Alternative tow vehicles

Ok so I am looking for a tow vehicle/ parts hauler. I am not in a hurry just looking for a good deal. I am not ruling out trucks but I am also looking at other possibilities. So far I have B-body wagons, cargo vans and Astro vans. Any other towing/ parts hauler vehicle suggestions? I would be pulling small cars like a Yugo or Spitfire. Oh yeah it needs to be cheap.

Ranchermino?

Isuzu diesel box truck? Take off box, add PU bed? I see construction guys selling these cheaply and often wonder what I could do with one.

Rastro

fasted58 wrote: Rastro

A what?

Edit: I am guessing Astro.

mtn wrote: Ranchermino?

I have thought about these but I have no clue on the tow rating.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Isuzu diesel box truck? Take off box, add PU bed? I see construction guys selling these cheaply and often wonder what I could do with one.

I want to see one of these.

Like this?

Around here, old Astro Vans that are 2WD and cargo are really cheap. (AWD is a premium) Look for something that was a schoolbus or a cable company van. It will have high miles, but will have routine maintenance to match.

Old police cars are full-frame and V8. I would look for something at auction that was a fire chief car or postal police or campus security. They get beat far less than police patrol cars.

The old style Dodge trucks with the Cummins are a great deal. They look like they are from the 50's (they basically were) but the Cummins is a 12v with 400 ft/lb of torque. It is a great engine in a crappy truck.

Subaru station wagons are good to 3500 lbs with trailer brakes.

pinchvalve wrote: Old police cars are full-frame and V8. I would look for something at auction that was a fire chief car or postal police or campus security. They get beat far less than police patrol cars. The old style Dodge trucks with the Cummins are a great deal. They look like they are from the 50's (they basically were) but the Cummins is a 12v with 400 ft/lb of torque. It is a great engine in a crappy truck.

I have the wagons on my list because they can swallow a lot of big stuff but they are kinda down on the list since it won't fit a dirt bike. Any sedans are out.

The old style Dodge trucks. I am guessing you mean the '81-'93.

93EXCivic wrote:

mtn wrote: Ranchermino?

I have thought about these but I have no clue on the tow rating.

Probably 3500 lbs, but back in the day plenty of flat towing with either one was done. I wouldn't go over 5000 lbs total with one (trailer and car). You will need trailer brakes to be safe. The rear frame rails on the El Camino aren't huge compared to trucks, and a standard receiver hitch would require a bit of reinforcement to the frame for them to work. Rancheros 71 and older are unibodies while the 72-79 ones have frames so they would be a better choice.

81cpcamaro wrote:

93EXCivic wrote:

mtn wrote: Ranchermino?

I have thought about these but I have no clue on the tow rating.

Probably 3500 lbs, but back in the day plenty of flat towing with either one was done. I wouldn't go over 5000 lbs total with one (trailer and car). You will need trailer brakes to be safe. The rear frame rails on the El Camino aren't huge compared to trucks, and a standard receiver hitch would require a bit of reinforcement to the frame for them to work. Rancheros 71 and older are unibodies while the 72-79 ones have frames so they would be a better choice.

So I would need to do a bit of welding in the rear frame area?

I am guessing since the G-Body Elky and Malibu Wagon shared the same frame both those cars have about the same tow rating.

back in the day folks who could afford them used Cadillacs. I think a mid '60s to mid '70s Caddy convertible would make a nice tow rig.

Then there was Don Garlits who towed with a '40 ish Ford. He decided to install the engine from a wrecked Chrysler into the tow car and discovered that the tow car was then faster than the dragster. He was the first. That is why Top Fuel cars to this day use engines based on the old Chrysler Hemi.

Astro or old Isuzu NPR would be great ideas.

Rastro is Spanish for junkyard.

fasted58 wrote: Rastro

I had that tag on my Astro V8 and no one ever got the joke....

By the way a throttle body V8 transplants into the early Astro wayyyy easy and is the way that van should have been built. Be sure to get the V8 torque converter...less stall.

My mileage went up with the V8.

In reply to admc58:

Can it tow ok with the V6? I want to get a vehicle I can jump in and use right away without much work.

I could swap later though.

93EXCivic.... I have a nice 97 Suburban that I need out of the driveway that could go for a good price to a challenge competitor....Dave E at your work has my contact info...

Alan

admc58 wrote:

fasted58 wrote: Rastro

I had that tag on my Astro V8 and no one ever got the joke....

probably wondered why you were driving around with "rake" on your license plate. If it means junkyard it most be a localism

Carro Atrezzi wrote: back in the day folks who could afford them used Cadillacs. I think a mid '60s to mid '70s Caddy convertible would make a nice tow rig. Then there was Don Garlits who towed with a '40 ish Ford. He decided to install the engine from a wrecked Chrysler into the tow car and discovered that the tow car was then faster than the dragster. He was the first. That is why Top Fuel cars to this day use engines based on the old Chrysler Hemi.

My 1966 Cadillac came with air shocks and a tow hitch. It would make a very cool tow vehicle, that's for sure.

93EXCivic wrote: Ok so I am looking for a tow vehicle/ parts hauler. I am not in a hurry just looking for a good deal. I am not ruling out trucks but I am also looking at other possibilities. So far I have B-body wagons, cargo vans and Astro vans. Any other towing/ parts hauler vehicle suggestions? I would be pulling small cars like a Yugo or Spitfire. Oh yeah it needs to be cheap.

Assuming open trailer and your light car, I'd look at a Ford van E150, E250, E350 or some sort of Ford pickup F150, F250, F350. They mostly got better as they got newer with better brakes, more pulling capacity, more modern and fuel efficient engines. The issue with the later Fords are the spark plugs. The 98+ F150 even got some decently designed aero bodys for a couple of years and are ridiculously cheap.

Anti-stance wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Isuzu diesel box truck? Take off box, add PU bed? I see construction guys selling these cheaply and often wonder what I could do with one.

I want to see one of these. Like this?

I have driven one of those.. they are very bouncy

I say buy a used school bus, and some hinges on the back, and make some ramps.

Solid, V8 power, big brakes, and comfortable on the highway. Possibly the perfect tow car

http://www.carsonlinefree.com/searchCars/details.cfm?vehicleID=254476

Izuzu with a landscape bed that they riding haul mowers on. I think with a winch you could just pull a light car right up into the landscape bed.