Saying Uncle: I'm going to go with a Red-approved Tow Vehicle for my new Fifth Wheel!

[Sea Six]

:hurray:


1986 1-Ton Dually 454 with 130,000 (original!! :funny:) miles. $3,000.00.

Not kidding. :nono:



It's the tow vehicle used by the seller of my new fifth wheel camper. He also happens to be my Uncle. He's maintained this truck, so I know its history.

I'll be paying about $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 more than I think it's worth. :yesnod: Meh... he's my Uncle, who's pushing 80 years old. I'm not going to argue with him about price. :nono: I've had a pretty good last couple of years, despite the economy. He hasn't. :dunno:

I just can't see paying friggin' $15,000 to $20,000 for a tow vehicle, especially when pretty much every vehicle in this class of tow vehicles has its very expensive repair issues.

He drives this thing all over heck and gone, towing the 10,000 pound fifth wheel that he's selling me. He's replaced the starter, water pump, belts, alternator and kept the brakes in order, all in the last five years. A/C even blows cold. Tires are 2 years old. The 454 burns about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. Interior is in pretty good shape, and it's all original. I'm not going to change a thing. He even repainted it last year. The body's in great shape.

I don't even care that it gets 5 mpg when I'm under tow. I'm going to tow it less than 500 miles in a year anyway.

Screw it. I'm buying it. :seeya:

[C5Nate]

Sounds reasonable. 4x4?


Very first thing I would do with a truck like yours is pull the fuel tank, clean out all the crud. After almost 30 years of use, it WILL have crud in the tank.

Blow out all the fuel lines, replace the filter, (I would replace the pump also).

Check, renew ALL fluids including brake fluid.

After that you should have a GREAT towing truck. Its good to start off fresh and knowing that its been done.

[RED-85-Z51]

Its a carb'd 454...I wouldnt buy it....EFI is just tits..

[RED-85-Z51]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg25/Sawzall/Dually%20Project/DCP_3468.jpg

[Sea Six]

Its a carb'd 454...I wouldnt buy it....EFI is just tits..

I'm old-skool. :seasix:

[Sea Six]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg25/Sawzall/Dually%20Project/DCP_3468.jpg

His is tan, with the tan interior. Camper Special. I believe it came in two-tone. Can't remember... it's been years.

It isn't jacked six miles high in the air. Looks to be stock height.

Wheels and hub caps look original too.

[Sea Six]

Sounds reasonable. 4x4?

:nonod:


Very first thing I would do with a truck like yours is pull the fuel tank, clean out all the crud. After almost 30 years of use, it WILL have crud in the tank.

Blow out all the fuel lines, replace the filter, (I would replace the pump also).

Check, renew ALL fluids including brake fluid.

After that you should have a GREAT towing truck. Its good to start off fresh and knowing that its been done.

That's what I did when I got my '76 and my '61 Vettes. Gives one good peace of mind.

[vetteman9368]

Go ahead and replace starter, fan clutch, water pump and alternator. Don't want to be stranded on the side of the road with that big trailer.

[Sea Six]

Go ahead and replace starter, fan clutch, water pump and alternator. Don't want to be stranded on the side of the road with that big trailer.

I went through that in January, stuck halfway up a mountain with a bad trans.

:(

[vetteman9368]

I went through that in January, stuck halfway up a mountain with a bad trans.

:(

Yea, you shouldn't have problems with the TH400 in the dually. If you do, their cheap to fix, and every transmission shop can fix one.

[JRD77VET]

I went through that in January, stuck halfway up a mountain with a bad trans.

:(

Buy at least the alternator from AutoZone. Lifetime guarantee :hurray:

That's what I did with my '01 Suburban.

[Stangkiller]

Financially that makes a lot of sense, as long as you won't miss a diesel.

[Sea Six]

Financially that makes a lot of sense, as long as you won't miss a diesel.

I'm certain I will... first time it breaks down on me. :funny:

[Stangkiller]

I'm certain I will... first time it breaks down on me. :funny:

Well ill send you my receipts from my last break down it's more than you paid for your whole truck

[justind]

Well ill send you my receipts from my last break down it's more than you paid for your whole truck

Maybe I shouldn't wait until next year to trade off my 350 for an ecoboost.

[Fastguy]

Towed a lot with chevy duallies. Its most likely a 4.11 rear so expect about 6-8 mpg.

[Blademaker]

Wait.........what?

You gotta 5th wheel?

[Sea Six]

Towed a lot with chevy duallies. Its most likely a 4.11 rear so expect about 6-8 mpg.

That's about right. 5 under tow. :funnier:

[vetteman9368]

That's about right. 5 under tow. :funnier:

it will get the same mileage whether you are driving it, drag racing it, or towing a freight train. Hell it even gets the same mileage coasting downhill. We had one for years

[Sea Six]

Wait.........what?

You gotta 5th wheel?

Sold the travel trailer in three hours on Craigslist for $2800 more than I paid for it. My Uncle is selling me his REALLLY nice fifth wheel for what he owes. I'm taking over payments- last three years of a fifteen year note- almost 100% principle for the last few payments in an amortization schedule. He'll hold title until its paid off- so I won't have to register it or retitle it 'til then. :hurray:

Can't go wrong.

[Fastguy]

I used to do about 50k a summer with crew cab duallies. We had an 84 454, an 87 454 injected and an 89 454 injected, all TH400.
We used to keep a spare starter, waterpump, alternator, belts, hoses and eventually a TH400 and converter. The manifolds will glow red, good for warming up pop tarts in those foil wrappers. This tends to fry the starter solenoid. Running the truck with the AC on will drop the mpg and get the motor hot. They sort of suck to tow with compared to a diesel or a modern truck with over drive, but for the money you can't beat it. Make sure your spare tire matches the truck tires. On 2 occasions trucks we bought had odd sized spares so if you blew a rear tire, the mismatched tire wouldn't even touch the ground.

[Blademaker]

Sold the travel trailer in three hours on Craigslist for $2800 more than I paid for it. My Uncle is selling me his REALLLY nice fifth wheel for what he owes. I'm taking over payments- last three years of a fifteen year note- almost 100% principle for the last few payments in an amortization schedule. He'll hold title until its paid off- so I won't have to register it or retitle it 'til then. :hurray:

Can't go wrong.

<grumblesnort ...Stoking my envy..... grumblesnort>

Congratulations!

Can't wait to see it. :seasix:

[VatorMan]

Sounds like a wise decision.:seasix:

[Sea Six]

Wait.........what?

You gotta 5th wheel?

<grumblesnort ...Stoking my envy..... grumblesnort>

Congratulations!

Can't wait to see it. :seasix:

:cheers:


And I've still got your Smith gun case.

[C5Nate]

Sold the travel trailer in three hours on Craigslist for $2800 more than I paid for it. My Uncle is selling me his REALLLY nice fifth wheel for what he owes. I'm taking over payments- last three years of a fifteen year note- almost 100% principle for the last few payments in an amortization schedule. He'll hold title until its paid off- so I won't have to register it or retitle it 'til then. :hurray:

Can't go wrong.



Be sure to post pictures of your rig!

[Sea Six]

Can't believe there aren't at least a few that think I'm making the wrong decision with this old beater of a tow vehicle.


:funny:

[C5Nate]

Can't believe there aren't at least a few that think I'm making the wrong decision with this old beater of a tow vehicle.


:funny:



Aint nothing wrong with old school brute force towing. Only issue is fuel mileage and you said you aren't worried about that so. You have our blessing.

[Sea Six]

Be sure to post pictures of your rig!

He's hanging onto it until November, or maybe October if I'm lucky. His son-in-law is working out of town four days per week away from his family. He's using it for a place to stay.

That's ok... it'll give me a few months to sell the F-150 that won't be able to tow this rig, and besides, I really don't enjoy camping when it's so freakin' hot you just want to stay inside in the air conditioning all day until it cools off at night.

October/November will be ideal camping weather as far as I'm concerned. :hurray:

[Sea Six]

Aint nothing wrong with old school brute force towing. Only issue is fuel mileage and you said you aren't worried about that so. You have our blessing.

My first vehicle was a 1974 Chevrolet C/10 that I bought at the age of 16 with money I earned 100% by myself.

The interior is identical. The doors and bed are basically identical, except this is a dually. Under the hood it's also very similar. It's really going to bring back some great, great memories I had of my life back then.

I've actually looked for a mid seventies C/10 a few times over the past few years, just to have something that was similar to what I had back then. Now it's kind of interesting that a vehicle so similar to mine came to me, so unexpectedly too.

I can't wait.


:yesnod:

[Craig]

It's cheap, and it's family...and it sounds like big stupid fun to me...:thumbs:

[Sea Six]

Looks nearly identical to this, except for the wheels.

http://www.2040cars.com/_content/cars/images/83/10883/001.jpg

http://www.2040cars.com/_content/cars/images/83/10883/003.jpg

http://www.2040cars.com/_content/cars/images/83/10883/004.jpg

http://www.2040cars.com/_content/cars/images/83/10883/009.jpg

http://www.2040cars.com/_content/cars/images/83/10883/011.jpg

[jaxgator]

Congrats! :cert:

Spec's on the 5th wheel?

[Fastguy]

Can't believe there aren't at least a few that think I'm making the wrong decision with this old beater of a tow vehicle.


:funny:

Now that you posted pics, I will say I would never ever in a million years buy a single cab tow vehicle for long distances.

[VatorMan]

Now that you posted pics, I will say I would never ever in a million years buy a single cab tow vehicle for long distances.

:iagree:

[Doug28450]

:cheers:


And I've still got your Smith gun case.

Shipping is $3000.00.

[Sea Six]

Now that you posted pics, I will say I would never ever in a million years buy a single cab tow vehicle for long distances.

I don't tow long distances. There are plenty of places to camp that are within a two hour drive.

I'm thinking I will tow less than five hundred miles per year. Thousand tops.

[Sea Six]

Congrats! :cert:

Spec's on the 5th wheel?

It's a 32' Jayco with two slides. Big upgrade from my 27' travel trailer with no slides.

:hurray:






Here are a few pictures from a similar fifth wheel (this one looks kind of dirty). :ack:


Mine is MUCH cleaner and nicer, with a slightly different color scheme.

[C5Nate]

I've actually looked for a mid seventies C/10 a few times over the past few years, just to have something that was similar to what I had back then. Now it's kind of interesting that a vehicle so similar to mine came to me, so unexpectedly too.

I can't wait.


:yesnod:



I've always liked big blocks Chevy's.

My very first vehicle was a 1968 El Camino 427 4-spd.

You like '70's C10's, you should like my '72 396 C10 Custom Deluxe Super. Factory air truck.
http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu38/c5nate/1972C10396CustomDeluxe-2.jpg

Had a couple 454 trucks including 1-ton single wheels.

While I love my Duramax Diesel, I do miss the sound of a big block with good exhaust on them.

[Sea Six]

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1821-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1822-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1823-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1824-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1825-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1826-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1827-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1829-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1828-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1830-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1831-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1832-image.jpg

http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/sea+six-albums-mo%27+betta+stuffs-picture1833-image.jpg

[Oh-yaa]

Nice looking vacation home. We just purchased a new trailer too. Went from a 19 foot hybrid to a 30 foot with a big slide out. First run is next weekend. :dance:

[Sea Six]

Nice looking vacation home. We just purchased a new trailer too. Went from a 19 foot hybrid to a 30 foot with a big slide out. First run is next weekend. :dance:

Pics, Man... pics!

:cert:

[jaxgator]

It's a 32' Jayco with two slides. Big upgrade from my 27' travel trailer with no slides.

:hurray:






Here are a few pictures from a similar fifth wheel (this one looks kind of dirty). :ack:


Mine is MUCH cleaner and nicer, with a slightly different color scheme.

Sounds great! I'm sure you will but post up the pix of it when you get it.

[simpleman68]

Sounds like a good purchase Clark :cert:

Pics mofo! That 5th wheel sounds really nice. :seasix:
Scott

[DJ_Critterus]

Maybe I shouldn't wait until next year to trade off my 350 for an ecoboost.

I love my F-150 w/ ecoboost!

[Oh-yaa]

Pics, Man... pics!

:cert:

Our new vacation home looks like this:
http://i44.tinypic.com/2mfamw3.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/33e3muc.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/iw1b0l.jpg

Pulling it with a 2002 Ram Cummins HO/6 speed.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2mgma9f.jpg
(Last day of pulling the HS band trailer)

[Sea Six]

Very nice!

That looks like a very big travel trailer. The slide is great to have. If my old TT had a slide, I would not have sold it.

[simpleman68]

Our new vacation home looks like this:
http://i44.tinypic.com/2mfamw3.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/33e3muc.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/iw1b0l.jpg

Pulling it with a 2002 Ram Cummins HO/6 speed.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2mgma9f.jpg
(Last day of pulling the HS band trailer)

Nice! :cert:
They've come a long way with making them really comfortable.
Scott