(Another) tow vehicle question
#31
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I used to tow a steel 18' open trailer with a 3000 lb 993 using an '01 ML430 (my wife's DD). It worked fine as long as there were no steep or long hills (I did this for 2 years). It was a minor pain in windy conditions. My wife still gives me a hard time about trading the ML for a Silverado 2500HD (which she refuses to drive) which I use to tow a 24' TPD enclosed.
The ML will work, but it will not be as pleasant as a bigger truck when towing (and may not be as safe). However, it will be a lot more pleasant than a truck when not towing. You have to balance your use with her's and figure out what's going to work best for you.
The ML will work, but it will not be as pleasant as a bigger truck when towing (and may not be as safe). However, it will be a lot more pleasant than a truck when not towing. You have to balance your use with her's and figure out what's going to work best for you.
#32
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Excepting gas mileage, you can get trucks that ride and drive very well when not burdened. The reason I specifically search for autoride 2500 Suburbans/Yukon XLs is because it rides and handles like a much smaller vehicle.
#33
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Small SUVs/trucks don't really work well here out West with the Grapevine and other mountain passes....
I have a 100K mile 01 Navigator with air suspension and a load balancing hitch towing a 24' Carson "Racer" trailer (3500lbs) and a 996 Koni.
The freeway ride is great and it handles the mountain passes acceptable (45 mph up the South bound Grapevine.)
I will replace with a diesel F250 truck when the time comes.
I have a 100K mile 01 Navigator with air suspension and a load balancing hitch towing a 24' Carson "Racer" trailer (3500lbs) and a 996 Koni.
The freeway ride is great and it handles the mountain passes acceptable (45 mph up the South bound Grapevine.)
I will replace with a diesel F250 truck when the time comes.
#35
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For any truck the 250/2500 vs 350/3500 in single rear wheel (SRW) will be similar in price, but the "one ton" will have more payload. Dual Rear Wheel (DRW) will be the best for max payload and towing big heavy trailers, but has the down side of duals. If you want to tow big and have 3000lbs payload with a Diesel you need to consider the SRW one ton. Some of the 2500's have a rather small payload owing to the weight of Diesel.
For example my 2500 dodge has a gas V10 and 3300lbs payload. However a new 2500 Dodge cummins is only about 2500lbs (or less) due in large part to the heavy motor. Both trucks are 8800 to 9000 GVWR and in a new truck with big cab, 4wd and diesel you really get heavy fast. Payload can be rather small for a 3/4 ton and best to get the 1 ton so that you can carry as much as think you can.
BTW.. most 1/2 ton pick-ups are around 1500lbs payload. Sounds like alot until you realize that 7000lbs trailer having a 1000lbs tongue load is not unreasonable especially if you have tire rack up front. Then consider you need to add in 400lbs for a driver an passenger and you right at 1400lbs of your 1500 payload. Load tools etc in the bed and youn be over weight really fast.
So you really sneed to watch your numbers to make sure you can really carry as much as you think you can.
For example my 2500 dodge has a gas V10 and 3300lbs payload. However a new 2500 Dodge cummins is only about 2500lbs (or less) due in large part to the heavy motor. Both trucks are 8800 to 9000 GVWR and in a new truck with big cab, 4wd and diesel you really get heavy fast. Payload can be rather small for a 3/4 ton and best to get the 1 ton so that you can carry as much as think you can.
BTW.. most 1/2 ton pick-ups are around 1500lbs payload. Sounds like alot until you realize that 7000lbs trailer having a 1000lbs tongue load is not unreasonable especially if you have tire rack up front. Then consider you need to add in 400lbs for a driver an passenger and you right at 1400lbs of your 1500 payload. Load tools etc in the bed and youn be over weight really fast.
So you really sneed to watch your numbers to make sure you can really carry as much as you think you can.
#36
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BTW.. most 1/2 ton pick-ups are around 1500lbs payload. Sounds like alot until you realize that 7000lbs trailer having a 1000lbs tongue load is not unreasonable especially if you have tire rack up front. Then consider you need to add in 400lbs for a driver an passenger and you right at 1400lbs of your 1500 payload. Load tools etc in the bed and youn be over weight really fast.
So you really sneed to watch your numbers to make sure you can really carry as much as you think you can.
So you really sneed to watch your numbers to make sure you can really carry as much as you think you can.
#37
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Incidentally, this month's issue of Grassroots Motorsports has a feature article about towing. More about the trailer then the rig, and I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it would be of interest to everyone here.
#40
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Hopefully this is not hijacking the thread. I'm in the same boat with SUVs. So are you telling me with a 1500 series truck that with an open trailer + car (assume 5K lbs in total = ~700 lbs of tongue weight), plus driver, adult passenger and 3 young kids (50 lbs each) that I may be near the payload limit? I need to see what my payload is for a late model Yukon Denali is. Damn if this is right.
Others will chime in and say they do it all the time, but having hauled stuff my entire life, I know for a fact what works, what is marginal, and what is downright scary.
#41
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Hopefully this is not hijacking the thread. I'm in the same boat with SUVs. So are you telling me with a 1500 series truck that with an open trailer + car (assume 5K lbs in total = ~700 lbs of tongue weight), plus driver, adult passenger and 3 young kids (50 lbs each) that I may be near the payload limit? I need to see what my payload is for a late model Yukon Denali is. Damn if this is right.
#42
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just got an open trailex to tow my 996 koni car. weight of trailer with tire rack and winch is 1084 lbs. Say car is 3000 lbs.
I'm looking for a tow vehicle but it will need to double as my wife's DD. She currently has an '05 MB ML500 which has a tow capacity of 5,000 lbs. which may be pushing things a bit.
The 3 vehicles i'm looking at are: VW Touareg TDI, ML350 blutec, and just did some reading today on Jeep GC with max tow package. I was thinking MB GL but she said it's too big.
The jeep looks to be pretty robust - has a class IV hitch with 7,400 lbs capacity. larger alternator, tranny cooler, and sway control. Also about 10K less than the VW and MB.
Any thoughts on these 3? I'm assuming they will be sufficient for my setup?
I'm looking for a tow vehicle but it will need to double as my wife's DD. She currently has an '05 MB ML500 which has a tow capacity of 5,000 lbs. which may be pushing things a bit.
The 3 vehicles i'm looking at are: VW Touareg TDI, ML350 blutec, and just did some reading today on Jeep GC with max tow package. I was thinking MB GL but she said it's too big.
The jeep looks to be pretty robust - has a class IV hitch with 7,400 lbs capacity. larger alternator, tranny cooler, and sway control. Also about 10K less than the VW and MB.
Any thoughts on these 3? I'm assuming they will be sufficient for my setup?
#43
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Hopefully this is not hijacking the thread. I'm in the same boat with SUVs. So are you telling me with a 1500 series truck that with an open trailer + car (assume 5K lbs in total = ~700 lbs of tongue weight), plus driver, adult passenger and 3 young kids (50 lbs each) that I may be near the payload limit? I need to see what my payload is for a late model Yukon Denali is. Damn if this is right.
http://www.sherline.com/lmbook.htm
Buy this:
http://www.sherline.com/lm.htm
#44
Three Wheelin'
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For any truck the 250/2500 vs 350/3500 in single rear wheel (SRW) will be similar in price, but the "one ton" will have more payload. Dual Rear Wheel (DRW) will be the best for max payload and towing big heavy trailers, but has the down side of duals. If you want to tow big and have 3000lbs payload with a Diesel you need to consider the SRW one ton. Some of the 2500's have a rather small payload owing to the weight of Diesel.
For example my 2500 dodge has a gas V10 and 3300lbs payload. However a new 2500 Dodge cummins is only about 2500lbs (or less) due in large part to the heavy motor. Both trucks are 8800 to 9000 GVWR and in a new truck with big cab, 4wd and diesel you really get heavy fast. Payload can be rather small for a 3/4 ton and best to get the 1 ton so that you can carry as much as think you can.
BTW.. most 1/2 ton pick-ups are around 1500lbs payload. Sounds like alot until you realize that 7000lbs trailer having a 1000lbs tongue load is not unreasonable especially if you have tire rack up front. Then consider you need to add in 400lbs for a driver an passenger and you right at 1400lbs of your 1500 payload. Load tools etc in the bed and youn be over weight really fast.
So you really sneed to watch your numbers to make sure you can really carry as much as you think you can.
For example my 2500 dodge has a gas V10 and 3300lbs payload. However a new 2500 Dodge cummins is only about 2500lbs (or less) due in large part to the heavy motor. Both trucks are 8800 to 9000 GVWR and in a new truck with big cab, 4wd and diesel you really get heavy fast. Payload can be rather small for a 3/4 ton and best to get the 1 ton so that you can carry as much as think you can.
BTW.. most 1/2 ton pick-ups are around 1500lbs payload. Sounds like alot until you realize that 7000lbs trailer having a 1000lbs tongue load is not unreasonable especially if you have tire rack up front. Then consider you need to add in 400lbs for a driver an passenger and you right at 1400lbs of your 1500 payload. Load tools etc in the bed and youn be over weight really fast.
So you really sneed to watch your numbers to make sure you can really carry as much as you think you can.
Thanks everyone.
#45
Race Director
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Hopefully this is not hijacking the thread. I'm in the same boat with SUVs. So are you telling me with a 1500 series truck that with an open trailer + car (assume 5K lbs in total = ~700 lbs of tongue weight), plus driver, adult passenger and 3 young kids (50 lbs each) that I may be near the payload limit? I need to see what my payload is for a late model Yukon Denali is. Damn if this is right.