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    Looking at tow rigs... what would you buy?
    #1
    Founding Member fund razor's Avatar
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    Ok... time for me to get serious about a tow rig. I have a 28 foot Apache Brave. Kind of heavy. Could creep up on 9,000 with gas and gear. I intend on trailering within a 300 mile radius or so.

    I can probably spend around 15k max. (That means don't suggest a F650) I am thinking of staying with 4x4 SRW. I just don't think that my load requires DRW.

    I'll be adding electric over hydraulic brakes to cover all axles of the trailer. I could always do a weight-distributing set up to gain some capacity and control. I'll take the factory hitch off of the truck and have a higher capacity one put on.

    With all this in mind... I am leaning toward a 1999-2006 Ford 250 with the diesel.
    Any thoughts that I can benefit from?

    Thanks.
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    #2
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    I think the 250SD is a good choice. I would have said a GM until it became Government Motors.

    I've also seen some 350's in that price range, but unless you buy a bigger boat, no need.

    And, since you mentioned it, why brakes on all three axles?
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    #3
    Founding Member fund razor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ratickle View Post
    I think the 250SD is a good choice. I would have said a GM until it became Government Motors.

    I've also seen some 350's in that price range, but unless you buy a bigger boat, no need.

    And, since you mentioned it, why brakes on all three axles?
    Yeah... I have a GMC 1/2 ton outside, and a 20 year history of GMC trucks.

    I heard that it (brakes all axles) was required in some places.

    With the long winter here, I figured a heavy duty 250 with 4 wheel drive and single rear wheel would be more versitile.
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    #4
    Quote Originally Posted by fund razor View Post
    Yeah... I have a GMC 1/2 ton outside, and a 20 year history of GMC trucks.

    I heard that it (brakes all axles) was required in some places.

    With the long winter here, I figured a heavy duty 250 with 4 wheel drive and single rear wheel would be more versitile.
    Florida does
    Run until it sounds expensive
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    #5
    Quote Originally Posted by BBB725 View Post
    Florida does
    FL requires front axle only.....not all axles. Stop by the local boat ramp this weekend and you will quickly see front axle only is majority.
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    #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Ratickle View Post
    I think the 250SD is a good choice. I would have said a GM until it became Government Motors.

    I've also seen some 350's in that price range, but unless you buy a bigger boat, no need.

    And, since you mentioned it, why brakes on all three axles?
    If he is buying used, then why not GM? Govt Motors has nothing to do with a 3-4 year old truck.....
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    #7
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JupiterSunsation View Post
    If he is buying used, then why not GM? Govt Motors has nothing to do with a 3-4 year old truck.....
    I know, but I have had GM's my entire life and am really pizzed. I totally expect them to drive Ford into bankruptcy even though they did things right. So, more Ford demand, better for Ford overall.
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    #8
    Registered Expensive Date's Avatar
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    The only reason ford did not have to file was the borrowed a ton of money while it was still available.
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    #9
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    This is a highly opinionated subject so I'm probably gonna open a can of worms, but here goes.
    I prefer a DRW myself. Triaxle trailers won't push them around like a SRW. I pulled my
    30' Villain on a triaxle with both and never went back once I used a DRW. After pulling the KV with a 96 GMC for a couple years I took a test run with a new 2001 Ford. Even with the new independent front suspension on the Ford, the GMC was hands down the better ride. I haven't pulled with a newer Ford lately, but the 90's and early 2000's were notorious for sloppy steering. The GM's had much tighter steering. When I was in between duallies I pulled with a couple late 90's F350's and hated the way they wanted to wonder.
    Then there's the heavier axles, tubed verses channeled frame, extra leafs, etc etc.
    I see a lot of pics of 3/4 ton trucks squatting low in the azz with boats your size and even using leveling bars to try and compensate for what the truck lacks. You mentioned changing to a heavier hitch. That's kinda falling into compensating class.
    IMO you buy a little more truck then you need rather then just enough to get by.

    Just my .02 worth John......and a little been there done that.
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    #10
    Buy a diesel Excursion and put the 250 suspension on it. You already know how that works.

    Seriously, I can get more into my Ex than you ever could into the back of a pickup with a cap. And while I can't easily haul 14 sheets of plywood, when's the last time you did? And U-Haul will rent you a trailer for those times. But I can tell you I get it stuffed full of friends or business associates all the time. And it's the same truck as the 250, but rides better.
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    #11
    Competitor / Charter Member imco offshore's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris View Post
    Buy a diesel Excursion and put the 250 suspension on it. You already know how that works.

    Seriously, I can get more into my Ex than you ever could into the back of a pickup with a cap. And while I can't easily haul 14 sheets of plywood, when's the last time you did? And U-Haul will rent you a trailer for those times. But I can tell you I get it stuffed full of friends or business associates all the time. And it's the same truck as the 250, but rides better.
    i agree with the Excursion,powerstroke, i had a 350sd powerstoke dually4door,and bought the Excursion. 4x4 and love it, i go to every race with a LOT of extra parts, and still plenty of room inside,,,
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    #12
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    I guess if I'm shopping for a tow vehicle, I'm looking for a sufficient tow vehicle. Not a Limo

    Seriously though. With a 9000 lb GVWR on a 250, your at the top of the scale for that truck and just get'n by.

    Now here's a new twist to consider. I follow a lot of law suits involving the trucking industry and the lawyers are really grabbing at straws to lay blame on truckers when they initially weren't at fault and they're get'n away with it.
    For example.....even though my client was drunk and blew the stop sign, the trucker would not have been there to hit and kill him if he would've been traveling the speed limit instead of 2 mph over the limit. This isn't just limited to the trucking industry anymore either.
    Now what happens when a truck pulling a boat is involved in a fatality accident and the sleeze ball lawyers go him for towing with an inadequate or under licensed truck.
    I know that may seem far fetched. A lot of cases I follow would've seemed that way a few years ago, but they're reality today
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    #13
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    My 3500hd DRW is overkill for my Formula about 10k lbs with trailer and loaded with fuel but it sure tows nice.Look on autotrader.com you will get an idea what stuff is going for.You can't always go buy the trucks towing rating I was actually legal (without fuel) towing with my last truck a Nissan titan and thought it was ok.Till I got the Dually then realized how scary it was to tow with that truck.
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    #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Expensive Date View Post
    My 3500hd DRW is overkill for my Formula about 10k lbs with trailer and loaded with fuel but it sure tows nice.Look on autotrader.com you will get an idea what stuff is going for.You can't always go buy the trucks towing rating I was actually legal (without fuel) towing with my last truck a Nissan titan and thought it was ok.Till I got the Dually then realized how scary it was to tow with that truck.
    The furthest I've pulled is 1600 miles round trip. Pulled the Villain up to Canada and the KV back. When you can leave your hand off the wheel for sometimes a mile at a time with out drifting, ya know it's tracking great. Thing handles like there's noth'n back there.
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    #15
    Registered inbetween's Avatar
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    There's a lot of f250s and f350s in that price range with the 7.3 powerstroke. 99-03 I believe. '99 F250/F350 diesel rated towing capacity is 11,000# (from the owners manual)
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    #16
    Registered Scarab KV's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by inbetween View Post
    There's a lot of f250s and f350s in that price range with the 7.3 powerstroke. 99-03 I believe. '99 F250/F350 diesel rated towing capacity is 11,000# (from the owners manual)
    Is that what they say it can pull or the GVWR.
    The 09 SD's have a 15,000lb hitch and Ford says they can pull up to like 30,000 or something like that, but the GVWR is no where's near the rating on the hitch. If I remember right, the total combined on an SD calculates to around 23,000 lb. Regular 250 will be less.
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    #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scarab KV View Post
    Is that what they say it can pull or the GVWR.
    The 09 SD's have a 15,000lb hitch and Ford says they can pull up to like 30,000 or something like that, but the GVWR is no where's near the rating on the hitch. If I remember right, the total combined on an SD calculates to around 23,000 lb. Regular 250 will be less.
    You're gonna make me get the book out

    Ok so my memory is a little off.

    1999 F250SD 3.73 axle, F350 SRW 3.73 axle & F350DRW 4.1 axle (all with powerstroke) are listed as maximum GCWR (gross combined weight rating) 20,000#, maximum trailer weight 10,000#. Fifth wheel max trailer weight is GCWR - GVW
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    #18
    Founding Member Tony's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by inbetween View Post
    There's a lot of f250s and f350s in that price range with the 7.3 powerstroke. 99-03 I believe. '99 F250/F350 diesel rated towing capacity is 11,000# (from the owners manual)
    Thats what I would buy. In fact, Im thinking of cutting my losses and dumping my piece of **** Silverado HD and buying a Ford. Ive always been a die hard GM truck fan but given all the problems Ive had with my current truck, I doubt if I'l ever buy another one. I have 2 7.3 super duties in the work fleet that get abused all day every day and have had minimal issues.
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    #19
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    I am a wholesaler and have pulled my 29 outlaw with many different trucks. If you go with a ford diesel don't get a f-250 with a 6.0. I used one this year and it sucked. The best ford I used was a 06 f-350 dually and a close second was the 01 Excursion with the 7.3. The only thing that I don't like about a dually is that I can't take it through a car wash and they are a pain to park in a parking lot. I still have the Excursion and am ready to sell it if anyone is interested. It has 123k miles and runs great. It is a 4X4 white Eddie Bauer edition. If anyone is interested I will sell for $15,500.
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    #20
    Founding Member fund razor's Avatar
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    Hmmm.
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