Shopping for another truck or SUV. Plan on buying a Cafe or Top Gun in the future. Need to know the vehicle required to pull one of those monsters.

I have a 97 250 4x4 Extended CabTurbo diesel now. It pull the 96 29 Scarab with ease. There is a issue with budget. Looking at new and used 3/4 tons and single wheel 1tons. With kids the vehicles will have 4 doors.Don't really want a dually with the wife driving the vehicle every once in a while. Will be trading our 2003 Tahoe in on what ever we purchase. The wife would like an Excursion if it will pull either one. We may take a few road trips now and then, so we need to factor that in. I will be buying a vehicle with a diesel in it. Be also looking at 4 wheel drives for those nasty ramps.

The vehicle comes first so I can work on paying it off before buying the boat. With the 97 250 getting older I will be selling it out right and paying cash for a daily driver that gets good gas mileage. Only want one payment and one gas hog. I will be trailering it to the water about 10 miles away when using it.

Any help from you guys on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Shawn

I am currently looking right now.... any other ideas or avenues for this purchase are appreciated

I asked a similar question in the trucks forum, it might be of some help. Also, there's a ton of great information in that forum that'll probably help you.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=104332

i tihnk ud be ok with a 2500 yukon or an excursion diesel(u might wanna do some upgrades to shocks etc,), or definately if ya want to be safe go with a ford 3500 four door diesel. we tow our 42 revolution with triples (about 14,000 pounds) around with a 2wd ford 3500 non-dually, (not a gooseneck either). so id think a 10,000 pound cig would be like nothin behind a 4wd 3500 diesel. id highly reccomend gettin a gooseneck trailer or modify your existing one becuase it makes it a lot easier, if you are towing wiht a truck.

i just towed my 35' cig from Oklahoma to Los Angeles with a 04 Ford Superduty 3/4 ton that had a 6" lift and 35" tires and it towed great we were going 75 most of the way, last week i pulled it with a 04 Chevy 3/4 ton and it pulled almost as good and this weekend i used a 04 Chevy Avalanche with the 8.0 engine and it had problems on steep hills and at ramps. I ended up ordering a 05 F350 which will be the first time i ever bought Ford.

I have a 2500 Suburban towing an 8,000 lbs Formula. With trailer/ fuel etc. I'm at 10K. If you go gas...get the 8.1. I've got the 6.0 and it's ok, but wouldn't do it again.
Your on the right track thinking diesel, even your 97 should be fine, anything newer is just fluff. (especially for the 10 miles to the ramp)

Your only SUV choices are:
Excursion with Diesel
Excursion with V10
Yukon XL 2500 with 8.1L V8
Suburban 2500 with 8.1L V8
Avalanche 2500 with 8.1L V8

I pull 12K with a 2500 Avalanche 8.1L 4.10 gears and I think it does a great job. I am willing to bet the Avalanche 2500 mentioned above only had 3.73 rear end gears which would make it tough on hills. I have towed the same load with a couple diesels and I can't justify the cost of the truck for whatever towing advantage I get with a diesel.

I've pulled my Cafe with a 1/2 ton Suburban, and now my '02 PSD duallie. Obviously the Suburban was way overmatched. Based on conversations, I'd say the Excursion "will do it", but a duallie will "do it with ease".

Great info! Keep it coming!

I'm making some calls today....

More info and pics:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=104459

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=104457

Thanks Brian!