Tow Vehical Questions

[ronerjones]

I know this has been reviewed but I would like some suggestions specific to my situation if anyone cares to chime in.

Current:
2002 Coleman Utah approx weight 2,700lbs - loaded with bikes and gear - Ill be generous and guess 3,200lbs to 3,500lbs - The rest of the gear (food - grill - etc) approximately 500lbs - Passengers 700lbs including the dog

Total loaded up weight close to 5,000lbs
Current tv is a 2003 Toyota tundra 6 cylinder no factory tow package - vehicle seems to tow ok but I know I am loaded down when driving.

I am getting ready to get a new vehicle Toyota has 150,000 miles on it my thoughts were that I would step up to something just a bit bigger on the new one offering additional tow capacity (better to have to much then not enough) - Our trips have been within 4 hours and I plan to keep it that way - Gas mileage and maintenance on the bigger vehicle are big concerns to me especially with the economy the way it is - I really do not need as big a pick up as I used to but still need the open bed and seats for the family - I took a looked at Honda's pick up rated for 5,000 lbs of tow ford has a similar model that will go up to 7,200lbs with the V8. Should I be concerned with the smaller trucks and just bite the bullet and do I need to be concerned with my total weight or just the weight that I have in tow? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Looking at the Tundra - F150 - and Ram 1500 $28,000.00 range - Honda and Ford explorer could be had for about $6,000.00 to$8,000.00 less.

[waygard33]

I tow my E3 (pretty heavy pup) with an 07 Tacoma. 4.0 liter, 236hp IIRC. I usually have the wife and 2 or 3 kids along. 1 or 2 dogs in the back of the truck and the deck to the E3 is loaded with grill, awning, coolers, chairs, bags, bikes, etc (Thank goodness for the deck) and I feel I have pretty good power and I hit a lot of hills in the NW.

The Tacoma's tow rating is 6500#. I use a weight distribution hitch and the truck/trailer are pretty much perfectly level.

I also considered an F150 and the Dodge. Just wanted a smaller truck as I'm in the narrow streets of Portland a lot. I've had the Tacoma for 2 years and 40k miles and have not regretted my decision.



Wayne in Oregon

[wavery]

I know this has been reviewed but I would like some suggestions specific to my situation if anyone cares to chime in.

Current:
2002 Coleman Utah approx weight 2,700lbs - loaded with bikes and gear - Ill be generous and guess 3,200lbs to 3,500lbs - The rest of the gear (food - grill - etc) approximately 500lbs - Passengers 700lbs including the dog

Total loaded up weight close to 5,000lbs
Current tv is a 2003 Toyota tundra 6 cylinder no factory tow package - vehicle seems to tow ok but I know I am loaded down when driving.

I am getting ready to get a new vehicle Toyota has 150,000 miles on it my thoughts were that I would step up to something just a bit bigger on the new one offering additional tow capacity (better to have to much then not enough) - Our trips have been within 4 hours and I plan to keep it that way - Gas mileage and maintenance on the bigger vehicle are big concerns to me especially with the economy the way it is - I really do not need as big a pick up as I used to but still need the open bed and seats for the family - I took a looked at Honda's pick up rated for 5,000 lbs of tow ford has a similar model that will go up to 7,200lbs with the V8. Should I be concerned with the smaller trucks and just bite the bullet and do I need to be concerned with my total weight or just the weight that I have in tow? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Looking at the Tundra - F150 - and Ram 1500 $28,000.00 range - Honda and Ford explorer could be had for about $6,000.00 to$8,000.00 less.

It's important to really understand what a vehicles towing capacity really is. It has little to do with the trailer tow rating and everything to do with the GCVWR.

You might want to read this article very carefully until you understand it. If you're going to buy a new vehicle, it is very important to understand this before you make your decision:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle%20/gcwr.htm

[austinado16]

150k on a Toyota truck?  That thing's barely broken in.

I say save your 30 grand, get an exact weight on what you actually do carry and pull, and then maybe spend a little money on weight distribution hitch and/or sway control (if you even need that).  Add a large transmission oil cooler if you don't have one (and have an automatic trans).......and then go enjoy the '09 season.

You probably get decent mileage, and your TV is paid for.  2 huge pluses in this economy!

[ronerjones]

I appreciate the input and the link was very helpful. Let me add one more bit of information to the puzzle. My vehicle is in good condition, however, in the next couple months is going to be in need of some mechanical work. I am looking at having to spend in the neighborhood of $3,000.00. It is all general maintenance  but will need to be done in the near future. I figured that if I was going to be spending that kind of cash with no guarantee that something else was not going to creep up I ought to just put it into a new vehicle.

[wavery]

I appreciate the input and the link was very helpful. Let me add one more bit of information to the puzzle. My vehicle is in good condition, however, in the next couple months is going to be in need of some mechanical work. I am looking at having to spend in the neighborhood of $3,000.00. It is all general maintenance  but will need to be done in the near future. I figured that if I was going to be spending that kind of cash with no guarantee that something else was not going to creep up I ought to just put it into a new vehicle.

There is no worse feeling than buying a new tow vehicle, thinking that the tow rating is sufficient for your needs then finding out about the GCVWR calculation after the purchase and realizing that you are just border-line (or worse) and have to be concerned about it every-time you tow.

Glad to see that you are doing your due diligence before the purchase. Too many people come on here after the purchase then try to justify their decision by quoting the vehicles "Tow rating". That rating means absolutely nothing to someone towing a camper, cargo and passengers unless the tow rating is so high (on it's own) as to include the total package that you are carrying.

For instance.......if you have a 3500# camper, 500# of total cargo and 600# of passengers, a 5000# tow rating may be adequate. However, a 6500# tow rating would give you a little more wiggle room and allow for upgrading. A 3500# tow rating would be very inadequate.

Factory installed tow packages are important when considering your purchase. Don't let a dealer talk you into buying a vehicle without a factory installed tow package and adding it at the dealership. Often times, a vehicle built at the factory for towing will include HD suspension, springs, brakes, cooling system, special gear ratios, trans cooler and much more. The dealer will simply take a standard built vehicle and add a trailer hitch, trans cooler and wiring package. You get a lot more for your $ when the vehicle is built for towing.

[austinado16]

$3,000?  I'd hunt around for a good independant repair shop, take it in stages, and becareful not to get upsold a bunch of smoke and mirrors.  I can't imagine what they could be trying to sell you for three large. :yikes:

And even if you did pay 3k, that's still some 25k less than a new vehicle.....more than that when you inlude interest, increased insurance, and sales tax.

Remember, it's a Toyota truck........they're bulletproof.