Older tow vehicles

I was just curious as to whether many folks use older trucks to tow their rigs. The price of new trucks is far beyond our means. Thus far I have had good results with my older Dodge that I have $8,000 in.

What do you consider 'older'? Twenty years? three years? that number might help you get some responses. Incidentally I ride a 1990 BMW K bike that runs just as good as the day it was made. Age is really more a function of maintenance in any vehicle.

Yup sure do. See sig... My budget was about 2500 less than yours to account for repairs etc. so far it's been a great truck. Read online about someone saying their 05 was old. Lol. I just chuckled.

Love it!!

Older is a state of mind! Many have referred to my 01 Ram CTD as real old, but it is still straight no rust and pulls our 05 Copper Canyon with ease. With only 258,500 miles it will be a while before I am looking for a replacement.

rhagfo wrote:
Older is a state of mind! Many have referred to my 01 Ram CTD as real old, but it is still straight no rust and pulls our 05 Copper Canyon with ease. With only 258,500 miles it will be a while before I am looking for a replacement.

LOL
I had a former member call mine an " antique with a tractor engine "
I took it as a complement :B

Thanks for the replies. The 1997 I have seems practically new to me. I can work on it and do all maintenence operations myself. The devil is in the details and maintenence is one you cannot ignore. After all, the '61 cushman eagle I bought new is still running. About the K75, those will run until you get really tired of them.

About the K75, those will run until you get really tired of them.

So will the K100LT that I have. But, at the end of the day and having owned both, I prefer the R bikes.

After we purchased our truck 4 years ago for $20k a relative just had to go out and one up us. They bought a brand new fully loaded truck for $60k. Fast forward to today and our truck has been free and clear for 2 years while they can not even afford to put fuel in theirs. They still have 2 years of $1000 per month payments! So to answer your question... I will take an older paid for truck any day of the week versus buying a new insanely expensive truck.

Oh and we get way better fuel economy too.

I don't know how old you're referring to. I have a 2005 2500 Duramax 4x4 that I bought new, 130K miles currently - still a youngster, pulls great, paid off and loving it.

Mine can be registered as an antique. It looks and runs like new.

372,000 Miles.

As beauty is in the eye of the beholder...so is 'what is old'...

I keep mine forever, or till the wheels fall off and can't/won't fix it anymore

Many trade every few years...and that range is from 2-3 years to 5-7 year, etc
Of those, many think nothing of running at the limits and/or over on a consistent
basis...meaning they are into the design margins (safety margins) and wear out
their rigs...but...since going to trade soon, no matter to them and pass that
worn out rig to the next owner(s)

My most current TV is a 1996 Suburban 8.6K GVWR and perfectly fine for 'me' at
+162K miles of extremely hard driving. Both empty and towing HEAVY from sea
level up to Lake Tahoe as one of many routes (but that is the main route)

Can still hang with most, but the big block is showing some wear and tear. So
a gosh darn, just have to start looking into a high output crate engine or
rebuild it myself. Ditto the automatic 4L80E.

Also have a 1980 Chevy C10 Silverado dad gave me. They (dad and brother) did NOT
take very good care of it, but it is at just under 500K miles now. 4th engine,
2nd automatic, and many rear bearing replacements due to neglect and over loading
for a half ton, but the HD version of it's era at 6,200 GVWR

I haul HEAVY several times a year. Normally in the +2,000 lb range, but not far
nor fast.

Many think it looks like a pile and it does, but okay with me, as it gets the
job done. At one time it was the high end option package (Silverado).

Also, depends what you are planning to tow, where you plan to tow and the biggie
how you drive & maintain it

So to me, an 'older' truck is my 1980 C10 and the 1996 is my 'newest' truck.

PS...my 1996 Suburban running empty with just me still puts a huge smile on my
face whenever that boy racer moment strikes... :)

Especially when out stopping a BMW 5 series on the boulevard...or beating that
sup'ed up half ton from the on ramp to the fast lane...