The Perfect Pickup to Tow With and Be Towed ?

Thanks to all for your replies and advice. I will review the recommended vehicles.

Jim

Ford gives exact specifics on four wheel down towing for all of their vehicles. I think it's in their towing guide which is downloadable as a PDF

The new 8 speed Ram 1500s can be towed but that might be dependent on which 4wd unit. I would consider and drive the Ram 1500 Hemi & Ecodiesel. Also the Ford 3.5 EB and the GM 6.2 8 speed maybe even the Canyon diesel while you are there. All per OPs goals.

GM stopped putting steering locks on their trucks sometime in 2002 or 2003. You can have a mechanic remove the pin, so the steering will not lock, too.

Yeah how do you all deal with the steering unlock when flat towing long distances?
Leave the key on but run the toad every once in a while and turn the key off when you stop for a while?
I could see me forgetting to unlock the steering and dragging the toad around in park with no steering!

bucky wrote:
^^^^^^^^^^^fan guy^^^^^^^^^^^

I didn't say I'd buy the Nissan, just look at it, consider it, however it's worded is up to the individual.
I would certainly consider an older Ford WITH A STEEL BED :)

:) Hi, why; Do you plan to drop a load of concrete blocks into it 14 times so you can show people your Chevrolet is better??????? :S

^^^^^^^^^^^fan guy^^^^^^^^^^^

I didn't say I'd buy the Nissan, just look at it, consider it, however it's worded is up to the individual.
I would certainly consider an older Ford WITH A STEEL BED :)

No restrictions on the F150, other than "Place the transfer case and transmission in the neutral position and engage the four-wheel-down towing feature."

Careful - having flat towed toads over 60,000, miles I know a little about this - with many vehicles you cannot simply put the transfer case in neutral - many have to be started and ran every 200 miles or so.

The output shaft bearings of most transfer cases will not get lubed if the rest of the gears are not spinning. Jeeps are made to flat tow without running the drive train. But jeeps cannot tow shite.

Another thing to consider is making sure the steering wheel is not locked - If you have the key turned on - there goes the battery charge. Again Jeeps have a key position to unlock the steering and not turning on power.

bucky wrote:
I'd be looking at Nissans with the new Cummins 5.0.

This would be the opposite of a lightweight pickup.