Towing mileage/capability

Bluedeacon wrote:
Thanks. I'm thinking southern truck, too. I have one friend in Tampa but I'm not sure how the ocean treats things. I can always reach out on one of my long term forums for the Southwest, and I have a former dealer - son of our elderly neighbor - in Atlanta. It may be sooner than later, the Yukon died again and depending what I find it might be time to find new. If I can revive it...

Our son just began school in Tampa (St Pete) last fall. He and I have both been keeping our eyes out for something local for a car/truck for him, rather than driving or shipping his car down there next year.
In general, it looks like a bad place to shop for vehicles.
Of course one can find a needle in a haystack sometimes, but between the sun and salt, not a mecca for good condition older used cars.

Having lived in many parts of the country, I'd rank, in general, worst to best for old car condition as follows.

1. The salt belt, upper midwest/northeast.
2. The mountain west states
3. Gulf/Atlantic coast.
4. "Humid southern states
5. "Dry" southern states
6. Inland NW
7. Coastal PNW
The difference around here on the wet side of WA/OR is very little salt, as the immediate coastal areas are sparsely populated, so very few vehicles get the salt air.
The 6+ mo of rain is a big bonus across the board. Less UV damage than most other areas. Less wear n tear on chassis/drivetrain as wet surfaces are overall easier on components (easy evidence is how tires last longer here). Constant undercarriage wash for 6 months a year. Any salt or calcium they do put down here gets washed off by default if you drive it regularly.