tow rigs !

[85GPLef41]

here is Daisy my 2002 GMC lb7 tow rig/daily driver & drag race rig built for towing, has a B&W goose neck trailer hitch, 18k lb rear hitch, airbags on the rear axle guy I bought it from took good care of it and replaced the injectors, built the trans to "withstand" 1000hp, efi live stage 2 tune gauges etc etc..

at bandimere raceway cooling down

1/4 mile run quickest so far 14.95... first time for me drag racing at a strip but on the street have given a countless other diesels and muscle cars/trucks/suvs a run for there money! and I've lost some too but oh well..... click on video below

 

[marcar1993]

I've had a few. Started off with my 95 Dakota, I sold my first car to buy it because I needed a truck. Irving was his name.

I towed tons with this truck, scrap, cars, wood, and this one 30+" diameter roughly 30' long tree during hurricane sandy cleanup. It was just a 3.9l v6, 5 spd, 4wd but that truck worked its *ss off, and was tons of fun in the woods.

yeah, thats 31" of tire completely underwater and the truck hanging on the framerails... I still don't understand this hole, it was an elevator shaft, just dropped off and was deeper than any sticks I could find...


Next up I bought my friends old 89 f350 with a ton of stuff done to it. It started life as an 89 f350 7.3 N/A IDI auto 4wd. By the time I got it, it had had a 94 body swap, the 7.3 was replaced and turbo'd and it had a zf5 5 speed. I loved it but it proved to be a better project than hauler, so it was a short lived endeavor into diesels.

The above picture is of my current hauler, a 93 dakota ext cab ( ) 3.9l ( ) 5spd 4wd the day I picked it up. Since then its been lifted and sitting on 32's and a meyers plow installed (AND MY FIRST WITH A/C!!!).

Still looking for a nice ext cab or 4 door, 4wd, manual, first gen ram to come along. That what I've always really wanted.

 

[axisg]

Ughh ! I loved the gen 1 & 2 dak body styles but hated that gas guzzling slug of a 3.9 in my 96 & 99

for now my tow rig / DD is an AWD 2003 Safari Van that I have had for 8 years. She pulls my 18.5 boat for 2 years now and my friend car trailer now and then ( sorry no action shots ). Seats 8, front and rear AC, and the AWD pulls thru more stuff than I ever ever thought it would. I launch my boat at the gravel dock where I have seen 4wd trucks get stuck. The van pulls in and out with ease with barely any tire slip

 

[85GPLef41]

Ughh ! I loved the gen 1 & 2 dak body styles but hated that gas guzzling slug of a 3.9 in my 96 & 99

for now my tow rig / DD is an AWD 2003 Safari Van that I have had for 8 years. She pulls my 18.5 boat for 2 years now and my friend car trailer now and then ( sorry no action shots ). Seats 8, front and rear AC, and the AWD pulls thru more stuff than I ever ever thought it would. I launch my boat at the gravel dock where I have seen 4wd trucks get stuck. The van pulls in and out with ease with barely any tire slip

I love those astro/safari vans!! I owned two a 87 2wd cl and a 96 awd and the 87 was good but the 96 kicked *ss in the snow with the awd and goodyear wranglers rts tires! I really liked it till I sold after buying a Dodge Durango 5.9.... :?

 

[bigfella]

I would think 4.56 and 37" would make it less then optimal as a tow rig... Make a great stump puller or mudder.

As far as the wife knows I needed it because I need a good truck to haul a trailer and it's not just another toy gotta figure out how to tell her "I have no idea why it looks like it's lifted must be because it's a 1 ton"

I also had a chevy astro in college that thing would lay a bacon strip right into drive, pretty decent vehicle I beat on it hard it had almost 650 k on it

 

[Bonnewagon]

This is why I can't get rid of the Bonnewagon. She's my tow vehicle with no complaints, but I must admit, a boat ramp is no place for a manual transmission. (what's that funny smell? CLUTCH!). Best part is all the required extra junk like spares and tools go right inside. When I launch the Whaler I slide my mountain bike inside for the trip from the slip back to the ramp. And it's comfortable to boot, AC and everything!

 

[olds307 and 403]

My daughter has pretty much stolen my 2000 Dakota, that is why I didn't mention it. The 3.9 was dismal till I added a big Dynomax Super Turbo muffler, Accelerating coil, AEM dry flow filter and opened up the air box opening. Went from awful to OK on the highway and acceptable to fun around town. Sound level is nearly stock inside but sounds modified outside. Also leaks/burns the least amount of any of our vehicles, say what you want about the 3.9, including the 2010 Challenger :?. I still may do a 5.9 swap. Also helps having 3.92 gears with no slip, 31x10-15 AT tires.

 

[ssn696]

Bonnewagon,

I am so glad your G gets regular use! I totally get the burnt tunafish odor - killed an end-of-life clutch disc on a AAA tow truck thirty years ago - and got to 'help' replace it at the shop on a Saturday...

Is that the Port Jeff power station in the background? I remember the four red and white stacks in Northport from when I was a little kid.

 

[johnson350]

My buddies 89 S10 blazer, 2.8 v6, 700r4 with a b&m shift kit, and 3.42 gears. In no way a speed demon, but will still pull one heck of a load.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Nope. That's the Albany Avenue ramp in Freeport. A very good low tide ramp and all fixed up since Sandy.