help pick a tow rig

JUICED COUPE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2008
Location
Belmont
Ok I have a great deal lined up for a 32 ft fifth wheel. 11k ish pounds. I need at least a 2500 series truck of course. Problem is I have small budget of around 5k maybe a little less. What would you guys look for?
 
388k just scares me. Is that really ok? I don't want to strand my family at beach or mtns.

Also wanted to add I prefer xcab at least.
 
I know they guy and the truck. It's been very reliable, but it is a work truck. But think of your 5k budget and spend 3k on the truck and 2k on some upgrades.
 
I was in your same boat when it came to looking for a tow rig (although my trailer is much smaller). I only had $5k, and all of the diesels in that range were over 300k miles. I know the engine can go that high, but I kept thinking about all the other non-engine items that had that many miles on them - suspension, axles, gears, etc. - and I decided for my money a gas guzzler was OK for me. I went with a dodge V10 with ~105k miles on it. It drinks gas, but pulls like a tank.

Edit: found the thread: http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87369
 
Do you really need a trailer that big if you are only willing to spend $5K on a truck to pull it with? Would a smaller, less expensive trailer be acceptable if that meant you could spend a little more on a truck? You said it yourself, you don't want to strand your family.
 
VortecJeep said:
Do you really need a trailer that big if you are only willing to spend $5K on a truck to pull it with? Would a smaller, less expensive trailer be acceptable if that meant you could spend a little more on a truck? You said it yourself, you don't want to strand your family.
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No the fifth wheel is coming from family and cheaper than I could buy a pop up in similar year and condition.
 
Thats gona be a hello of a haul with a 5k truck..BUT

If you look hard and take your time you can find a good 7.3 dullay excab or crew that will be reliable and get the job done for under 5K. It will be basic and 2wd for sure. Thats what i would look for...maybe even a nice 4wd 460 will pop up.
 
BigClay said:
I was in your same boat when it came to looking for a tow rig (although my trailer is much smaller). I only had $5k, and all of the diesels in that range were over 300k miles. I know the engine can go that high, but I kept thinking about all the other non-engine items that had that many miles on them - suspension, axles, gears, etc. - and I decided for my money a gas guzzler was OK for me. I went with a dodge V10 with ~105k miles on it. It drinks gas, but pulls like a tank.
Edit: found the thread: http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87369
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I think gas will be fine for me too. It'll see 3 long trips and 4 or 5 short weekend trips per year.

In the newer fords how's the 5.4? Then how's the v10?
How many miles will these last? I've seen a few v10s with over 200k in my range.
 
I take it you are a ford man :D

I don't know much about the ford motors, but I do know a few people towing with a f250 with the 5.4, it gets the job done, but it is no stump puller.

A 5.9 gasser in a dodge will do fine, a 6.0 chevy would do better.
 
BigClay said:
I take it you are a ford man :D
I don't know much about the ford motors, but I do know a few people towing with a f250 with the 5.4, it gets the job done, but it is no stump puller.
A 5.9 gasser in a dodge will do fine, a 6.0 chevy would do better.
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I am a Ford man when it comes to cars. But I'm impartial on trucks. I think is go cummins if I could buy any truck I wanted.
 
maddog411 said:
IMO 11k is too much for a small block gas motor to pull...tow rating on a dodge 2500 with the 5.9 is only like 8k-8500.
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X2!!!! A 5.4l f250 would HATE pullin that and your spend more money in gas in one trip than youd wanna admit! Be patient! Save your pennies and find you a nice 2wd diesel! IMO something THAT heavy is gonna almost need a diesel!

If it were me id say find a nice cummins or 7.3!
 
today i pulled a pulled a 25ft gooseneck flat bed w/ a 3-4k nissan 720 truck thru charlotte with a 2wd 6.0 chevy and she did it with out a problem!... got 10mpg but towed just fine.

o and that truck regularly hauls that same trailer with 14 800lb hay bales so the 6.0 will do the job easy and they're not hard to find.
 
Just to comment on another aspect of a tow rig, I say go 4x4, because I have been in a lot of situations where 2wd was just spinning the tires, and I had to put her in 4wd just to get going. Especially when trying to back up a hill.
 
my suggestion was perfectly realistic. Go find a f350 or f250 with a seized engine. find a box truck that is being sold, remove drivetrain. install in ford. when allison transmission comes around swap that... It could be done for $5k, would just take forever...
If you can throw us a bone and stretch to $8k this will make everything 10x easier... i.e..
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2449962632.html
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2447845991.html this one is actually in budget, good looking truck
http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/2434740961.html
 
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