Tow Vehicle Recommendations
#16
Marc,
For 2 race seasons now we have been using a 2002 GMC Duramax diesel 2500
Crew Cab 4x4 bought used with 90K miles - but with excellent maintenance.
The truck fits into my garage and enclosed 24' trailer with 911 race car beside the
house. I do not use it as a daily driver. It looks "showroom fresh".
Before this arrangement we used a Dodge 1500 Crew cab with an open
trailer -- my son's daily driver - for 2 seasons including 2 12 hour trips.
This worked fine, but the enclosed trailer is so much easier to store and
haul track equipment.
A friend chose a Toyota Tundra 4x4 TRD and tows an aluminum enclosed
trailer - gets good gas mileage and uses for a daily driver.
So, the race/track car and trailer you choose will have an affect on the truck that
best fits your needs.
The location and length of your haul will also enter into the truck decision.
Since you are already leaning towards a diesel your decision will be much easier.
People seem to have good luck with all 3 major brands -- just do some good
homework/research -- I would have looked for a newer model - but am very
satisfied every time my son and I get on the road to a track.
Regards,
For 2 race seasons now we have been using a 2002 GMC Duramax diesel 2500
Crew Cab 4x4 bought used with 90K miles - but with excellent maintenance.
The truck fits into my garage and enclosed 24' trailer with 911 race car beside the
house. I do not use it as a daily driver. It looks "showroom fresh".
Before this arrangement we used a Dodge 1500 Crew cab with an open
trailer -- my son's daily driver - for 2 seasons including 2 12 hour trips.
This worked fine, but the enclosed trailer is so much easier to store and
haul track equipment.
A friend chose a Toyota Tundra 4x4 TRD and tows an aluminum enclosed
trailer - gets good gas mileage and uses for a daily driver.
So, the race/track car and trailer you choose will have an affect on the truck that
best fits your needs.
The location and length of your haul will also enter into the truck decision.
Since you are already leaning towards a diesel your decision will be much easier.
People seem to have good luck with all 3 major brands -- just do some good
homework/research -- I would have looked for a newer model - but am very
satisfied every time my son and I get on the road to a track.
Regards,
#17
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Which tow vehicle?
Torque vs HP
Oil Viscosity
Face palm.
What am I missing?
Definitely get a pickup. Must a 3/4 ton minimum. Brakes, axles, towing capacity, etc. etc. etc.
My choice: F350 SD DRW Crew Cab. Never come up short. Never look back.
Happy hunting.
Torque vs HP
Oil Viscosity
Face palm.
What am I missing?
Definitely get a pickup. Must a 3/4 ton minimum. Brakes, axles, towing capacity, etc. etc. etc.
My choice: F350 SD DRW Crew Cab. Never come up short. Never look back.
Happy hunting.
#18
Diesel Touareg works great for me but I'm just towing a trailex open. It's really good as a daily driver and handles the trailex nicely while getting close to 18 mpg. Gets about 30 mpg cruising the interstate with no trailer. Not terribly roomy for the crew and a bunch of gear though.
#20
GT3 player par excellence
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excess is good.
F350
chevy 3500
F350
chevy 3500
#21
Rennlist Member
^^ This. Best of both worlds. Real truck, but without the excess. Especially since your 991 will be your DD. I tow with a Hemi Durango, used tow my enclosed with an Audi Q7. Both work fine (and well for the wife), but if a 1/2 ton with a small TD were available last year, I would have gone that route.
#22
Race Director
couple thoughts...most "race" cars are quite light.....on a normal steel open trailer you are maybe 5000lbs....or not much..... Any 1500 pickup can handle that with ease.... Go to a enclosed trailer (which everyone ends up with anyway) and it could bump to around 8000lbs loaded....
Bigger trucks tow better....thats just life.... My 2010 chevy 1500 2wd 5.3L engine gets nearly 15mpg towing my racer on an open trailer.....if I draft a friend in a big box trailer I have seen 19mpg on flat roads...this is better than even diesel mileage....however it comes with a limit.... When I towed my friends enclosed trailer at 8000lbs my suspension was sagging excessively and my mileage dropped to 10mpg.....
My truck is rated for 9700lbs from factory....5000lbs is like nothing is back there......8000lb big box is pushing it
Bigger trucks tow better....thats just life.... My 2010 chevy 1500 2wd 5.3L engine gets nearly 15mpg towing my racer on an open trailer.....if I draft a friend in a big box trailer I have seen 19mpg on flat roads...this is better than even diesel mileage....however it comes with a limit.... When I towed my friends enclosed trailer at 8000lbs my suspension was sagging excessively and my mileage dropped to 10mpg.....
My truck is rated for 9700lbs from factory....5000lbs is like nothing is back there......8000lb big box is pushing it
#23
Race Car
couple thoughts...most "race" cars are quite light.....on a normal steel open trailer you are maybe 5000lbs....or not much..... Any 1500 pickup can handle that with ease.... Go to a enclosed trailer (which everyone ends up with anyway) and it could bump to around 8000lbs loaded....
Bigger trucks tow better....thats just life.... My 2010 chevy 1500 2wd 5.3L engine gets nearly 15mpg towing my racer on an open trailer.....if I draft a friend in a big box trailer I have seen 19mpg on flat roads...this is better than even diesel mileage....however it comes with a limit.... When I towed my friends enclosed trailer at 8000lbs my suspension was sagging excessively and my mileage dropped to 10mpg.....
My truck is rated for 9700lbs from factory....5000lbs is like nothing is back there......8000lb big box is pushing it
Bigger trucks tow better....thats just life.... My 2010 chevy 1500 2wd 5.3L engine gets nearly 15mpg towing my racer on an open trailer.....if I draft a friend in a big box trailer I have seen 19mpg on flat roads...this is better than even diesel mileage....however it comes with a limit.... When I towed my friends enclosed trailer at 8000lbs my suspension was sagging excessively and my mileage dropped to 10mpg.....
My truck is rated for 9700lbs from factory....5000lbs is like nothing is back there......8000lb big box is pushing it
You are only 3500 lbs over that limit when towing a 8,000 lbs trailer. No wonder you had issues towing it.
There is a reason they make 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks....
Scott
#25
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Ford Excursion diesel ....end of discussion seats 7-8, 44 gallon tank, 12K towing, 7.3L engines were basically bulletproof (except for the crankshaft position sensor...easy fix)
MY2000-2004 (2005 was the last year and they switched to the 6.0L engine)
Unless of course you're a Porsche homer and request permission to join the Cayenne Fanboyz ... they will tell you that a P!g can win the 24 hours of LeMans while towing an enclosed trailer.
MY2000-2004 (2005 was the last year and they switched to the 6.0L engine)
Unless of course you're a Porsche homer and request permission to join the Cayenne Fanboyz ... they will tell you that a P!g can win the 24 hours of LeMans while towing an enclosed trailer.
#26
Nordschleife Master
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Well, the problem is that the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) for your truck is 9700 lbs and your truck, by itself, weighs at least 5200 lbs. Your truck can tow a total of 4500 lbs based on the manufacturer rating.
You are only 3500 lbs over that limit when towing a 8,000 lbs trailer. No wonder you had issues towing it.
There is a reason they make 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks....
Scott
You are only 3500 lbs over that limit when towing a 8,000 lbs trailer. No wonder you had issues towing it.
There is a reason they make 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks....
Scott
From the Ford website the GCWR of the F150 ranges depending on the motor , rear end differential gearing, and wheelbase. It ranges from 10500 to 16500.
So if they had the V6 with tall gears, yes it was overloaded. If they had the V8 or the ecoboost,and long wheelbase, no, it was not overloaded. Very few on here (any?) would get a regular cab V6 and start pulling their race cars with it. If it was crew cab and anything but the tallest gears they would have been fine.
From here
#27
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Ford Excursion diesel ....end of discussion seats 7-8, 44 gallon tank, 12K towing, 7.3L engines were basically bulletproof (except for the crankshaft position sensor...easy fix)
MY2000-2004 (2005 was the last year and they switched to the 6.0L engine)
Unless of course you're a Porsche homer and request permission to join the Cayenne Fanboyz ... they will tell you that a P!g can win the 24 hours of LeMans while towing an enclosed trailer.
MY2000-2004 (2005 was the last year and they switched to the 6.0L engine)
Unless of course you're a Porsche homer and request permission to join the Cayenne Fanboyz ... they will tell you that a P!g can win the 24 hours of LeMans while towing an enclosed trailer.
I bought my Treg because it was less than half the price of the p!g. If I could have found a turbo for the right price I would have bought that. I pull a 7000lb, 30 foot long, 12 foot tall, boat on the freeway with no issues. In fact it pulls it better than my F150 did. Plus it has low 4, which makes ramp duty very easy. It is my DD and I also pull an open steel car trailer with it.
So unless you NEED the emblem on the front, I would go with the Treg personally.
#28
Thanks for mentioning this. Glad to see someone finally come to market with a diesel in the half ton market. Projected 18mpg city and 25mpg+ hwy and bench front seat availability which is a requirement for me. Nice to have options besides $50k+ 3/4 ton's.
#29
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If you opt for an open trailer, the Treg is awesome. I have a 2010 with 64k miles, and only one trip back to the dealer for a minor repair issue since I bought it new. It is an awesome DD and pulls my trailer/car like a boss. The only downside is the fact that many VW dealerships suck. I have had miserable experience with minor service visits at local dealers. From what I've read this is a common theme throughout the US.