whether it's sitting in storage or not. My Ducati is $280/month to insure as a pleasure vehicle.

Sounds like time to set up a PO Box in Montana and have your insurance there. I pay $150 a month to insure 5 vehicles for 2 drivers, each with an accident in the past 3 years.

It's abusive for sure. I'd need more than a PO Box to show residency there though to get things registered.

$280/mo for a bike!? Holy berkeleying E36 M3.

I pay $14/mo with tons of extra coverage on a BMW GS Adventure which might possibly have one of the highest replacement costs of any bike sold the US. I wouldn't be looking for a truck if I were you - I'd be looking for a new address.

The new Nissan Titan is geared toward stuff like this. Not as stiff as a 3/4 ton, but less strained than a half ton when towing similar weight. Cummins diesel. Factory 5th wheel. Heck of a warranty.

I've been reading owner's forums and outside of some teething issues related to being a new model, most owners seem pretty pleased with the trucks, especially those that tow regularly.

Huckleberry wrote: $280/mo for a bike!? Holy berkeleying E36 M3. I pay $14/mo with tons of extra coverage on a BMW GS Adventure which might possibly have one of the highest replacement costs of any bike sold the US. I wouldn't be looking for a truck if I were you - I'd be looking for a new address.

When you work in tech you gotta be where the business is unfortunately. It's either live here or have a 1.5 hour commute one way. I'd rather spend more and have more of my time.

Look into 2010+ Duramax 2500 Express vans. 2010+ have the better 6L90 transmission vs the 4L85 prior.

Vans are WAY cheaper than trucks or SUVs if you don't mind being in one. Very nice for tool storage, etc as well for racetrack use.

I lived in the Boston area for 12 years. No way would I want to daily drive a 3/4 ton truck there in the city.

STM317 wrote: The new Nissan Titan is geared toward stuff like this. Not as stiff as a 3/4 ton, but less strained than a half ton when towing similar weight. Cummins diesel. Factory 5th wheel. Heck of a warranty. I've been reading owner's forums and outside of some teething issues related to being a new model, most owners seem pretty pleased with the trucks, especially those that tow regularly.

How much are they compare doing to the domestic options? That warranty + Cummins is very seductive.

I just looked at the Nissan online. The specs arent any better than my old 6.0 powerstroke but 40k starting. No thanks. I rather buy a new or year old certified pre-owned ford or dodge diesel at 40k or more.

I'm leery of Nissan's after they put that dumpy rear diff in the last Titan.

I doubt anybody would charge you MSRP for them though - seems like Nissan is being rather aggressive with rebates.

yupididit wrote: I just looked at the Nissan online. The specs arent any better than my old 6.0 powerstroke but 40k starting. No thanks. I rather buy a new or year old certified pre-owned ford or dodge diesel at 40k or more.

The 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are definitely more capable. But they ride worse, and are WAY more truck than most people need. Other than that, it's the old "you can get xxx car used for that much" argument.

My new dd/tow rig is going to be a Ford Transit 350 cutaway chassis with a fiberglass extended cab and a 12' flatbed. Not sure how it will tow a trailer, but with 5k of bed capacity I'll be able to just put an Opel on the back, and the deck height should be low enough I won't have to carry a step stool like my Silverado to unload it.

Even buying a new aluminum bed ($4k), toolboxes ($1k), and the cab back ($1k) I'll be well under $40k brand new.

In reply to oldopelguy:

This reminds me, I'm still waiting for my Transit Connect Pickup.