Help me pick a tow vehicle

Kinja'd!!! "mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
04/07/2017 at 09:47 • Filed to: None

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Picking up a car from 700 miles away. My current vehicles have a 3500lb limit, so that won’t work for me. Looking to pick up a CHEAP tow rig for $2,000 or less. Needs a tow rating of at least 6,000# (2,000lb for the uhaul flatbed, 3600lb for the car). Not looking to keep it long term, plan to make the trip and then flip the vehicle for some profit. What are some good choices for a quick flip 1400 mile tow expedition?


DISCUSSION (16)


Kinja'd!!! HammerheadFistpunch > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 09:50

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A flip? A 12v cummins might fit that bill, especially if manual.


Kinja'd!!! SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 09:53

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Buick fucking Roadmaster.


Kinja'd!!! Stapleface > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 09:55

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Honestly, I’d just rent something. I really wouldn’t trust a vehicle I just bought for 2k to last on a 1400 mile trip without problems. Just seems like you’re asking for trouble there.


Kinja'd!!! TheRealBicycleBuck > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 09:56

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I’m preparing to tow a car ~600 miles. I’m not buying a tow rig, I’m renting a UHaul. One-way with a flat bed trailer and a box truck to tow it is a bit over $600.

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Kinja'd!!! Rico > Stapleface
04/07/2017 at 09:57

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Exactly, if this thing dies in the middle of his trip the cost to tow it and the newly acquired vehicle will outweigh any benefit. Don’t risk it MK!


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:05

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You can definitely find a decent GMT-400 Suburban for under $2k, they’ll do the job just fine. You might even be able to get a GMT-800 which will have more power, although for $2k it will have a lot of merit led and rust on it.

I wouldn’t waste your time on pickups. They generally hold their value too well to get a decent one for under $2k. Full size SUVs, however, are a lot cheaper in decent condition.


Kinja'd!!! BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:07

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2000lb for a trailer?! Good lord that’s huge. Now mine’s not exactly comparable, but I’ve made a car transporter trailer from a caravan chassis that’s rated up to 1350kg (2950lbs and change). The whole thing weighs in at ~300kg or so (660lbs and change).

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What on earth is the UHaul flatbead made from? Lead?


Kinja'd!!! Milky > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:16

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Bruh lets go.

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https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/6063459734.html

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/6032097078.html


Kinja'd!!! sm70- why not Duesenberg? > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:17

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This is a bad idea™.


Kinja'd!!! adamftw > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:21

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Rent a truck.


Kinja'd!!! Sweet Trav > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:26

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GM 2500 HD.

Or maybe just rent a uhaul truck that can take the trailer?


Kinja'd!!! Hammerdown > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:30

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Square body Chevy. 73-87. Suburban, Pickup, Blazer. Doesn’t matter. All should do the job nicely. But really, look at your local Craigslist and pick whatever fits your price range. Find the best one of those and pick it up.


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/07/2017 at 10:36

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Why the hell didn’t I think of that?

Damnit, I miss my Roadmaster!


Kinja'd!!! ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:42

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Beyond renting a uhaul truck, I would talk to your local hertz/whatever equipment rental folks. The places that rent earth moving equipment. All of those places rent/lease pickups. I don’t know that they really do daily rentals in the same way that Uhaul does, but you could certainly lease one for a week or two from them. Something tells me that would be cheaper than the daily charge +mileage+6mpg fuel costs of a uhual truck towing.


Kinja'd!!! Textured Soy Protein > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 10:47

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For that price you’re looking at probably 15-20 year old 200k+ mile full-size pickups. I’m not sure how you’d flip it for a significant profit. You’d more likely have to deal with the sort of craigslist buyers interested in a cheap truck like that. Not worth the hassle.


Kinja'd!!! gawdzillla > mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/07/2017 at 11:24

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seriously just rent a tahoe / suburban from your nearest airport, + a flat bed from u haul

you get to enjoy all the comfy feature from a 2017, decent mileage, and knowing it wont break down = total win in my book