Yet another tow vehicle question

[phatdaddy]

Tuna, you can probably get into a dodge cheaper, but the chevy's gas mileage will soon make up the difference. I've got a dodge 1500 w 5.9 (10 mpg) that i;ve pulled the v to the keys 5 times (1500 miles), but this years we're going to use the wife's Tahoe.

[macojoe]

My 1500 Chevy gets 14 mpg no matter what I do. A little less with the camper

[regidog]

tahoe suspension is too soft, but plenty of power from the 350cu. I'd recommend a 2500 Suburban if you choice to go with something with passenger space.

[macojoe]

I agree, thats why I went to the bone yard and got 2500 springs.

Skools has like 5 Tahoes I think he can tell you how they are!

[willy]

Like others have said 1/2 ton will do it OK, three things are important when towing and it varies depending on whether you will tow a lot or for longer distances etc. For short hops basically anything will work within reason.
first issue is wheel base, shorter vehicles may have the power to tow but their handling towing is shaky, so is there stopping power especially when you have to do it quick. Longer wheel base vehicles will track better down the road and handle the torsional loads of road variances up down and side to side and the wind etc. they are also a lot more stable under manuevering and braking conditions.
second is not power! second is braking, smaller vehicles generally have smaller brakes, calipers drums and swept area on them to dissapate heat and apply pressure. Ask anyone who tows a lot, in varied hill and highway condition who has had to stop a vehicle with 5-7 thousand pounds behind it hard because granny pulled out in front of you, it is definetly the second most important thing if not the first. That depends on what sh!t has happened to you, because as you know some people live charmed lives inspite of their IQ.
Third is power, basically bigger engines, V8's especially actually are more effiecent because they make there power (torque) in lower RPM ranges. I have owned some very tough V6's that towed with but they had to work much harder and the fuel economy went way down where as the V8's went down only marginally.
Also a vehicle that you should consider if you can find one in good shape is the older F150's if you want a half ton(various cab seating available) with the older fuel injected straight 6 (300 cubes) it towed well got great gas mileage and had more torque than a lot of V8's. I worked for thirty years with a cop who towed his 30' camper to British Columbia from NJ every summer with his family in a F150 with the afformentioned straight six and never broke down once, had over 300G's on the first one when he finally broke down and bought his second.
Me persoanlly I went with the Super Duty F250 with the 5.4 V8. Because I tow a lot and also go hunting all over the place and needed large carrying capacity and good off road capability where I go. Plus I unlike some Windy fellows around here My balls are huge but they are attached and in my pants where they actually perform their function

[reelapeelin]

F150 5.4 Litre w/tow package...all day, all night wherever ya wanna

[mckinnonfishing]

all this talk about half tons and 2500s..... look if I can pull this out of the water in my jeep wrangler your fine in your 1500. in 4 wheel low of course.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by mckinnonfishing

all this talk about half tons and 2500s..... look if I can pull this out of the water in my jeep wrangler your fine in your 1500. in 4 wheel low of course.

I towed a WELLCRAFT 248 with twin 225's on the back and 200 gallons of fuel on board with a JEEP CHEROKEE! And I had no problems at the ramp with it, it was just that pesky braking problem on the road. Any of the half tons will be more than capable, or even alot of the 1/4 tons will do it as well. The RANGERS were never really up to the task of towing much, but the S-10's(not the current COLORADO's), DAKOTA's, and even the heavier TACOMAS can do it.

[Shawsee]

I agree with Ferm and all of the above. My Dakota has the 318 and she tows awesome. As Ferm said perfectly, stopping can be a problem if the trailer has no brakes(like mine), but as long as you are careful & alert you wont have problems.

[Bygracealone]

Ferm, I did the same thing... I towed the 248 that I sold to Skool's which had a bracket and twin 200's on it with a JEEP LIBERTY!!! No problem. The thing is, I only had to drive a couple blocks to the ramp. That said, I would never have towed on any major road or highway. Stopping would certainly be an issue.

So, I also agree with all that has been said, and especially Willy's comments about the importance of brakes and wheel base if you plan to tow further than I do...

By the way, I now tow with an 06 Durango 4.7L magnum V8. I towed from FL to MD and could barely tell I had anything behind me...