Tow Vehicle Shopping

[rdlangston13]

After an awesome concert by Alan Jackson at the Houston Rodeo I was headed to a bar with my g/f to meet some friends for a good time. Well before we could make it we got pancaked in a 5 car pile up that totaled my truck. Now it is time to go tow rig shopping. I have about a 15k budget and am looking for a domestic half ton crew cab truck with a strong motor.

Current prospect is a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Lonestar Crew Cab 2wd with the Hemi 55k miles.

[KG's Supra24]

Sorry to hear about the wreck but sounds like everyone is ok? Hope so.

I just got done tow rig shopping, fun stuff!

[moombadaze]

Glad to hear all are ok


I have a 06 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 quad cab with about 55k miles.

Its been to a dealer one time for warranty repairs.

Pulls the LSV with no problems-but its mostly flat in Florida. The hills in Georgia are not much of a problem either-and thats with the bed full of camping gear and coolers. (its no deisel but I dont need a deisel price either)

It'll pull the boat up to 80mph no problem other than sucking gas like no tomorrow at that speed. 60mph is about 10mph

Used as a daily driver-comfy for my family.

Been a Chevy guy my whole life but this Dodge has been great and when the time comes Dodge will be on my short list.

good luck with the hunt

[rdlangston13]

Thanks moombadaze! that is just what i wanted to hear! Maybe with this one being a 2wd it will not suck gas as much?? my dads navigator gets about 10 pulling the boat at 65mph

[sandm]

good motors and not a bad looking rig. not great reviews on dodge trannys, but seems that all the big3 have issues that they are prone to.

post pics once you get it :)

[Razzman]

I use an '07 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 4x4 with the 5.3L to tow my LSV. Does great all around, does labor a bit on real big long hills but that to be expected with a small block. I've gotten as much as 15mpg towing in the flats/small hills at 60-65.

[rdlangston13]

the only bad thing about the dodge i am looking at is that it does not have a tow hitch on it. so i will have to install that along with a 7 pin harness

[E4NASH]

good motors and not a bad looking rig. not great reviews on dodge trannys, but seems that all the big3 have issues that they are prone to.

post pics once you get it :)

I got rid of my '07 Dodge Quad Cab last year because the Tranny was starting to slip at 60k miles. I traded it in on a 2010 Tundra CrewMax....LOVE IT! There is no comparison between the Dodge and the Toyota...

[wolfeman131]

I don't think a decent 2010 Tundra CrewMax can be found for $15k. If you know of one, let me know too.

[cbboarder]

I've been logging some internet time as well looking for a new tow vehicle. I currently have a 2007 Tundra Double cab 4x2 with over 110,000 miles and the truck is a beast. The only reason I'm thinking of getting rid of it is because I desire a full crew cab and 4 x 4. Currently I'm stuck between the Ford Raptor and the Tundra Rock Warrior addition. Leaning toward the Tundra because of price and warranty. Unfortunately, the Tsunami is delaying inventory.

I'd buy the Raptor but dealers want full MSRP and I hate paying retail.

[rdlangston13]

i will never own a toyota or nissan. my girlfriends parents have a 2003 ram 1500 with the 4.7 that has a little over 100k and it drive great. all that just depends, you can have two identical trucks and one will break and one wont. just random

[saskyrider]

2004 Dodge Ram 1500 -- put 150K on it in 5 years... great truck and other than regular maintenance i never had a lick of trouble with it.

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 -- bought it with 40K and drove it until 120K once again an excellent truck. I did have to replace the power steering pump, but i put oversize rims and tires on it... so i'll take the blame.

2010 Doge Ram 1500 -- Absolutely love my truck!! it pulled my 05 LSV home on an 8 hour jaunt when i bought it. Averaged 13MPG with a slight (very slight) headwind! I have 2 complaints tho!! the floor heater vent in the front does not extend out towards the driver or passengers feet enough, and with the coil spring suspension if you load it down in the back it will bottom out if you hit a real bad bump (lots of them on our saskatchewan hwys!!) I put an airbag system in mine and problem solved.

As for pulling i have a tranny temp gauge and as long as you use the tow haul it barely gets warm!!

Good luck with your truck hunt!! you should be able to find lots of good vehicles with that budget!!

[wolfeman131]

Currently I'm stuck between the Ford Raptor and the Tundra Rock Warrior addition.

Have you driven the Raptor yet? A friend of mine has one and neither of us like it as an everyday driver and I don't think you'd want to tow with it. It's really set up (and BTW drives GREAT) for off-road conditions. But, that's just two opinions and you may love that truck for what you want to do with it.

[rdlangston13]

the raptor looks super sexy and is a beast offroad however on road comfort sucks and they suspension sucks at towing

[cbboarder]

Yeah, the ride does suck but you have to admit it is cool looking. Honestly, I can't justify paying $15k more for the Raptor over the Tundra just because it looks "cool". The Rock Warrior in Black is a nice looking truck.

[wolfeman131]

Yeah, the ride does suck but you have to admit it is cool looking. Honestly, I can't justify paying $15k more for the Raptor over the Tundra just because it looks "cool". The Rock Warrior in Black is a nice looking truck.

Oh yeah, it's bada$$ and you get a lot of people gawking at it when you come out of a store, restaurant or especially a country bar. cb will understand that last one best since he lives close to me in GA. :p

[rdlangston13]

i have a buddy who lives in lafayette who has one that is pretty sick. the only draw back is that he has the 5.4 and not the 6.2

[maxpower220]

For the price of a Raptor, you could get a F250 diesel and a lift kit.

[rdlangston13]

yeah but the raptor would still take high speeds offroading better. im not a fan of lifting trucks. if i wanna go offroading ill get a 4 wheeler

[E4NASH]

I don't think a decent 2010 Tundra CrewMax can be found for $15k. If you know of one, let me know too.

You might be able to find a 2007 Double Cab...same as a 2010

[bzubke1]

Have you checked out the 04+ f150's I know you can get those under 15k and should be able to get 4x4 too with reasonably low miles.

[rdlangston13]

Have you checked out the 04+ f150's I know you can get those under 15k and should be able to get 4x4 too with reasonably low miles.

I have and that is really what i prefer but if you want a 4x4 f150 crew cab with the 5.4l for 15k the mileage will be in the 130k range. the fords it seems hold their resale value better than the rest which is great if you buy new, sucks ass if you buy used

[maxpower220]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4bJsIogkGk


No doubt this is your next tow rig. I know Trarch is over, but you may still be able to find those deals.

[rdlangston13]

So the sales guy at the dealer just emailed me. He said he would come down from 15,991 to 15,068 and that they would hold it for me till I come home with a $500 deposit.

I told him to throw in a MOPAR trailer hitch and wire up a 7 pin trailer harness and he has a deal.

[rdlangston13]

he wouldn't give me a hitch! i had to buy it.

So I am pretty sure I am going with the Dodge. They ordered a class V hitch good for 10,000 lbs to install, i put a deposit down and will be heading to the dealership wednesday. new truck new truck

[KG's Supra24]

Isn't the class V the one that is 2.5" x 2.5"? I have that same one and had to buy an adapter, ugh.

[rdlangston13]

im not sure, what is the standard size? 2"x2"?

[KG's Supra24]

Mine is class v and it is 2.5, not sure if that means all class v are 2.5.

Yea standard is 2x2. The adapter to get from 2.5 to 2.0 wasn't but 20 bucks, though. Still something i can complain about, ha! First time i stuck my hitch in there i couldn't figure out what was going on, just knew something had to be wrong.

If you have a lock or something like that on it, it may not fit the 2.5 but thats about the only issue i can think of. Really isn't that big of a deal.

http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessories/Draw-Tite/58102.html

[rdlangston13]

yeah i did some research after you posted that. not all are and i emailed the sales guy and he has not responded yet. i hope mine is not but if it is i can get a 2 1/2" ball mount and just put a 2" ball in it. i dont think an adapter would look pretty. how does your adapter work?

wait, i just went to the link, it just fits in there like a sleeve?

[rdlangston13]

got the new tow rig. here is a shot of it

https://forum.moomba.com/picture.php?albumid=380&pictureid=3601

[KG's Supra24]

Sorry, just saw your previous question. Yes it is just a sleeve. The 2.5 x 2.5 is the hitch mount size, not the ball size. You don't even know it has an adapter.

You figure out which yours has yet?

[rdlangston13]

Sorry, just saw your previous question. Yes it is just a sleeve. The 2.5 x 2.5 is the hitch mount size, not the ball size. You don't even know it has an adapter.

You figure out which yours has yet?

yeah, it is 2.5" in this truck. i just bought a 2 1/2" ball mount, it was 10 bucks more than the sleeve and i dont have to drive across town to get it

[KG's Supra24]

That will work! I already had a couple 2x2 hitches so i just got the sleeve.

Truck looks good! Bet you are ready to start pulling with it.

[rdlangston13]

Just ordered a new accessory for the new tow vehicle.

Firestone air bag helper springs! Now I can maintain ride height in the truck with the bed full of camping gear and the boat on the back and the boat will ride level now! Victory.

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/2286D.html

[kaneboats]

I put the cheesy pink ones inside the springs on the 2001 Suburban. What a difference. I'm a believer. Best $85 I've ever spent.

[dusty2221]

Just ordered a new accessory for the new tow vehicle.

Firestone air bag helper springs! Now I can maintain ride height in the truck with the bed full of camping gear and the boat on the back and the boat will ride level now! Victory.

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/2286D.html

I've got those on my truck, worth every penny!

[rdlangston13]

i heard alot of good things about how they enhance performance when the truck is unloaded by acting as a sway bar