Truck to Pull a Subaru (on a trailer)

[409industries]

Hi.

Long term plans here, but its never too early to start doing research. Eventually I want to be able to tow my Subies. What would be a good truck canidate to do this? I am looking for good value for my money. Not luxury, just get the job done. Singlecab preferred, id end up buying a shell for the bed for all the tires, tools and gear.

Diesel vs. Gas?

I'm thinking something American. A friend of mine bought a 2007 Ford F150 because it had the largest towing capacity in its class for a gasoline powered truck...

Any one have experience in this area, want to chime in and set a n00b straight?

:)

[JacksonRally]

Had a 06 f-150.....HAD!! Slow sluggish gas hog P.0.S. If it were me, diesel. Something new with a warranty. My bro also used his 06 f-150 work truck to tow his car....what a disaster, good luck merging or going up a hill. My 2cts..

[BlueRu]

I would go with a new Desel Dodge 1500. They are used here by local towing companies with a trailer. Ive seen them haul up to 3 cars with one.

[MBasile]

I would definitely stay away from Fords. My girlfriends dad (a contractor) uses a Ford f-150 (fairly new) and he's had problem after problem with the tranny. He doesn't haul anything (except a small fishing boat...aluminum....some weekends) he just has a work bed on it with tools.

[subyspawn]

diesel all the way. stay away from gas for towing....

dodge v ford v chevy ? heard good and bad from all three...

[MBasile]

diesel all the way. stay away from gas for towing....

dodge v ford v chevy ? heard good and bad from all three...

eh, you'll hear bad things about EVERYTHING.

all I know is this:
Ford work truck=tranny keeps blowing
Dodge Daily Driver and part time multiple horse hauler w/ 75k+ =runnin like a champ

if you want to get feedback from users, go on the ford/dodge/chevy forums, theres probably even a truck hauling forum too

[lminette]

A tacoma should do it just fine as long as its the six cylinder. Just make sure that the trailer is not to heavy. Tacoma can even do it with the heavy ass uhaul trailers pretty easily. If your looking into new I would suggest the new Tundra with the 5.7L or even the 4.7L. With the 5.7 you can tow over 10,000 and with the 4.7 you can tow over 6,000.

[BlueRu]

I didnt even think of that. The new Tacomas are awesome. They would haul your Subies just fine.

[409industries]

This is all a long ways away... just sucks because trucks are effing expensive!

[sidewindr]

my other car is a 98 F-150 4WD, with size 33 mud tires, i'm only getting 10 miles to the gallon, towing gets around 7.

if i had unlimited funds, i'd get a super duty turbo diesel.

now in real life, i would get a f-250 or 2500 something like that, since i don't drive it a whole lot, only to get my toyhauler around to camp/ride a few times a year, well-maintained truck will do the trick. i think i paid $10k, back in 2003 and it had 120k miles on it.

[UP2MTNS]

I'm making the same mental long term plans myself...hoping to one day stage rally with the WRX, I'll need both a tow vehicle but also a new daily driver.

That said, i'm looking at SUVs....I want something that can pull, but also a least a little nice. I've currently kind of settled on the VW Touareg.

the V8 version is 350hp, so plenty of power. Its pretty nice inside, and because of the typical SUV drivers in NorCal, i'm hoping (in a few years) to pick up a used one in pretty good conditions....maybe an '06 for under $30K?

I wish they had the diesel V10 version in the US (currently only available in EU)...I hear it gets 28mpg or something like that.

[BlueRu]

be careful with the Tourage. I have a couple of friends that work at the VW dealership and they say a lot of things go wrong with it because of all the features it has. It likes to mess up the Comp. a lot. But this is just hear-say so you decifer what you will.

[UP2MTNS]

be careful with the Tourage. I have a couple of friends that work at the VW dealership and they say a lot of things go wrong with it because of all the features it has. It likes to mess up the Comp. a lot. But this is just hear-say so you decifer what you will.

I've heard that too, but mostly from the 1st gen models etc that came out in....04? 03? I foget. I'm hoping they've sorted that out with newer models...and of course I'll do a ton more research when the time comes to buy.

right now, i like the 350hp #, and I really like the looks/interior.

[409industries]

turbo diesel for towing awesomeness... I think a few years old F250 would be prefect, but its just a ton of cash. Might have to rent for now.

[I Like It Sideways]

Tundra 5.7L all the way... I'm not biased or anything...

[Mister2]

Tundra 5.7L all the way... I'm not biased or anything...
I was going to say a Tundra also...totally unbiased....

[I Like It Sideways]

Tundra 5.7L all the way... I'm not biased or anything...
I was going to say a Tundra also...totally unbiased....

hahaha

I found this site to compare trucks... hope you find it helpful.
I compared the tundra against two of its biggest competitors.
http://www.automotive.com/2007/12/toyota/tundra/compare/index.html?vehicle[1].year=2007&vehicle[1].make=Ford&vehicle[1].model=F-150&vehicle[1].trim=861;31;1;15&vehicle[2].year=2007&vehicle[2].make=Chevrolet&vehicle[2].model=Silverado&vehicle[2].trim=14;28;1;15&strTrim1=4585

[Not All There]

Theres negatives for all of them, the major complaints can be divided between gas and diesel not only brands. Anything gas is going to struggle and suck gas alot more. I have been trailering for 4 years now, mostly my race truck with all its extra supplies (much heavier than any subaru) Personally I have had great experiences with the fords and have used a variety of different trucks/brands in my day. I have also really demanded alot from them and some are alot more tow reliable than others.

My buddy bought a Titan and he sold it in a month due to how horrible it is to trailer with. Toyotas tend not to be geared correctly for the long hauls with real weight behind them.

Dodges may be cheap and affordable but there transmissions are garbage. Other than that they have there pluses. Gas sucks tho

Fords tent to hold their value and a diesel is pretty damn expensive but they run great and are strong truck. Gas sucks still in my opinion. Some do have tranny problems, you have to look into specifics. If you get an auto (in any of these) make sure you have a tranny temp gauge. The biggest issue is people heating them up to much a burning out the trannys in there tow rig due to misuse. Cool trannys are key for any brand gas or diesel.

But overall a Subaru isnt to heavy so you can get away with using gas powered a bit more than usual.

Just my 2 cents.

[BlackParis]

If you going diesel get a 7.2 Ford or ANY Dodge Cummins... Chevy Duratechs just suxor ballz....

I am a Ford Technichian, the 6.0 is nothing but problems... and the New 6.4 SUX...

If your looking for gas half-ton get a Tundra ;)

Me personally, I am going to get an Outback or a BMW 5 series wagon, to tow my car ;) Yes they would be underpowered, but all I want to tow is my car on a small flatbed....

Screw Trucks... Drive em fast, and they get sideways/flip over... Especially on dirt roads....

[409industries]

I don't think id buy a Dodge in anycase. Sounds like the Ford 7.2L Diesel is the one to go with...