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What do YOU use to tow your track car?

Old 03-09-2017, 04:59 PM
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Hrmm, those look fun!

I think the grades in the Smokies are no more than 8% max, up to ~3000ft maybe.
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Old 03-09-2017, 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by emilio700
And its important to be able to hold 60-65 with the A/C on and low ttrans/coolant/oil temps
Isn't the speed limit with a trailer 55 in CA?

Maybe CHP only really cares if you have out of state plates... good for mpgs, though.
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Old 03-09-2017, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Roda
Isn't the speed limit with a trailer 55 in CA?
Attached Thumbnails What do YOU use to tow your track car?-sweet-brown.jpg  
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Old 03-09-2017, 07:35 PM
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How about one of these? Any issues with 6.0L from Chevy? Slightly fancier then the 1500 Suburban, not any more expensive if I look near Braineack.
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Old 03-09-2017, 08:01 PM
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I was about to say go for it, and then I saw this:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia
According to information from the Highway Loss Data Institute, the Cadillac Escalade is the most stolen vehicle in the U.S.[3]
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Old 03-09-2017, 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
I was about to say go for it, and then I saw this:
Good catch. I got the VIN's of 2 different ones. Not to afraid of it actually being stolen. Insurance is about $46 a month on the Escalades. Only $6 more a month then my 94 miata's.

Last edited by shuiend; 03-09-2017 at 09:45 PM.
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Old 03-09-2017, 08:37 PM
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The 6.0 is reliable. The plastic heater core inlets can rub at the firewall and leak over time on some models of trucks.
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Old 03-09-2017, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by shuiend
How about one of these? Any issues with 6.0L from Chevy? Slightly fancier then the 1500 Suburban, not any more expensive if I look near Braineack.
Does the tow capacity take a hit due to the increased weight of all the balla' luxury? That'd be the only thing I'd be concerned with, but it's probably negligible.
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Old 03-09-2017, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by z31maniac
Does the tow capacity take a hit due to the increased weight of all the balla' luxury? That'd be the only thing I'd be concerned with, but it's probably negligible.
Not enough for me to care. I think it goes from 8500 to 7500 or something.
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Old 03-09-2017, 09:36 PM
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A very good friend of mine (Marty Rauch) has a 5.3 in a Tahoe and he has been pulling his 3 axle trailer since our Honda Challenge/Honda Cup days and has been hiccup free.
I think it has 300k on it now and he still uses it to pull his trailer almost 20 years later!



I have also seen some incredible deals on older Class A gas (and some diesel) RV's that are in the 10k-15k range that have less than 100k miles.
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Old 03-09-2017, 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by d k
A very good friend of mine (Marty Rauch) has a 5.3 in a Tahoe and he has been pulling his 3 axle trailer since our Honda Challenge/Honda Cup days and has been hiccup free.
I think it has 300k on it now and he still uses it to pull his trailer almost 20 years later!



I have also seen some incredible deals on older Class A gas (and some diesel) RV's that are in the 10k-15k range that have less than 100k miles.
From what I have read the Suburban is slightly better then the Tahoe for towing due to the longer length, which is the only reason I have not looked at the Tahoe.

Long term I want a diesel RV. It just is not in the budget for a good long while.
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Old 03-09-2017, 11:17 PM
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The Tahoe is around 115" wheelbase, the Suburban is around 130" (roughly the same as a crew cab short bed). That makes a huge difference to trailer stability.

--Ian
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Old 03-15-2017, 11:36 AM
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Taking a look at this 2001 7.3 F-350 this afternoon. It is very cheap, and body is a bit rough, but says it runs great and is already chipped for more power. At the price it is, I probably would learn to deal with a pickup.



Also looking at a 04 Burban at lunch today.
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Old 03-15-2017, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by shuiend
Also looking at a 04 Burban at lunch today.
Beware of suburban's weak 4L60 transmission. The transmission in my 06 1500 suburban started slipping when I towed the miata to Roebling road from Athens and back.
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Old 03-15-2017, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by redrider706
Beware of suburban's weak 4L60 transmission. The transmission in my 06 1500 suburban started slipping when I towed the miata to Roebling road from Athens and back.
I know the 4l60 is not the greatest, but should be good enough for an open trailer and miata. I will upgrade the trans cooler.
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Old 03-15-2017, 12:39 PM
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700r4 /4l60e have weak 3-4 clutch packs, cooler helps but a good shift kit or tune increases line pressure and helps life and durability greatly.

With that said I dispise that trans.
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Old 03-15-2017, 12:54 PM
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Shuiend on the burban or the Caddy look for broken exhaust studs (typical if they pull a trailer) and if AWD the front diff sucks I just had mine rebuilt for 1K mine is a 02 GMC Yukon XL Denali
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Old 03-15-2017, 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Bronson M
700r4 /4l60e have weak 3-4 clutch packs, cooler helps but a good shift kit or tune increases line pressure and helps life and durability greatly.

With that said I dispise that trans.
Originally Posted by dr_boone
Shuiend on the burban or the Caddy look for broken exhaust studs (typical if they pull a trailer) and if AWD the front diff sucks I just had mine rebuilt for 1K mine is a 02 GMC Yukon XL Denali
Good to know about getting a tune to increase pressure. Also I have not seen any broken studs on any of the burbans I have looked at. Savington posted a bit back saying his parents Burban did good towing the miata on an open trailer. Ones I have looked at have all been RWD, so no issue with front diffs. The one today was a single owner, and only 150k and ran nice. Those were the pluses. It needs new tires, a trailer hitch receiver, CEL is on, and the speedo does not work. So passing on it for now. Hoping the F-350 checks out pretty good.
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Old 03-15-2017, 02:22 PM
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The 2500 Suburban gets the 4L80E, right?

--Ian
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Old 03-15-2017, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by codrus
The 2500 Suburban gets the 4L80E, right?

--Ian
Yes the 2500 has the 4L80E. That was what I was originally looking for, but they are few and far between. Also still probably a bit overkill for towing 4-5k.
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