Lost my tow vehicle... now what am I going do?!

For the past 2 years almost I have been using my service truck for towing the car to the track. Its a Ford E350, with the Power Stroke diesel, and a beefed up rear suspension. I had permission from my work to use it, many of you may have seen it... the "Cat" van with the red Z behind it. Well I got the "official" word in our little "meeting" today. No personal use of company owned vehicles.... PEROID!

I have to thank the jack ass maintenence guy at my work for this. Last weekend of January he borrowed one of the spare vans to empty out his shore house. Well on his way home he rolled it 5 times on I295. Needless to say it was totaled. The van was almost brand new, less than a year old and only about 20k on the clock. We think he was in a rush to get home for the Superbowl. They guy has already been in 4 accidents in the past 5 years:rolleyes:. Now his latest screw up just cost me $30,000. I'm going to be forced to buy a truck to pull the car around with. I was planning on doing that anyway, but not till my brother gets home from Iraq. I am using his truck while he is gone, but a 4 cyl S-10 just isnt going to cut it. And I just spent all that mony to build the Garage Mahal.... Guess the car mods are coming to a quick STOP!

Dont you hate it when 1 bad apple spoiles the whole bunch!!!! Anyone know whare I can get 30G's really quick for that GMC I want;)

My brother works at FC Kerbeck, I just put a call into him to see if I can use my GM card earnigns on a used truck instead of a new one.

Same think happened where I use to work. The company would allow us to use the service trucks. One idiot took the company truck on went bar hopping. The owner got a 3am call that his truck was involved with a DUI accident.


I'm loosing my trailblazer to Linda this summer. She "needs" it to pull the pop-up trailer. I've been looking but got sticker shock on what the used cars dealers want. I hoping to see somthing for sale on the back roads. I really don't want to drive my car to the track with the bang-screech trans but I may have to. The Grove isn't bad but E-town, Cecil, and Atco are a hike with 4.11's and no overdrive.

I know, I was stunned whan I saw the prices of the trucks I wanted. My #1 truck is a CGM 2500HD crew cab... but it seem like you cant touch one for under 40G's around here. So I started looking at the 1500HD. Cant touch that for under 38... I dont want to have to buy new but I just dont think I will be able to find a good used truck. I would settle for an extended cab if I have to but I really want a crew cab. And you cant get a crew cab unless you opt for the HD. Which is fine cause it will be hauling me on trips, and a 6000 lb car/trailer package. But Thay are so expensive... I dont want to spend $500+ a month for a darn truck! I'll have to go sit down with my brothers dealer and see what they can do for me... but it will have to wait till the garage is done.

The only way I will go used is if I can get an extended FACTORY warranty with it. That pretty much limits my options. I might be screwed... I'm really beginning to wonder if an s-10 can handle it;). It does have bigger tires on it ya know;)

Dude, that sucks!!! But I thought your car was "streetable?"

That sucks man! At least GM is still offering the 0% financing on most of their vehicles and I doubt that's going to end any time soon either with this war coming and the economy the way it is. Wouldn't one of the Regular duty 1500 or 2500 series trucks with a 5.3 or 6.0 be enough to pull it? I know those are a lot less expensive than the HD's, but those HD's sure are nice though :)

Brian,could always do a V8 swap to the S10..and tow away........heh ;)

:bow:

Well that depends on your definition of "streetable". My definition is if it can roll out of a driveway and you can turn the wheel to go left and right... its streetable;).

Yeah the regular 1500's and 2500's would do it. I'd rather have a 2500 though. The rated towing capacity of a 1500 with the 6.0 is only 6500lbs. My car is 3500 and the trailer is a good 1500. Add in spare parts and tires and your pushing that 6500lbs. I dont want to do it that way. I would rather have a minimum of a 2500 and an extended cab. I really, really, really want a crew cab... thats my main reason for wanting an HD. You can only get an extended cab with the regular 1500/2500. A 1500HD will also work for the weight i will be putting in it. But the 2500HD 4x4's are just SWEET!!!! But then you got that price tag too... tough decision. The more I think about it the more I think I'm just going to wait till spring. Find out when my brother is coming home and in the mean time work on the car. If I want to race, I'll just drive it and hope the rear holds.


V8 swap? Not in a 98 S-10... besides, my bro would kill me.;)

Yo, Brian

I use to pull a 24ft. enclosed trailer behind my father inlaws 1500. Pulled it with no problem. You have to figuare that ir rotating lbs. Which is different then dead weight. The trailer also had my Dad's 63 vette in it so that was pretty heavy. You should have no prblem with a 1500 and you can pick up like 89 or 90 for cheap.

Originally posted by BAD97SS
You should have no prblem with a 1500 and you can pick up like 89 or 90 for cheap.


Exactly what I'm looking for. V8 , auto, dependable, and cheap. Faded paint ok but no rust buckets (I already got enought projects). If you come across anything give me a yell.

Do what I did, get a 90-93 SS454 pickup. My 91 has the 4.10 gears and the overdrive so towing capacity is around 10,000 lbs. Plus it's a sweet truck to drive every day. If you blow up the engine or transmission, you just drop a crate motor or trans in it. Still a lot cheaper than a new truck. My 91 had a new crate motor and trans put in it in 99. I got the truck for $8000 with 95K on the truck and less than 20K on the motor/trans.

My definition of cheap is under $3000. Just dropped a bunch into the formula on the turbo 400 conversion. Slight cost overrun :eek:

Heres my deal. I am open to buying a used vehicle... but I will not work on it. I repeat, I do not want to work on it! I have been working on cars my entire life. I like to work on car, and I will continute working on cars. But if I buy a truck, I want to just get in and drive. Nothing more than rutine maintenence. I'll change oil, wiperblades, and I'll even go as far as rotating the tires... but if it breaks... I want nothing to do with it. I have enough on my hands with the Z, and all the other projects I already have lined up.

So, that being said it kinda doesnt leave much for a used vehicle. If I buy one used, it will probably have to be an 01 or an 02 with an extended FACTORY warranty.

Second thing is, if I buy used I dont get to use the earnings I have from my GM credit card. I wont get to take advantage of the huge incentives being offered by the dealers and GM. But for the right price I will skip all that and get a used truck.

A 1500 will probably work. The only problem is that I cant get a Crew Cab with a 1500. And I really want a CC. I have friends with other trucks, all extended cab, and to tell you the truth... thers not enough room. The only way I will go for an extended cab is if it has the rear opening doors on BOTH SIDES! (You know, those backwards opening doors). I dont know what you can get them on. So as it stands now it looks like it will be a GMC Seira, 1500HD crew cab, short box, 4x4 with the 6.0L. Going buy the GM buypower website... I'm looking at $32k-$35k depending on options. My dre3am truck would be the 2500HD with the new Duramax diesel, but you cant touch one of them for under $43k:( new. And you dont find them used all that often. The used ones that I have found were still going for $30-$35k.

On a side note, the garage is going good. I now have 26 tons of dirt on the ground. The building was built and we so far have just over 20 tons of crushed concrete in the garage to bring the base up for the floor. We are still about 6-7 tons short. Guess I need another truck full:rolleyes:. Once the base is up to the right height, we can start on the rebarb and wire screen. Then we pour 5" of 3500 psi ,fiberglass filled, concrete. I really doubt I will have any problems with this floor;). Once it cures... we can go back in and saw cut all the expansion joints. Looks like I'll have a floor in there sometime next week. It will be 2-3 weeks in this weather before I can put a car on it:(.

Brian, do you really need a 4x4? It's been nice to have this winter, but most of our winters are pretty mild so you're adding a lot of cost to get the 4x4 if you don't really need it. The reason I went with the SS454 is because I didn't want an extra cab, I didn't want a 4x4, but I did want something that could tow an enclosed car trailer with a 69 Camaro in it. I'll keep an eye open for any decent trucks up this way, but trucks are selling fast so by time you see a decent one, it's already sold.
Jeff.

No, I dont "have to have" a 4x4. But I ocasionally do go places where it would be needed and used. The 4x4 part is the one area that I just might slide on. I have always looked at them, but now I am really researching them. Your right, you find a good one used and its gone within a few days.

I'm also planning for the future here. Lets face it, if I buy a truck I'm gonna keep it for a long time. I want something that can haul 4-5 adults comfortably, and have room to take luggage, skis, or whatever. I also need it to be capanble of making a long trip towing the car and spare parts. And by long I dont mean E-town or Cecil county. I may take a few road trips to races in other parts of the country.

The standard 1500's come with either the 4800 or 5300 Vortec V8. Prices for them seem to be around $29k-$33k. You can get the 6.0L in it, but so far all the ones I have seen are in the $42k-$44k range. And $44k for a 1500 extended cab is flat out rediculious. For that kind of money it would have to go food shopping for me while I sit and watch TV!

The 5300 V8, 1500 extended cab towing weight is 6300 lbs. Not bad and it will probably do the job. But if I am going to buy one new I will have to spend the extra money and go for the 1500HD and get the crew cab I want with the 6.0L for only $2-$3k more. Towing capacity on the HD is just about 11,000 lbs. 4X4 option is still up in the air, but it would be nice to have in the future.

I hate to admit it, but when I was looking at new trucks, the Toyota Tundra with the V8 and 4x4 was the same price as a Chevy 2wd. They sell a supercharger for the Toyota V8 as well so it could easily tow a trailer with a car. I don't understand why the GM trucks are so overpriced. Probably because everyone thinks they need to have an extracab fullsize pickup.

If your looking at new trucks you should check out the Nissan full size pickup there are coming out with. Going to be pretty beef with the V8. They have picks on the web about it. I believe Nissan started taking orders for it to.

Brian,
Go to a sign store and get big white magnets to cover your work name on the side of the van... how will they know? :D:D

Seriously, maybe Rick will give you a good deal on his conversion van!! :D

;)

Originally posted by 5SPDCHK
Brian,
Go to a sign store and get big white magnets to cover your work name on the side of the van... how will they know? :D:D

Seriously, maybe Rick will give you a good deal on his conversion van!! :D

;)

You know I already thought of that... The problem with that it that I would need a truck to go pick it up:D. There isnt a single body part on that damn thing that doesnt say "Cat" on it, lol.

Well, I just heard from my brother last night. He's in the Persian Gulf and they will be porting in Kuait in the next day or 2. His estimated time of returning home is now 9 months to a year if we dont go to war. I have his S-10. Part of our deal was that I would take care of it for hime and make his payments while he was gone. I cant afford 3 vehicles so a new truck will have to wait. Any racing I do locally, I'm gonna have to drive it there and hope the rear holds;).

Brian, hey just trade in the S10 for the HD. Get one the same color. When your brother comes home just say you put in Sunoco 100 racing fuel by mistake and the little truck just bulked up. Don't forget to put the S10 badges back on. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by kazman
Brian, hey just trade in the S10 for the HD. Get one the same color. When your brother comes home just say you put in Sunoco 100 racing fuel by mistake and the little truck just bulked up. Don't forget to put the S10 badges back on. :rolleyes:


LOL, some how I dont think he would mind...

Originally posted by kazman
Brian, hey just trade in the S10 for the HD. Get one the same color. When your brother comes home just say you put in Sunoco 100 racing fuel by mistake and the little truck just bulked up. Don't forget to put the S10 badges back on. :rolleyes:

Haha!! I can just see it now...

;)

Originally posted by 5SPDCHK
Haha!! I can just see it now...

;)

The sad part is that... so can I;).

I've looked into it, the S-10 towing rating is 3100 lbs with the 4 cyl. I'm seriously considering putting a hitch on it and some air shocks in the back. Then just take it easy going to the local tracks for the summer... But when John gets home I'd probably have to pull the trans and freshen it up, and maybe put the stock shocks back in... What do ya think? Its still cheaper than a new truck:D!

I already have to put a 3" body lift on it while he is gone, part of our deal for me to use it while he was away;).

U really gotta get friendly with some guy with a pickup truck that will handle all of your towing needs.


Any neighbors with trucks?

At ELLAS Performance, we ran into a similar problem. We got friendly with a neighboring company (also a customer) and he let us borrow his trucks for Atco, E-town, and Ohio. We used his vehicles until we bought a mint 97 F-350 extended cab dually 5-speed Powerstroke diesel for 18,000 from Town Ford in Bordentown. This thing pulls like a motherf'r. Excellent truck without the cost. I say just shop around in the Truck Trader. I bet you'll find something very nice in there.

Originally posted by Projectz28
The sad part is that... so can I;).

I've looked into it, the S-10 towing rating is 3100 lbs with the 4 cyl. I'm seriously considering putting a hitch on it and some air shocks in the back. Then just take it easy going to the local tracks for the summer... But when John gets home I'd probably have to pull the trans and freshen it up, and maybe put the stock shocks back in... What do ya think? Its still cheaper than a new truck:D!

I already have to put a 3" body lift on it while he is gone, part of our deal for me to use it while he was away;).

Be careful if you try that one Brian. It will be really rough on the motor and I'm not positive, but you could have stopping issues (I'll ask Rick).

My dad says that I should be able to tow my nova on an open trailer with my I6 jeep:eek:. It'll be rough, but it will do it.

;)

I hear ya Jackie... Your Jeep should handle it. That 4.0L I6 is a pretty stout motor. The only thing I'd worry about with that is make sure you position the car right to limit the tounge weight. I wouldnt let more than 500-700 lbs rest on the hitch, you could end up with suspension and braking issues.

As for the S-10... I think the motor would handle it, its the suspension, brakes and tranny I am worried about. And since its really not my car it make me even more cautious. I keep going back and forth on what to do... Here is my new thought... just drive the car to the track. If it breaks just I'll leave it there and hitch a ride home. I'm sure I can find a ride with all the people I've towed home. Then come back with the S-10 to tow the car home. That's will be my "emergency" back up even though the truck really shouldnt haul that kind of weight.

"CAT" as in Caterpillar? If so, guess you wouldn't be interested in a Dodge/Cummins combo. A good friend of mine pulls an enclosed 26' with his 95. Think he payed 15k for it. Not too bad for a crew cab dualie. He lives in Shade if you'd like to check it out.

Yup, that is as in "Caterpillar". Thanks for the offer bro, but no I am really not intrested in a Dodge. Sounds like a sweet truck though... Kinda have my heart set on a Sierra or a Silverado. Just cant afford it right now. I'll have one sitting in my driveway sometime this year:D.

Do you work in Hammonton or Bensalem? I work at Freedom International Trucks in Phila. Usually deal with Hammonton.

Bensalem... I'm field service for the Ransome Engine. I dont get involved with the truck side of things too often, my main work is generators and industrial equipment. No earth moving stuff on our end, thats all handled by the other division. I dont see alot of stuff smaller than the 3306. But there is some out there. Most of our work is on the 3400's and up. Alot of 3406 mechanical and electronic, 3412, 3508-3516 natural gas and diesel. We also do have a few G3600's in the area... We get pretty involved... everything from electronic trouble shooting to major overhauls. Right now I'm working on 2 G3508's... top end overhauls.

Freedom is a TEPS dealer for Cat right?

Yeah, we're a TEPS dealer. I have a rough time with CAT's power net. From a parts standpoint, it's too damn difficult to use. As far as engine size, smallest thing available in an IH is a 3406. I see alot of 3406Es,C12s and C15s. Small world i guess, If you're ever near State Road, stop in and say hi.

Yeah, it is a small world. I drive right past ya all the time. When I go up to the shop I take the Tacony/Palmyra and shoot up State Road to 95. Keep an eye out for a white Cat van....

You could get a 95-99 Tahoe with the 5.7L V8 , I think you could get one for around $10,000

2WD pickup's keep the price down, there is a HUGE markup on the 4x4 versions.

jackie, the jeep isnt ment to pull more then 2000lbs, to pull more you need a trans cooler and a engine oil cooler:cool:


My tow vehicle? 95 Astro LT 2wd, pulls a 22ft boat no problem:cool: