whats your tow pig?

[jsandy]

in the plan to go pick up a 91 sunsport with my 98 dodge dakota 5.2 with the tow package. just wondering what yall drag the ol boat around with?

[tg0824SSVGG]

I use either:

2002 Ford Excursion, Powerstroke
1999 Ford F-250, Powerstroke

[Mani]

2009 F150 crew. I find it's a perfect balance of length, gears, power, and breaking ability for towing something like my boat, and crew. Never at a shortage of power.

[sybrmike]

04 Ram, Quad Cab, Longbed, 5.7 Hemi, 4x4. Decent power, but will hunt for downshifts on inclines at highway speed when heavily loaded. It's a lotta truck for a gas small block (would love a deisel next time). 4WD Low is nice on those steep, slick ramps.

The Supra is my ski boat. The Dodge is my land yacht - 22' long, backing up's a biatch, but the ride is nice...

[michael hunter]

2005 GMC Savana 3500 6L with 373 rear end . 15mph highway not towing 10mph towing. It gets it done with power to spare pulling 6000-7000lbs. Pulls much better than the Safari and gets better gas mileage when towing.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn127/suprahunter/SupraTowerInstall026.jpg

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn127/suprahunter/NewVan002-1-1-2-1-1.jpg

[oward1202]

I pull my 85 comp with my 1999 Ford F-250 long bed V-10. I have no idea what the gas mileage is. I do know that whatever it is will only put me in a bad mood. Ha :D

[DAFF]

Here is my 06 Dodge 2500 CTD ....

[Stickleback25]

94 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 extended cab long box w/ topper
6.5 L turboDiesel
I upgraded exhaust pipe 3" straight pipe from engine all the way to back. It made a huge difference in performance. Yeah its not a duramax, cummins, or powerstroke, but pulls the saltare to the lake up and down hills no problem.
I get 15mpg pulling and 18-22 mpg not pulling, If I drive nice( never do though). It doesnt ride like a 3/4 ton, it actually rides smooth. 4 doors would be nice for hauling the family, but gets the job done.

[WakeSurfCanada]

07 Jeep Grand Cherokee . . . 3.0L DIESEL!!! Tow's my 85 SunSport like a dream!:D

[Stickleback25]

Sweet van! My parents have the exact same van. Always plenty of room and it hauls like a champ.

[Stickleback25]

Had to research after seeing the diesel jeep - 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway.
Thats pretty impressive

[dusty2221]

05 F250

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/dusty2221/truck9-2.jpg

[jet]

Hers mine....

you can see in the background the water was a little ruff that day.

[tg0824SSVGG]

Yeah, my 24SSV is a HEAVY pig -- (especially when towing to Lake Powell with a weeks worth of food and gear).

I live at 5000 feet, and have to go over 10,000+ foot passes to get there. The gassers
have NEVER cut it for me, 4x4 diesels is all I will have any more.

[KG's Supra24]

04 yukon denali. LOVE the air suspension but hoping to upgrade to a diesel in the near future.

[03bamaGT]

I tow with my 06 F150...5.4 and 3.73s, does fine but I don't have any big mountains between me and the lake.

[csuggs]

Just traded my '93 GMC Sierra 2500 for a '05 Silverado extended cab, 5.3L gas with limited slip 3.73:1 rear - 2 wheel drive! Only towed once with it but I'm sure it will do great! More power than my '93 with the same gears. Don't need 4 wheel drive 'cause the truck stays in the garage next to the boat except to pull the boat!

[Patrick56]

04' Chevrolet Tahoe, 4x4, 5.3L V8 Gas. The ramp is in our neighborhood, only about 1/4 mile from the house and I bring boat gas in from a no ethenal station in 5 gallon cans. The boat has only left our street once in two years! If I had a long haul I wouldn't have gotten rid of the 97' 2500HD Ext. Cab Chevy 4x4.

[iwakeboard]

'03 Ford F-150 FX4 V8 Gas, and it does not like towing, but it gets it done. I have one or two long tows a year. With that said, "long tows" in East Tennessee are about 45 minutes so it's really not that bad, just eats gas quick. Usually my tow is no longer than 5 minutes so I can't complain, really.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v649/185/70/9403317/n9403317_41422733_502481.jpg

[stinky_1]

I currently have only our chev express 3500 extended wheel base 15 passenger for towing. We have 6 kids, so we needed all the space we could get. In the summer I will pick up another safari for when just me and a couple kids go to the lake.

The express has the 6L V8 in it. I used HPtuners to set it up for better fuel economy. I average 19 mpg on the highway when not towing and 14 - 15 mpg when I am towing. That is including heading off through the Rockies to head to our favorite lake in British Columbia.

The safari does a fine job with the 4.3L V6 in it. You have to take a good run at really steep hills, but otherwise it doesn't complain.

[michael hunter]

I currently have only our chev express 3500 extended wheel base 15 passenger for towing. We have 6 kids, so we needed all the space we could get. In the summer I will pick up another safari for when just me and a couple kids go to the lake.

The express has the 6L V8 in it. I used HPtuners to set it up for better fuel economy. I average 19 mpg on the highway when not towing and 14 - 15 mpg when I am towing. That is including heading off through the Rockies to head to our favorite lake in British Columbia.

The safari does a fine job with the 4.3L V6 in it. You have to take a good run at really steep hills, but otherwise it doesn't complain.

Tell me more about the HP tuners. What engine and rear gear do you have?

[stinky_1]

07 chev express 3500
6L V8 engine
3.73 rear end RWD
Extended lenght (15 passenger)

HP tuners give you access to pretty much everything on the engine and transmission. I played with the shift points on acceleration and deceleration to keep RPM's lower (I did not touch the tow mode switch, so all shift point are factory when in tow/haul). I also played around with the Air fuel ratio, and with the switch points of the 02 sensor to stay on the leaner side of things.

This system is not the same as some of the other "tune in a box" systems. You have access to the parameters but have to change them all yourself to do what you want. I bought my unit new off ebay for $500. I have certainly saved more in the cost of fuel in the last 10 months of owning the vehicle than the $500 spent on the system

edit: I also have a device called "maxitrip" its similar in concept and design to the scangauge tool. I leave it on all the time to get my instantaneous fuel economy and my average. So when I throw these numbers out there is no rounding numbers here and there to be in my favor. It is what it is.

[michael hunter]

Thanks Stinky
I have the same drive train as you but its a 12 pass 135 wheel base. I will check into the system.

[stinky_1]

You may also try locally for someone who tunes with it. I am able to use "credits" and tune hundreds of different vehicles with the system. If your ever anywhere close to alberta you can always swing by and have it modified by me. I know most towns have someone in them who has the hardware, its just a matter of if they are willing to tune for others.

[michael hunter]

Thanks for the invite.
I'm afraid the only way I will come to Alberta is to take advantage of your excellent skiing.
That's snow skiing of course. However if you find yourself in Georgia let me know I now live across the street from Lake Lanier.

[mapleleaf]

Wow this thread generated some action!!!!
'03 tundra ltd
'02 Sequoia ltd
Same drivetrain on both, but the Sequoia's got air bags to to keep her *ss up. 4.7 l leaves a little to be desired on uphill highway, but is enough the rest of the time, Borla exhaust on the my wife's truck also sounds purrrrty good!

[TitanTn]

2005 Nissan Titan LE, 4x4, 305 hp. I normally tow a 8500# camper with over 1000 pounds in tongue weight, so when I'm towing the boat I almost forget it's back there. I love my truck.

[KY Steve]

06' Expedition, it does OK but my next ride will be a Suburban.

[cmtaylor777]

Sold the F350 and bought the Rover. Yet to see how she pulls though.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/vanessarb/photo-3.jpg

[beast 496]

Check it out, Stock Suburban 4X4 with vortec 454 285,000 miles
http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae55/alswagg/Chris%20Craft%20Commander/SlocumandGriffithpictures037.jpg
This is a Photo of my most used tow pig
http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae55/alswagg/Supra%20Beast/SupraBeast006.jpg

[jet]

Cmtaylor..cant wait till you hook that up..put the dogs in the back and go camping. shes going to come un-GLUED!! LMAO

[jaywidhalm]

2005 Dodge Ram, 5.7 L Hemi. Quad cab, short box. Tows my 08 22V sunsport just fine, over mountain passes and all!

[Kma4444]

I'd post a pic, but if you've ever seen a 99 Dodge Dually, in red, then you've seen it already. 285,000-ish miles and it hasn't a clue that Newbie's Sunsport is back there. Cummins of course.

[doofus]

Mitusbishi Pajero Exceed

[KG's Supra24]

doofus, i love the all white boat. looks sweet!

[KG's Supra24]

Cmtaylor..cant wait till you hook that up..put the dogs in the back and go camping. shes going to come un-GLUED!! LMAO

I was also wondering how that was going to work. :rolleyes:

[wotan2525]

Mitusbishi Pajero Exceed

That really tows it?!!?

[cmtaylor777]

Yea, Im not looking forward to stuffing the dogs in the back of the Rover. Vanessa is just going to have to deal with it. She is the one who begged for it.

[DAFF]

2005 Nissan Titan LE, 4x4, 305 hp. I normally tow a 8500# camper with over 1000 pounds in tongue weight, so when I'm towing the boat I almost forget it's back there. I love my truck.

You know up here in the north it would be legal to pull the boat behind the RV. NTM the boat would help offset the tounge weight of the camper. This can only be done if the trailer behind the vehicle has living quarters or is a 5th wheel.

[TitanTn]

You know up here in the north it would be legal to pull the boat behind the RV. NTM the boat would help offset the tounge weight of the camper. This can only be done if the trailer behind the vehicle has living quarters or is a 5th wheel.

Down here it varies state to state, but most states (including mine) allow for multiple trailers as long as the overall length does not exceed XX feet. For Tennessee the total combined length is 65 feet. So I can't tow something as big as the Saltare behind the camper, but I have towed a Seadoo behind it before. It brings a new challenge to backing up!

[docdrs]

That really tows it?!!?

I was thinking the same........ but it has a 3.2 ltr diesel engine and is rated up to 6500 lbs....... hmmm

[docdrs]

Check it out,
This is a Photo of my most used tow pig
http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae55/alswagg/Supra%20Beast/SupraBeast006.jpg

that deutz looks a little overkill compared to what my dealer in Indiana uses.......I lmao when he hooked his 5 hp 40 yr old macguivered riding lawnmower up to my 5000 lb supra and he moved with the accuracy of a Robin Hood into his garage

[edgewater1]

1999 Dodge Durango, 5.9L a monster in its own right,

[dshaff24]

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1329/6245701/13018707/394192897.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1329/6245701/13018707/394192884.jpg

I love this truck.. Its got a ton of miles on it now!! Just put a pappy cap on it with kayak racks so its nice for boating with all the extra stuff that goes along with it

[Okie Boarder]

I'll have to post some pictures of the new ride pulling the boat next year. Here's some basic ones...same as I had put in the Dodge thread. I notice a few of you have yours lifted a bit with aftermarket wheel / tire combos. Thinking about this as a future mod. What all have you guys done? Lift height and type? Wheel / tire size / type?

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa335/CAOKIE/picture004.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa335/CAOKIE/picture002-1.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa335/CAOKIE/picture001-1.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa335/CAOKIE/picture005.jpg

[scotthons]

'06 Ford Explorer. Nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done.

[doofus]

That really tows it?!!?

Why wouldn't it. The Pajero is rated to tow 3 tonnes. It tows the 22SSV no problems at all!!!!

[jonyb]

2006 Chevy 2500HD Duramax/Allison Crew Cab Longbed.....