Help with choosing a tow rig.
01-17-2011, 06:46 AM
#12
If you won't be driving it a ton, and don't have an unlimited budget I'd go with a GM 2500 w/ a 496/Allison combo. Truck is strong, will run forever, cheap maintenance. Only downside is they are gas hogs, but if you aren't driving it a bunch it'd take 100+ years to in gas savings to payoff the added cost of diesel, if there even is an advantage given the higher cost of diesel.
This is exactly what I have and I love it! it's 4x4 and I only use it to tow and I drive my bmw daily, rjl676 is definitely correct saying they are gas hogs because my gmc definitely is but tows awesome. I had a dodge ram 1500 and I sold it becuase I wanted to get a 3/4 ton with 4wheel drive and the difference is incredible. Good luck on your truck shopping there's many great trucks out there!
01-17-2011, 08:05 AM
#14
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My thoughts on tow rigs and go fast boats.
up to 24' boat= 1/2 Ton
25-32' = 3/4 Ton
33-42' 1 ton dually
42'+ = medium duty or class 8.
Half Ton trucks are great for picking up a few sheets of plywood, or carrying some tools around. They really arent purpose built haulers. Most up until recently were pretty much jacked up El Camino's. Smalll axles, springs, brakes, weaker frames, c or d rated tires, etc.
So many guys associate the length of a boat in comparison to their trucks towing cababilities. A fueled up twin engine older pantera 28 or 28 apache with the trailer are heavy boats. I would imagine them fully loaded with fuel and gear, to weigh in somewhere around 8500-10,000 lbs sitting on their trailer.
Someone mentioned the new dodge 1500's tow rating to be 9500 lbs. Keep in mind, in order to be able to tow 9500 lbs, you would need to not have any passengers, gear, or any extras in the vehicle. manufactures figure their tow rating based on the GCVWR, which is the maximum truck and trailer weight combined. Well, then they subtract the new curb weight of the truck, and then whats left over gives them the 9500lb rating. Problem is if they are basing their numbers off a new truck that scales in a say 6500 lbs curb weight, what happens if you got 4 people in the vehicle, luggage, accessories, etc. Technically, your truck now weighs 7500 lbs or so, so realistically, your tow rating dropped to 8500 lbs now.
Its the same in the big truck world. Lets say you are plated to haul 80,000 lbs. You semi tractor weighs 20,000 lbs on the scale. Your empty flatbed trailer lets say weighs 15000 lbs. So combined you are 35,000 lbs empty. 80,000-35,000 lbs means you can haul 45,000 lbs of cargo. Of course their are more variables as in lbs per axle, etc, but you get the idea. Ever wonder why you see semi's out there hauling aluminum framed flatbeds, aluminum wheels, fuel tanks, air tanks, etc. Its all about lightening the truck weight in order to haul more cargo.
If the police and Dot started weighing everyone, like guys like us towing boats, they can really generate some revenue from overweight fines like they do in commercial hauling.
Aside from all that tech stuff, the new Rams are awesome trucks!
up to 24' boat= 1/2 Ton
25-32' = 3/4 Ton
33-42' 1 ton dually
42'+ = medium duty or class 8.
Half Ton trucks are great for picking up a few sheets of plywood, or carrying some tools around. They really arent purpose built haulers. Most up until recently were pretty much jacked up El Camino's. Smalll axles, springs, brakes, weaker frames, c or d rated tires, etc.
So many guys associate the length of a boat in comparison to their trucks towing cababilities. A fueled up twin engine older pantera 28 or 28 apache with the trailer are heavy boats. I would imagine them fully loaded with fuel and gear, to weigh in somewhere around 8500-10,000 lbs sitting on their trailer.
Someone mentioned the new dodge 1500's tow rating to be 9500 lbs. Keep in mind, in order to be able to tow 9500 lbs, you would need to not have any passengers, gear, or any extras in the vehicle. manufactures figure their tow rating based on the GCVWR, which is the maximum truck and trailer weight combined. Well, then they subtract the new curb weight of the truck, and then whats left over gives them the 9500lb rating. Problem is if they are basing their numbers off a new truck that scales in a say 6500 lbs curb weight, what happens if you got 4 people in the vehicle, luggage, accessories, etc. Technically, your truck now weighs 7500 lbs or so, so realistically, your tow rating dropped to 8500 lbs now.
Its the same in the big truck world. Lets say you are plated to haul 80,000 lbs. You semi tractor weighs 20,000 lbs on the scale. Your empty flatbed trailer lets say weighs 15000 lbs. So combined you are 35,000 lbs empty. 80,000-35,000 lbs means you can haul 45,000 lbs of cargo. Of course their are more variables as in lbs per axle, etc, but you get the idea. Ever wonder why you see semi's out there hauling aluminum framed flatbeds, aluminum wheels, fuel tanks, air tanks, etc. Its all about lightening the truck weight in order to haul more cargo.
If the police and Dot started weighing everyone, like guys like us towing boats, they can really generate some revenue from overweight fines like they do in commercial hauling.
Aside from all that tech stuff, the new Rams are awesome trucks!
01-17-2011, 08:45 AM
#15
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I am of the mind set the biggest truck you can buy, I like to be able to STOP, and that is where larger trucks help. The other reason is if you have more truck then boat, if or when you want to move up you only have to buy a boat not both.
01-17-2011, 09:06 AM
#16
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Location: Alpharetta Ga/Oshkosh Wi
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Holy chit guys thanks for the advise and replys.
1) Towing from Oshkosh to Atlanta, then some other poker runs around the south east.
2) Towed my old boat with a suv and 96 1/2 4wd dodge with 360, did ok but the brakes would fade so 1/2 tons are out. ONLY 3/4 ton.
3) I am thinking my budget is 20k to 30k.
4) Has to be 4wd, I go snowmobiling in the winter back in Wisconsin.
5) NO Dually, wife hates it.
6) Will be my new daily driver, no big deal I live 4 to 5 miles from work.
7) I am leaning toward a Gas burning GMC/CHEVY.
1) Towing from Oshkosh to Atlanta, then some other poker runs around the south east.
2) Towed my old boat with a suv and 96 1/2 4wd dodge with 360, did ok but the brakes would fade so 1/2 tons are out. ONLY 3/4 ton.
3) I am thinking my budget is 20k to 30k.
4) Has to be 4wd, I go snowmobiling in the winter back in Wisconsin.
5) NO Dually, wife hates it.
6) Will be my new daily driver, no big deal I live 4 to 5 miles from work.
7) I am leaning toward a Gas burning GMC/CHEVY.
01-17-2011, 05:42 PM
#17
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Royal Oak, MI
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Holy chit guys thanks for the advise and replys.
1) Towing from Oshkosh to Atlanta, then some other poker runs around the south east.
2) Towed my old boat with a suv and 96 1/2 4wd dodge with 360, did ok but the brakes would fade so 1/2 tons are out. ONLY 3/4 ton.
3) I am thinking my budget is 20k to 30k.
4) Has to be 4wd, I go snowmobiling in the winter back in Wisconsin.
5) NO Dually, wife hates it.
6) Will be my new daily driver, no big deal I live 4 to 5 miles from work.
7) I am leaning toward a Gas burning GMC/CHEVY.
1) Towing from Oshkosh to Atlanta, then some other poker runs around the south east.
2) Towed my old boat with a suv and 96 1/2 4wd dodge with 360, did ok but the brakes would fade so 1/2 tons are out. ONLY 3/4 ton.
3) I am thinking my budget is 20k to 30k.
4) Has to be 4wd, I go snowmobiling in the winter back in Wisconsin.
5) NO Dually, wife hates it.
6) Will be my new daily driver, no big deal I live 4 to 5 miles from work.
7) I am leaning toward a Gas burning GMC/CHEVY.
Any plans for a lift or big tires? If not then the gasser is not as bad either.
01-17-2011, 08:43 PM
#20
Banned
6) Will be my new daily driver, no big deal I live 4 to 5 miles from work.
7) I am leaning toward a Gas burning GMC/CHEVY.
I would have said get a diesel but from my personal experience, diesels don't like being driven 4-5 miles and shut off every day. Gasoline motors are fine with that(I have a 300 Hemi now).
My son gets 20mpg hwy with his 1/2 ton Dodge Hemi. It has a cylinder drop feature on cruise control. Hemis are rare in 3/4 ton Dodge trucks but you might be able to find one with some online searching.
7) I am leaning toward a Gas burning GMC/CHEVY.
I would have said get a diesel but from my personal experience, diesels don't like being driven 4-5 miles and shut off every day. Gasoline motors are fine with that(I have a 300 Hemi now).
My son gets 20mpg hwy with his 1/2 ton Dodge Hemi. It has a cylinder drop feature on cruise control. Hemis are rare in 3/4 ton Dodge trucks but you might be able to find one with some online searching.
