Tow vehicle
The over sized tow rig thing is funny. Buying a diesel to pull an open trailer means you just have a tiny *****. The 5 grand premium they pull over a gasser just gallon doesnt pay for itself when the diesel is only getting at most 5 mpg more than the gasser and diesel costs so much more per gallon.
Now the diesel makes sense for drivability if you're towing an enclosed especially in a hilly area. But any decent gasser is going to be able to pull an open trailer with a miata on it easily and safely and cost less $/mile to tow than the diesel.
Now the diesel makes sense for drivability if you're towing an enclosed especially in a hilly area. But any decent gasser is going to be able to pull an open trailer with a miata on it easily and safely and cost less $/mile to tow than the diesel.
When I had a gas truck, I was once out accelerated by a diesel that was pulling a box trailer. That's when I decided I needed a diesel. I went from a F250 supercab gasser XLT 2x4 to F250 supercrew diesel lariat 4x4 for $2000. The diesel is 4 years newer and has 30k miles less, so your math doesn't work. The difference in power is night and day, towing an open trailer or an enclosed. I've done both with both trucks. With the open trailer, the diesel hangs out in 5th gear on the interstate, and I can go any speed I want, even accelerate up a hill. The gasser would have to shift down to go up a slight grade. A moderate grade would go down to 2nd gear, sometimes not even able to maintain 65 mph.
Yes, a gasser can pull an open trailer. But it's much more stressful on the driver. I'll take my 500 ft lbs just off idle, please and thank you.
The diesel is a little more expensive to keep around including insurance. Mileage is better. It takes twice as much oil, and though it gets changed half as often, I've been using an expensive nanoborate additive that adds $30 to the cost. It gets fuel filters changed much more frequently. By far and large, the rest of the maintenance is the same. The diesel is much quieter on the interstate, transmission doesn't shift around, and it tows like a boss.
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Beyond the towing aspects you gotta ask yourself what do you want to drive. I love the landcrusier for house chores, camping and runs to lake tahoe.
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Location, Location, Location. An undersized tow vehicle can work on the flat but something bigger is better for hilly areas. I've towed a 20ft enclosed with a Chevy Silverado 5.3 and 6.0 and I borrow the 6.0 every time it's possible. It just tows better. If it was in my budget I'd get a Ford Ecoboost F150.
The other thing to realize is that towing is hard on transmissions. I had a 97 Chevy Silverado I used to regularly tow a 12 ft trailer. At 80,000 miles the tranny died. It died again at 120,000.
The other thing to realize is that towing is hard on transmissions. I had a 97 Chevy Silverado I used to regularly tow a 12 ft trailer. At 80,000 miles the tranny died. It died again at 120,000.
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Elite Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,693
Total Cats: 222
From: OKC, OK
I tow with a 93 landcruiser. One of my friends has a 2007 4 runner. Both tow open wheel trailers great. The landcruiser has a more robust drive train and suspension. The 4 runner (V8) has a stronger motor.
Beyond the towing aspects you gotta ask yourself what do you want to drive. I love the landcrusier for house chores, camping and runs to lake tahoe.
Beyond the towing aspects you gotta ask yourself what do you want to drive. I love the landcrusier for house chores, camping and runs to lake tahoe.
What I'd really like to do is keep driving the NC on a daily basis, pick up an older truck to tow with and be done. Unfortunately, we just don't have room to have a DD for the wife, a DD for me, a tow rig and trailer for me, and the track car.
So I'm trying to come up with the best mix of size/towing ability/longevity/price/"niceness" for something that will serve as DD, tow rig and road trip vehicle hopefully for the next 6-7 years.
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I always add a large aftermarket trans cooler even if the truck has a trans cooler already.
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+1; I had one added to my F-150 immediately. An inexpensive oversize aluminum radiator from eBay isn't a bad idea either.
Last edited by Lincoln Logs; Dec 2, 2013 at 08:22 PM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 164
Total Cats: 6
From: Phoenix
Just picked this up to try out the whole towing thing:
It's a 2003 K1500 with 118k. I figure there's plenty of room for sleeping in the back. I plan to borrow a trailer for a few events to see how I like it, before I commit to buying anything.
It's a 2003 K1500 with 118k. I figure there's plenty of room for sleeping in the back. I plan to borrow a trailer for a few events to see how I like it, before I commit to buying anything.
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 87
Total Cats: 0
From: Greenville SC
Nice rig! Looks like a Prevost compared to my original 68 Ranchero!
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 164
Total Cats: 6
From: Phoenix
Yeah, for someone who has owned sports cars his whole life, driving this thing is borderline life-changing. I have to constantly remind myself it is a 2.5 ton steel projectile, not a go kart...
Back on topic, is there any downside to the "runway" type open trailers vs. a full deck? Other than not being able to carry around other, non-car crap with them.
Back on topic, is there any downside to the "runway" type open trailers vs. a full deck? Other than not being able to carry around other, non-car crap with them.
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You cant put an ez-up over an open deck trailer and put tables and chairs on it to have a redneck porch at the track. But with a full deck trailer you cant drop a tranny or change the oil by pulling the car onto the trailer.
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Full deck with mods. The boards are usually screwed down and held in with a welded on piece at the rear. Unless you use it regular stuff, you can make the center section removable with a little work.
I would love to upgrade to a proper car hauler but I use my utility trailer as that too often.
I would love to upgrade to a proper car hauler but I use my utility trailer as that too often.
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Future looks bright:
Toyota Tundra Diesel Undergoing Testing » AutoGuide.com News
While Nissan has said it will offer a new diesel option for the Titan, Toyota is also investigating a diesel powertrain, with a source familiar to the project informing AutoGuide that diesel Tundras are already undergoing testing.
Speaking with Tundra chief engineer Mike Sweers, he wouldn’t confirm or deny the reports but did say that the earliest any such option would arrive would be 2017. The reason for the date is that new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations come into place then, essentially making any current diesel engine irrelevant.
According to Sweers a diesel designed to meet current emissions regulations would be obsolete in 2017 while an engine designed to run past 2017 would, presumably, be either uncompetitive, too expensive or both in the current market.
SEE ALSO: 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Review
Despite that, the next-generation Nissan Titan is rumored to launch in 2015 and will be powered by a 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8 making around 300 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
Currently, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel makes use of a 3.0-liter turbodiesel making 240 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque enabling it to tow 9,200 lbs while achieving 27 MPG combined.
Sweers spoke highly of diesel engines and commended Ram for the risks they took with the new 1500, including not just the diesel, but also the air ride suspension and eight-speed transmission, commenting that the gambles appear to have paid off.
Speaking with Tundra chief engineer Mike Sweers, he wouldn’t confirm or deny the reports but did say that the earliest any such option would arrive would be 2017. The reason for the date is that new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations come into place then, essentially making any current diesel engine irrelevant.
According to Sweers a diesel designed to meet current emissions regulations would be obsolete in 2017 while an engine designed to run past 2017 would, presumably, be either uncompetitive, too expensive or both in the current market.
SEE ALSO: 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Review
Despite that, the next-generation Nissan Titan is rumored to launch in 2015 and will be powered by a 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8 making around 300 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
Currently, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel makes use of a 3.0-liter turbodiesel making 240 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque enabling it to tow 9,200 lbs while achieving 27 MPG combined.
Sweers spoke highly of diesel engines and commended Ram for the risks they took with the new 1500, including not just the diesel, but also the air ride suspension and eight-speed transmission, commenting that the gambles appear to have paid off.
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