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Towing recommendations for a single car trailer?

Stomis

Stomis

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Doing my research for possibly beginning to do car hauling. Was looking at a single cab dually 3500 88-98 for a starter. Would be my daily driver while not towing also.

How well will a small block truck pull around 5000-6000 pounds?

What about say a 350 vs a vortec 383?
 
did you find one with a 350?
i'd probably look for an 88 dually with a 6.2 and a turbo. i think that would make for a great little tow rig.
 
shovelbill80 said:
did you find one with a 350?
i'd probably look for an 88 dually with a 6.2 and a turbo. i think that would make for a great little tow rig.
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I havent found anything yet. Just curious incase I do find a small block truck whether the 350 can handle it...

I've heard the 6.2 is terrible for towing and the 6.5 isnt much better...
 
i've found that most people that say the 6.2 is terrible have a 10,000 hp Cummins or Duramax. either that or they like to think their rigs were meant to tow 25K trailers all through the mountains. sure you can tow just fine with a 350.....will it be quick or fuel efficient(as if towing does that)?

you'd have to rev the hell out of a small block to get the same power that you will have out of a diesel at much lower rpms. gotta weigh the cost of gas vs fuel vs maintenance vs how much you'll tow vs daily driver duty.

if your choices are the 350 or 383, i'll take the stroker all the time. there is nothing wrong with a late model 6.2..........providing everything else is properly matched up for the task.

i'm sure someone else will be along to tell you that you'll need to transplant a KT600 into the rig to tow your cars about. :rolleyes:
 
I think you should probably start out with a big block or a diesel.

With towing as much as you are planning on I think you will work a small block hard. I bet a big block truck would return the same mileage while towing as the small block would.

I have towed with a small block, its alright for sure but man that motor was working hard
 
blazinzuk said:
I think you should probably start out with a big block or a diesel.

With towing as much as you are planning on I think you will work a small block hard. I bet a big block truck would return the same mileage while towing as the small block would.

I have towed with a small block, its alright for sure but man that motor was working hard
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We'll see what I find.
 
if your planning long trips i would go with a diesel. your going to want to cut expenses where you can and the mpg will help ALOT
 
My boss (who tows alot) swears that loaded a big block and a diesel will get the same mileage. I dont buy into it but at this point in time a big block truck is really my only price range option. The 6.5 TD is from what I've read significantly under powered as compared to a big block truck for towing.
 
i thought you said you wanted to tow 5-6K? how is a 6.2 or 6.5 underpowered for that? where are you going that you need all this power? there aren't any big mountains in southern Jersey, far as i know...what do you have for a budget to get this off the ground? hell, get an old M1008 and you can resell it easy later down the road.
 
shovelbill80 said:
i thought you said you wanted to tow 5-6K? how is a 6.2 or 6.5 underpowered for that? where are you going that you need all this power? there aren't any big mountains in southern Jersey, far as i know...what do you have for a budget to get this off the ground? hell, get an old M1008 and you can resell it easy later down the road.
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I plan on doing tow for hire in the future so I'll be way further than just Jersey. I have no experience with 6.2s and 6.5s other than what I've heard. And none of which is very good towing wise.
 
i just read your other thread......i understand a bit better now. fuel economy would be my biggest concern. i wish you luck in finding your first truck......can't beat a Cummins though, early '90's Dodge.

good luck in the other gig too.
 
1994 Chevy Crew Cab 454,4l80 towing a light weight car hauler and a 01 Pontiac Grand Prix, we averaged about 13 mpg. that same truck hauling a Toyota four runner crawler gets 10.

1992 Ford F-350 crew cab 5 speed, hauling Horton around on a 1800 lb trailer, got a best of 11.

04 Duramax hauling a gooseneck trailer and a crew cab dually (without motor trans or t-case. 15 mpg. This same truck got 14 hauling the same gooseneck a blazer buggy and the afore mentioned toyota

Those are some of my personal experiences on diesel vs gas. You will get better mileage with a cummins or d max than a powerstroke. Plus you will be able to haul faster without slowing down. Time is money when you are hauling.
 
blazinzuk said:
1994 Chevy Crew Cab 454,4l80 towing a light weight car hauler and a 01 Pontiac Grand Prix, we averaged about 13 mpg. that same truck hauling a Toyota four runner crawler gets 10.

1992 Ford F-350 crew cab 5 speed, hauling Horton around on a 1800 lb trailer, got a best of 11.

04 Duramax hauling a gooseneck trailer and a crew cab dually (without motor trans or t-case. 15 mpg. This same truck got 14 hauling the same gooseneck a blazer buggy and the afore mentioned toyota

Those are some of my personal experiences on diesel vs gas. You will get better mileage with a cummins or d max than a powerstroke. Plus you will be able to haul faster without slowing down. Time is money when you are hauling.
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Well the issue here is that I'd really like to stick with a chevy. Meaning that for where I am at and my price range (which is not wanting to take out a business loan yet), my only real option is a mid/late 90s big block since I do plan to step up to a 2 car.

Am I wrong in saying that a big block truck will pull a 2 car better than a 6.5?
 
Stomis said:
Well the issue here is that I'd really like to stick with a chevy. Meaning that for where I am at and my price range (which is not wanting to take out a business loan yet), my only real option is a mid/late 90s big block since I do plan to step up to a 2 car.

Am I wrong in saying that a big block truck will pull a 2 car better than a 6.5?
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Now its been years and years since I have pulled with a 6.5 but I remember the 6.5 keeping up with an older big block pretty good. That was hauling about 9k lbs each give or take some.

Since its going to be your daily driver the 6.5 will get better mileage driving around unloaded.

I think the big block would probably tow a little better. The 6.5 will get better mileage as your daily driver though. I think towing they would get close to the same.

I think given that choice I would take a big block, when they break they are cheaper to fix than a 6.5
 
blazinzuk said:
Now its been years and years since I have pulled with a 6.5 but I remember the 6.5 keeping up with an older big block pretty good. That was hauling about 9k lbs each give or take some.

Since its going to be your daily driver the 6.5 will get better mileage driving around unloaded.

I think the big block would probably tow a little better. The 6.5 will get better mileage as your daily driver though. I think towing they would get close to the same.

I think given that choice I would take a big block, when they break they are cheaper to fix than a 6.5
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Yeah if I come across a good 6.5 truck I wont turn it down though. The other thing I considered doing was picking up a big block truck and just building a bigger cube motor like a 540 for it and cleaning the heads up.
 
Stomis said:
Yeah if I come across a good 6.5 truck I wont turn it down though. The other thing I considered doing was picking up a big block truck and just building a bigger cube motor like a 540 for it and cleaning the heads up.
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I think your getting into un-needed expenses for all that. You gotta remember your doing this as a start-up business and that is NEVER easy. You need to be cutting any expenses you can, not adding them. Just my .2 cents.
 
dfl701 said:
I think your getting into un-needed expenses for all that. You gotta remember your doing this as a start-up business and that is NEVER easy. You need to be cutting any expenses you can, not adding them. Just my .2 cents.
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Yep completely hear you on that. I was just saying hypothetically if I found a big block truck underpowered I always had that option vs say buying another truck or swapping a diesel in.
 
early 90's dodge would be great as stated before, but the rest of the truck is junk- trans (auto or manual), rear axle, body, interior. all junk.
i had a 91 6bt/g360 with 4.10s and 35's. awesome tow rig after an nv4500 swap, and overhauled d70-u.
but not as comfy as a gm truck. interior rattled bad, the cabs crack behind the fenders and rattle/squeak, it had rust in the floor. which wouldnt be too bad, but im in oregon.

i have towed a couple times with my current v30. tbi 350/465/3.73. i had 1200lbs in the bed, and an empty car trailer. averaged 12mpg at 70 mph. i also towed a nova on a bigger trailer, average mileage was close to the same, but man was that engine workin hard.

my stepdad has a 94 k30 drw, with a built tbi 350/4l80e combo, and it does better, but man it works hard to pick up speed on the freeway when loaded.

tbi 454's are boat anchors, gutless fuel suckers, but they tow way better than a 350. a 6.5td will keep up with them towing. mileage would be a little better also. but when it needs an engine overhaul, that 454 is going to be a crap load cheaper. but i would not say that either would last longer than the other. i worked on motorhomes, and from what i have seen, 454s just dont last when being used to haul heavy.

i would look for a 96'and newer. a vortec 454 makes alot more power, and would be plenty reliable. i wouldnt rule out a 6.5td, but keep repair cost in the back of your mind, especially if you dont do your own on 6.5.
 
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