What truck to buy?

[Sherminator]

Re: What truck to buy?

not bragging but my truck gets 20+ mpg empty at 65 and i get around 17-18 pulling our boat, but again you are going to pay for a diesel.

 

[Sherminator]

Re: What truck to buy?

hey l liked that about pounding a tack in with a sledge hammer!! got a good chuckle from that one!!

 

[bass buster]

Re: What truck to buy?

but again you are going to pay for a diesel.

This is true, but the good thing is, that diesel engines generally last longer than gas engines. Plus they are more fuel efficient, and size for size, more powerful too. Also lately, the price for diesel fuel is less than gas

This is why semi tractors have diesel engines. They pull hard, and run long. I know, since I drive semi for a living.

In my opinion, sure, a diesel engine would be nice, but not necessary for a 5500# trailer. (seems light to me...I'm used to 80,000 lb rig )
Hocus...if you can afford a newer truck with a diesel, by all means go for it.
Maybe even a dually pick-up?

In any case, its better to have more truck, than not enough.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: What truck to buy?

I'm talking about an entire rear end. Swapping that out is not rocket science and can be done in a driveway. If you want to swap ring and pinion to a 4:10 yes - that gets spendy because the time time involved and setting pinion depth is not a job anyone can do since they don't have the tools.

Hey, I'm with you 100%. I did a frame off restoration of my CJ-7 which included swapping out both axles in order to move from my stock 2.73 (yes 2), to 3.56. If a person is willing to do it, you're right - cheaper. But if you're going to have someone else do it I'm not sure.

I also do a lot of towing - horses, tractors/equipment. We run an F150 Super LB gas, and F250 crew SB diesel, an F350 crew LB gas (4.10), and an F450 FB diesel(4.88), and numerous trailers.

I think we're all in agreement that diesels make better tow vehicles, but incurring the expense of changing to one for such limited use is questionable and related to discretionary income. Hocus pocus never came back anyway. No sense in beating on each other...

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: What truck to buy?

Well any newer (than 94'-95') pick-up has more power and capability than what you have. Better motors and transmissions.
In keeping on track with the GM options (there are certainly others):
That particular 5.7 had something around 240-260hp new. You've lost a lot of that original power in all likelihood. Those motors were not yet 'Vortec' FI motors. They were an older lower powered series. They've come a long ways since then.
A new GM 5.3 is going to give you more power and torque for sure. Don't get anything less than a 3:73 axle and of course the towing package.
However, the diesels have come a long long ways...better mileage, last way longer, etc and better resale when you are done. If I was looking at doing any considerable and frequent amount of towing...I would go Duromax/Allison.
Go for some test drives...gas vs diesel..and the different makes (Ford/GM/Dodge/Toyota/Nissan)
(Tundra?...love that truck and its quality...but does it have any Heavy duty factor at all yet...apart from big front end parts?)

 

[dingbat]

Re: What truck to buy?

I pull a #5800 boat (150 miles round trip sometimes 3 times a week or more) with a 2001 Tahoe with a 5.3L and a 3.73 rear with no problems at all and this is mostly on the I-95 corridor. Not some flat land, back county road.

The truck gets 18 mpg on the highway, 14 mpg around town, and 10-11 mpg while towing 65-70 mph.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: What truck to buy?

How does it do in a panic stop? Have you had one yet?

I reccomend he buys either a Hummer or a Geo Metro.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What truck to buy?

How does it do in a panic stop? Have you had one yet?

I reccomend he buys either a Hummer or a Geo Metro.

Being from No. Va you're well aware of the types of traffic you encounter on the Beltway. I've had more than a few panic situations in the last 20 years or so I've been dragging boats around the Beltway.

With 4 wheel disk brakes on both the truck and the trailer I can say with some certainty that the tail is not wagging the dog.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: What truck to buy?

But not as good as a Geo Metro would do....

I was asking bcause my father-in-law has been towing an AirStream with his Tahoe. I was just wondering how they handled the weight.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What truck to buy?

We have a small 16' travel trailer, figure maybe #2K, and it pulls 3 times worst than the boat. The boat is dead weight and tracks well behind the truck. The travel trailer on the other hand feels light but it also feels like you have a large sail holding you back as you drive down the road. Not a weight problem as much as a wind resistance issue

Now if you want to talk load, my wife pulls a tandem axle horse trailer around 2-3 times a week. If she has both horses with her she’s pulling close to #7K if no more. With the horses shifting their weight around as you drive you’re now getting into the tail wagging the dog syndrome.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: What truck to buy?

Yes, I am here. I have been super busy with work driving an extra 90+ miles a day testing different mobile phone accessory devices for my job...

I like the avaiability of stouter engine/ drive systems we have in the US today, but am somewhat gunshy about price...

FORD makes vans w/ SD + deisel, but those are $30K used for an '05.. Guess I'll keep on looking.

P.S the suburban will likely go to a charity when I upgrade...
Got only 312.450.00 miles on it now.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: What truck to buy?

Got only 312.450.00 miles on it now.

If that means 312,450 miles, your troubles have less to do with your gear ratio than I thought! You definitely got every penny out of the Suburban - that's great - she's just tired. That changes everything as you need to get a new truck. I'd be keeping my eye on 2-3 year old F250 diesels. There will be a bunch of them around this fall as many people will be trading up to the 6.4L twin turbos.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What truck to buy?

Or just drive around the countryside. With gas prices the way they are you will find at least one full size pickup just a year or two old with a "For Sale" sign in it because the owner is no longer interested in the "mine is bigger than yours" contest and cannot afford to fuel it any longer. Those are bargains. In your travels you may even find a bigger boat so can actually take advantage of the big diesel some feel you absolutely need to have.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: What truck to buy?

Yes, I'm still her, just very busy with work. GREAT information guys.
What about a E350 van With proper tow package?

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: What truck to buy?

.....do you prefer a Ford over Dodge or GM?
(particularly in the Diesel?....or are you thinking gas?)

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: What truck to buy?

Yes, I personally redod the double axle trailers brakes as well as doing a matching #3500 axle on the front.

I chose electric brakes due to my using a load levelling hitch system. It handles really well with NO fishtailing and brakes fine, just GETTING GOING is #$%^& and makes the tranny smell and run HOT.

So handling and braking are GREAT, just the pulling part.

I think a NEWER truck that is not TIRED is a good idea. maybe E350 van?

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: What truck to buy?

.....do you prefer a Ford over Dodge or GM?
(particularly in the Diesel?....or are you thinking gas?)

I was thinking to get the least expensive ford deisel that would be considered an upgrade over the suburban. I have 2 kids/ Wyfe and we'd want it to hold/haul the whole tribe. Maybe a van.

Like an '02 with dual zone A/C, a thousand cupholders and a couple of DVD screens... I dunno, are vans W/ deisel and towe package setup differently so as to NOT want one with their chassis?

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: What truck to buy?

...I think all of the 'big 3' are pretty reasonable these days....within percentage points of one another.
Each has a few weak points and each has a few strong points.
The weak point in the Fords Power stroke was an inherent vibration problem that could not be directly engineered out of that engine size. This was one of the driving factors behind the new ford diesel. A lot of people like the older one tho' and feel its heavier duty.
The ford may be a better economic choice that say a GM which will probably be a little more expensive on a year to year basis.
Any of them tho' would do the job....easily I'm sure.
All diesels got a much heavier frame, suspensions, drivetrain, brakes, cooling, etc....right off the bat, not even an option choice. This makes them heavy duty from the get go.
The gas choices.....not so much, but the heavy duty stuff could be option added....you just have to watch and check for it with the gassers.

 

[klicknative]

Re: What truck to buy?

I have to ask, if you got 312K miles out of your 'burb' why not a newer one? It sounds like the only towing problem the old one had was a lack of power. I'd go with a 6.0L with the HD tow package and the creature conforts you want. I'm a die hard Chevy man so I'm biased but you got great service out of your old one.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: What truck to buy?

There is allot of great reads on diesel vs. gas trucks at pickuptruck.com.
It's been awhile but I remember the diesel didn't start saving you money over a gasser until 3-4 years or like 80,000 miles. Diesel gas isn't any cheaper here in Cali, it's actually more than reg. unleaded most of the time.
Any Chevy 96 and up with the vortec will do just fine and the newer chevy's with the 5.3 will do great as well. (just watch gear ratio like silvertip mentioned)
If your replacing your truck to make it last another 300,000, then the diesel is a no-brainer. Who is to say you will not get a bigger boat later down the road. A close second would be a 8.1/Alison or a 7.4 vortec/4l80e truck.
The extra 5000.00 for the diesel option and maintenance on a diesel needs to be justified or you will never see the savings over a gas motor.
Now is a good time to pick up big gassers as all the "yuppies' are trading them in for fuel economy. It's a buyers market for big trucks right now.
If I were to replace my truck right now it would be a 8.1/alison hands down. Another word of advice if buying used is that the 99-03 chevy's had CSK/piston slap problems. Make sure you start the truck cold and listen very close to the motor under the fender wells. I had a 2000 slapperado and it drove me insane. Also the earlier ford V-10 liked to spit out and strip spark plug holes.
Good luck.