Good inexpensive truck to tow boat?

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:46 pm

Something that could eventually tow a 248 Vista? As I fixed up my car to sell, I kinda fell back in love with it. It's running and looking amazing.

I'm now looking into inexpensive options for something that could tow a 248 Vista (my end goal of boats) on the highway up to 300mi away each direction tops.

Ideas? Budget is in the 2-3k range (remember stuff in florida is CHEAPP). The truck won't get much use, may be driven 1-2 times a month tops.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:53 pm

Something like?

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3937307600.html

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3957180345.html

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3948857384.html

etc etc

I like the idea of the Suburban.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:59 am

Don't buy a 1/2 ton truck.

Find a 97-99 Chevy 2500 with a 5.7 liter and the 4L80e transmission. It will pull anything you can put behind it and be as reliable as the day is long. If you want a Suburban only look at the 3/4 ton ones and try as hard as you can to find one with the small block. While the 454 is a great engine, it is overkill and burns gas like there is no tomorrow.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:07 am

Here's an interesting option:

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3964002928.html

Drop in a motor and you have a great tow rig.

Toddely · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:23 am

I like the 4x4 suburban, Gonna be easier getting up the ramp with the boat. Great Price. Looks pretty clean. I have a 2011 F-150 4x4 and I pull my little boat around like its not even there. Sure a 3/4 ton is nice but for the price of the suburban you could take it in and get extra leaf spring or just put H/D air bags under the rear axel. Quick and easy to do. Alot of guys have them on there trucks here at work and they work Great. Truck doesn't squat. they only run around $300. Good luck with your search.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:32 am

Boating forums are full of posts about disappointment with Suburban towing. It's not just power, it's also suspension, brakes, etc.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:32 am

Chevy brakes are not known for their stopping power. Most are single pot garbage.

This just popped up locally. Price is awesome but WTF is with the interior??! I feel like I'm in a burt reynolds movie about 70's porn.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3951645656.html

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:10 pm

ric wrote:

Chevy brakes are not known for their stopping power. Most are single pot garbage.

This just popped up locally. Price is awesome but WTF is with the interior??! I feel like I'm in a burt reynolds movie about 70's porn.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3951645656.html

You wouldn't be happy with a TBI 454. They don't have that much power and they consume fuel at a ridiculous rate.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:13 pm

230 Mike wrote:

Boating forums are full of posts about disappointment with Suburban towing. It's not just power, it's also suspension, brakes, etc.

Those comments apply to 1/2 Suburbans only. That is why I said to look at only the 3/4 ton ones. When you bump to the 3/4 ton chassis, you get a bigger frame, far bigger breaks, a bigger axle, a heavy stack of leaf springs and a real transmission (4L80e). For boat towing a 3/4 Suburban is actually hard to beat.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:20 pm

Keep in mind that a 1/2 ton truck of today is about equivalent to a 3/4 ton truck from the mid 90s. Look at GVWR, GCWR and axle ratings. The heaviest 3/4 truck GM made in the 90s had a GVWR of 8,600 lbs and a GCWR of 15,000 lbs. The truck empty weighs 6,000 lbs so that leaves only 9,000 lbs for a trailer and cargo.

Don't get me wrong, the old trucks are great and in my opinion underrated and therefore they will last a long time. As far as the current 1/2 ton trucks that have ridiculously high "tow ratings" I wonder how they will hold up.

rpengr · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:44 pm

ric wrote:

Chevy brakes are not known for their stopping power. Most are single pot garbage.

This just popped up locally. Price is awesome but WTF is with the interior??! I feel like I'm in a burt reynolds movie about 70's porn.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3951645656.html

ric,
That's awesome. Don't you like it pink inside?

Toddely · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:05 pm

The Shaggin Waggin to go with the Stabbin Cabin.

The perfect combo.

john55c · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:41 pm

Toddely wrote:

The Shaggin Waggin to go with the Stabbin Cabin.

The perfect combo.

KerrNC · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:21 pm

I too was looking for a tow vehicle and wound up with a 2006 Tahoe - 7500 lb tow rating to pull about 4500 lb. Found a much larger and better selection of used Suburbans and Tahoes than pickups which seem to be selling way too high, or the affordable ones are used to death. But of course I don't have a 24 footer...

neutron · **Posted:** Wed Jul 31, 2013 8:53 am

KerrNC wrote:

I too was looking for a tow vehicle and wound up with a 2006 Tahoe - 7500 lb tow rating to pull about 4500 lb. Found a much larger and better selection of used Suburbans and Tahoes than pickups which seem to be selling way too high, or the affordable ones are used to death. But of course I don't have a 24 footer...

with a 248vista, trailer, gear, fuel, he is looking to have a tow rating of 9000lbs or more..a 248 weighs in around 6000lbs empty without trailer....."gonna need a bigger truck!"

www.iFourWinns.com

Good inexpensive truck to tow boat?

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