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Could this truck tow a car on a trailer?


Guest Twilight Fenrir

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Guest Twilight Fenrir

Well, every month that passes I find myself wishing I had a truck I could haul vehicles with more and more. While poking around on Craigslist I found, what seams like, a really good deal. There's not much information in the posting, and I haven't talked to the person yet about it. Before I do, I'd like to know if it's suitable for my purposes.

Obviously, frame, and mechanical conditions all factor into the answer to my question, which I can determine if I go look at it.

If the mechanical, and structural condition are in good shape, would this truck be able to be used to pull a trailer, with a 2 1/2 ton car on it? Preferably a beafy trailer with a winch to real up parts cars.

1982 Chevy Pickup

Love the idea of having a 4wd Diesel :D It would mostly be just for rough work. And the uglier the better, because if it's pretty, I'm going to be compelled to fix it up.

Thanks.

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Guest rockindubya

Old Chevy truck guy here.... the dually probably has a low....(3.73, maybe even 4.11) geared differential... the diesel probably geared a little higher ..(3.40 to maybe 3.73). , because it's a 1/2 ton, but either will pull a tandem trailer with 5000 lbs easily enough, if mechanicals are in good shape. The only concern on a heavy load is brakes... allow extra stopping distance....there is always an idiot ready to pull out in front of you, though.

If you get a trailer with brakes, it's not a big deal to put the actuator in either truck.

If you do a lot of hauling in traffic, it's a good investment. If you take the back roads, and ain't in any hurry... save your dough....

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Guest Twilight Fenrir
Old Chevy truck guy here.... the dually probably has a low....(3.73, maybe even 4.11) geared differential... the diesel probably geared a little higher ..(3.40 to maybe 3.73). , because it's a 1/2 ton, but either will pull a tandem trailer with 5000 lbs easily enough, if mechanicals are in good shape. The only concern on a heavy load is brakes... allow extra stopping distance....there is always an idiot ready to pull out in front of you, though.

If you get a trailer with brakes, it's not a big deal to put the actuator in either truck.

If you do a lot of hauling in traffic, it's a good investment. If you take the back roads, and ain't in any hurry... save your dough....

Thanks for the response :D

I probably won't be doing alot of hauling period. I'd just like it to be able to when I need to do so. As much as I love my El Camino's, they're rounded truck beds make transporting large objects difficult sometimes. And that's what I'd mostly be using the truck for... Maybe get a snow plow for it so I can decommission my rediculous Willies CJ-5.

I'm definitely leaning towards the Diesel then if that will do the trick. With the much better fuel economy, and reliability, as well as FWD for if I get to pull something out of a field. I understand those series had some issues with glow-plugs, and they're not exactly record setting trucks, but I don't need it to be. Just something to get things done with.

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I'd go for the diesel also! My son has a 2006 Dodge 4wd diesel that I've had the pleasure of driving several times. I've told him to never get rid of it, I'd buy it from him when he's done with it. Several years ago went from Central Florida to Virginia to pick up another truck for a client. Rented a U-haul open trailer in Virginia and hauled the pick up truck back to Florida. Got 24 miles per gallon going up, and 17 pulling the trailer and pickup back. Didn't even know the trailer and truck was behind us. Diesel fuel is a bit more expensive but in my book if your going to tow a trailer this is the way to go. Besides if you take care of diesels usually the engine will last well over 500,000 miles. The body and electronics will wear before the engine does. Just my two cents worth.

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Guest Twilight Fenrir
The 6.2 diesel makes very little power.

Yeah, I looked into that... Something like 140HP and 275 ft/lbs. I understand it's relatively easy to upgrade them though, and add a turbo to get them comparable to a modern turbo diesel. But, that would be something for in the future when I'm done with everything else I'm working on :P

Otherwise I can certainly wait and see what else comes up. Just a 4wd Diesel for $1800 seems like a pretty good deal to me. I understand the Fords of the era had an International Harvester engine with much higher output.... While I'm quick to turn on Fords, I do love IH....

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We just bought this. For the money, I don't see how one could go wrong. Uses a lot of gas, but its sole purpose will be for tugging a 2,000-pound trailer with 5,000-pound-plus car. Four-wheel drive is not needed, in fact we prefer not having it. Never in 35-some years of trailering have we wished we had it.

http://forums.aaca.org/f196/3-4-ton-suburban-sale-305897.html

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by all means go with the diesel..... I have a 92 dodge dually turbo-diesel with over 200K miles, I think it is just about broken in, That is all (99.44%) I do with it. On rare occasions I have had to use it for daily transportation, (if the other car is in the shop), and it serves there well for short periods.

ALK

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i had a 6.2 diesel powered 1987 suburban 1/2 ton two wheel drive, i had no problems going from springfield,mo. to rockford,il. and load a 1954 oldsmobile 98 four door sedan on to a car trailer, and hauled it back to springfield,mo. excellent mileage with the 700R4 transmission. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor.

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From a moderator on a Chevy truck forum (ME :))....

The old 6.2 diesel Chevys get good gas mileage, and that's it. Personally I'd rather have a 350 than one of those old diesels. You can't compare them to any other diesels in the last 20 or so years. For starters, it is not even a turbo diesel.

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  • 8 months later...
Guest draginmopars

as stated go with the diesel.

We have 2 Cummins Turbo diesels that get 20-24 mpg

and am changing our car hauler to diesel also (gas- 10mpg)

have finished the cab work, now gotta finish the elec. and fuel

we married the 92 diesel cab to the 73 crew cab :D

010-2.jpg

016.jpg

018.jpg

rest of story here:eek:

http://ramchargercentral.com/diesel-talk/1973-cummins-hauler/

no more gas truck for us

other than normal maintence, only replaced 1 starter and 1 water pump

Edited by draginmopars (see edit history)
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  • 2 weeks later...

From my limited Knowledge but being the owner of a couple of Diesel trucks and the son of an over the road professional driver a diesel is the best choice but You can't begin to compare the 6.2 Chevy from then with a Cummins. The cummins is a true diesel. The 6.2 wasn't. This all from a guy who has only had powerstrokes. If Ford put a Cummins in their newer truck I would have one. In the 1980's era I would buy a Chevy gas job over a diesel if you are stuck on that type and era of truck.

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