Best Tow Pigg for $20K?

[Instigator]

Looking at updating my 1/4 million '97 GMC truck.
I absolutely love it and have no bitches but once my 25' Checkmate project is done, we will be towing it all over hells half acre and my wife will be with me.

Had a slight glitch w/it coming back from Fla and was WAY glad my brother was w/me and not my wife.
Based on that, Im looking at options.

One issue is, at this point it will be my daily driver which means it needs to be comfortable and easy to drive.
In addition to that we are also looking at campers so towing capacity is a large part of equation.

Looking at going as new as I can at that price range not just lower miles.

Thanks guys.
This should be a fun discussion

[nitro_rat]

I've been pretty happy with my 09 Ram 2500 Hemi. It did wipe a couple of lobes on the cam around 225k. Threw in a new cam and some billet racing lifters. Runs great and likes regular gas again! Rode rough until I sorted the suspension though. I'd be wary of anything with cylinder deactivation. Of course my truck doesn't have it but it wiped the cam anyway! An aftermarket tune can deactivate the MDS and improve power and mileage.

All of the 6.0-6.4 gassers are impressive power wise. 2500 at least if you care to tow heavy. The 1/2 tons are maxxed out with very little cargo it seems! Choose your preferred chassis, the Toyota is nice too and the 4.7 with 4.30:1 pulls well. It's really a "heavy half" class truck, almost 3/4 ton capacity. All the gassers will be thirsty though.

I have gotten up to 17 mpg unladen with my Ram. The Toyota and Ford are thirstier than the Dodge and Chevy in my experience. The selectable locker in the Toyota and Ford are nice if you get them.

I'm really a Suburban guy, a K2500 Suburban with the 6.0 or even 8.1 (thirsty) is a really nice rig! I'm still not sure why I don't have one???

Good luck with your search!

[FMP]

Suburban 2500 or little RAM diesel.
But these are sweet, probably a bit too much boat.
https://barnfinds.com/last-of-the-bi...-estate-wagon/

[nitro_rat]

Suburban 2500 or little RAM diesel.
But these are sweet, probably a bit too much boat.
https://barnfinds.com/last-of-the-bi...-estate-wagon/

Those wagons will tow anything a 1/2 ton truck will...

[nitro_rat]

hell, just a good weight distributing hitch and they'll pull anything. If you dive into the diesel and cadillac commercial chassis parts bins you can spec one up to full 3/4 ton status...

Actually the long wheelbase fleetwood chassis is a better start, we better stop before we derail another thread!!!

[FMP]

You could order them with big brake trans engine coolers and F41 G80 and a few other goodies. Yup they were good. 7500lb trailer I think

[Instigator]

I am a wagon/big car fan for towing.
Just sold a VW Passat diesel that was my dog hauler.

Towed my first twin O/B 24’ Sonic w/a ‘69 Dodge Polara rag top.

Back to regularly scheduled programming:

An issue for shopping used is knowing/proving options.
Yrs back I bought a truck near identical to what I have now and only focused on it being a new enough V-8 to be Vortec which it was.
Woke up first morning staring at ceiling realizing I didn’t verify it was actually a 350 and not a 305!
Opened the hood 5 AM that morning w/a flashlight and the damn thing was a 305 and freaked out.

Good news was I bought it from a reputable dealer who agreed to take it back. What I learned was in the lesson was they ran the serial numbers and verified the truck I bought has a tow package which I never thought to even look at at that point and it had a higher towing capacity than a standard truck with a 350 did. I accepted the truck never looked back and loved it.
Funny point of story when I sold that truck, in the note of full disclosure I repeatedly told the buyer that it was a 305 and not the 350 and he argued with me and prove to me he knew way more than me and I took his money and smiled as he drove away.

So I guess I need to get ser. #s the track down option codes on what I’m looking at.
I looked a ‘2010 F-150 and the tow package added over 3K lbs capacity and gave it over 9000lbs, in a half ton!

[mrichartz]

I like my f150 comfortable, got it new in 06 loaded I did some mods to it so it the way I want, engine, exhaust, suspension rims tires..but tows great and comfortable will say gas mileage is low but trade of for what I did to it so.

[nitro_rat]

The newer F-150 seats are uncomfortable for me for anything over about 2 hours. The Super Duty seats (even the base bench) I can drive on all day.

[Instigator]

Great point just did 17 hrs non stop to Fla and my bro was shocked how comfortable my seats were. Especially for a ‘97 with 230k on it.

The newer F-150 seats are uncomfortable for me for anything over about 2 hours. The Super Duty seats (even the base bench) I can drive on all day.

[nitro_rat]

I doubt you'll find anything more comfortable than what you already have. Those are good trucks, sold my 98 Suburban last year and regret it!

[mrichartz]

The newer F-150 seats are uncomfortable for me for anything over about 2 hours. The Super Duty seats (even the base bench) I can drive on all day.

Just curious how new?
Thankfully mine are really comfortable at least for me have major nerve damage in back and neck and can drive hours in that but get in the car and 20-30 mins and I'm reaching for relief and need to get out.

[FMP]

Bench seat rules, if you can find one.

[nitro_rat]

Just curious how new?
Thankfully mine are really comfortable at least for me have major nerve damage in back and neck and can drive hours in that but get in the car and 20-30 mins and I'm reaching for relief and need to get out.

Any of the body style after the one that came out in 97. Maybe 02-03 and up? The newer Chevy seats are ok for me, Dodge are ok too but prone to damage. I usually pull the driver seat bottom foam and grind down the weld on the frame, it cuts into the foam and then the cover goes....

[vnemous]

Tahoe has been my choice. Decent gas milage for what it is, very comfortable ride and fantastic turning radius. Dont know if your gonna require 4wd but you have options. My wife loves driving ours and it just the right size for parking. Mines an 2002 that I bought with 60,000 miles, has 178,000 and has developed a rear main seal leak but oil is cheaper than a $70,000 new one. I love my Hoe