My wife thinks it's a bad idea, what does hardline think?

[vanguard]

As some of you know, I DD and tow with a 2003 tacoma. At about 190 hp and 220 ft lbs tq it's not the most powerful tow rig you'll find but it's never let me down and I travel with it a good bit. However, the ideal situation would be to have a real tow rig and a smaller DD. I was surfing around craig's list, like I always do, and this crossed my path.

Big old tow rig with a seller that's interested in trading for a taco.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/710969212.html

Nifty little DD: (My first car was a GTI and I'll always have a soft spot for them)
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/707950433.html

What does the forum think? Should I stick with my small (but reliable and paid for) setup or convince the wife that I should be wheeling and dealing?

 

[Cole]

Re: My wife thinks it's a bad idea, what was hardline think?

I vote stay with what you already have

 

[BamaTJ]

I agree with your wife, that work truck is ugly as balls

 

[Juan_Hong_Loe]

Nope, don't do it!

 

[bigsilly]

Keep whatcha got

 

[wngrog]

Towing with an 03 Tacoma is a bad idea any way you look at it. An emergency stop situation in your future will prove this. So far you have dodged a bullet. I pray that stays the case and I am wrong.

 

[kid rok]

I say do it. Wrong is right, you will one day have an emergency situation where you'll need to stop quick. Even with my 2500 avalanche I could use better stoppping at times. Do it, who cares what your towing with.
I have my Avalanche, and I also have a toyota pick up I drive around as my DD. PLus we are thinking about buying a scion or someting similar in gas to be a dd also.

 

[vanguard]

I agree with your wife, that work truck is ugly as balls

You think so? Look at the cab again? The picture may be terrible and the undercarriage is dirty but it looks like all it needs is a pressure washing to me.

 

[InDaShop]

you could ditch a trailer if you went with that F550. Load the buggy on the back of the truck and then you'll be cooking with gas.

For the money and luxury, I'd go with this
ebay Item number: 280233199388 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280233199388&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=018

 

[Bones]

You couldn't pay me to own an VW of that era, let alone a VR6.....That Ford would be a nice tow slut, but if you go this route, you get another vehicle to maintain, etc.

 

[vanguard]

For the money and luxury, I'd go with this
ebay Item number: 280233199388 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280233199388&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=018

The reserve of $45K puts it out of my price range. I'm still thinking about it. For about $3k out of pocket I could have a fun DD (again, I have a soft spot for GTIs) and a real tow rig. I could keep the trailer and split diesel costs on long trips too.

Hmm

 

[BamaTJ]

You think so? Look at the cab again? The picture may be terrible and the undercarriage is dirty but it looks like all it needs is a pressure washing to me.

I just like trucks with beds on them, that is all

 

[blacksheep10]

I love that tow rig. whack 4' out of the bed, have enough room left for a bunch of ****, or leave it 14" and pull your rig on it laughing1

 

[Juan_Hong_Loe]

They're just too uncomfortable on long trips! That is unless you modify the interior with nicer seats and quiet the interior down a bit.

 

[vanguard]

I have a friend that works for a heavy equipment company. His job used to be delivering construction equipment all over the east coast. On top of that, he loves to surf/contribute to diesel forums so he keeps himself up to speed on every sort of hauling machine. I consider him to be my towing sensei.

Anyway, I asked him about this truck. As we all probably know, it's more than capable of hauling my 3,140 lbs buggy around. My current trailer is 12' so a 14' deck would even give me room for some kind of toolbox, camping gear, etc. while still holding my car. What I didn't know was that in that year all F550's came with a 4.88 gear ratio so I'd probably be cruising at 70 mph tops. That alone kills the deal for me. On top of that, the idea of towing two rigs at once is a mixed one to me. On one hand it would be nice to have a friend on the trip and to split fuel cost.

On the other, the reality of going out of my way to pick somebody up might suck. If he's not waiting at the door with his things neatly packed in waterproof boxes it sucks more. If I'm tying down his rig in the rain that stinks too. I'll lose the ability to go home early if my rig breaks (or decide on my schedule independently at all.) It's not the worst thing to only be able to take care of myself.

The more I look into this the more a regular 3/4 or 1 ton truck looks like the ideal situation.

I just can't seem to shake the idea of showing up at camp in a used ice cream truck with the music playing and my helmet on. I mean, I'd be the coolest guy on earth.

 

[BamaTJ]

Man I would go one of two ways, newer half ton or 3/4 gasser or an older Dodge dedicated tow rig and keep driving your taco or get a car for the DD duties. Price of fuel is not going down, don't stick yourself with a diesel truck to drive daily if your commute is more than a few miles. Being totally self-reliant on trips is a GREAT thing. With the cost of diesel, splitting a trip with two rigs in tow really only saves you maybe $100 bucks. I ran the numbers when John and I went to Clayton and my CTD was pulling down 8-9 mpg at .70-.80 more a gallon.