alright i've reached a point where i finally come to grips with the fact that i need to get a cheap tow vehicle so i can stop passing on some decent deals that aren't right in my area where "friends" can grab them for me. over the last week or so i've been scouring the local classifieds and even went and looked at a coupla trucks. i'm not looking for anything fancy really don't even care what it looks like as long as it serves it's purpose. trying to stay on the cheap since i actually plan to set up an old truck to do this within the next 6 months or less. i'd be REAL happy if i could walk away with something that gets at least 15-20mpg as i'll be doing away with the daily beater saturn wagon that gets 30+ as part of this whole thing(sell to buy a trailer probably). trying to find something in the $1000-1500 range and if i run across something cheaper that'd be nice to. anyhow the local classifieds came out yesterday and heres a little run down of what i saw as viable options.......... 1977 CHevy 1/2 ton 130k. new trans, good tires, runs good, a/c. $1000 i went and looked at this one a coupla days ago. ran good looked like most 70 chevys in that it had some rust........ 1985 Dodge Ram, 318, at, aluminum tool box, rebuilt engine, runs good, good condition. $800FIRM....... this ones about 20 miles away and i haven't been to see it yet..... 1986 Suburban 2wd 3/4ton w 350/400 combo. class3 hitch with brake control. Runs Good. Good work truck. $1300obo...gonna try and look at this one tonight as it's on my way to work. i had not considered it because i figured the burb wouldn't get the mileage i'm trying for but a buddy told me that era burb actually will probably get just as good or better than the trucks i'm looking at.... 1968 international. $800obo. thats all the info in the ad and i haven't been able to get anyone on the phone to find out more... so those are the highlights. haven't even hit the ford section. i figure if i can find a chevy that fits the bill i could at least pull the motor trans for the older truck project later if i wanted to. and i know the 70s-80s chevy bolt in crossmember can be useful to. the burb looks like the best yet if it will get the mileage or close that i'd like to get as it's pretty much set to tow now. so after all that longwindedness lets here some opinions on the list so far...ken....
Go with the Suburban not only is it a good tow vehicle but it will keep all those treasures in one place as you are driving home from the swap meet.
For cheap, any 70's - 80's Ford, Chevy or Dodge pickup can be had in the price range. If you want a wagon type vehicle, look at the Burb, and also a Jeep Wagoneer, you can find them in that price range. Forget mileage, it probably won't be all that hot. The best you might do is to find an old F100/150 with a 300 in it and a 4 speed, that may net you in the upper teens. An old Dodge with the slant 6 may do it as well.
Check your local school bus company. They often sell used "van" buses cheap because they no longer pass the bus inspections which are very strict. We tow a stock car trailer with a diesel powered Ford Econoline bus and it works out great. Everybody can go with us, and there is plenty of room for parts and tools.
The Van point is a good one -- vans can usually be had pretty cheap, hold lotsa stuff, and come with rear-drive v8s. That said, I love my 'burban. Picked up a 98 for a song a few years back when everyone first got scared about gas prices. 350, 4WD 3.73s, tow package, hitch , tranny cooler, etc., etc. Was a soccer mom vehicle. It's a beautiful tow rig. Great for camping, etc. too. Pete
How about a 91-96 B-body wagon? I know the Buick wagons (mabee all wagons?) have 1/2 ton truck running gear(5x5 bolt pattern etc.) lots have tow packages and 350 motors. 91-93 are cheaper because they have tbi motors instead of the LT1. I have a 94 Roadmaster with the LT1 and get 14-15 mpg around town and 20-24 hwy. And its soooo comfyyyyy
The suburban is a good choice for towing but not as versital for hauling. hard to cherry pic an engine into a sub vs a truck bed.. botton line is you need a 1/2 ton minimum that has a strong motor, preferable a tow package (heavy duty radiator, tranny cooler and oil cooler) and AC (because it is f'in hot in the south). you can always add helper springs to increase the 1/2 rating (rear sag) when towing.
i just retired a 89 chevy 1500 with 4.3 5 speed. got 24mpg empt and around 15 loaded. didnt like hills to much when it was loaded but i hualed some preety heavy shit with it. and had allmost 300k miles. now i have a 88 chevy 1500 4x4 with a 305. big diffrence with a load but mpg has went down to around 16-18 empty and around 12 or so loaded. both trucks have lots of rust but the bed still held plenty. you cant beat chevy for mpg either o yea i payed 700 for the 89 and 900 for the 88. a 4x4 any thing around here usaly brings over a grand but i got lucky.
Bypass the Binder......You'll start having problems finding parts when you need them. I gotta side with the masses......go with the 'Burb, followed by the Dodge pickup. (and I'm a Mopar guy.) A bit more parts interchangability in the Chev, and it's got a ready-made enclosure. The pickup is nice for externally loaded items, but the security isn't there. Roger
I have an 85 full size bronco 300 ci 6 with 4 speed 4th is overdrive. I have pulled car trailers in hillie area's ,its slow but it does the job. On the open road I get 21 mpg out of it and around town it gets 14-17mpg. I put 20,000 mi on it in 1 year and spent $300.00 in maintenance on it. This included a master cyl., rear brakes ,and a headlight.It now has 143,000 mi on it and should go to 200,000. I never buy new vehicles, or make payments. When I have my 200,00 I hope to sell it for what I paid for it $1000.00. As I have said before, the older I get the less I care about peer pressure.
Im in the same boat I have a hardwood floor buisness and the rivi aint exactly workin for me anymore. I was looking for an old truck or something but came to the realazation I need something newer and a little less likley to leave me stuck. Suburbans have seem to gotten real cheap. I've seen fully loaded ones for around $3500 at the highest but you can find alot dirt cheap like you did. I guess all the soccer moms are turning them in. On the ones after 85 I think have the earley fuel injection that are dead nuts reliable.
Both the suburban and pickup options are good choices. I would also consider a 3/4 ton or 1 ton conversion van. Has the same benefits as a suburban but usually better value for the money. As they are more of a "family" vehicle, they tend to be maintained a little better and haven't been abused as much. Also, if you have an extended trip to gather one of your treasures the van is much more comfortable to take a nap in. Kael
The suburban definatly. Its a 3/4 which is better for towing, and its a 2wd so you can slamm it. I would definatly not waste my time with a international.
I would recommend a 3/4 ton 2WD (unless you are scrounging parts in a bog somewhere). Better mileage and it is safer to pull a trailer with (heavier and better brakes than a 1/2 ton). If you want a Chevy get a Heavy 3/4 if you can (8 lug wheels) because it will have the same running gear (almost) and frame as a 1 ton. I don't recommend a 1 ton only because here the plate for that is almost 3 times as much for a 1 ton plate (considered semi commercial). If you plan to tow, anything, you should read http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195290 It has lots of good advice, and what can (and does) go wrong. Lowering the vehicle would be good for highway mileage (Circle Track mag did an article on 'the ultimate tow rig' in the early to mid 90's and that was one of the mods). For mileage do all the regular stuff, tune up, inflate the tires to max PSI (listed on the sidewall of whatever you have) and keep your foot out of it as much as you can stand. Suburban / Van or Pickup, it is going to have to be your choice. If you plan on a trailer anyway you could probably do well with the Sub. But they do usually get slightly poorer fuel economy (in town) because they are heavier (somewhat). If however you plan on lots of big or heavy parts immediately then the pickup is probably better. One thing to think about with the Suburban though is you have to tie the stuff down so it doesn't come and get you in a panic stop (or worse yet an accident). Just imagine what an engine would do to you with an 8 ft and 60MPH head start.
The burb is tough as nails, easy to fix, cheap on parts, and tows a shitload, and when the old lady kicks you out you can sleep in the back!
I LOVE my suburban, trucks are great for the above mentioned posts, (although I've put a SBC in the burb with a cherry picker). But Burb's can keep stuff secure, and dry, in any weather. Not to mention the people moving aspect, tons of room. I ended up buying a utility trailer to use as my "bed" if I need to haul something really dirty.
i have a 90' e-350 ford. the 460 is gas pig but keeps all yours tool and parts dry and is comfortable to drive. after pulling a trailer with a 70' chevy 1/2 ton the extra gas is well worth it. no more bullshit cheap buddy tows anymore.
If I may, I was in the same situation. I went thru pretty much every truck listed and finally bought a 3/4 ton 2 wd 87 Burb. The best thing I ever did. Look in the ads, craigslist, ebay, local papers...the deals are out there. Mine is a sbc Burb, had an Emco powerstop already in, 2 aux fans, trans cooler, newer tires, and looks nice (red and black). Awesome interior (I ripped out the rug from the rear seat back, you most likely will as well. Helps with loading more than 2 engines in one haul. I scored the truck w/ a ton of new parts in it (rad, blah blah) and everything working...radio to a/c for $700. Ad went up on craigslist weekday morning, I was there before noon with the money. Next, another craigslist find...I got a 1999 Carson tandem axle trailer, single axle elect brake, new tires...its a 20 ft for $1k. Lastly, harbor freight for the 8k lb winch. Could not be happier. Nothing saves your ass in the cold/heat like a nice winch. A few weeks ago I was loading a non running coupe when we were cleaning out/leaving our shop. Everyong was pushing thier projects onto their respective trailers, my friends and I just watched as I pushed a button and it loaded itself. It was like 1 am and we were so tired, that paid for it right there. $400 w/ 3 yr warranty. One tip tho, what I did (as I dont want my winch to get stolen, I cant keep my rig @ my house) is had a friend weld a class 4 reciever off a wrecked Super Duty Ford to the trailer, and mounted the winch on a 4x4 plate (ebay) for a class 3/4. This way, with one pin, the winch comes on and off the trailer, AND can be mounted in the trucks reciever if there is no space to get the trailer in to winch something out. Good luck in the search! My whole setup was the best money Ive ever spent. Ever.
Get the Burb. Being a Chevy it's obviously easy and affordable to maintain and buy parts for. It's a 3/4-ton so it has the ability to tow more. It's also longer and heavier than the others so it'll handle the road better with a trailer and a car behind it. The brakes will be larger than the others because it's a 3/4-ton, so it'll be able to handle the extra momentu behind it.Your mileage with the Burb might be better than the others due to the fact that it SHOULD have better gearing. But, as with any heavy gas-powered vehicle, your mileage won't be that great. I personally have a '97 Dodge Ram Dually with the Cummins Turbo Diesel and I don't think there's a better tow truck/daily driver out there. Dynoed over 400hp/850lbft at the rear wheels and getting 19-20mpg while pulling/24-27mpg empty...you can't beat it. I've always wanted a mid 90's Suburban 3/4-Ton 4x4 and stuff it with a Cummins Diesel as my daily driver and bumper pull tower so I can leave the Dodge as my Gooseneck heavy hauler, and keep the mileage down.
I came across this thread and thought I'd add my two cents worth. I've been looking for a support/tow vehicle for the A when we go on long hauls or to the races, etc. Yesterday I found it. 1989 Chevy Dually in good shape with a big o 454 TBI in it with a 4 speed tranny. It has good A/C and diamond plate tool box and ridges on the top of the bed sides and the tail gate. I caught the guy during a weak moment and purchased it for $500.00. That's right I couldn't believe it, clean title and all. The only problem it has is the serpentine belt walks off the pulleys because they're not lined up. I think it can be fixed pretty easy. Plan is to install a new stereo and video for the younger "crew" members and whatever other creature comfort items we want. So, what do ya think? I know it ain't gonna be the most economical truck in the world but, at $500 I just couldn't let this one go. Thanks, Aman Happy in Texas!!
I picked up a 71 Chevy C10 running good with a 350 and 350 AT for $650.00 off eBay about 100 miles from my house. Drove it home.