turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Sept 28, 2020 8:33:10 GMT -8
Anyone have any experience towing with one of these? I saw one drive by this morning, then looked online to find out the oldest used ones are 2020 models at (yikes!) around $37K to start. Depending on where you look it is rated at 4000 to 7400lbs towing capacity with a V6 3.61L engine(285HP). Wheelbase is 137" How can a 3.61 V6 have the same 285 HP as a 5.3L V8? I currently drive a 2006 GMC Sierra with 5.3L ( also 285HP) 143" Wheelbase, rated for 7500lbs. Our trailer weighs 3200lbs fully loaded. I wonder how the Jeep would perform. It'd make a fine looking and fun tow vehicle for our FAN.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Sept 28, 2020 9:34:53 GMT -8
Your going to get lots of different opinions. Mine is, that you need to use a safety factor of "two times" the gross (loaded) weight of your trailer, when comparing the new vehicle "advertised" tow rating shown in the owners manual. For example, your 3200# trailer needs a tow vehicle with a 6400# rating "as a minimum". It also needs equipped with a weight distribution hitch, and a sway bar.
It's the available "engine torque" that pulls the trailer up the hill, not "advertised horsepower". Engines have changed a lot in the past few years. For example my 2007 F150 (super crew) has the factory towing package and a 5.4L V-8 engine. My friend has a decade newer 2018 F150 (super crew) which also has the factory towing package but his has the 2.7L V-6 engine (note, it's standard equipped from the factory with twin turbos). He tows a heavier and larger trailer than me, with the smaller engine, he can out pull me up a hill. The the smaller engine gets great gas mileage around town running empty, but seriously sucks gas towing his larger trailer. My 5.4L gets better towing gas mileage, but worse around town mileage.
It's all really a trade off. The important consideration is that you want the "dog to wag the tail", NOT the "tail to wag the dog"! Just get enough tow vehicle, so the trailer does not push your tow vehicle around.
John
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Sept 28, 2020 10:10:38 GMT -8
John is wise. Our Hamlet weighs in at 1400 pounds fully loaded, so we’d had a lot of choices. We recently decided to become a one-car family and were looking for an EV, but none out there were rated to tow. Then along came the Tesla Model Y. We have always begun saving for our next car as soon as we bought new a new one and of our four cars, the oldest was a 1992 VW Eurovan, so we’d saved quite a bit. Given our history, this will be our last car, so we decided to get exactly what we wanted. The sale of the other three cars (the newest was a 2019 Tesla Model 3) added enough to get the Y. It’s rated for 3500 pounds, which is comfortably over the 2x guideline. It has a “tow mode” that constantly monitors the trailer and sway. We took the Model 3 on several long trips and never had a worry about running out of electric charge. This one gets about 320 miles on a charge, and we never drive that far without stopping anyway, so we’re looking forward to many more long trips, both with and without Hamlet.
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Post by vikx on Sept 28, 2020 10:49:42 GMT -8
I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 hemi. VERY happy with it and it's rated at 6200 pounds. The tires are wider than some and it's super steady when towing. I passed on the fancier Trailhawk because of the extra skid plates and off road capabilities, plus extra weight.
Check out the wheel base compared to the Grand Cherokee, size and weight of off road items and of course reviews. I really like the look of the Gladiator; very cool as a vintage style tow vehicle. Main use of off road rather than highway is something to think about.
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Sept 29, 2020 16:19:58 GMT -8
Well, reality slapped me upside my head. John is correct. The Jeep is just too cute, expensive, and just not quite big enough for towing our 3200lb camper. It is really just a longer Wrangler, not considered as great tow vehicles. One with the 7600lb tow capacity would be more like $45K- used! People who own them love 'em though. It was fun imagining getting a nice 2 year old truck for $40K, but I've decided to get a new bed for my 2006 Sierra so it will pass inspection instead. (Massachusetts has weird ideas about exhaust getting inside a rusted vehicle...a rusted truckbed will not pass.) My almost 15 year old truck only has 123K miles and is completely reliable...and has proven ability to tow the camper in all kinds of conditions. If I spend a couple thousand on it and get a few more years out of it I'll be "a happy camper".
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Sept 29, 2020 20:07:33 GMT -8
Well, reality slapped me upside my head. John is correct. The Jeep is just too cute, expensive, and just not quite big enough for towing our 3200lb camper. It is really just a longer Wrangler, not considered as great tow vehicles. One with the 7600lb tow capacity would be more like $45K- used! People who own them love 'em though. It was fun imagining getting a nice 2 year old truck for $40K, but I've decided to get a new bed for my 2006 Sierra so it will pass inspection instead. (Massachusetts has weird ideas about exhaust getting inside a rusted vehicle...a rusted truckbed will not pass.) My almost 15 year old truck only has 123K miles and is completely reliable...and has proven ability to tow the camper in all kinds of conditions. If I spend a couple thousand on it and get a few more years out of it I'll be "a happy camper". I agree that the price of both new and also used vehicles is obscene today. They just keep putting more bells and glitter on them. Back up cameras, lane avoidance systems, driverless systems, etc. Whos going to be able to afford to fix this stuff a day after the warranty expires? You and I are about the same. In my case, it was purchased new in 2007, and it currently has 125K miles. Now retired, it only gets less than 10K per year. It took one new transmission (broken planetary gear), one new set of spark plugs, eight new coil packs, two sets of new tires, to get here. Knock on wood, I'm happy. I recently purchased a new vehicle. Well it had 93,000 original miles. It's a 1970 Ford Bronco, has a 302 V-8 with three on the tree. I have spent $4K so far in parts, and still have to do new brakes, new tires, and some suspension repairs. It was "rolled over", and I've spent the Covid months this year replacing body panels and repainting. The best part, all of my old "pre-metric" tools fit when working on it. Buy a used pick up bed from a sun belt state, repaint it, and drive the truck another 100K miles. Make sure you check and/or replace the GM rusted steel brakes lines while the pick up bed is off. John
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Sept 30, 2020 3:55:11 GMT -8
Yes John. We are on the same page. I needed a "new" truck about 4 years ago. I wanted either a Silverado or Sierra with 100K miles or less. I didn't want all the extra stuff. I like old fashioned gauges, good mirrors, etc. I don't want to worry about scratching the paint when going to the dump or camping in the boonies. A truck is just another (big) tool in my mind. It took a while to find one but what I ended up with was a Canadian built 1500 Sierra that did have some rust issues that were mostly cosmetic.
I am a woodworker, not especially good mechanically. I also needed some sort of Covid distraction, and since my camper is done, I built a fancy chicken coop and a small bow shed type barn over the last few months.
Fortunately I have found a relatively young local guy who is happy to actually repair things (instead of just replacing them when possible). He offered to obtain a used bed, then paint and install it. I'll find out what he'll charge in a few days. My wife is thrilled 'cause I just "saved" us $40K. Thanks for the comments all.
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Post by danrhodes on Sept 30, 2020 6:40:32 GMT -8
I pull our tiny trailer with a Tacoma that's rated for 6500 lbs. Not only would I be nervous at half that, our little trailer wags the dog because of the soft suspension on the truck. I would always choose the larger v8 for towing.... My truck gets about 15mph around the city and a modern v8 would do better by far, so there's no incentive for the v6 other than the lower initial cost
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Sept 30, 2020 7:53:40 GMT -8
I pull our tiny trailer with a Tacoma that's rated for 6500 lbs. Not only would I be nervous at half that, our little trailer wags the dog because of the soft suspension on the truck. I would always choose the larger v8 for towing.... My truck gets about 15mph around the city and a modern v8 would do better by far, so there's no incentive for the v6 other than the lower initial cost Dan, you really should look into adding "air bags", or they also call them "air springs" to your rear suspension. I'm not talking about air shocks, which are more of a Band-Aid repair. The air springs are made by Firestone and you can connect them in series, or run the individually. They hold 100# of air maximum, 5# minimum. They actually carry weight and transfer the weight directly to the axle. The advantage is you get the soft ride around town, and then when needed, you air them up to carry the trailer weight. Some have fancy systems with ride height valves and "on board" compressors. You do not need the fancy stuff. You can look on eTrailer to get an idea what parts your need. Buy some used air springs off of CL, search around for the correct mounting kit to adapt to your vehicle, your local industrial hardware store sells all of the air line tubing and fittings. In my case, I went used, and adapted a set onto my Spartan axle. My trailer is heavier on the right side (old original 1948 heavy Frigidaire Refrigerator). I run 50# of air on the right side, and 35# on the left side. The trailer tows much better, and rides level, the cost was less than I spent re-arching the leaf springs one time. Air springs work. John
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Post by danrhodes on Sept 30, 2020 8:30:06 GMT -8
I've considered air bags and also Timbren progressive bump stops, but I don't tow too much so the cost was prohibitive. On my next camper, I'll use weight distribution and perhaps add a stiffener spring to the rear suspension of the Tacoma which is known for poor rear suspension (it was recalled because the springs were snapping and puncturing the gas tank).
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Oct 5, 2020 7:30:07 GMT -8
Our trailer weighs 3200lbs fully loaded. I wonder how the Jeep would perform. It'd make a fine looking and fun tow vehicle for our FAN. You need an 8 cylinder vehicle. Period. Especially if you plan on going long distances with elevation changes. I think a lightly used, late model Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5.7L Hemi and you'll be towing like a dream. $10 to $15K, at or below 100K miles. Up to mid 2000 teens. My baby weighs about 3000# + loaded and I tow with the 4.7 HP 8 cylinder engine on the JGC and I do just fine. I live out west, where the elevation changes can be dramatic and my combo struggles a bit in the mountain passes... but the 5.7L, which I'll have someday, would eat that stuff up. Sorry, but I'd fall out of love with the Gladiator. That name alone tells you they're selling more sizzle than steak. If you live in flat country and mostly tow 50 miles to the beach and back in the summer time.... well, never mind
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Oct 5, 2020 18:54:02 GMT -8
I'm sticking with our 2006 GMC Sierra, 4WD with 5.3L V8. It only has 123K miles and has proven to be a reliable tow vehicle in all sorts of situations. It is getting rusty which is what got me thinking of "new" vehicles. There is no way I'd actually go into debt to the tune of $40K just to be cute.
I have a guy who's offering to replace my rusty bed, painted to match. Just waiting for an estimate.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Oct 6, 2020 8:42:44 GMT -8
I'm sticking with our 2006 GMC Sierra, 4WD with 5.3L V8. ... I feel guilty now. You really wanted that Gladiator, didn't ya?
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Post by Teachndad on Oct 6, 2020 13:31:27 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
In choosing a tow vehicle, I think it’s important to consider when and how often you are going to tow. You should also consider how you use your truck - what’s it going to be used for the other percentage when it’s not towing? What are you gonna tow? Is it for mall patrol or for towing 5K + miles a year? Comfort and ride should also be a consideration. Size matters especially if you are in the suburbs, at least to me.
Nothing is perfect and as someone already mentioned, it’s about compromises. Horsepower and torque are nice, but I need something that I will drive around town 99 percent of the time. It needs to be comfortable for me and have a sunroof. I tow a trailer just three times a year. So, I needed something that was good around town, carried my family and could pull a 2400 lbs. Trailer.
I settled on a used first gen Honda Ridgeline. Nice truck and I absolutely love the truck with it’s dual cab, underbed trunk, and sunroof. It was marketed to me. It meets the 2x guideline with tow capacity of (5,000 lbs.) (yah I know - just barely) and ultimately gets the job done. So, there you go.
BTW, I used airbags on my 2000 Sienna for years and they were really good at helping level out the ride with my pop up. They came in handy when I towed my Rod and Reel back from Oregon 4 years ago, too.
Cheers,
Rod
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Post by danrhodes on Oct 6, 2020 15:32:04 GMT -8
I'm sticking with our 2006 GMC Sierra, 4WD with 5.3L V8. It only has 123K miles and has proven to be a reliable tow vehicle in all sorts of situations. It is getting rusty which is what got me thinking of "new" vehicles. There is no way I'd actually go into debt to the tune of $40K just to be cute. I have a guy who's offering to replace my rusty bed, painted to match. Just waiting for an estimate. When I had to choose an $800 paint job for my 2007 Tacoma or considering replacing it, it was a no brainer. Modern trucks will run for a couple hundred thousand miles easily and I don't like all the gadgets on the new $45k models. Also, I had a Wrangler for 18 years. I loved that car but it was a total POS from the day I drove it off the lot. I wouldn't buy any of the modern wrangler spinoff mini-hummers.
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