newbie needs help with picking a tow vehicle!!

[Impala72]

Hi I'm new to towing and in the market for a part time driver/tow vehicle. Currently I'm looking at a 95 ECSB Z71. I plan to tow my 4300lb 72 chevy impala and occasionlly my 97 z28 camaro to the shop, track or car show whatever the case maybe. Is this truck capable of handling this load say on a 2k steel 21ft trailer? Or would it be in my best interest to look for a 3/4 ton? A duramax is out of the question I can't afford it lol I'm pretty much set on an OBS truck. L

[Benny00Z71]

Capable, yes. How far away will you drive to get to said places? The truck will do it, and leagally so. You say part time driver/tow vehicle, so if you're only driving it every so often, or only to tow your car, I'd get a 3/4 ton. That way you have the ability to tow that load more comfortably and tow heavier if needed. If you're looking for the truck do more daily driving and towing occasionally, I'd consider the 1/2 ton mainly for fuel savings.

[Impala72]

Regularly towing less than 50 miles one way more on occasion say to Myrtle beach which is 200 miles or so from greensboro nc. It'll probably never see step grades.

[DarkCharisma]

Get a 3/4 ton. Stopping and controlling the weight is far more important than whatever minuscule cost savings in fuel you may have with a half-ton. GMT-400 half-tons have terrible brakes (as does the GMT-800 half-tons, really), you don't want to be white-knuckling your stop when you need to take an extra 6000lbs from 65mph to 0.

A quick autotrader search for trucks 3/4ton and 1ton from GMC and Chevy, under 12k, shows over 200 results. There are a number of good 6.0L GMT-800 options in there.

[Impala72]

Being new to towing I'd rather have more truck than I need. I could probably benefit from the handicap lol. I'd love to have a gmt-800 2500hd with a 6.0(ideally) or 8.1 but I can't afford one right now. I've seen a few gmt-400 2500s with 350s or 454s how would these fair? Gas mileage isn't a huge issue cause I wont be driving everyday. I also do all my own maintenance so money I save there can buy more fuel.

[DarkCharisma]

Being new to towing I'd rather have more truck than I need. I could probably benefit from the handicap lol. I'd love to have a gmt-800 2500hd with a 6.0(ideally) or 8.1 but I can't afford one right now. I've seen a few gmt-400 2500s with 350s or 454s how would these fair? Gas mileage isn't a huge issue cause I wont be driving everyday. I also do all my own maintenance so money I save there can buy more fuel.

They would work fine, the biggest concern is having enough truck to stop it. What's your price range?

[ToyHauler]

your talking 6300 on relatively easy ground. i had a 89 350 5spd 1/2 that pulled my 6k camper. and that got alot better mileage than most other trucks. only reason i got rid of it was because i had a kid and it was sclb. if i had it to do over i would get a 80's sub or extended cab. not that a 3/4 wouldnt be good but if you came across a good tbi 1/2 with a 350 i wouldnt rule it out.

[Impala72]

My price range is 3-5 or 6k. The 95 1500 Ecsb z71 (350tbi/4l60e) is 3k and I have came across a 97 2500hd eclb 4x4 (350 vortec/4l80e) for 5.5k

[DarkCharisma]

My price range is 3-5 or 6k. The 95 1500 Ecsb z71 (350tbi/4l60e) is 3k and I have came across a 97 2500hd eclb 4x4 (350 vortec/4l80e) for 5.5k

I would go with the 2500 of the two, the 80e is a better transmission, and it's got bigger brakes and axles, all important things.

[ToyHauler]

the vortec 305 and 350's are a pain though, makes me carry a scanner permanently in the truck now.

[Benny00Z71]

I would go with the 2500 of the two, the 80e is a better transmission, and it's got bigger brakes and axles, all important things.

x2

[Mr_Shamrock]

The truck in my sig pic might just be for sale for $5000. It is a 98 2500 4X4 5.7 4L80E and is a very reliable truck. It is above average cosmetically as well. Just throwing that out there.

[891TON]

They would work fine, the biggest concern is having enough truck to stop it. What's your price range?

I think you may be putting a little too much emphasis on braking. A truck doesnt have to be big and heavy or have huge brakes to stop a trailer. If your trailer is properly equipped, and tunned correctly for the load it is carrying, the trailer should be stopping the truck, not the truck stopping the trailer. I tow my off road truck which weighs in at a hefty 5800Lbs on a dual axle deck over that weighs about 2500lbs with my 06' HD. thats 8300lbs behind my truck. With a good brake controller set up correctly, I stop the truck even comming off highway ramps using no more brake pedal than I would if the truck was totally unloaded. I actually have to back the contoller way off when trailering in town so that it doesnt slow down so fast.
The weight of the tow rig is more important when towing at highway speeds to ensure the weight of the vehicle being towed doesnt start to "walk" on the tow rig. Ive seen people trying to approach highway speeds and the trailer start death wobbling back and forth practically tipping the tow rig. If you have a flimsy trailer not set up right and a light tow rig this will haunt you. I wouldnt be worried about towing a 4000lb car with a half ton one bit. Just get a good trailer with a good set of brakes and make sure you have a good brake controller. It is always better to have a bigger truck when towing, but dont pass up a great deal on a half ton if towing a couple cars every now and then is all you are going to do. I will say however the Chevy 3/4 and 1tons are better equipped for towing and come with a lot of the neccessary equipment for towing that you may not get on a 1/2 ton if the prior owner didnt put it on.

[Jmac72]

I think you may be putting a little too much emphasis on braking. A truck doesnt have to be big and heavy or have huge brakes to stop a trailer. If your trailer is properly equipped, and tunned correctly for the load it is carrying, the trailer should be stopping the truck, not the truck stopping the trailer. I tow my off road truck which weighs in at a hefty 5800Lbs on a dual axle deck over that weighs about 2500lbs with my 06' HD. thats 8300lbs behind my truck. With a good brake controller set up correctly, I stop the truck even comming off highway ramps using no more brake pedal than I would if the truck was totally unloaded. I actually have to back the contoller way off when trailering in town so that it doesnt slow down so fast.
The weight of the tow rig is more important when towing at highway speeds to ensure the weight of the vehicle being towed doesnt start to "walk" on the tow rig. Ive seen people trying to approach highway speeds and the trailer start death wobbling back and forth practically tipping the tow rig. If you have a flimsy trailer not set up right and a light tow rig this will haunt you. I wouldnt be worried about towing a 4000lb car with a half ton one bit. Just get a good trailer with a good set of brakes and make sure you have a good brake controller. It is always better to have a bigger truck when towing, but dont pass up a great deal on a half ton if towing a couple cars every now and then is all you are going to do. I will say however the Chevy 3/4 and 1tons are better equipped for towing and come with a lot of the neccessary equipment for towing that you may not get on a 1/2 ton if the prior owner didnt put it on.

I agree.
If you are just towing a car or truck on a open(flatbed)trailer.A 1/2 ton is fine.All you need is a good hitch,and a brake controller,and make sure the trailer has decent brakes.I like brakes on both axles,but my first trailer only had them on 1,but it worked fine too.

[TiredFarmer]

I agree.
If you are just towing a car or truck on a open(flatbed)trailer.A 1/2 ton is fine.All you need is a good hitch,and a brake controller,and make sure the trailer has decent brakes.I like brakes on both axles,but my first trailer only had them on 1,but it worked fine too.

Echo's what I was gonna say! I'd sell my 2500HD, but it would cost more than your $6K limit!

[DarkCharisma]

Too much emphasis on braking?

Jesus Christ, now I've heard it all. :lol:

[moogvo]

Go with a 3/4 ton or larger. Try to find one with a big block... People are selling them cheap all over the place because of the gas mileage thing (which isn't REALLY all that bad considering the heavier duty of the truck.

[stevehayes01]

I would lean more to a 2500HD of some sort..... right now you don't want to tow on any grades but in the future that may not be the case. Over prepare rather than struggle down the road when you find you need to do tow something more.

[moogvo]

I would lean more to a 2500HD of some sort..... right now you don't want to tow on any grades but in the future that may not be the case. Over prepare rather than struggle down the road when you find you need to do tow something more.

There is nothing worse than buying something for a specific purpose, only to find out that it isn't good enough. As my wife says, "Buy it once and buy it right".

[stevehayes01]

There is nothing worse than buying something for a specific purpose, only to find out that it isn't good enough. As my wife says, "Buy it once and buy it right".

Very true...... Thats why I bought my 'burb.... 3/4 Ton w/rebuilt 454 and rebuilt trans with a 10K tow package on it for sub $3500........ eats gas but will pull most anything.

[riveeri1]

I have a 05 GMC canyon and i pulled my bothers 77 Camaro to shops and car shows and other places pretty regular, I did =nt find it hard to control. Mytruck did pretty well.

[elcamino74ss]

I haven't tried towing yet but I've had the bed loaded up on my 95 3/4 and it seems more suited for towing. My only reserve is the TBI350. For heavy load/towing I'd say 3/4 is the way to go. Like others said they are heavier duty. I had to learn about LT and load ratings on tires as well when I went to go get new rubber on it.