Older tow vehicles

[80R100RT]

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.

[jerem0621]

Legislated out of service? Care to expound on that? Local law? Lots of 70's trucks around here still working everyday.

Thanks!

[BigToe]

I still would be towing with my 1979 Ford truck, but the carbureted gas hog with a bird's nest of vacuum lines, delay valves, and a smog pump was legislated out of service in keeping with improved emissions standards.

I suspect the same will eventually happen with the 2000 model I replaced the 1979 model with. Either way, I've remained on the 20 year tow vehicle life cycle plan.

[bovellois]

We're just gettin' going here with this 97 RAM CTD approaching 200 000 miles (see profile). The essential accessories (AC, heater, radio, power windows/mirrors) are working :C. All the kinks (there were a few : were found and fixed during warranty, including 4 years of extended coverage. To keep rust at bay in this salt mine :M we make liberal use of undercoating. Will report in 2 years about CounterAct which has been on continuously for the last 3 years. At least we don't get deadly static shocks :E anymore! Main cosmestic concern is the clearcoat starting to peel everywhere. Any suggestion to stop it from spreading?

[Taco]

Mine is a stripper model. For a truck I drive 8k miles a year I am not paying 5k more for some bells and whistles i don't really care much about. As long as it has air conditioning, and a radio, I'm pretty happy.

[jerem0621]

Hey Ben, I own a 'stripper' model. 99 F350 crew cab dually...Per the scale it weighs 7300 lbs just sitting there with a full tank of gas. GVWR is 11600, so thats what, 4,300 lbs of payload?

Not too bad for an old 99 gasser...

[BenK]

Oh, loading or stressing a vehicle...

My Uncle Lechleitner and Marty are the only guys I know of who own a 'curb'
vehicle...AKA...stripper model

Uncle Bill owned a custom sheetmetal shop (SS commercial kitchens) and had
several 3/4 ton Chevy's. Better deal than a 1 ton, except for his on dually
flat bed

No one pinched the penny harder than Uncle Bill, who used the severe duty
schedule and the best materials he could afford (before synthetics came available)

His pickups all were in the 300K-500K mile range and normally retired after
the body fell apart out here in Calif where the weather is kind to vehicles

Usually the body falling apart from the banging his workers

All gassers and small block. Two were in-line six's. All manual.

[BenK]

Do you folks know that you are really talking about wear & tear and
the relationship to specifications/limits/ratings and the biggie maintenance ?

A xxxx lb GVWR TV that never towed 'should' last much longer and/or
be in much better condition vs one towing over it's limits, at it's
limits, under it's limits...

Toss in maintenance both schedule and materials. Sure the talent of
the mechanic plays too

Even if driven extremely hard without towing, today's computer controlled
will NOT allow it to over rev...unless a tuner or some such that removed
or modifies those dialed in safeties

Finally, that a bigger or next higher class TV towing the same trailer
as a lower class TV will last longer...given the same maintenance schedule
and materials...

Back to the regular program...the recent recall of issues with the
braking system because the 'highly integrated' computerized system
may have the brakes in-operable because of a non-brake issue.

The traction control system uses ABS to brake one or more corners
during adverse conditions...whacked out and stopped the function of
the whole braking system (ABS at the center of that)

Nope, more fuel on my fire for keeping mine forever....

[camperpaul]

Jarlaxle wrote:

My uncle tows his Airstream with a 1979 F-250.

Somebody tows with something older than my '82 Diesel Suburban.

[Jarlaxle]

My uncle tows his Airstream with a 1979 F-250. My friend drives a 1997 F-250 diesel...270,000+ miles on it. I'm about to turn 200K on my 1997 Cherokee, though I drive my Coupe de Ville in the summer.

[SolidAxleDurang]

rightyouareken wrote:
I envy you guys. Save for a 91 Miata that I had for close to 10 years, the longest I've owned a vehicle has been just under 3 years. I get bored and my mind wanders to what I could be driving. My wife on the other hand has had her 07 Murano since new and its paid off. She says this truck had better last me at least 3-4 more years. We'll see!

A new truck (or any vehicle for that matter) every 3 to 4 years sounds like a crappy retirement plan.

[bucky]

I seem to be stuck on '99s. Last 3 TVs were 99 K2500 7.4 Burb, 99 F250 PSD, and now a 99 K3500 7.4 dually. I am not trying to impress anybody, and I can't justify anymore than that for something that mostly sits.

[cdar]

This post and all replies was exactly what I needed to hear as well. I'm considering a 2005 GM 2500HD with 144k miles as a new TV. I'm concerned about the mileage but it doesn't appear that I really should be, rather I should be focused on how the vehicle has been maintained and taken care of...

Thanks for this post.

[time2roll]

I have some more years before it is anywhere near a classic but I am starting to call the F150 the "old man".

[jerem0621]

camping man wrote:
I like old, the older the better. My 05 Dodge sits my yard all week, so I can drive my older 97 Grandprix daily . And on the weekend, I ride my even older 84 Goldwing around town. Every thing is payed for, so it's free sailing.

I had an 84 Wing. DW wanted a cruiser so I sold the wing to get a Kawasaki Cruiser...DW says if we ever own another bike it will be a WING.

Hmmm. Time to head over to Craigslist. Lol