Tow Vehicle Options

[Iwndr]

My apologies, I'll just go back to lurking.

Keep Posting You just have to be careful in Truck Threads

[91Terminator]

Keep Posting You just have to be careful in Truck Threads

ya you dont want to be like me! lol

[jmhatchett]

I think no matter what the diesel is the best tow vehicle for a load, especially for a long drive or for extended towing. We tow a 50' trailer with bucking bulls that weighs upside of 25,000lbs when loaded with bulls and tow with a GMC C4500 with the Duramax and an Allison, it handles the load and trailer no problem. IMO (none of the ford or dodge fans shoot me this is just my opinion) the Duramax and Allison is the best combo RIGHT NOW. If you can spring for the diesel i say go for that option.

[gwhite94]

Skip, I owned an 02 v10 excursion until this year. It towed well until we moved to denver. Then it struggled. I would go with the Excursion very reliable vehicle will seat 6 with all the stuff you bring along very well. But go with the 7.3. Good luck with the search.

[Timmy!]

Here you go:
http://www.johnsonautoplaza.com/2004...-CO/vd/6549712

[IDBoating]

BL: I wish diesel fuel was cheaper.

Wait a month or two, until we get into "summer driving season". Our longer-and-cooler-than-usual Spring has sustained demand for heating oil, which affects diesel prices. If history repeats itself the price of gasoline will rise relative to diesel and diesel's cost per mile will drop below gasoline's.

[Fiveflat]

Whatever you do if you are buying used, try to stay away from the 6.4L PSD in the Fords. (2008-2010).

I'm a Ford man, but this 6.4 (and I've heard that all the big three for 2008-2010 are the same really) is terrible. I get 13MPG cruising, and 9MPG towing.
The new 2011 in-house 6.7L diesels that Ford offers are supposed to be closer to 20MPG with the Urea tank added. I really hoped to keep my truck for a very long time, but this fuel mileage will be reason for me to unload it sooner that I wanted to.

[Timmy!]

What history is that? The one where diesel was $5 and gas was only $4.25? Wholesale gasoline is $3.28 and heating oil is $3.29. I've been watching these 2 #'s since 2007 when I bought my diesel and heating oil's price doesn't seem to be reflective of what diesel is at the pump. I've seen heating oil be $.20 less than gas yet diesel hasn't been less than gas since ULSD came out.

[lohe]

Here you go:
http://www.johnsonautoplaza.com/2004...-CO/vd/6549712

Wow that makes me feel good. Paid 25k for mine 7.3L and only 50k miles

[jmitchell]

I am partial to GM products but let me give you my two cents...

I have an '07 Tahoe LTZ package that comes with the autoride suspension which will be a must for any heavy hauling. It is basically an air-bag system for the rear that auto-levels itself under load. I have the 5.3L but wish I had the 6.0L. Needless to say the 5.3L pulls everything from our 5,000 lbs camper to the 3,500 lbs boat with very little strain. Even though weight distribution bars are required for the camper.

On the flip side, I have never owned an Excursion just due to the square lines and style of the vehicle. Personally not appealing to me. However, I wish I had the third row seating style that the Excursions have where the seats fold into the floor. This also gives more leg room. My Tahoe's third row folds up but I mostly leave them in the basement cause they eat up room. While on the topic of third row seating, the Suburban has the same third row location as the Tahoe. The added space difference is simply behind the third row. With that being said, there is not much leg room for a grown man in the third row of a GM vehicle period. You'll be eating your knees. So if you plan on regularly/comfortably hauling 6 people then anything on your list as GM will not be a good choice for you (unless they are small kids back there).

Another gripe about GM is the technology they are lacking compared to Ford. We have a Ford Edge that has the Microsoft Sync setup and it is slicker than snot. The newer vehicle have the My Ford Touch which I hear is even better. If GM would let go of Onstar they could improve on technology. Right now it is just a crutch.

Hope this helps.

[IDBoating]

What history is that? The one where diesel was $5 and gas was only $4.25?

All I can tell you is what typically happens locally.

Back in that summer when gas prices got over $4 a gallon, they hit $4.25 a gallon right around July 4th here. I remember it well because a nephew flew up from California with four of his buddies to have a "guy's week at the lake" celebrating their high school graduation. We spent HOURS on the water every day with five 17-18YO's boarding, skiing, and tubing. I've never bought so much gas in my life, right when it had peaked. Fun times, but wow.

Anyway, the irony at the time was that it was cheaper per gallon to fuel my Dodge 3500/Cummins with diesel than the boat with gasoline. I've watched that pattern repeat every summer since I bought my truck in 2006 (before that, I didn't buy enough diesel to care).

So... I can't speak for what happens elsewhere, but in the Spokane area this relationship does flip. Please note that my comment was directed at Ewok, another guy in Spokane, which was the reason I mentioned it.

[Timmy!]

Diesel was cheaper than gas in 2006 (prior to ULSD) but I challenge you to find anything that shows that diesel has been cheaper than gas since summer 2007. I haven't seen that in CO, KS, WY, UT or ID since I have owned a diesel (10/2007) and here in CO, we have some of the cheapest fuel prices around ($3.50 for gas, $3.98 for diesel right now).

[Timmy!]

I stand a tiny bit corrected, diesel hasn't been cheaper than gas since July of 2007 when diesel was $2.84 and gas was $2.88 but then since Sep 2007, diesel has always been more (and I have only had diesel since Oct 2007).
Gas prices:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist...TE_NUS_DPG&f=W
Diesel:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist...TE_NUS_DPG&f=W

[Ewok]

Whatever you do if you are buying used, try to stay away from the 6.4L PSD in the Fords. (2008-2010).

I'm a Ford man, but this 6.4 (and I've heard that all the big three for 2008-2010 are the same really) is terrible. I get 13MPG cruising, and 9MPG towing.
The new 2011 in-house 6.7L diesels that Ford offers are supposed to be closer to 20MPG with the Urea tank added. I really hoped to keep my truck for a very long time, but this fuel mileage will be reason for me to unload it sooner that I wanted to.

Ouch, I get 19 cty, 21 hwy, 12.5 towing with my 4runner. I thought I had it bad.

[Wickedcummins]

I think no matter what the diesel is the best tow vehicle for a load, especially for a long drive or for extended towing. We tow a 50' trailer with bucking bulls that weighs upside of 25,000lbs when loaded with bulls and tow with a GMC C4500 with the Duramax and an Allison, it handles the load and trailer no problem. IMO (none of the ford or dodge fans shoot me this is just my opinion) the Duramax and Allison is the best combo RIGHT NOW. If you can spring for the diesel i say go for that option.

Not a chance. Dodge has the market by far. Not only the HIGHEST power in class the 6spd 68RFE is a killer transmission. Not to mention probably the NICEST interior too.. If i had to have a second it would probably be a Chevy just cause I HATE FORD. Even tho the 6.4seems to be proving its self