Wirelessly posted So we're looking for some sort of half decent tow vehicle to tow.a small trailer (6x10 or x12ish) of all our shop stuff. We would be driving the vehicle monthly to shows. The budget for this project, including a trailer is $5000. Used trailers are around 1500, new are 1800 to 2000. This puts me somewhere around 3 to 4000 for the vehicle. So far I have come up with the following list: - 2nd gen / early 3rd gen 4runner - Late 90s path finder - Mid 90s honda passport/isuzu rodeo - jeep grand cherokee classic Any cargo van over 100k miles is super cheap. The catch is that we need to be able to fit 4 or so people in the vehicle when we travel. If I went the 4runner route, I could do a diesel conversion, but then again that would demolish a budget as a 2Lii-t front clip is somewhere around 5 to $6000.
Get your dad's D-90. I vote F-150, you should be able to get a decent late 90s extended cab for that price and it'll be able to tow everything you need.
If not a 250 which is way out of your price range for a mid 90's used diesel anyways. Then I vote 4runner for longevity/reliability.
I'd go with an old Toyota Tacoma or 4Runner. They run forever and are easy to service. You don't need a long-bed for pulling a small trailer, but if you might want to tow something bigger later on go ahead and get something bigger. When we had horses (I hate horses, but the ex loved them) The Dodge 2500 Cummins turbodiesel was a great to drive. The 1992 ford F350 diesel we had before that sucked, it was slow and required frequent transmission work.
As mentioned by others, I would highly recommend something with a longer wheelbase and decent power like a Suburban. A 6x12 trailer is not that small or light (I'm assuming enclosed). I have a K5 Blazer with a wheelbase of 107 IIRC and even that can get squirrelly to tow with and it sounds like trailer pulling will be one of your trucks main duties. I'm sure there are some smokin deals on used Suburbans right now.
So what is the min. wheel base you are suggesting? I assume you are suggesting that all of the "small / compact" suv's / trucks suggested by others will not work?
You will want something that will stop the trailer that will be loaded down, Do these trailers that you are looking at have electric brakes? And if the trailer you get is heavier that the vahicle you are pulling with, that trailer will drag you all over the road. If i had a trailer to pull, i would by a f150, e150, c1500... Think safty before budget...
I believe that the full sized wheelbases begin somewhere around 115" and a mid 90's Suburban is around 130''. A smaller suv / truck could pull it but a longer wheel base will help make it more enjoyable. The "pushing" effect of the trailer will be less noticeable with the longer wheelbase. Also, the components of a full size will almost always will be stouter than on a midsized- trans, differentials, brakes, etc. I would recommend trailer brakes for whatever vehicle you choose.
In my brief search, I did not come across any smaller trailers that had the brakes. It seemed to be only the larger ones.
They made a Ford Aerostar with the 4.0. I went on MANY looooong road trips pulling about 5,000 pounds in one of those. Not bad at all.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/ctd/1231076331.html Should have the 4.0 in it. Best gas motor Ford ever made...