General "what do you tow with" thread.

I figured this might belong in here.

What do you guys use to tow? I know some guys here trust their car enough to drive it to and from the track (hustler?), but I've been looking at a 2nd car for DDing purposes and something that is able to tow my car at the same time.
Problem #1: I really really really don't want a truck, and I probably can't afford one anyway.
If nothing I like is capable of towing, I guess I'll be ballsy like hustler, and have a second beater to get to school/work with in case my car dies.

Friend thinks I can tow with a 4 cylinder Previa with 138 horsepower. lolno.
Pic related, sort of want.

 

I haven't towed my car yet, but if the need ever arises, I have a well-used 2000 F150 4.6 V8 that I picked up for $2300. 200K+ miles, but one owner, runs like a champ, A/C will freeze your ***, and it has just enough dents and scrapes on it to keep people from cutting me off in traffic...

 

I've been driving to-from races the last five years (25 weekends) with all my tings in the car (and four tires on the "roof")

This include all I need for a 2-4 day weekend ...

This winter I invested in something a bit more practical

Long ramps, Airride and a winch.
Sure, it's not much to fill with junk, but I now can fill the driver seat on the Miata and the passanger seat on the Transporter

A tire rack and tarp (at least partial) will happen sometime. But trailing a small caravan behind it would solve a lot of issues (but it start to get a lot of things on wheels that needs attention).

I could have chosen something a bit larger, but we are cursed with a total weight of 3500kg (7700lbs) and the road tax is based on weight so it's smart if you can stay light.,

 

07 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins 5.9
18.5' Carson Racer trailer (enclosed)

12mpg @ 65mph
19mpg @ 65mph towing open trailer
24mpg @ 70 mph empty, no trailer
Will go up any hill at any speed I choose with the A/C on in 110° heat

 

07 silverado 2500hd turbo diesel

Never owned a truck before and didn't really want one. Test drove one and I was sold. Hauls *** for a stock truck. Good gas mileage. Good resale value. Makes towing ridiculously easy even for a truck/towing newb like me.

 

98 silverado z71 5.7
Open flat bed car hauler w/ winch and long ramps.

Gets about 15mpg @75
12mpg @65 while towing

 

You cats need to look at the new Ecoboost Ford's. Ford has typically had really good luck with boosted gassers.

I think I've got the **** contemplating using her girlfriends XJ to tow the Miata.

 

A friend wants to sell me his '91 Chevy truck for 3k. Im not sure what the name of it is, its not the S10, its a c1500 maybe? 90k miles on it.

Opinions?

 

Damn, do they come stock like this, or did you have to have it built? I've been looking for something like this.

 

02 5.3 Tahoe 19ft open trailer. tranny and 20 tires strapped on

 

The Tahoe does surprisingly well towing. I towed a pig (Z28) on a pig trailer (U-haul) with one and it did great.

 

Good thread, I've been thinking about doing the same thing. I have a friend that tows his Miata behind an early-90s Pathfinder. Sorry for the lack of towing terms here, but he bought one of those triangular bars that RV guys use to drag their cars along with, no trailer or anything. This is mostly for short tows, but it seems to work pretty well for him.

 

I bought it from one that had it built staring from a pickup. His better half had decided that the vacation cottage needed some investment so it was cheap.
Perfect for me, since I'm much better at analyzing and planning than actual wrenching...

18mpg loaded at 75 (it's the 2.5 petrol engine, the 2.5 TDI might be more efficient).

 

I knew someone who tried flat-towing a Miata with a small SUV like that -- I think he gave it up after spinning the whole tow rig 360 degrees on one of the bridges that crosses the track going to the paddock at Laguna Seca. I didn't see it, but supposedly he didn't hit anything. As I understand it, the comparatively long wheelbase of a Miata (compared to a normal trailer!) makes for evil handling with a tow vehicle that light.

I use an '02 Silverado 2500HD diesel, and a cheap 16' steel-and-wood open trailer.

--Ian

 

I've towed with an 97 4Runner (3.4L 6cyl) and now with a 4.7L V8 4Runner. What a difference! With an aluminum trailer and a miata, the 6cyl CAN tow, but boy, you struggle up hills and into headwinds... tranny cooler is a must! The V8 4Runner tows really well and if I'm careful, I can get 13-14mpg while towing.

I recently got a 2001 Yukon XL (the 2500 big boy). It tows like there's nothing behind it and with the seats down, it basically has the same storage as an enclosed trailer!

Be careful if you're going to decide to flat-tow. With wheels on the ground, the car being towed *may* have to be registered and insured. At least that is the case in Cali.

Cheers,

Dean

 

BMW 535d E61 (272bhp twin turbo diesel) stationcar and a trailer. With the trailer loaded it still outruns most every day cars

 

'91 1500 Chevy? That would certainly do the job just fine and parts are plentiful and dirt cheap. Probably not worth more than $2500, though. It is a sturdy truck and would tow a Miata just fine.

 

MY06 Subaru Forester XT with an 1800kg (~3950lb) rated hitch.

 

'06 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 5.3 - wish I got a HD turbo....

 

05 Chevy 2500HD Duramax. Bought it in May '09 with 103,000 miles on it - just ticked over 163k on the way back from the track today. I'll drive it into the ground, so I figure another 4-5 years or so. Then I'll get another one

In Reno over Christmas - 19*F, and I would have been hopelessly stuck in that neighborhood without 4wd.


19mpg unloaded at 70, 16mpg towing a flatbed at 70, 11mpg towing our 9000lb 28" enclosed trailer at 68-70. I can't feel the flatbed behind me.

The new 3.5L Ecoboost F150 is the first gas truck that I'd legitimately cross-shop against the current 2500-series diesels.