Getting another tow rig??

[Mrpandazz]

I got a few questions for you guys who tow with older rigs.

I recently bought a 3/4 87 Sub 2wd 454/400 with 4.10s and tow package 117k miles
used it to tow my 33ft bumper pull at about 6300-6800#s
It pulled ok, but with some steady sway

About 240 miles into a 300 mile trip it started getting hot, starter issues when I stop and finally the trans blew a front seal.

The only shop in town wants $1400, way too much, for the rebuild, plus whatever additional things Id have to do to fix the other issues.

I found an 88 Crewcab Dually with the same drivetrain and supposedly 10-12K in receipts including rebuilt motor and trans, brakes, rear end, and other stuff for $2800.

I need a truck to get my trailer back home in less that a month. My dad and uncle are going tomorrow to check it out.

Should I take the risk with another older truck to add to the fleet, or fix the one I have now?
Will a dually help much with sway? It sounds like a good deal, but Im weary because of what happend with my burb
Any suggestions would be great

 

[shady]

the dually will be much more stable. as for should ya get it Depends on what ya want. Myself for the towing part, if thats what the trucks gonna do most of the time I'd get the dually. if its a DD with occasional tow duty, fix your burb. Just my humble opinion

 

[Mrpandazz]

The stability is a pretty big issue so that is a plus. It wont be a daily driver, just for occasional towing and work truck, or when I get bored of my ranger! Plus i think itd be cool to have and to tow my k30 eventually. Still debating though, guess ill find out tomorrow if its really a decent truck.

Thanks for your opinion, btw nice trucks, that burb & ccsb are sweet!

 

[shady]

thank you The burb's my baby, and the CC's for sale if you know anyone

 

[dhcomp]

How long have you had the burb? How well do you know it?

I've made the mistake a number of times, thinking the "grass is greener on the other side", when i don't put enough value in what i KNOW is good on the rig i have.

Until you drive the dually, you wont' really know, but even then, there will be LOTS of unknowns. Think it really comes down to how confident you are in the rest of the burb, vs what you KNOW is now broken.

 

[Mrpandazz]

Ive had the sub for about 2-3 months, I know it needs the trans, a new starter, and the cooling system has to be checked out because it started getting warm. The problems aren't too major, but the big issue is Im 300 miles from home and have no place to do the work and don't really trust the shop here like I do back home.

I think overall I could make it a decent truck, with some more time.
My dad and uncle checked out the 88 dually and we decided to pass, too many unknowns like you said.

Im looking at a 2000 k3500 w/454 in good shape, is this a vortec 454? Its an auto trans but not sure what it would be 4l80e?? I think this would be a good truck, any experience with similar?

 

[dhcomp]

Im looking at a 2000 k3500 w/454 in good shape, is this a vortec 454? Its an auto trans but not sure what it would be 4l80e?? I think this would be a good truck, any experience with similar?

Yes, 4l80e. Great truck, but the IFS front end doesn't like high mileage. If you are ok wiht the front being a bit loose, or putting some money into the suspension, you will be ok. Great motor/trans combo, but they are about $2500-3000 to rebuild if you need to do it.

Check it out, check the mileage/condition/transfluid, and see whats next.

 

[Mrpandazz]

Its got 143K miles, which I don't think is too high for Texas.
I'm not a big fan of IFS but for what I'm looking for I'm sure it'll work, definitely will have my dad check it all out real good though.

Will the newer 454 be such a gas hog as the TBI in the burb?
Its a cc dually, gears should probably be 3.73s or 4.10s right?

 

[dhcomp]

Its got 143K miles, which I don't think is too high for Texas.
I'm not a big fan of IFS but for what I'm looking for I'm sure it'll work, definitely will have my dad check it all out real good though.

Will the newer 454 be such a gas hog as the TBI in the burb?
Its a cc dually, gears should probably be 3.73s or 4.10s right?

If you have to ask about gas mileage, you are probably looking at the wrong truck.

I saw about 11mpg freeway at 70 in my 97 and 99 k2500 454 burbs.

Not sure what your burb was getting. Towing, you won't be working it as hard, and will probably get a bit better mileage.

 

[Mrpandazz]

Im not new to bad mpgs fot trucks.Just new to this modle and curious as to what improvements had been made in 13 years of engineering efficiency wise.
The TBI was getting around 8 with ac and 4.10s

This wont be my dd so Im not too worried about fuel, still hoping I could do better than the burb though. 11 isnt too bad, plus id be towing slower than 70. I saw that 97 you had and it was nice!