good choice for 1st tow rig?

jeepcj3a

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2006
Location
winston salem
is this a good deal, or should i keep looking around?

1979 3/4 ton chevy with 83 body on it. p/w, power door locks, cb, built 350/350/208. 10bolt and 14 bolt, 4.10 gears. 33 BFG A/T's. 4 in. lift, new exhaust, paint faided, and cheap bedliner in it. all gauges/switches work. class III hitch.

he has it listed for a little over 4000 and would take around 4000. I have a budget of 3500, so hopefully he would come down at bit.

miles around 60k on engine and no idea on the rest of the drivetrain.

any advice would be great. I just need something to safely tow a stock cj or toyota pickup with.
 
no, old, lifted, check for load E tires, lift large tires old= loose, 350 would be a dog unless really built still a torque issue, and the more built the less reliable. a 3/4 ton suburban with a 454 in the 95 96 range could be had for that kind of money much rather tow with that. just my opinion.
 
If the seller is saying 60k on the engine, it's more like 100k.

Other than that, x2 on what Perry said.
 
id keep looking. 4k is a pretty good budget, if you stick to 2wd you will get more value. Also look at the e350 vans, while not power houses you can get a good one with a 351 that will have have a FF rear axle and be a solid tow rig..

Hit craigslist lots of good deals there.
 
yager said:
Also look at the e350 vans, while not power houses you can get a good one with a 351 that will have have a FF rear axle and be a solid tow rig..
Click to expand...

Check out service companies, ( HVAC, lift truck repair, the like ) many times they'll have vans sitting that have just been taken off the road, they sell for CHEAP, so what ever you might need to do to them may well be worth the price.

My company just sold 2 E-350 vans with shelves and cabinets AND an air compressor. I know one went for $750, runs fine, needs tires, but the ball joints and tie rods were recently replaced. had 5.4 tritons in them as well.

I know my work van will be coming up for sale, probably by the end of summer ( I hope) runs fine, needs some suspension work, it may well get it before I get put into a new ride.

If they go up for bid again, I'll post up. Last 2 were sealed bid with a $500 minimum.
 
Id like to stick with a truck just cause itd be easy to haul alot of parts ect. in the bed instead of trying to stick them inside like ive had to do with my 4runner which can be a pain, especially when trying to fit a 60/14 bolt in the back with the seat down.
Ill pass on that truck though and keep looking. Ive found some less expensive trucks that were 2wd and am trying to decide if getting 4wd is something that ill really need.
 
If you are pulling much weight at all get a diesel.A first gen Cummins or a 94 up PSD can be found for that if you look hard enuf.Chevy didnt make a good diesel until the Duramax's came out and that will be over your budget.I got a 96 F350 PSD 4 door for 3K.Aint real pretty but pulls good.I would not even consider anything with a carb!!!!
 
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