Best tow vehicle for less than $8k?
 

Anyone have an opinion on the best used tow vehicle (I'd prefer an SUV) I can pick up for around $7 or $8k? I have a 21' Mastercraft and need about 5k lbs towing capacity. This would only be used for short trips since I already have an 8.1 liter Silverado I use for long hauls.

You already have a Silverado which is a very solid tow vehicle. What about it is lacking?

The older Tahoe/Suburban/Yukons will do the job for you. But, it will be tough to beat a truck.

Try and get a 3/4 or 1 ton beefier suspension and HD components make a better tow

Why not just use what you have?

In any event, '80-'97 Ford 3/4 ton or 1 ton are the best all around trucks IMO. I prefer 80-86 and if staying factory 86 F-350 is ideal as it's the first year they put a D60 under the front of that generation. I wouldn't touch anything EFI ('88 and up? for gas and 94.5 and up for diesel). You'll want either a 460 or a diesel. A small block will get the job done but is lacking in torque. Can be had in good condition under $5k, or under $1k if you want a cheap beater to leave hooked to the boat and drag it a few miles to the ramp? Top of the price range for these trucks is around $10k. For SUV, look for Centurion conversions. Basically a 4 door Bronco. I would not be towing with any short wheelbase half ton like a typical SUV.

IMO, some of these suggestions seem overkill for your boat. I back the Tahoe/Suburban/Yukons suggestion. My current tow vehicle for my 03 malibu vlx is an 06' VW Touareg. It tows incredible for my boat, which probably is similar in size to yours. I live in UT and am towing over mtn passes etc without problems. I've also towed from UT to Cali without issue. What I like most about it is parking the boat in my drive way. Way more maneuverability than a huge pickup or even an average SUV. This is important to me, but might not matter for you. They can be had in the 7-8K range as well, with around 100K miles I've had mine for 3.5 years (currently 135K miles) without any major issues. I will say a Tahoe etc, has better reliability scores though. Good luck in your search.

You already own exactly what I'd recommend. What's the need for two?

Cory (or anyone else); what's the difference between F250 and F350 in those years ('80-'97)?

The main difference is suspension and axles. 2wd F250 is coil spring, 2wd F350 is leaf spring. 4WD F250 has Dana 50 TTB (IFS) front, 4WD F350 has Dana 60 front (85.5 an up). Somewhere around 92-93 the D60 was changed from king pin to ball joint, king pin is much stronger and doesn't wear out nearly as quickly. Spring rate in the rear is a little more in the rear on the F350 as well. All have Sterling 10.25" axles except maybe the first few years were either a D60 or D70 rear. '93 and up Sterling got longer splines on pinion gear and yoke as the earlier ones would loosen up or crush the crush sleeve and have slop. If splines are not worn on the short pinion you can use a crush sleeve sliminator kit for a 9", chamfer the inside of the large spacer, slap it together with a new seal and nut, and no more problems. If splines are worn the fix is a new set of gears with the long pinion. The axle housing itself is unchanged early to late. Beware the very light weight rating F-250, they have semi-floating Sterling axles. There are very uncommon and easily identified with a glance at the rear hubs.

Frame and cab are the same from 80-97, just sheet metal changes over the three body styles and changes in engine and trans as they went to EFI and overdrive transmissions. It's stupid simple to swap a D60 under a 4x4 F-250, change rear axles, change to overdrive transmission, engines, etc... The last of Ford's real trucks IMO.

Cool, thanks! Think I'll be looking for one as soon as budget allows.

twin traction beam isn't IFS....

Umm... You may want to take a peek under a TTB truck. It is very clearly IFS, TTB is what Ford's marketing department called it.

What about a late 90s model Land Cruiser? I pull my OG 210 on a tandem axle trailer with an 01 model no problems. Down sized from an F-150. It won't take off or stop quite as quick as the F-150 but it pulls it plenty fine for ~20 miles to the ramp 3-4 days a week.

I stand corrected. Always thought of TTB as a quasi solid axle. It's looks more IFS than solid now that I look into it a bit more. TTBs get a bad rap for offroad axles when they can be setup with lots of travel and are quite strong aren't they?

Make sure they're rear leaf sprung. Toyota switched to coils for the gen 1 Sequioa in 2000

i don't understand the question? are you getting rid of the truck? are you i need of a second vehicle you could use to tow? you have a truck, why do you need a second vehicle and what do you need it to do other than tow?

We got a 02 Ford Excursion diesel and could not be happier. Tows great, tons of room . Just my 2 cents.

you got a 7.3 excursion for under $8k?

No, but I have seen them they are out there. Just have to look as the tend to go fast, we paid 12500.

$12.5 as she sits with wheels, nerf step etc?

Had different wheels, but that's is all we changed

Looks like a nice rig! How many miles? What mods? Tune?

(haha only asking out of self interest.... I have an 01 7.3 That I'll be selling in a year or so)

We use an 07 tahoe 4x4 to pull our 2015 Axis T23... It does a 'good enough' job for the price we paid for it. I'm sure it'd do a good job pulling your MC. Plenty of room for boards, coolers, the boat cover, and friends. You can probably find one for under $10k if you look hard enough. If I remember correctly, it's got about a 8k lb towing capacity.

Are Ex has just under 225000, I did the fuel bowl mod, and drilled out the fuel ports, cold are intake and a sct tuner ( not a fan) .

Yeah I've got 188 on our 01 Ex 7.3 now. CAI, 4" exhaust, gauges, tune, V/B spring mod with bilsteins all around, rear airbags, 6.0 tranny cooler, red head steering box. It's a very clean rig and waxes up real nice. But unfortunately I've got a couple of spots where the paint is starting to peel (apparently was an issue for ford during that period). Really torn about trying to dump it now (just as I've done all of the work to get it setup to go another 5-7 years), keep for a couple more years then sell, or get a nice paint job ($6000+) and hang onto it. Its not the most pleasant daily driver, and doesn't make a lot of sense as one either, at least after my nest is emptied next year as my youngest heads off to college.

http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/z...psa5qo5ycy.jpg

I have a 2003 Navigator. Has the In tech 32v 5.4L. Its capable of pulling up to 8-9k I believe. I pull car trailers and cars all the time with it.

What I love about it most, is that they have factory air suspension. So once hooked up with a load. The rear bags automatically level the truck back out and dosnt cause it to squat. I bought my 03 for about $4500

Great looking Ex and great mods, are Ex isn't a daily driver , I want to get more mods done, I want to do the spring conversion but afraid.. Lol Bilstien shocks soon and gauges..

I have an 02 Denali. They have a 6.0L that pulls like a beast. Selling mine because I picked up a Duramax.

Where are you located?

Tell me more about your 7.3. Maybe I can help you make a decision early?

Never mind. I don't read far enough.

I've got a 1996 cruiser that I'm thinking about getting rid of bc it doesn't climb hills well towing a 97 205.

1st gen Toyota Sequoia. 4.7L bulletproof V8, 6500lb towing capacity. Test drive one and you will understand. For 8k you can get one in great condition.

Sequoias are awesome, put 160K trouble free miles on a gen 1. Doesn't like a lot tongue and/or cargo weight. 4.7L is awesome but watch timing belt service intervals at 90K miles. Make sure its been done, expensive service. 1100 IIRC