Smaller tow vehicle...

[MNice]

I'm getting real sick of $500 per month gas costs so I'm thinking of a getting rid of my truck for a car. I have a 14' boat so it's not exactly like I need a pickup, I would guess boat/motor/trailer would be around 1000#. does anybody have first hand experience at towing a smaller boat with a front drive car. Specifically looking at a Pontiac vibe with a tow rating of 1500#.

Thanks for any input.

[Fishin4Life]

I tow my 14 foot boat with my Dodge neon. No problems what so ever. Been in some pretty steep launches. The front wheel drive pulls it right out. Feel/look kinda stupid pulling it with it, but gotta work with what you got. I say go fer it.

[Whoaru99]

Just consider reviewing/shortening some of the maintenance schedules for transmission service, etc. Look into adding a transmission cooler if one does not already exist.

[Huskie]

I am thinking along the same lines, but I pull a heavy 18 ft. tracker about 300+ miles when I go fishing up north. My 01 4X4 Dodge Ram is killing me. I would like to stay with a 4X4 truck or SUV, any suggestions.

[MNice]

Wow, talk about the same boat. I have a 01 chev x-cab 4x4. Year around average is about 18.

[nofishfisherman]

One option if its in your budget might be to check out the Mazda suv's.

The Tribute can get 26 mpg if you buy the right package and its a 4wd. They are in that $20-24,000 range.

There are other suv's out there that can get in the upper 20's for gas mileage now you just have to find them. You can also go hybrid, but thats going to add another $5,000 in price.

[lawdog]

This question is probably being asked all over by hundreds of owners of gas guzzlers with the current insane price of fuel. Make sure though that you consider all the costs to trade the vehicle in your calculations as to whether or not it makes sense to do it and save money on gas. $2000 to trade (or $5K or $10K) adds up to a lot of gas you need to save to come out OK.

Then, if you still think it makes sense, don't ever buy a vehicle to tow with, without checking out what it is rated for (as compared to what your rig weighs) and don't tow anything heavier than that vehicle is rated for. Its not only not safe, but you will just be destroying your little vehicle if you abuse it by towing a huge load.

That might not be any real specific help, but just some thing to think about...

[SteveWilson]

If you have a gas guzzler, now is not the time to trade/sell as you won't get what you think you might. If you don't already have a tow vehical, now is the time to look for a gas hog - many, fairly low mileage vehicals can be had for a reasonable price and it should be getting better as the year end model sales start up in August and folk's are looking to dump their big V8's. Example, a 1999-2001 Suburban will go for $7K-$9K w/ 80-100K miles. These are good vehicals with engines that should last awhile. Keep $3-$4K in the bank (or ING savings account at 4.5% APR) to cover the innevitable repairs and you have a good tow/hunt/ice fish/ camping vehical that should last another 5-6 years. That gives you $10-$15K to use for other purposes over trying to find a small, fuel efficient, SUV that can haul a boat - something everyone else is trying to find.

[Fishin4Life]

Quote:

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This question is probably being asked all over by hundreds of owners of gas guzzlers with the current insane price of fuel. Make sure though that you consider all the costs to trade the vehicle in your calculations as to whether or not it makes sense to do it and save money on gas. $2000 to trade (or $5K or $10K) adds up to a lot of gas you need to save to come out OK.

Then, if you still think it makes sense, don't ever buy a vehicle to tow with, without checking out what it is rated for (as compared to what your rig weighs) and don't tow anything heavier than that vehicle is rated for. Its not only not safe, but you will just be destroying your little vehicle if you abuse it by towing a huge load.

That might not be any real specific help, but just some thing to think about...

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well put

[Valv]

MNice, whatever you buy get it with a stick shift, not automatic. You might have to learn it to drive it again, but you will pickup at least 5mpg just from that.

I agree with correct choice of vehicle. A friend of mine just bought a Honda Civic hybrid. The thing cost $ 19,000 !!! And it does 40mpg

I bought a 525 BMW with 200,000 miles, my wife drives it to work every day for past 1.5 years, 5 speed manual, it does 30mpg highway, and 26mpg city. I paid $ 4,500 for it. I have $ 14,500 in my pocket to come up even with the Civic, that's a loit of gas even at $ 3.00/gal, and I can guarantee the finish, quality, safety, and features of the bimmer leaves the Honda waaay back....

I think the biggest mistake people does today is trade in their $ 10,000 vehicle for a $ 40,000 rig. $ 30,000 at 10mpg means 100,000 miles before you come up even, not counting interest.

If you NEED to replace your vehicle, go ahead, if not the $ 5000/year in gas you are spending will take 8 years to break even with a new truck.

[FRESHWATER PETIE]

Fishing4life,

A dodge NEON!!! That would be awesome to see! I own a neon also,great gas mileage. I use the neon for commuting to work. I pull my boat with a dodge caravan, works great!! the front wheel drive and v6 have more than enough power. Great gas mileage too...

[Fishin4Life]

Funniest part about the neon is that it is rated to pull 1000 lbs, LMAO I was also shocked. you get funny looks, I just laugh with them and glad I could make their day hehe

[SpecialK]

I am pulling my 14' aluminum with an '88 ford taurus, not as small as a neon but not a $30k rig by any means

V6 with frontwheel drive and I am sure I will start getting laughed at soon

[archer59]

All this talk of smaller vehicles makes sense. But I will stick with the larger rigs. There is also a safety factor involved here. I has a small car 'once'. I had a guy blow through a stop sign right in front of me at about 50 mph. I sold that car that week and bought another truck. I have three teenage drivers and they drive bigger vehicles also. I know you can't think accidents are going to happen, but they do. My .02

Nick

[Valv]

Actually the best towing economical rigs right now are a 1990 to 1998 Dodge 2500 Cummins diesel pickup 5 speed manual (approx 23mpg) or a 1994 to 1999 Chevy 2500 pickup 6.5 diesel 5 speed manual (approx 20mpg).

These 2 above will give you the towing capacity for EVERYTHING on the market, the safety of a full size truck, and the economy of a small car.

[Guest]

Another option...

Have your high efficiency go-cart to drive to work every day, and pick up an economical(very used) tow vehicle you will be happy with towing on the weekends.

$2000-$5000 can pick up a decent older tow vehicle(van, pick up, suburban, etc) that isnt falling apart and will pull your boat to the lake, and ice fishing equipment in the winter. No car payment(or very small), 2nd vehicle doesnt cost much for insurance. Its much cheaper than getting robbed on a trade in on your current gas guzzler and spending and additional $15K on a vehicle that will only be slightly more efficient.. and depreciate in value about every 30 seconds after being driven off the lot.

I can fish every day for a couple months(including fuel) for what it cost to license a new vehicle alone! The insurance is much cheaper on a 10-15 year old vehicle to boot.

[Fishin4Life]

Valv - are those diesels 6 cyl? My buddy was looking into a newer dodge diesel and he blew me outa the water by telling me it was like a 6 and a half liter diesel 6 cyl. I thought for sure they were at least 8's. Is this true? If so what is the advantage to less cylinders (but yet bigger cylinders)

[Valv]

Dodge Cummins are all 6 cylinders, GM 6.5 and Duramax are V8s, Powerjokes (sorry I meant Powerstrokes) are all V8.

The difference is torque, ease of construction and definitely gas mileage, that's why nobody can beat the Cummins.

[countryboy9799]

With diesels you need to think a little different. With gas cars and pickups the V8's are well known for more power. With diesel's what you are looking at is tourque, most big truck's are running around 400 to 500 hp, not all that much more than the new pickup's.

Also pretty much all big truck and heavy equip. motor's are inline six's, the dodge cummins very much resemble's a big truck motor, just in a smaller package. A dealer explained to me that with the longer connecting rod it's like using a longer ratchet to turn a bolt, you will get more torqe.

[SteveWilson]

Val, do you have any idea what the mileage on a new (say 2004-2006) GMC/Chevy 2500HD with the Duramax/Allison combo is? I'm about due for an upgrade and was considering one.

[Valv]

I had one the first years they came out with it, somebody else will pitch in or you can start a new thread. I would say approx 16mpg to 18mpg depending on speed weight of truck etc.

Any diesel truck nowadays have a great mpg below 2000rpms, if you can slow down and stay below this you can achieve great mileage, but as I said, you will gain at least 5 mpg just by switching to manual transmission instead of auto. I know the Allison is a great tranny, but it will use more fuel

[robbro]

I'm towing my boat with a Subaru Outback, plenty of power and very reliable.

[uffdapete]

I previously towed a 16' Lund w/floor and 30hp with a 94 Toyota pu (4 cyl/stick) and currently tow a 14' Lund w/25hp. It tows either one fine at interstate speeds and gets 22 mpg. I also towed a 800 lb trailer with a 1000 lb lawn tractor 300 miles through western WI and SE MN hills and still got 22 mpg @ 60 mph; without a trailer 25-27 mpg.

The other positive is there have been no repairs other than oil changes, a tune up and 1 set of tires in 92,000 miles. Brakes, tires and possibly exhaust might be due in another 20,000.

[solbes]

Yup, I'm in the same boat. I have a 16' Forester that weighs maybe 1500-1800 empty. I pull it with a Dakota 4x4 with the 4.7 8 cyl. Pulls nice, but the 14-16 mpg on the daily commute gets real old. We went the route of buying an older car for the commute and keeping the truck parked for weekends and towing.

But, assuming you added a tranny cooler to the smaller car, my only other area of concern would be the stopping power.

There has been some talk of diesels, and they are perfect for towing. I know there are some tougher air emission standards coming out soon, but why don't more of the auto makers come out with non-giant diesel trucks/SUV's? Like the Liberty diesel that gets close to 30 on the highway. That thing has low HP so it's not fast, but can tow all day long with close to 300 ft lbs of torque. They just need to add these engines as an option to Dakotas, Tacomas, Durangos, Trailblazers, etc.

My .02

[Fishin4Life]

Quote:

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There has been some talk of diesels, and they are perfect for towing. I know there are some tougher air emission standards coming out soon, but why don't more of the auto makers come out with non-giant diesel trucks/SUV's? Like the Liberty diesel that gets close to 30 on the highway. That thing has low HP so it's not fast, but can tow all day long with close to 300 ft lbs of torque. They just need to add these engines as an option to Dakotas, Tacomas, Durangos, Trailblazers, etc.

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I second that one. I would love to own a diesel and see them as more of a standard. Gas milleage is great, torque is great. Any con's to diesels?

[Valv]

Quote:

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There has been some talk of diesels, and they are perfect for towing. I know there are some tougher air emission standards coming out soon, but why don't more of the auto makers come out with non-giant diesel trucks/SUV's? Like the Liberty diesel that gets close to 30 on the highway. That thing has low HP so it's not fast, but can tow all day long with close to 300 ft lbs of torque. They just need to add these engines as an option to Dakotas, Tacomas, Durangos, Trailblazers, etc.

My .02

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If you go on Ford UK web site they sell the Ford Ranger with a turbodiesel that does 45mpg...... why cannot have it here ? We make the whole truck here, just import the motor.....