I need a new tow vehicle

[NJ6PACK]

All good things must come to an end 😞

After 19 states, 6 NASCAR Tracks, 11yrs and 90,000 miles 90% of which were towing the TT my Van is dead.

Tow Vehicle is listed in my signature.... It was the best vehicle I ever had

The past year and and a half it has become increasingly unreliable and I've dumped more money into it than I should of to keep it running, On top of that I have been fighting rust all over the vehicle with Bondo ..... Time to look for a new (used) tow vehicle.

I need suggestions on a Tow Vehicle search but I am a little out of date as to what's a good Tow Vehicle for 2 adults 2 11yr olds and a 17 1/2 yr old.

The GVWR of my TT is 8,000 lbs but I want a vehicle with a higher tow rating in case I upgrade the TT to something heaver and bigger.

I would love to find another Ford Econoline E350 V10 but they seem hard to find.

Are Suburbans any good?...I don't see any 2500 models anymore.

I would also would consider a pickup truck but it must be a 4 door model..... Ford, Chevy Dodge, it doesn't matter as long as it has the towing power and then some.

Any suggestions would be appreciated....Thanks

[anw7405]

NJ6PACK - What kind of suburban did you have and what did you tow with it?

After most or all of my kids are out of car seats I could see a truck working for us, but not till then.

[Dougie123]

We have 4 kids and have been towing with a Ram 2500 crew cab (with the bench seat up front) for years. We had a suburban, but towing with it was not that great, and having the bed to toss in bikes, firewood, coolers, nasty smelling wet clothes, sandy beach gear, etc, is a huge plus for us.

We recently switched from a 2011 2500 crew cab hemi w/4.10 rear to a slightly used 2017 ram 2500 crew cab diesel, but both have the bench seat up front.

If you are sold on 2500’s, my only advice is to find one with the highest payload capacity. Don’t worry about gas vs diesel. Both will get the job done, but with a large family and all the associated stuff , you can blow out your payload numbers pretty quickly.

[NJ6PACK]

Thanks for the insight, I have my mechanic going over it Saturday.... I also sopke to a local spring shop that I have delt with and they said would look it over, worst case they said they could remove the spacers and bring it back to factory specs for about $500.00

[anw7405]

most of the time leveling kits are pretty harmless. That being said I looked up a 3" leveling kit for that truck and it is more than just spacers. It looks like it relocates your track bar and pitman arm. I would find one without any of that if it were me but just my opinion. But if you like the look of it i'm sure its safe. The solid axles are pretty basic.

[NJ6PACK]

Another update.

Thanks for the suggestions....Keep them coming.

I found a 2016 RAM 2500 Tradesman Crew Cab 4x4 / 6ft bed / 6.4L / 4.10 gear ratio

It has less than 15,000 miles on it, looks really clean.

One thing got my attention is that it has a 3inch leveling kit on it..... should I be concerned about this?

Some quick internet searches had mixed thoughts about a leveling kit.... some say air bags will fix the sag problems

Any thoughts? ....... Don't but this thruc?

[gmckenzie]

NJ6PACK wrote:
Thanks for all the great suggestions and PM's

I think I will go with a RAM Pickup Truck because as one has suggested I have 4 kids.... The oldest is 21 next month so he really doesn't go with us much and when he does he shows up in his own car. That leaves my 17 yr old daughter and the 11yr old twins so I think a crew cab would work for me....anyone else do this? (3 in the back)

I have my eye on 2 trucks that fit my price / age / mileage range:

Truck #1 is a 2013 Ram 2500 SLT crew cab 4x4 / 5.7L Hemi / short bed / 3.73 gear ratio / 11,290lb tow rating

Truck #2 is a 2012 Ran 2500 St crew cab 4x4 / 5.7L Hemi / long bed / 3.73 gear ratio / 10,350lb tow rating

The interior of Truck#2 looks nicer, one thing I like is the center console goes completely to the dash.... Truck #1 doesn't have console connect to the dash..... does anyone know if I can get an aftermarket (ebay!) to fill that in?

Most importantly there is a 940lb difference in tow ratings between the two trucks....is this a big deal that I should be concerned with? both truck are with in a few hundred bucks of each other ...... either way my mechanic said I will see a big difference in towing considering where I will be coming from, a 1999 E350 Super Duty Van w/ a V10

Anything else I'm missing?

Payload may be more of an issue than towing capacity. Can you see the payoad numbers for both?

[Grit_dog]

Well an early 4th gen with high gears and the little V8 will probably have about the same power as your old van. If you’re good with that, then it’ll do the trick.
IdaD is right on the chassis. I’d consider that, although the 3rd gen chassi under the trucks you’re looking at is fine. Just newer = better in this regard.

[APT]

If you like the Rams, I recommend the 6.4L with 4.10 axle. Ram's transmission gearing is a bit weaker than Ford/GM 6-spds.

[Ralph_Cramden]

May I suggest the standard RVnet answer to the OP's question?

Lets see, 8000 lb TT, 5 people?????? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm??????

You need an F450 dually at least, although a 1/2 ton with the egoboost and HDPP has the same capability.........or an International 9900i with a Cummins X15.

[busterbrown73]

I own one and very partial to it...a Ram 2500 Megacab 6.4L. It sits on the LWB 8 feet bed chassis. The room in front of the second row is unbelieveable. If you do pick up a 4th gen RAM (2014+), I would highly suggest the 6.4 L Hemi. The 5.7L is adequate. It would makes less horses and torque than its big brother. The 6.4L is the workhorse of the 2. When I see this generation for sale in the used market, the trucks tend to be equipped with the 5.7L; I think owners tend to hold on to their 6.4 trucks longer. Resale prices seem to be much lower for the 5.7L 2500s too.

Again, 2014+ Ram 2500 6.4L Megacab for the win. 😉

[4x4ord]

If I only got 90,000 miles on my Ford before it was unreliable I wouldn't be buying another Ford that's for sure.....but at 100,000 miles my 2011 Ford F350 was like new and had cost me nothing on repairs when I got rid of it in 2016.

Maybe a Ram will treat you better.

[IdaD]

The 2013+ 3500 or 2014+ 2500 get the new chassis and beefier front suspension setup, so I would recommend those over the older Rams.

[NJ6PACK]

1 year newer than 2013? ..... that would 2014 - 2018 right

[anw7405]

You might want to look 1 year newer (I think) for the 6.4 Hemi. I hear really good things about those. Just a thought.