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In the market for a tow vehicle
SeaHare
Member Posts: 189 ✭✭✭
Ive decided that before next season i will have myself a truck and trailer to tow my 01 310. ive got my mind set on a diesel, but what i need to know is if i should strictly look for a 3500 or if a 2500 will be ok to tow the boat. im only planning on spending 15k so that puts me around the 2005 era of truck (with lots of miles).. Second question, i found a tri axle trailer rated for 12500 lbs, is the 310 too heavy for that trailer?
01 FV 310, 5.7s carbed, B3s
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I'd go for the 350 /3500 (1 ton). Same frame/axles but beefed up suspension form the 3/4 ton. Well worth doing IMO. If you can snag a dually it will track a lot better, but less common in 4WD.
I'm not sure of the 310 weight personally, but 12,500# trailer seems light for 310, especially once you add in water, fuel, all the stuff on board. it adds up fast.
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Quickly searching I found a weight of 12,400lbs for a 310 Fiesta Vee, so you need a trailer capable of close 15k lbs for some safety factor. I'd definitely do a 3500/350 also, as thats a BIG load to tow. Definitely diesel.
ide estimate that i would tow it maybe 2-6 times per season, about 60 miles each time. We will be slipping the boat on lake michigan (60 miles from home) next season and i would just feel better having a trailer.. Especially if anything goes wrong I can tow it home to have my mechanics I like work on it.
Frodo, thats a fantastic price for that trailer! I need to find a deal like that, Ive got 3k i want to spend on a trailer and could maybe stretch that to 3.5k
About the truck, Yes i would prefer a 1 ton, but i dont really want to limit myself if i dont have to.. there seems to be a lot more 3/4 tons out there
Dodge/cummins are the way to go- but the cab isn't a great thing.. the engine is solid as a rock and will puke enough torque to do about anything you want with it.. beware of the transmission, though, as mother mopar still thinks band transmissions are the route to take, whilst allison and FMC have figured out otherwise.. Once you get the 5.9l ctd in order, maintenance is your only concern.
Ford, in 7.3L diesel variety, paired with the 4R100 or HD4R100 is a good choice... they are rock solid, can run on a wide spectrum of fuel grades, and can produce the torque you need.. the ford 6.0L diesel, i would venture away from.. the 6.4L (what I have) is a powerhouse and capable of ridiculous power with very little effort and can be bulletproofed with minimal effort (head bolts are bigger/stronger than the 6.0's; the very last of the engines that can be stripped of emissions add-ons).. BUT.. the 6.4's are in high demand, and they are pricey. The 6.7l scorpion is Ford's first in house diesel.. it is a great engine, but it suffers from emissions devices that can't be easily altered, suck fuel like it's cool, and are very maintenance intensive (so is the 6.4 and 6.0, for that matter).
as far as trailers go, the basics have been laid out already: aluminum I beam, torsion suspension, tri-axle, weight rating w/ at least 30% safety margin... the big one: BRAKES.. getting the load rolling turns from an asset to a liability real quick like if you can't shut it down.. for this reason, I'd demand a disc brake system, electric/hydraulic, and on all six- paired with a brake controller in the cab. There ain't no way I'd trust a booster tongue mounted actuator style system- they will beat the devil out of your tow rig.. aluminum: less likely to corrode; torsion bars: no replacement of leaf springs every other season; I beam: strength; tri-axle: better displacement of weight, demands smaller diameter tires= less ride height and cost to operate/maintain... I'd also demand LED lighting, which- if sealed- will last the life of the trailer maybe twice the cost of standard up front but will pay for itself over the next couple of years.
re: finding a place to purchase.....
If you don't mind driving, finding a trailer near the coast where folks are replacing them early and often is a good idea.. I know down here (coast of NC) folks don't take care of their crap and it fails them within three or four seasons.. it's humorous, actually.. SO, there are trailer makers all over the place.. I can buy a 12k# rated tandem axle as I described above for $3k all day long, with every bell and whistle.. BUT HERE IS THE THING, and let me be clear, I DO NOT LIKE taking advantage of peoples misfortune, but the economy is killing these guys.. I see trailers selling brand new for 1/2 to 3/4 what they were intended on being listed for.. I'm certain they can be talked down from there.. if you call the coastal makers, you may find you can get one a WHOLE LOT cheaper than you can up there...
and here is a one time offer: I'll be driving to U.P. Michigan over Christmas from Emerald Isle NC.. If you're along the way, I'll drag it up behind me and pass it off.. this would be helping some local guys move their stock, and helping a board member out, too.. If you're interested, I can get some contacts for the trailers and post them up here for you, and you can wheel and deal with them..
The Ford 7.3l is great with the automatic, just watch for rusting oil pan and dip stick tube.
Drew: Where you going in the UP? My parents are both from the Marquette area. Love it up there!
PC BYC, Holland, MI
PC BYC, Holland, MI
I dunno if I'll get a chance.. last year it was a whirl through to see all her folks.. this year, with the baby, it should be even more so.. I'd love to ride some of those trails, though.. it looks like hella fun!!
Drew, i would be very interested in the contacts you have for trailers. And actually you would be passing real close to me as im near Green Bay wi. Maybe we can figure something out if i can make a deal.
As for trucks. ive done LOTS of reading. The 7.3 sounds like its a great engine but that puts me back into older trucks..so not interested... I dont want to drop the dime on an 08+, so no 6.4 for me either. Also, I hate how the 04-07 gm trucks look, so no duramax for me either. That leaves me with the (problematic) 6.0l or the 5.9l... There is a 04 dodge 2500 5.9l with 245k (its also chipped, not sure thats a good thing) near me for 10k, Im thinkin bout maybe test driving it. I dont drive much, only put on 35000 mi on my last truck after 5 yrs ownership so im not too worried about high mileage vehicles
yup.. i pass right through GB..
give me a little bit and I'll rouse up some contacts for you.. there are two fellas i have in mind who have inventory right now, and i'm sure they want it moved... nobody is buying anything right now around here.. it's kinda sad.
252.393.2446
according to him, there is a sizable jump from a 15k# to a 20k#gvwr trailer, and I reckon I agree with that..
don't settle on his price as the absolute representation from the area.. he priced me an aluminum all bells and whistles tandem for a 24' four winns I was looking at, @ $6k, which I found down the street (literally) for $2.75k.. What I'm hoping by having you contact him is to take advantage of his knowledge of locals, and finding a steel rig somebody used once and stored..
Good luck.
Don't count on old tires. There's a mfg date in an oval imprint on the sidewall that tells the month/year they were made. Old (3-4yrs) tires loose their elasticity and will shred under a heavy load, the LAST thing you want in a rig that size and value. New rubber is not only safer, it rides cooler and smoother.
Don't leave the house without a road hazard plan, like how would I jack this beast up safely on the side of the road. BoatUS also has a trailerable boat road hazard plan that is golden when combined with their on-water towing plan (but ck your area for local service).
Total rig height is another serious issue if you have an arch. Our 270 runs at 11'-10"......just barely legal and a serous pucker factor on low overhead wires, bridges and dangling tree limbs. And of course it won't totally fit in my shop which it missed by about 6".. ~X(
Wait until the wife of the guy in the camper finds out there is no A/C anymore lol
Or this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxewzpVPgAE&oq=camper%20hits%20bank&gs_l=youtube..0.5j0.3129.6083.0.10035.16.16.0.0.0.0.142.1372.7j9.16.0.eytns%2Cpt%3D-30%2Cn%3D2%2Cui%3Dt.1.0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.c9V7bz7jUa8&noredirect=1
PC BYC, Holland, MI
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Go Steelers!!!