So I'm looking to spend $6k on a SUV. It needs to be 4wd, capable of towing a 20ft boat across the state and has room for 4. This will be a secondary vehicle I'll mostly use on weekends. What would you get?

[Edited on June 17, 2012 at 9:47 AM. Reason : .]

6/17/2012 9:45:44 AM

FJ80 land cruiser?

6/17/2012 10:18:00 AM

I've been leaning towards a FJ80. I've read that mileage is bad but I'm not too concerned. However I can't seem to find any decent ones without chrome rims.

6/17/2012 10:23:03 AM

Yea, gas mileage is bad, but it's a dead reliable rig. You should be able to find a well-maintained, no-locker one for around that price. I would recommend a 95 or later since it comes with and and little bit more power. If you don't need that big of a truck, 4runner is also a good option.

6/17/2012 11:22:22 AM

I wouldn't recommend a $6k 4runner for towing

get something larger

6/17/2012 12:44:13 PM

Yea I had a 2001 4runner. It could handle the boat from the ramp to 5 miles to my house. But I wouldn't want to use it to pull to the beach.

6/17/2012 1:06:12 PM

What kind of 20' boat? How much is the boat/trailer gonna weigh?

6/17/2012 2:00:09 PM

19ft shallow v center console 115 2 stroke with a t-top. Also a 21ft ski boat occasionally but I won't be taking it to the beach. No clue how much they weigh.

[Edited on June 17, 2012 at 2:26 PM. Reason : Length ]

6/17/2012 2:25:25 PM

An FJ80 is more than enough to tow that wherever you want.

6/17/2012 3:19:13 PM

can you find an older tahoe or suburban in that price range? that's what i would want for towing a boat like that if i had to have an SUV instead of a pick-up.

everyone on here told me that my 3.9L V6 dakota would be enough to pull my 17' center console anywhere i wanted, but it ran warm with the boat behind it. couldn't really pull the boat over 60 mph, either. towing with that low of horsepower just sucks. it's fine for going a few miles at <50 mph to the boat ramp, but fuck towing down the interstate with something like that.



[Edited on June 18, 2012 at 6:59 PM. Reason : especially with a t-top. that's like putting a drag parachute behind it.]

6/18/2012 6:57:51 PM

I'd go with a suburban for a tow pig. Seems like the Tahoes/Yukons are in higher demand and cost about the same as a similar Suburban on the used market. Not much of a MPG difference between the two, but that extra space is a nice luxury when you're traveling.

Quote :

"Yea I had a 2001 4runner. It could handle the boat from the ramp to 5 miles to my house. But I wouldn't want to use it to pull to the beach."

Quote :

"19ft shallow v center console 115 2 stroke with a t-top."

Without more info that sounds like a #2k-3k boat/trailer combo. The third gen 4Runner should be rated at 5k-5.5k towing. The FJ80 will tow better just because it is a torquier motor and has more weight/longer wheelbase, but they're both going to be sluggish pigs at the stoplights and on-ramps. I'd be really surprised if the FJ80 is notably more effortless at towing in that weight class.

Just about any extended cab pickup with a 350/351/360+ CI motor would be a good choice too.

[Edited on June 18, 2012 at 8:04 PM. Reason : s]

6/18/2012 8:01:51 PM

i was also going to say that a land cruiser seems underpowered

6/18/2012 9:00:16 PM

just because you're within the manufacturer's towing limit doesn't mean it's not gonna suck

6/18/2012 10:52:29 PM

^ Kinda what I was getting at. If he didn't like the 4Runner I don't think the Land Cruiser is going to be much better. Either should be a safe option based on their towing capacities. I say this as a person who has pulled #3k-3.5k for 90+ miles a few times with the 2000 4Runner I own. I'd rather borrow a more powerful truck if at all possible.

Pulled a 15' Carolina Skiff a few hundred miles a couple weeks ago with no problems, but that's probably closer to 1500 lbs with gear and on the trailer.

[Edited on June 18, 2012 at 10:58 PM. Reason : s]

6/18/2012 10:56:46 PM

f250. i see them for 6k sometimes

6/18/2012 11:29:08 PM

E250/E350. I have a E150 and have pulled 2K lbs behind it and could hardly tell. You can pick up these vans for well within your budget

6/19/2012 8:18:53 AM

if it's a weekend warrior id get an older 3/4 ton truck (or suburban)

6/19/2012 10:22:56 AM

tahoe or suburban

a 2500 suburban with 8 ply tires would be great

6/19/2012 10:35:54 AM

You can get around buying weighted tags with a SUV, not so with a truck. If you buy something full size and are towing across the state you might want to consider that.

6/27/2012 5:41:15 PM

you guys are getting way too overkillish for what, 2500-3500 lbs of boat/trailer.

6/27/2012 8:57:35 PM

Quote :

"So I'm looking to spend $6k on a SUV"

How about a M109A3 truck for ~$4,500?

Quote :

"you guys are getting way too overkillish for what, 2500-3500 lbs of boat/trailer."

If you're gonna do it, do it right OVERKILL the first time

[Edited on June 27, 2012 at 9:06 PM. Reason : .]

6/27/2012 9:06:48 PM

wasn't sure what thread to post this question in, but I'd like to get an older pickup truck mostly as a work vehicle that I could potentially fix up over the years as a restoration project. I'm really thinking about a mid to late 80s Chevy c10 like one of these:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3144915273.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3158182098.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3083983877.html

My first two cars were an 83 firebird and an 86 z28, so I know these weren't exactly the pinnacle for GM, but there seem to be a good number of these trucks around so I guess parts will be easy to come by... Any suggestions for what to look for or to avoid?

7/26/2012 2:08:23 PM

my target.... 96 dodge diesel

7/26/2012 2:18:53 PM

^^ those chevys are terrible rustbuckets. My dad has a 85 blazer that has been garaged its whole life and is still rusting.

7/26/2012 3:20:01 PM

^ you think Fords from that era are better about rust? how the hell does your dad's blazer rust if the paint is intact?

7/26/2012 4:27:22 PM

Yes, fords from that era are better. Both my father and I have had 78 fords that have sat outside and have hardly any rust. My grandpa had a late 80s ford that he used as a farm truck that had hardly any rust.

Im not exactly sure how my dads blazer has rusted. The paint on the thing has oxidized, but most of the rust is up under wheel wells and the kick panels. He takes care of that Blazer too. He only used it to tow his boat, and the only time it sat outside was when he was fishing and the blazer was at the ramp. My friend has a 88 blazer that has all kinds of rust too.

7/27/2012 8:57:32 AM

^ good point, I actually know a few people with those blazers that got rusty as well. Were the fourth generation Chevys (1989+) as bad?

I'll take a look at some late 80s Fords too I guess. Never owned a FoMoCo vehicle, seems kind of like kissing your sister.

7/27/2012 12:39:35 PM

haha, Im a Ford guy. Im not sure about the 4th gen chevys. I know the 2nd and 3rd gen chevys rusted real bad. I love the looks of a 1st or 2nd gen chevy truck, but i absolutely hate the third gen style and i think the 4th gen is meh. I know they had problems with the Silverados rusting, so I can only assume that the 4th gen would be rusty too.

If you just want a work vehicle, go ahead and get the chevy, but as far as finding one to restore, you would be better served to buy a cheap one, use it for work and keep a lookout for a rust free one, because those done come around often.

I wouldnt touch any of those trucks you listed. You can get the same trucks for under 1500 if you keep an eye out. stay away from power doors and locks, they are garbage on those trucks. The second one is claiming rust free and either he has mud caked on the body, or im seeing rust in the pictures. No bumper, missing trim, "needs work"


[Edited on July 27, 2012 at 1:20 PM. Reason : ^]

7/27/2012 1:15:21 PM

I've got a 96 FZJ 80 Land Cruiser. Great vehicle. Perfect offroad and overland touring. Incredibly reliable, but ridiculously terrible mileage and I'd say underpowered for frequent towing of something like that. It could certainly handle it, esp if you're not needing to power up any considerable grades, but I would probably look elsewhere if your goal is strictly towing. And if you do get one, make sure it's an FZJ and not an FJ as they are even more underpowered. I think 94 was the first year of the 1fz-fe motor.

7/28/2012 6:26:44 PM

Quote :

"Were the fourth generation Chevys (1989+) as bad?"

I'm no expert but I know the lower cab corners at the back of the cabin frequently rust out. So if you're looking at those, inspect the area carefully.

7/28/2012 11:25:29 PM

I've had two old F150's now I bought off Craigslist. First one was an 89 XLT Lariat 4x4, 5-speed with a 302, for $1500. I put in a freshly rebuilt 302 long block, bored .030 over with a roller camshaft. New radiator, all hoses, brakes, and a new exhaust (had a shop do that of course). All total I had less in it than that first Chevy that was linked. Obviously I put in a lot of labor, but even if I'd had someone do it for me it wouldn't have been all that expensive.





Second one I'm driving right now. 92 F150 XLT short bed, 5-speed 4x4, straight 6. Got it for $900 because the transmission wouldn't shift into reverse. Has power locks, power windows, and even power lumbar supports on the bench seat. Paid $130 at LKQ for a good transmission and maybe $300 in random minor stuff I've done to it (water pump, hoses, general tune-up, having the windshield resealed). It can haul or pull anything I could want (including a tow dolly with another full-sized pickup on it) and gets 18mpg almost like clockwork.





I know some people just love Chevys, but I'd really say old Fords are the best deals. Granted I'm partial because I learned to drive on one, but my experiences have been nothing but good. They don't have any major problems with rust, are easy to work on, parts are cheap as hell and available everywhere.

7/29/2012 4:01:05 AM

good advice, thanks for the replies. I get my first paycheck and signing bonus this week so we'll see what happens.

7/30/2012 12:52:05 PM

After this last weekend I'm looking for a crew cab f-250 or 2500 suburban. Anyone have one for sale?

8/1/2012 9:48:46 AM