Re: Tow Vehicle

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Jim,

For a 4000lb load, any half ton pickup will do (my 96 Ram half ton is rated 
at over 8,000 pounds). I haven't really heard anything bad about any of the 
diesels from the Big 3 but Dodge does use a Cummins engine with (I think) 
electronic valve train which makes it very tunable if you want to play with 
it later. Also, I was just reading yesterday that Dodge is going to have 
their displacement on demand in Rams with a Hemi this fall which they say 
should make it get 21-22 MPG highway (they're also giving it a face lift 
and it looks much better now). Also, GM moved up the redesign of their 
trucks by two years (I think pickups are due next spring) so you may be 
able to get some good deals on the "old" ones when the new trucks come out.

You may also want to compare 3/4 ton to 1 ton models price-wise. When I was 
looking, it was possible to get a 1 ton for a little less than a 3/4 ton 
(both diesels) from Dodge. The 3/4 ton was a bit more plush but you gain a 
lot of towing capacity in the 1 ton.

Matt

At 10:24 PM 7/18/2005 -0400, you wrote:
> This is sorta off-topic, but it does concern MY AMC's.
>
> I'll be retiring this yr from the Navy Reserve and hope to be able to 
> finally start attenting more car shows/AMC meets.  I don't really have a 
> show-quality car, although my wife has been urging me to sell some things, 
> pool the cash and buy one good car, but that's another story.
>
> Anyway, I've been looking for a tow vehicle, probably something new or 
> near new.  I'm looking at Diesel PU's from the big three, most likely a 
> Super Duty F250.  I am concerned about fuel mileage, especially in normal 
> driving.  Trouble is, the heavier trucks like that aren't rated by the 
> government and I can't get a clear consensus on what a vehicle like what 
> I'm after would get.  Any ideas/websites you could direct me to?
>
> I'm thinking a stripper reg cab 2WD diesel/6 sp manual trans/3.73 
> gears.  Figure that's plenty for the 4000 lbs or so that a loaded car 
> trailer would be.  I want something that has capacity to spare so it isn't 
> staining when going down the road, can handle hills OK, etc...
>
> I hear the diesel PU's get 20+ MPG.  The only person I know around here 
> first of is full of BS, and second has a crew cab, lifted, 4WD with auto 
> that I think is getting some 18-20 mpg if I can filter thru his crap 
> correctly.  I know other people "that knows someone" that only gets 
> 14mpg.  The combo I stated above should do better than that by a decent margin.
>
> Jim Boone
> Mims, FL
>
> =============================================================
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mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
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