What kind of tow rig do you have?

[jcm11881]

A few months ago, I made the move away from my TJ being a Daily Driver, and got myself a 95 XJ. Its been nice to have something that is a bit more comfortable and much quicker to drive regularly. And when I start to miss the TJ, its right there in the driveway, ready to go.

But I'm now thinking of going a step further, and getting a DD that will double as a tow rig. As i get more serious with the TJ, I fear being stuck with it at the trail and no way to get it home.

So my question to all of you, is what kind of truck are you using to tow your TJ? I'm leaning towards a Tahoe, but I'm not sure of it's towing capabilities.

Thanks for the help.

[03Wrangler]

I use a Ford f-250 and a 10,000 lb trailer behind it...

It is also my dad's and is REALLY over kill for the jeep, we use it to haul farm machinery around...

F-150 hauled it down to NC from NY last year... no problems, plenty of power, even with the smallest V8 ford hard in 2005... so don't be afraid of f-150's they can haul ALLOT and there was no problems stopping...

just get a towing vehicle that's towing rating is capable of towing the jeep and dolly/trailer, and you should be set

[Elwood]

The Tahoe is a wonderful all around vehicle.

I have not towed the Jeep with it yet, but my work truck is a 99 Chevy K2500 4x4. Like you, I prefer to keep my Jeep in the garage for when I WANT to use it instead of when I NEED to use it.

My truck has 166k miles on it, so I probly won't tow the Jeep very far and if I am wheeling close to home, I will probly just drive the Jeep. My thought, like yours, is in a couple years get a nicer work vehicle or just get myself a nicer daily driver that will tow the Jeep to Michigan to the sand dunes when I go.

[ChiliPalmer]

I'm a Ford guy at heart so I have an F250 and before that an F150. The only recommendation I have is if you get a 1/2 ton vehicle (Tahoe) then get a trailer with brakes. You should have them either way but you definitely want them with a 1/2 ton vehicle!

[motobob13]

We tow a heavy wakeboard boat with the Tahoe. It tows great and is one comfy ride. Likes to stop and visit gas stations though.

[daveshan]

'06 F-250 Diesel and a 16' car hauler, I like overkill By the time you figure in Jeep(4200 lbs +), trailer (1500 lbs), and gear I'm probably right at 6K. It's nice to be able to go with the flow of traffic under any circumstances and the heavier truck keeps the trailer in line nicely.

Gotta say though, a big truck sucks for a DD, parking is a major pain just about everywhere I go except for the Co-Op which is designed for farm trucks. If ford/GMC/Chevy come out with a 1/2 ton diesel I'm downsizing.

[Jesse-James]

97 Astro conversion van, comfy and quiet but a dog on the hills. Just picked up a gen1 3/4 ton Ram to take it's place.

[RKBA]

Originally Posted by daveshan

Gotta say though, a big truck sucks for a DD, parking is a major pain just about everywhere I go except for the Co-Op which is designed for farm trucks. If ford/GMC/Chevy come out with a 1/2 ton diesel I'm downsizing.

I can't see how a half ton would be noticeably different than a three quarter in parking lots. Both truck lines are available in the same or similar cab/bed configurations and overall length and width is about the same. I suppose a standard cab/short bed would be better in town, but I doubt they will put the new lighter diesels in trucks like that.

It seems to me that the short box/super cab F250 is actually fairly nimble for a diesel powered full size - it's essentially the same size as an old fashioned standard cab long box. If I ever get back to the full size truck market, that's the setup I would want: SuperCab, 6.5' box, 4x4 turbo diesel F250.

[BamaLonghorn]

I use a 2002 F-150 FX4 it works perfectly along with towing our wakeboarding boat. We also have a 2005 Z71 Tahoe that works perfect.

[ChiliPalmer]

Originally Posted by RKBA

I can't see how a half ton would be noticeably different than a three quarter in parking lots. Both truck lines are available in the same or similar cab/bed configurations and overall length and width is about the same. I suppose a standard cab/short bed would be better in town, but I doubt they will put the new lighter diesels in trucks like that.

It seems to me that the short box/super cab F250 is actually fairly nimble for a diesel powered full size - it's essentially the same size as an old fashioned standard cab long box. If I ever get back to the full size truck market, that's the setup I would want: SuperCab, 6.5' box, 4x4 turbo diesel F250.

I've owned a 2000 F150 Super cab (2 door with 2 "wing" doors in back) short bed, a 2005 F150 King Ranch Crew Cab with 6' bed and I currently own an '04 SD Crew cab short box, and I can tell you without question that F250 is a tank compared to either of the other two vehicles.

Wheel base:

F250 - 156.2"
F150 - 126"

Overall Lenght:

F250 - 245.8"
F150 - 211.2"

Width:

F250 - 79.9
F150 - 78.9

As you can see the wheelbase on two similar models is a little more than 30" and that makes a huge difference. In small parking lots I generally tend to back into the spot because it's easier.

Last but not least - I used to park in my garage but with the F250 it won't fit!

EDIT: All that being said - I'll always drive an F250 from here on - I love that thing - 325 HP and 550 lb ft of torque!

[wilson1010]

Both my tow vehicles in one photo. K2500 Burb, 4x4 454, 4.11 posi.

Volvo Fe is 33000gvw Cat 3116, Allison 6sp.

[daveshan]

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

I can tell you without question that F250 is a tank compared to either of the other two vehicles.

Yep, I'm running a super cab (clamshell doors) short bed and your description is dead on, but what a job towing they do.

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

I donated - have you? Click here now!

EDIT: I've done my part, it's a wealth of info and deserves support.

[ChiliPalmer]

Originally Posted by daveshan

Yep, I'm running a super cab (clamshell doors) short bed and your description is dead on, but what a job towing they do.

[/URL]

EDIT: I've done my part, it's a wealth of info and deserves support.

The funny part is I haven't even towed with mine yet! I've only owned it for a few months and the XJ isn't ready yet. The two times I did tow I ended up using my brothers F250 (crew cab long box - now that's a tank!) because mine was in the shop for 1) a detail - LOL 2) to fix the CD player - which isn't even fixed yet...


And I sure hope a TON of people click that link (the one in my sig!) and support Stu!

[White92]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

Both my tow vehicles in one photo. K2500 Burb, 4x4 454, 4.11 posi.

A buddy of mine has that same sub and I would highly recomend it to anyone wanting a DD and a towing rig.

[ps3tv]

Here is what I tow my Jeep with:


Parking the truck is a major pain in the butt. I park at the far end of the parking lot at work, and walk about a quarter of a mile to my office. I need a lot of space to get lined up with a parking spot, and if I get to work early enough to take a closer spot in the morning, I don't have enough space to get back out in the evening. Fuel mileage is quite poor as a daily driver. It has been getting 9 mpg on the last tank of diesel. It sure tows the trailer and Jeep nice though, even with the Jeep being 4200 lbs and the trailer being 3800 lbs. It tows the 8000 lbs like its not even there.

A Tahoe would be a good tow rig for a Jeep and flat bed trailer. I had an Expedition that was a good tow vehicle for my Jeep back when I had a flat bed trailer. Be careful with the brakes on SUVs though, because they dont have the braking capacity of a 3/4 ton or one ton truck. I had the brakes on my Expedition fade away to nothing on the downhill coming out of Lake Tahoe. Thank god for trailer brakes, or I would have blown right through the intersection coming into Carson City. The Expeditions brakes were completely gone, ... nothing left what-so-ever. That was a scary one.