Tow Vehicle

[Bluebasser86]

Well unfortunately it looks like I'm going to be in the market for a new truck in the very near future. I was hoping a new boat would be happening soon but now that the tranny is slipping in my current truck that's going to have to wait. I want to be ready for when that time comes though so I want to buy a truck that will be up to hauling a boat a lot. I'm going to have to stick to the smaller end of the size spectrum for boats (19' would probably be too long to fit in my garage) so I'm not going to be hauling a huge boat. I'm looking at a 1500 Silverado but have been hearing that maybe a 2500 would be better if I'm going to be hauling a boat a lot? Seems like that would be overkill for the size boat I'm looking at but thought maybe some of you guys might have experience with them to share. 4x4 and extended cab is a must but other than that I don't need anything fancy. 

[BrianinMD]

With the towing capacities of 1500 size trucks going to a 2500 for that size boat is overkill and extra expense you don't need.

[Fishing Rhino]

I've towed my Z-8 with a half-ton Silverado with no problems.  Sure, it would be easier for the 3/4 ton model, but the ride will also be rougher in the heavier truck. 

 

Unless you are a contractor, farmer, etc., who will carry heavy loads in the bed, you would be better off with the lighter truck.  If towing a boat, likely smaller than 19 feet is the most you will do, the half ton is more than adequate.

[WIGuide]

You'll be fine with the 1500. Just make sure you get one with a towing package, otherwise get a tranny cooler put on it after you get it. 

[Brian Needham]

Rhino nailed it.

 

 

I tow my z9 with a Ram 1500 pulls it just fine...... but towing the gas milage sucks.

I get 20 in the hwy not towing...and 10 while towing.

 

 

an added tip.... I once had a tranny slipping in a pathfinder. I put Lucas transmission treatment in (2 quarts since it was very noticable) then drove that pathfinder for another 50k miles without issue.

Might be a shot in the dark, but worth a try.

[TxGator]

1500 should be fine. Id spend the extra for 4x4 maybe, but you dont need the bigger truck. Ive pulled my tractor many miles with my 150 with the 5.4 engine. It weighs about 7000# with trailer. You definitly have a load in the hills but it does just fine. Definitly want the towing package with the trans cooler though.

 

G

[Christian M]

You're golden with the 1500. Most mechanics I've spoken with about this just warn not to exceed half of the trucks tow rating if you're going to be towing a lot. Either way, a 1500 has plenty of power

[BrianinMD]

TxGator is 100% right about getting 4x4. You may not use it a lot but when its the difference between getting out and being stuck it becomes well worth it.

[S Hovanec]

Been towing my 17' Lund with my '02 1500 Silverado (3.73 gears) since I bought the boat in 2005. It works just fine. Just don't get the 3.08 gears. Some will tell you they're just fine, but it will constantly be hunting gears when towing.

[bowjunkie76]

Just a Thought,  the new Dodge 1500 is offering a ECODiesel.  plenty of torque and 28 MPG. 

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-ram-1500-ecodiesel-v-6-first-drive-review

[CJV]

Why a Chevy? 

[Hi Salenity]

I have a 2500 because I pull heavy loads for work. The bad thing with the 2500 is the motor options, I only had the option of the 6.0L or Diesel. I love the 6.0 but with the Bully Dog programmer it still likes to get 10 MPG just towing my boat :/

[Hi Salenity]

By the way, my last 1500 pulled my 2500# (empty) trailer great. I never had any problems pulling my big enclosed unless it was loaded heavy.

It pulled my 20.5' boat great. And it had the small v8. 4.8L?

[Bluebasser86]

Why a Chevy? 

Because I've had all of the big 3 (Chevy, Ford, Dodge) and the Chevy was by far my favorite and most dependable. My Dodge went through 2 transmissions and was crapping out completely at 140k. Now my Ford is waving the flag at 112k. I don't drive my trucks hard at all and only towed aluminums with them so they aren't working hard towing. Both my Chevy trucks had over 200k miles on them. One of them was wrecked and totaled, the other was still running fine when I sold it and I still see the guy driving it once in awhile. 

 

4X4 is absolutely a must. I fish all winter long and there's no way to get up an icy ramp without it. 

 

Brian, I'm going to try that Lucas Transmission treatment. Even if it gets me through this year then the truck will be paid off and I can use all the trade in money towards a new truck. It isn't slipping really badly yet so hopefully it will help.

 

Looks like I'll be looking for a 1500, thanks guys!

[Trek]

You forgot the fourth one Tundra. I own three of them. Two for work and one a 2006 is my personal truck. I've never fixed any of them. Tires brakes and oil is all I've ever done. My one work truck is a 2010 loaded down with 1,500 pounds in it 24/7 and two ladders on top and we still have plenty of power and get 18 mpg. But it is a 2wd. The tow packages are standard and their brake system and tranys are unreal. For work in the last 31 years I've owned a bunch of trucks. Most of them one tons. Nothing has even come close to the new Tundra. It's a work horse that just keeps working. At first I was worried they wouldn't hold the weight. They have proven me wrong. Anyone buying a truck today needs to consider a Tundra. In my opinion it is what a truck should be.

[Bluebasser86]

I wish I could even thing about affording a Tundra. I'm sure they're great, but they're priced like they're great too. If I could find one with reasonable miles under 20K I'd really be looking hard at it. 

[Koofy Smacker]

Not sure in your area but Ive actually seen Tundras going cheaper than Tacomas, F150's, and Silverados around here. They cant get rid of them because so many people are going with the smaller trucks. Im in the market as well and a F150 for example, with towing package and extended cab with 4x4 is about 4k more than the Tundras are going for with incentives

[Bluebasser86]

Man I wish that was the case around here. I'm trying to keep it under 20K without crazy high miles but around here they still want low 20s for a Tundra with 100k miles on it, not happening. 

[Zach Dunham]

Gas mileage is SO much better on the newer half ton trucks (and I mean just within the last few years). I wanted to get an F-150 eco boost last summer when I got a truck, but I got such a sick deal on one of the remaining 2013 F-150 STX's that I couldn't pass it up. The gas mileage is pretty good still, 21-22 highway and 16 city, I average over 18 mpg over all. The STX came with the towing package and suspension and also a transmission cooler. It is rated to tow 9000 lbs so a bass boat is not bad for it at all.

[keninaz]

A quick check of any truck manufacturer's website will show and any 1/2 ton PU will tow a boat that will fit into any standard garage.

Just look up the weight of the boat on a trailer you are considering and check the tow limits specified by the truck manufacturer.

I have done lots of towing of RVs and boats in my life and if you want to be safe just limit yourself to about 80% of the towed weight that they claim.

Even at that, I think you will find and a typical 17-18' boat will be well within your safe limits for towing.

And previous posters were right, you don't need the additional expense of the heavier duty trucks either. Tires are more costly.

Also, I know many that love 4 x 4 trucks but before you buy one (unless you really need a 4 WD) check with your insurance company before you buy one just to see what the difference is in insurance.

I did years ago when a dealer offered me the identical truck with 4 WD for $1500 over the price of a 2 WD. I thought it might be better for resale down the road if I had the 4 WD. I called my agent before I bought the truck told me that it would cost me almost $400 a year more for the 4 WD. He further told me that the insurance company figures that if you own a 4 WD that you will get it off road and at risk of damages from collisions with trees and such and it costs the insurance industry more money to repair a 4 WD on average as a result.

I certainly did not need 4 WD and needless to say for the difference in insurance per year I did not buy the truck. There is also more maintenance to do on a w WD and the tires cost more money too.

Just my thoughts.

[Trek]

Used Tundras are very hard to find. New they are about the same as the other 3. They just simply hold up longer and keep their value higher. Plus guys just don't trade them in. Why give up a good running truck ? Even the rust proofing on them is better. Mine shots electrodes through to prevent it from rusting. They say it's good for 10 years. My 06 still looks like new. And 4 WD is worth it. I live in Ohio and when you need it then it's worth the extra.

[Fishing Rhino]

I'm not sure about the tires costing more.

 

I replaced the tires on my Sierra 1500 at just over 90,000 miles.  Goodyear Eagles 2.75 or maybe 2.65 X 20", the same tire that came with the vehicle.  Less than 140 per tire mounted, balanced and disposal of the old tires included.  Dealers seem to provide the best prices on tires. 

[keninaz]

In my experience, and I have owned 4 WD trucks in the past that I bought used, the tires cost some 20-30% more. More rubber I guess, don't know.

 

I also know for a fact that 4 WD drivers make two critical mistakes in driving/maintaining them.

First they tend not to want to put fully rated 4 WD tires on when it comes replacement time and they opt for "snow rated" tires and they are simply not the same at all.

But the worst mistake they make is that they don't slow down for conditions. I used to drive a tow truck in retirement for a AAA contractor up in WA state and when it snowed we would just go to the known locations where the people would not slow up and wait for them to slide off the road on the outside of the curve and down the slight hill. Then without much movement we collected our fees to pull them back up.

We could do that all day long and men were no better than women and we pulled more 4 WD vehicles out than standard front wheel drive cars that are more common today.

I guess common sense does not go with the price tag of the 4 WD.

[Fishing Rhino]

What are "fully rated 4WD tires"?   

[BradGuenette]

Anything that is 10 ply/E rated. I run 10ply not only on the truck but I have 10 ply tires on my trailer. They have stronger sidewalls and can handle the bounce going down the road. Less chance of a blow out and that's peace of mind.