Drag Race Career Move, Need a Tow Vehicle

Well my daughter and I are wrapping up the last full Jr Dragster race season she can run. She did really well, finishing within one round of being a two time points champion at our track. Unfortunately it was someone elses turn to win the big trophy this year. Im very proud of her as in four years she has 14 wins, 11 runner ups, 2010 NED Track Champion and a national event Iron Man.

Anyway we can keep running the Junior till August 2012 (time for college)or step up to a 72 Nova that is yet to be built. If we run the Nova I will sell the Junior, 20' enclosed trailer, and 2008 GMC 2500 Diesel. With that I will try to find a 67-72 Chevy pickup to tow a flat trailer and the Nova.

My question is will a 67-72 chevy half ton tow that load or do I need to find a three quarter ton? Thanks

 

Remember, having more then you need when towing is a good thing.

You may have to pay more for diesel or gasoline, but bigger brakes, a higher towing capacity and less wear on the transmission/engine/cooling is cheap compared to blowing transmissions and overheated brakes on a 10 degree down hill.

 

I'd keep the truck you have now. Having that extra power can be a life saver if you do need it.

 

Exactly, unless there is a serious reason to sell off the diesel I'd keep it as a tow rig.
I have towed a 16 ft cattle trailer with everything my wife and kids owned from Texas to Washington with a 70 Chev 1/2 ton long wheel base with no issues except for the under 10 mpg and a slow go up hill on the passes. My dad got pretty bored behind me in the 79 Impala police special my wife had at the time. I towed my former boss's Master craft ski boat and then his cattle trailer with his first year Duramax and there was no comparison. The Duramax walked up hills with the heavy boat and two jet skis behind it without even letting you think it was pulling a load.
My daily driver is a 71 GMC 3/4 ton with a 353/350 that I tow a 5500 lb sailboat with and it handles the boat pretty well but the truck is getting a 500 cad and turbo 400 this winter because I am tired of the 40 mph up hill in the slow lane over Snoqualmie pass along with the 7 or 8 mpg when towing.
I drive it because I can't afford a Duramax but I can't see wanting to switch from one to a 67/72 half ton to tow with.

 

I had a 72 3/4 ton with 402, THM 400, front discs, the big differential, etc. It built and used as a tow rig since new. While I loved pulling into the track with the 72 Nova on the open trailer behind, it wasn't sensible.

I have never won a race by having the coolest tow rig. I didn't like the gas consumption, the poor braking, the cramped cab and the open trailer.

But I sure do love the Duramax Diesel and the enclosed trailer. I can stop in any weather conditions, when it starts to rain, the car goes in the trailer, no security issues and I have total confidence I will make to to and from the track without breakdown.

You have the ideal setup already. Forget about trying to be cool and focus on be safe and being a winner.

Just my $.02

 

I have owned a 67 , 71 & a 72 chevy pick ups' while cool looking compared to todays plastic trucks the new one is a much better tow rig
my 71 was a 3/4 ton and the 72 was a half and they used the same front disc brake pads


glad your spending time with your daughter I loved every race my daughter and I went too on her way to her national points championship in 2010

 

I have towed with several 70-72 LWB 1/2 ton chevy pickups and open trailers they work fine. That being said keep the Diesel and the 20 foot enclosed trailer. this will be a more practical way to go. RLS

 

There is a 72 Chevy ramp truck out here in Covina, Ca. on craigs list that is very very reasonable.

 

Thanks for the replies!!!! The reason for selling off the new fancy stuff and running the old school stuff is purely financial. College is around the corner and my Mutual Funds are not what they used to be. I bought the Duramax because we were running to Maryland International Raceway, Rockingham, and a few other long distance trips. We want to build the Nova and I need to sell the dragster to fund that. We are just racing for fun next year and only doing a partial season at our local track 1 hr away. Its on flat highway 90% of the trip so the power of the Duramax is not essential for stuff such as uphill towing. I can do a lot to the Nova by not having to fork out 600 a month on the Duramax.

Thats pretty cool derbydad276!! I looked at soap box derby but ther was nothing happening around here so we went with the Jr Dragster. The fun we have drag racing together is just awsome.

 

That works. When you explain that you won't be out campaigning the Nova like you were the jr dragster it all becomes a lot clearer. That hour might turn into an hour and twenty minutes though.

The first time I towed my boat home from the marina after I bought it I used my mom's 88 Ford F250 Diesel and that truck just told the boat "hang on cause I'm taking you for a ride". It walked over the same pass that gives the GMC a workout without a wimper and I had to watch how fast I was going rather than wishing I could go faster.