towing with a topkick
 

ok my truck and race trailer are wasted. I have been thinking about my options and a cheap topkick with 40' trailer happened to turn up. It would be cheaper to buy this guys old race rig than to buy a newish dually and a trailer.

The topkick is an 89 with a sleaper 6 speed and a 8.2 detroit. I keep hearing this engine and tranny is good for like literally a million miles. Does anyone have experience driving one of these monsters? How ar ethey towing? hwo is teh ride on teh highway? (worse than an early 90s dually?) How about maintaining them? Crazy expensive? How abotu manuvering them? Way worse than a dually? Apparently it cna be regged as a motorhome so no CDL is required BUT i've never driven a truck that large before so i'm kinda concerned abtou manuvering it.

Yeah its totally 100% overkill but the price is right and it would be a cool ass toy!!!!!!

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I bought a '91 TopKick project last winter to pull my 44' enclosed trailer and 38' boat. Then a guy came along and bought my dually,trailer and one of the race cars so now I have to find another big trailer. Anyway. It's a gas burner even though I had a PowerStroke and miss my diesel... It was "under CDL" and I tagged it as a Motorhome. It pulls my 38' Tempest with literally No Effort. One nice plus I noticed is that it turns sharper than my crew cab dually or sure seems to. To pull my boat into my shop(total length 71')on a two lane street I drive past my door and turn in like a fifth wheel. What's really nice is you always have your camper and boat instead of taking them seperate. I found a back up camera on RacingJunk.com for a hundred bucks and can back up with less help and check on the boat going down the road. It's on here somewhere,under let's see those tow rigs I believe. Good Luck!!!

Re: towing with a topkick
 

We just picked up a Kodiak for the same reason. It is rated for 26000 and the rear suspension is shall we say-FIRM! If you can load enough on the rear springs it will be more comfortable but it is harsh when bobtail. Adding a motorhome box would help. It is very easy to maneuver and the turn radius is shorter than a dually. You may need to get an airbrake endorsement on your driver's license depending on your state. Some of the maintenance is more expensive than a light truck-(22 quarts of oil :eek: )but the engine and drivetrain should be good for 400-500k miles.


Oh, and it is a very cool toy-air brakes and air horn are the shiznit :D :D

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I've got a Topkick Cat diesel/Allison. 26k GVW non CDL.
It rides HARD unloaded. Definitely needs the air suspension seat (which it has). My Cat is a 200hp and slows on hills a good bit (okay, a lot)..

Properly maintained, I would expect over 800k miles. Mine has 675k and neither the motor, tranny, or other major parts are worrisome. It has of course had starters and alternators, front end bushings, shocks, and driveshaft replaced but even most of those lasted well over 400k.

Mine is long (23' flat bed) and has a wide (as in real wide) turning circle.

Very heavy duty frame and parts here. Great medium duty truck. Parts available anywhere.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I used to own some topkicks with the 8.2 turbo and non turbo diesel engines. Not enough torque and lots of bad reviews and repairs, thats why GM cancelled that motor. I think you would be better off buying a new GM Duramax diesel dually. With some simple chip and exhaust work you'll be at 400HP, tons of torque, a lot more comfortable driver and easier to park, won't have to stop at scales, etc. Make sure you get at least 12,000 gvw and load it up with HD options. With the money you'll save in repairs and fuel, you can probably make the payment each month with GM's clearance financing on new 2004's and still have a better allison trans and a new warranty. Just my thoughts,
Ray @Raylar

Re: towing with a topkick
 

THe gmc tops are a decent truck, the detroit is reliable if you do the standards expect 5-8mpgs though, comparing it to a dump truck for those figures. Motors will alst a long time 700-1mill miles if taken care of just like any of the big diesels will. the ride is stiff if springed or hendrickson suspension Turn radius depending on axle offsetting from factory the same or worse as a dually. As for towing, going up hills will kill it, but you can crank them turbos up run a larger exhaust pipe and fold the ears and let the pig eat then. Also take the specs to say a peterbuilt shop and have them run it thru the computer to see what type of top speed it will have, might have to bribe the guys though. Motor trans and rearend gearing will all equal out this along with tire size bigs littles. The maintenance is a little more,b tu you can truthfully run 8k-10k and some oils can run longer.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

this one is a non turbo 8.2

5-8mpg is pretty ugly.

this thin gis pretty chepa though. 13k for the truck and trailer.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I am in a similiar situation as you. I want a Renegade with a bathroom because my wife takes a leak every 5 blocks and that would be perfect for us. But the dually you could use as a everyday vehicle. The old diesel with turbo is a dog, so without turbo it is even worse. Simpify life and get the duramax dually instead. Just my $.02

Mark

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I was looking for a new Ford dually diesel to replace my 98 Dodge diesel and found a 96 Topkick with a Cat diesel and 5 speed, four door cab and painted the same color of red as my Jag's dually dually trailer. It is slow and the ride is rough but the size of the truck gives a feeling a security. This truck will stop the boat without any trailer brakes if they would happen to fail. I now have a truck project, how to modify the beast to ride better and juice the cat motor to pull harder. I don't have to worry about towing capacity as I would have had I purchased a new Ford and the cost was less than half of what a new truck would have cost. Hope I made the right choice. Doug

Re: towing with a topkick
 

ha i don't exactly have teh $ for new duramax dually. Beside i cant; justify the cost of a brand new dually since i'd only be using it to tow a race trailer.

renegades are nice but very pricey. This is an a cheapo old school version of a renegade!

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I have been looking too.

I have a couple buddies who have a lot of experience with vehicles. They purchase used vehicles at auctions and have them hauled to supply the smaller used car dealers. Their take is a dually is more functional for everyday use. If you tow the trailer (boat) somewhere you still have a reasonable vehicle to move around town.

An aquaintance had an 89 F-700 diesel, set up for just hauling trailers like mobile homes, with a dual sleeper for $12,000 with only 126m miles. I calculated that by time I reconditioned the paint, interior, some slight suspension and a couple seals in the engine, I could get a 2-3 year old 3500 turbo diesel and not have a limited resale special use truck.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

One last comment, I do like how the big rigs look!

Re: towing with a topkick
 

The 8.2 was a pig. Especially the non turbo version. They do some weird things like swap antifreeze into the fuel tank and vice versa. The last truck I bought had the 8.2 Turbo. It puked at 68k. GM would only pay half of the NINE THOUSAND dollar repair bill.

They are totally worn out at 200k.

Believe me, I have owned several of them back when I was a Snap On tool dealer.

Kurt

Re: towing with a topkick
 

The ride sucks, the 8.2's suck and the market for them is tiny. As soon as you get over the "this is a REAL truck fantasy" you'll hate it.

PS Women will NOT ride in them a SECOND TIME because of the beating you take on many road surfaces.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

Big truck looks cool!!!

But, like wickedone said, horrible ride, can't use everyday, bad motor, and terrible resale. The true cost of buying a new Chevy, Ford, or Dodge with the warrantees after bought and sold will come out less money and fewer headaches from repairs.

I am not telling you to buy a Renegade but I just like the functionality of the RV part and the towing strength of the Freightliner power. Remember guys have a way of justify spending $100,000 to save on a $100 a night hotel.

Mark Smith

Re: towing with a topkick
 

How about one of these "Bad Boy's" !!!! Cat Powered.....

http://www.f650pickups.com/indexb.html

Re: towing with a topkick
 

or, if you want it in 4X4.....

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I tow about 25k a yr with my rock crawl racing (more counting the boat) and I've looked hard at this.

There is just no way to justify it financially or practically unless you exceed the capacity of today's one ton's (what I use now), which is about 14-16k of trailer.

Even the air bag ones ride pretty rough- still sprung in front. The mileage is at least a few digits worse. the truck is 4-6k heavier so it's a pig compared to a warmed up one ton diesel. no 4x4 available (or at least real rare and many of us need that). Most top out somewhere near 70, can be a consideration if traffic moves at 80+ at 7 over the posted 75mph etc.

Despite all this, I was considering it because if you buy it right (and used), you may be able to take less depreciation hit 50k miles later. My main driver was to get something with a small 10-12' box that i could have a few bunks in, captains chairs and the crew/family could go in comfort, sleep on the 20+ hr runs.

Now if you just want another pimp toy and you've got a place to keep it, don't mind a dedicated single purpose vehicle that needs maintenance etc. that's another thing. Plenty of older diesel dually's around at great prices too.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

We wanna see pics PUDER and details if you are gonna pass on it.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

well after reading biggus' comment oneth engien being a pig and dead at over 200k miles (this one has 350k) i think this one will be a pass.

Here is the ebay auction (the seller is local here in NY)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Re: towing with a topkick
 

Gee. My gas burner Top Kick is sounding better all the time, and to think I was disappointed to get stuck with a gas burner/Allison instead of a diesel... So if it gets 8 MPG towing(haven't checked it yet),I can sleep in it,no litigation worries for being overloaded and killing somebody,I can put the Harley,four wheelers and dirt bikes on the back and I only have 13 in it (that's New Wheels, tires,bumper,rooftop a/c and a used 5000 Onan Generator)and can do the maintenence myself and I have a fresh 454 laying on the floor already... sell the dually and get an econo cruiser and still can take the TK to Home Depot if I need more room inside or a 7 x 8 flatbed... Not to mention snowy days. But then again if a late model PowerSroke shows p in the insurance pool..........

Re: towing with a topkick
 

That is true. I stepped up to a 330 Pete from a Ford F-450 for this exact reason. Our boat and trailer package weighs in around 21,000 pounds, so the decision to step up to a medium duty truck was a no brainer. Also, when you look at the big picture, you can get into a nice medium duty truck for not much more than the cost of a new dually pickup. The big trucks may not be perfect in all aspects, but they do tow very well.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

as for the PowerStroke comment, I would put a late P/S in a Top Kick in a minute,not go back to a dually. Ofcourse you don't look as intelligent driving a Cheby as you do a Ford but...... I already have the truck.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

How is launching the boat? Is it a 4x4 type of set-up. Looks awesome!!!!!!!!

5th wheel or goose neck?

Mark Smith

Re: towing with a topkick
 

Will, that rig is cats ass! :D

Re: towing with a topkick
 

8.2's are REAL NOISEY , PIGS , and are not dependable ........
Don't buy anything with a "3208" cat either . You will find both of these ,cheap !
You can find something nice with a good engine & late model for a good price if you look . Don't jump in too quick ! There are millions of trucks availible !
Go to
http://www.trucktraderonline.com/adsearch.html
and do a search .
also try
http://www.truckpaper.com/

try to find an electronic motor if you can . 3116 ,3126 ,c10 cat , L10, 5.9 or 8.3 cummins, etc. I would look for close to 300 hp .You will need it ! With the right set up ,you will get around 10 mpg . YOu have to have the right trans , and rear gear ratio too . I just did a newer freight liner sport chassis for a customer . It rides like a cadilac !! 300 hp cat with a 6 speed allison auto . Look at the small freight liners , internationals, too . Lots of good deals out there . Lots of straight trucks with air ride on them . Sell the body and put it ($$) towards something else !

PS. I think that top kick belonged to a friend of mine a few years ago ....

Re: towing with a topkick
 

ha th top kick idea kind of passed. Too damn big!!!!!

Re: towing with a topkick
 

There is a used kenworth w600 with a renegade sleeper for sale in the national dragster thats got a decent price tag on it.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

Selling these 'cause I'm building a pickup...

Re: towing with a topkick
 

Out of this...

Re: towing with a topkick
 

To all;

You can rely on Boot's advice. He forgot more about trucks than most of us will ever know.

Re: towing with a topkick
 

Forget The 8.2 N/a Engine,it Is A Pos.it Has No Balls And They Smoke Like A Chimney At Idle.your Grandma Could Drive A Truck With That Engine And It Might Go 200,000 Miles I Have Seen Them Lose A Hole At 80,000 Miles,junk

Re: towing with a topkick
 

I got to reading this post and thought it looked familiar. I read it 2 years ago :eek:

Re: towing with a topkick
 

Tempest 38, you have some cool toys for a cosmetologist :evilb:
You in town this weekend?