Cheapest, Most Fuel Efficient Tow Vehicle?

[Chip Hindes]

thomasrey

I think you will be fortunate indeed to find any vehicle for which you intend to pay $2000-3000 which doesn't already require some serious repairs. I believe chances that you will find such a vehicle and then be able to avoid major repairs for more than a year or so are slim indeed, and I would say pretty much a matter of luck.

Likewise, a difference of one or two mpg on a vehicle used only occasionally for towing is pretty much irrelevant.

I have seen full sized V8 pickups unable to get moderate sized boats up some ramps. Empty pickups are light in the rear to begin with compared to cars; if for whatever reason you can't get the boat all the way forward on the trailer, the boat can actually create negative tongue weight which further unloads the rear wheels. My cousin told me of the first time he took his new powerboat out, and being unable to pull it out of the water at a partcularly unfavorable ramp with an F350 dually.

I'm sure you can live without 4WD; I'm sure there are some on this board who don't have it. But if you want the most versatile tow vehicle, you ought to have it.

[Sassy Too]

Now This is a "TOW VEHICLE"

[Captain Steve]

When I was growing up in Wis, everyone had a hitch receiver on the front of their pickup. Drove the boat right in and a lower geaar ratio for reverse helped take it out.

[DLT]

When I was growing up in Wis, everyone had a hitch receiver on the front of their pickup. Drove the boat right in and a lower geaar ratio for reverse helped take it out.

I have a front hitch on my Excursion as well. It works great, especially in tight areas.

But, you gotta be careful, especially with 2WD pickups. The tongue weight, slippery ramp, and ramp angle can add up to make pulling a boat out real dicey... You may just sit there spinning tires, or worse...

[tomasrey88]

Chip,

Thanks for the advice on the 4WD. I think (correct me if Im wrong) that Isuzu Troopers only come with 4WD and I think youre right. Light pickups will need 4WD due to the light weight on the rear wheel. Therefore, 4WD is needed for the Ford Ranger.

If major repairs are needed, then Ill just deduct the cost from the bluebook price to arrive at the fair market value. No big deal.

As for fuel economy, it always matters. It is because that nobody cares about fuel economy, thats why we depend on foreign oil. Thats also why we have no choice but to support our troops in the Mideast.

Anyways, I use the boat every other week. I tow it 120 miles to the lake twice a month. I also plan on towing it 1500 miles to Florida once a year. Thats 4000 miles a year. If I were to get a Hummer (the ultimate tow vehicle if price & fuel economy were no object) and the mileage is 3mpg difference at current gas prices would be $500 a year. In 5 years, this amounts to $2500. This means that a fuel efficient vehicle that costs $2500 would almost pay for itself.

If the car doesnt have a towing package installed, how would I go about buying one? What do I need to buy and install?

Thanks,
tomasrey88.

[DLT]

You can buy a hitch and install it yourself, if you are so inclined.

But, most uHaul locations will install a hitch. Also, look for truck/trailer (not semi-trucks) supply places in your area...

[Catigale]

This means that a fuel efficient vehicle that costs $2500 would almost pay for itself.

thats 'true' for the 5 year picture but your fixed costs over that five year period will dissolve those savings pretty quickly...ITs hard to justify a buying a different tow car with gas savings..its still too darn cheap basically..

Edited new to different

[Chip Hindes]

As for fuel economy, it always matters. It is because that nobody cares about fuel economy, thats why we depend on foreign oil.

Using your example, you're going to consume about 360 gals of fuel towing your boat each year. That's three times more than what you'll be "saving" by not buying a vehicle which gets 3mpg worse mileage. BTW, that doesn't count what you'll be burning in your outboard.

So I guess a more accurate statement might be that we need foreign oil because you choose to haul your big honking 4000 lb power sailboat 4000 miles per year instead of taking your Sunfish five miles to the local creek on the roof of your Corolla.

Yes, I know it all counts. But my original point about mileage not mattering was not based on your 3mpg Hummer versus (everything else) comparison. You were trying to decide between a Toyota and a Ranger. The difference between these two when towing the Mac probably won't amount to a good dinner for two each year, let alone the cost of the vehicle.

I got the Curt brand hitch for my '94 Ranger NIB from an eBay store and installed it myself in about an hour. Hooking up and troubleshooting the trailer lights took longer than installing the hitch. Be careful of the brand whether you decide to have somebody do it for you or do it yourself. All hitches are not created equal. Many Class III/IV hitches for the Ranger from the big name hitch manufacturers, Reese and Draw Tite among them, were rated for a maximum of only 3000 or 3500 lbs. You need 3500 minimium. Although that's what the stock trailer is theoretically rated for, I believe even moderately equipped boats can easily exceed that and I got a hitch rated for 4,000.

[rockman]

Just thought i would add a coment on my new tow vehicle.

I bought a new Kia Grand Carnival - i think it has another name in the states. It is the 8 seater people mover, with the 3.8litre motor.

Its a front wheel drive vehicle that a few people told me that would have problems towing and retrieving the mac. So the first retrieve was a very nervous moment.

The ramp was a steep, concrete ramp. The Mac26M floated off the trailer with the top of the wheels at water level. So the front wheels were well and truly a mile from the water. When i hauled the mac out, there was no wheel spin, the car pulled the boat straight out of the water (i had let most of the water out of the ballast tank).

On the highway the car sat on 105km/hr without a problem. Up hills the gearbox did drop a gear or two to keep the power up.

All in all, a successful first tow with the new car.

Fuel economy - 14l/100 km normally, 18 with the trailer.

Cheers

RockMan

[RHC]

Paul,
You're right. I checked out prices of 2000 Discovery-II and they were surprisingly reasonably priced. The wheelbase is on the short side though. Does it have any design feature that conpensates? How's the stability in highway when being passed bybig rigs?
RHC

[jda]

Hey, how about a blue Mini Cooper S for a tow vehicle? Now that would be quite a picture! It is 143.9 inches long. No problem, right? I'm looking forward to test driving one some day.

jda

ps ... If you have a matching blue car/truck/van does it help you tow more weight? Or does it just go faster? What about a convertible? Does that change the equation?

[Paul S]

Paul,
You're right. I checked out prices of 2000 Discovery-II and they were surprisingly reasonably priced. The wheelbase is on the short side though. Does it have any design feature that conpensates? How's the stability in highway when being passed bybig rigs?
RHC

It is a spectactular tow vehicle. Very heavy (poor gas mileage) and stable. My disco has ACE (active cornering) which keeps it level in turns and SLS (self leveling) air bags in the rear to help with heavy weight in the truck. They are not needed, but are nice.

Stability is fine on the highway if you are passed by trucks as long as you keep it at a reasonable speed (60 or so). You do feel some of the bigger trucks, but doesnt get too bad if you keep a reasonable speed. Plus it looks cool





Paul

[Gazmn]

All right, I know I'm late, but I'm still going to jump on this band wagon.

I found my Truck on Ebay for $7,000. A 1997 Chevy K1500 Pickup with a 6.5L Turbo Diesel in VGC. Get a V8; 4x4's nice ta have & if you really want Ball$ get a diesel.

You'll get better value out of a 10 y/o diesel truck as they're just broken in after your first 150,000 miles! You want a long wheelbase as in a full size truck or extended SUV as it will tame your road wobble. You want a V8 because it has the Cojones to pull your boat up the ramp and over the mountain to that remote lake you heard about. So while I'd use a Jeep Cherokee V8 Grand Laredo --if it was given to me; Think Longer wheelbase, V8 Balls & the manliest-- DIEISEL Baby!

I got a '97 towed by a '97 Truck - both in white; & a 90hp Saltwater E-tec - - which also happens to be in white... It was just meant to be

[mtc]

I found my Truck on Ebay for $7,000. A 1997 Chevy K1500 Pickup with a 6.5L Turbo Diesel in VGC. Get a V8; 4x4's nice ta have & if you really want Ball$ get a diesel.

Diesel is truely a touquie beast, for sure.

What mileage are you getting?

Any pics of the rig?

[Divecoz]

Ford Ranger 4.0 L V6 Super Cab, 10 years old
purchase price $2500
highest MSN reliability rating
maintenance cost slightly lower than Isuzu Trooper: likely repairs cost only less than $300 total.
14-15 actual mpg as an automatic

Isuzu Trooper 3.2 L I-6, 10 years old
purchase price $3000
highest MSN reliability rating
maintenance cost of likely repairs total more than $1000
15-16 actual mpg as an automatic

It seems like a close comparison. Since test drives at the dealer lot will exclude towing with a boat, anybody have experience in these vehicles? Preferably in both vehicles? Or any other cheap towers (I'm open to suggestions). Thanks!

Of Older Ford Ranger 4x4 with 2.8 V-6 "BTW there is a web site chat board for these and some of those fellow are turning out more than 300 HP"
For sure do as you like But BTDT the wheel base is too short and the truck too light tiny v-6 is fun to drive empty and gut less and all but useless with a load . . . IMHO and having had one You'll be sorry.