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Tow vehicle

Old 11-13-2013, 01:30 PM
  #221  
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anyones thoughts on an 04 f350 with 6.0 powerstroke?
has 210,000 miles on it (350k)
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Old 11-13-2013, 01:36 PM
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6.0? Does it have an aftermarket oil cooler and EGR delete? Budget that in and also injector seals were an issue on those to iirc. Also remember, it wont be terribly comfortable.
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Old 11-13-2013, 01:41 PM
  #223  
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I'd buy a 7.3 truck or go with a 03-04 cummins.
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Old 11-13-2013, 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Leafy
6.0? Does it have an aftermarket oil cooler and EGR delete? Budget that in and also injector seals were an issue on those to iirc. Also remember, it wont be terribly comfortable.
Does the 6.0 also have the head stud issue?
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Old 11-13-2013, 01:48 PM
  #225  
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We had 6.0 engines in three of our field mechanics' trucks and had the engines apart for major things 5 times. The company hasn't bought Fords since then.
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Old 11-13-2013, 02:11 PM
  #226  
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I am casually looking for a Ford E-350 van with diesel. 2002 is the newest I will go, because I will not touch a 6.0 with a 10 foot pole. The 7.3L is where it is at in the ford world.
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Old 11-13-2013, 06:21 PM
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And because I love punishment, I have a new "small" contender that I need to go check out in person.

2006-2009 Toyota 4Runner. The Sports have big 4pot front brakes and a V8, I can get a nice one for a very reasonable price.
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Old 11-13-2013, 11:13 PM
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Punishment? Every time I see a discussion about racecar towing, the two most common recommendations seem to be V8 4runner or 'murrican 3500 diesel. I've heard almost nothing bad about that gen 4runner, other than that they hold their value too well. I know the V8 models have beefier hitch mounting points built in from the factory.
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Old 11-13-2013, 11:33 PM
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The most common Toyota V8 problem started with the VVT motors. The Secondary Air Injectors for the emissions equipment goes out around 100k ish. Fairly easy to replace yourself for a couple of hundred dollars. If you like the V8 4Runners have a look at the Lexus GX470's.
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Old 11-14-2013, 06:23 AM
  #230  
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Thanks for the info gents.
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Old 11-14-2013, 08:26 AM
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The Tacomas and 4runners can be caliper swapped without any bracketry, just the calipers, to the larger Tundra '00-02 or even bigger '03-07 calipers. This also significantly increases pad surface area.
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Old 11-14-2013, 08:28 AM
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Some of you guys are overthinking this.

Attached Thumbnails Tow vehicle-1009212_458096150976942_234988733_o.jpg  
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Old 11-14-2013, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by jpreston
I know this will result in many :diaf: responses, but I've been having bad dreams of a 2001+ 4cyl 5sp ford ranger with homebrew turbo as a DD/tow rig. The 4cyl in those is just a 2.3l Mazda MZR. I started looking at them out of curiosity the other day and realized that brakes/drivetrain/suspension is basically identical on all the Rangers... the engine is the only thing that drops tow rating from ~6000lb to ~1500lb.
Usually the issue is a legal one. I could add a supercharger to my Tacoma to make it more capable. It increases the tow rating by 0lbs. With my enclosed 7x16, accessories, people and Miata I am near the limit. While it tows well with my setup, if someone hits me and I am overweight I can be at risk.

On the trailer issue, I purchased a 2005 Pace American 7x16 closed trailer with insulation, lighting, electrical, mounts, electric brakes, a/c setup, etc used for $3400 in 2009. I priced out a decked new one with the same options and it came out closer to $8000 - 10000 from the various factories in Georgia new.
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Old 11-14-2013, 02:34 PM
  #234  
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Looking for a Van myself.

2015 Ford Transit with Ecoboost V6 has my interest.
Ford - Cars, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Ford Vehicles | The Official Site of Ford Vehicles | Ford.com

Dodge replacement for the Sprinter is small displacement front wheel drive. Makes a really big box inside but Max towing capacity 5100lbs. Doubt towing an enclosed car trailer should I get one would be any fun.
2014 Ram ProMaster? - Custom Capability & Fuel Efficiency

Nissan big horrible fuel economy V8 or poor fuel economy V6 in a cheap package. Tall bed because it is basically a stupid useless vehicle pickup truck chassis rather than a modern unibody.
Nissan NV Cargo Lineup | 2013 NV2500 & NV3500 Work Vans
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Old 11-14-2013, 02:38 PM
  #235  
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Originally Posted by sixshooter
The Tacomas and 4runners can be caliper swapped without any bracketry, just the calipers, to the larger Tundra '00-02 or even bigger '03-07 calipers. This also significantly increases pad surface area.
Oh reary?
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Old 11-14-2013, 03:10 PM
  #236  
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Originally Posted by bbundy
Looking for a Van myself.

2015 Ford Transit with Ecoboost V6 has my interest.
Ford - Cars, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Ford Vehicles | The Official Site of Ford Vehicles | Ford.com

Dodge replacement for the Sprinter is small displacement front wheel drive. Makes a really big box inside but Max towing capacity 5100lbs. Doubt towing an enclosed car trailer should I get one would be any fun.
2014 Ram ProMaster? - Custom Capability & Fuel Efficiency

Nissan big horrible fuel economy V8 or poor fuel economy V6 in a cheap package. Tall bed because it is basically a stupid useless vehicle pickup truck chassis rather than a modern unibody.
Nissan NV Cargo Lineup | 2013 NV2500 & NV3500 Work Vans
The full size Transit is also supposed to have an I5 timbo diesel. That one looks really interesting.

Too bad new stuff costs so much when you can pick up $6k E150 conversions all day off of CL.

e: something like this would be fantastic for the proper Transit, but expensive: http://jalopnik.com/this-ingeniously...n-a-1226576270
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Old 11-14-2013, 06:31 PM
  #237  
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That's where you have to determine whether its worth having a pedo van that might leave you on the side of the road that you have to hide from your neighborhood, or cash out a bit of your stocks (or a sweet 0% interest car loan) while the wife isn't looking and get something reliable.
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Old 11-14-2013, 06:33 PM
  #238  
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I dont see where the option to buy an 80's van came into this. You can get like 2010 model v8 1500 chassis vans for like 6 grand.
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Old 11-14-2013, 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Leafy
I dont see where the option to buy an 80's van came into this. You can get like 2010 model v8 1500 chassis vans for like 6 grand.
Attached Thumbnails Tow vehicle-candyvan.jpg  
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Old 11-14-2013, 09:49 PM
  #240  
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Originally Posted by Leafy
I dont see where the option to buy an 80's van came into this. You can get like 2010 model v8 1500 chassis vans for like 6 grand.
Because all vans are rape vans?
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