Tow vehicle???

I am considering buying a van in the near future with to be also used as a tow vehicle (a few events a year longest being about an 8hr trip). Do not have to many mountains in the are but as usual most rallies are held in mountainous regions. I would like to ask you folk a few questions.

- What do you think of the Chevy Astra/GMC Safari with 5000-5500 tow limit? (Probably running a 2400lbs car and 1500lbs dolly)
- How can I determine if a van/truck has 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton axles? Does it really make a huge difference?
- What else would you consider to be a daily driver as well as a decent tow vehicle? (considering the current gas prices)
- Would it be worth getting a diesel Pickup with 100K+ miles?


Thank you all,
Oscar

---

rally gods would turn in their graves if they ever knew Lada's were now part of EU rallying!!!

At least with older Chevy/GMC the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton had the same brakes.
3/4 had bigger, stronger wheels and bigger tires, but still 5 bolt.
One ton went to bigger hubs, brakes and 16" wheels with big tires.

I have towed way overloaded 3/4 ton with a Ford Sierra full of parts and on a tow dolly and had no problem towing cross country but I don't tailgate.

I say if you can get a diesel with a manual trans, then you are in heaven.

My 3/4 ton Chev with manual overdrive 4 speed overloaded to hell gets 14 mpg at 70 mph cruise, and I mean: 4 motors, 4 gearboxes, every tool I own, jacks, hubs, MOUNTAINS of part.

Empty 21 mpg.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Oscar- Having owned two Chebby Asstro vans, I would not recommend them as a tow vehicle. First, they are poorly built. Second, unless you buy a 2004+, they have shitty brakes. The 4.3L is ok, it's still a push rod engine and still as CFI, as well as a dist, and gets gas mileage like one would expect (not too good). Really modern technology for 2005. Probaby would tow just fine. The "tow/haul" button for the trans. seems to do nothing at all. I've also owned a Ford Aerobrick, which dispite being no better a tow vehicle, at least had better build quality and gas mileage. And the "tow" button actually did something.

Get a diesel. Dodge Cummens trucks are good for 500k or more.

---

Scott Manley
Spokane, WA
86' XR4Ti
37

Hahahahaha.



Goes pretty good really. Will cruise up the highway at 70 all day even with that sled behind it. It's all in the gears . Clammy 3.0 v6 and 5 speed. 20-22 mpg mixed driving empty. Not too sure about loaded. I don't necessarily suggest this, but it is cheaper to run every day then a full size truck...and I happen to like Toyota very much. It's too bad for me that the 3.4 is definately a better motor.

A full size van is worth considering I think. Lots of enclosed storage, truck motor and chassis pretty much.

Your average chevy 1500 with a 350 is about as rare as dirt and will pull whatever you want. Vortec motors seem to perhaps do a bit better on fuel economy then the old TBI motors, but not all that much. That is probably your best bet I think.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2006 12:18AM by Parry.

Actually I have driven a 99 Astro for 3-6 month intervals 3 years in a row while the owner was away and I was taking care of it. I never considered it being a tow vehicle but came across some positive feedback on either grassrootsmotorsport or the improved touring forum. Some people seemed to be happy with it. I also did have some braking issues with it. Also the diff was replaced and the second one was in need of replacement as well. Another friend owned a newer one either 2001 or 2002 and he was very happy with his. Again neither had any towing experience.

If the prices on the newer-2005+ Frontier Crew Cab with the 4.0 v6 (6500lbs tow capacity) were to come down I would consider that as well but still can't justify owning a "farm vehicle" . (I live in NYC)Plus now gotto convince the wife that we need a PU/van, a daily driver and a rally car. Having her driving around town in a full size van or pick up doesn't sound appealing to me never mind her...

Oscar
The other "Turk"

---

rally gods would turn in their graves if they ever knew Lada's were now part of EU rallying!!!

Here ya go;

1500 ---> Half ton
2500 ---> 3/4 ton
3500 ---> 1 ton

Stay away from AstroVan

A diesel with 100K miles is not a biggy as long as it is not a Dodge.

My Chevy 3500 has 140K and tows the trailer and the Galant whilst it is fully loaded with 55 gallon drum of racegas + Parts + Tools up the hill at like 80mph.

Gass mileage ??? NO GAS YARDAGE 11mpg towing, 17mpg city/20mpg highway empty.

---

Cheers
M.Samli
Phoenix AZ
Gaylant VR4
EVO III GSR (Stolen)


Rallies are no place for traitors

Doooooooooooooooooooooood--

That Yoda and Dolly is the perfect, Get JV's 96 the heck out of my parents' yard vehicle. Look out!

off to work....

---

Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

Will you be using a tow dolly or trailer? What would the total load be counting the trailer?

---

Mike Hymbaugh
"Converted" drag racer
Castle Rock, CO
http://www.four-banger.net/first.html

Actually I would prefer using a trailer. Car should be about 2400-2500 and the trailer 1500-1700 lbs. Obviously there would be spares and tools ~500lbs

Hey Mustafa,
Why not a dodge? When I was refferring to a diesel with 100k+ I was refferring to a Dodge mainly coz they seem to be much more affordable...

thanks
Oscar

---

rally gods would turn in their graves if they ever knew Lada's were now part of EU rallying!!!

I'm looking to make do for the next couple years with the girlfriend's 99 Isuzu Amigo SUV. Already used it to drag the Galant back down to Phoenix from Clovis, NM and then a 97 Talon down from Vegas. It's rated to 3400lbs with the automatic, has a nice drop top for those cooler, mid-90 degree afternoons, and gets absolute ass mileage while towing. On all but the steepest of highway grades (think I-40 across norther NM), it managed to maintain speed.

A bigger picture from the day I loaded the Galant up.
http://az2gnt.net/DR1665/E39AX68/Day%201/clovisWashRig.JPG

I figure I'll install a tranny cooler and call it good for the time being.

(And no, I did not have the driveshaft installed in that picture.)

---

Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest

Dodge diesels are cheaper to buy but expensive to maintain. I don't like the farm tractor sounding inline 6 engine. Their transmission is something else I don't like. Again this is my personnal opinion based on how many Dodge diesels I saw coming through the service on a daily basis versus the GM diesels.

Brian, just tell me that you removed the axles before you dollied the Galant.

---

Cheers
M.Samli
Phoenix AZ
Gaylant VR4
EVO III GSR (Stolen)


Rallies are no place for traitors

Now Mustafa is getting the smack. Read the last thing he says. Between the parantheses.

---

Grant Hughes

My dad has good luck with Ford Powerstrokes. For the most part anyway. His current is a 4 door dually he bought with under 20,000 miles. The old guy who owned it towed his camper with it. It had already had a tranny replaced and at around 200,000 it cracked a ring land. Seems to happen with them sometimes I guess. He tows a 2" car enclosed trailer that has been beefed up to hold his Case loader and other construction equipment. Tows no problem at all, but he's also in Iowa without the mountains.

---

Mike Hymbaugh
"Converted" drag racer
Castle Rock, CO
http://www.four-banger.net/first.html

What did I say ???

---

Cheers
M.Samli
Phoenix AZ
Gaylant VR4
EVO III GSR (Stolen)


Rallies are no place for traitors

"Brian, just tell me that you removed the axles before you dollied the Galant."

But Brian had said,
"I did not have the driveshaft installed in that picture."

Which I guess is different, but the same end result. I would think you'd rather remove the prop shaft than the half shafts as the stub holds the wheel bearing together somewhat doesn't it?

PS> Powerstroke F250 dually crew cab with the long bed.

---

Grant Hughes