About to get a suitable tow vehicle (finally)

[curtis from carlsbad]

Found a 1998 1500 Suburban with the 350 (5.7 liter) motor and 105,000 miles @ $2500.I didn't have the guts to try to tow with the 4 cylinder Hyundai Tuscon(towng capacity 1500 lbs.) Paint clearcoat looks bad on some of the flat areas (roof & hood) but is quite nice on rest of vehicle (fire engine red).If my limo business expands down the line I could add this vehicle to my charter license and insurance,paint it black ( Ala Rolling Stones ? )and replace the front chrome bumper that is dented and sagging down 2 inches on driver's side( result of a hopefully small collision, I'll find out during mechanic's pre-purchase inspection tommorow). It runs and shifts smooth as silk, with a mostly wrinkle free close to new condition tan leather interior.After 18 years in the taxi business I can tell right away if a used car is loose or tight when I test drive it. My real question to all of you is : Is this a good tow vehicle for the Mac?( towing capacity rated at 7500 lbs.) What I mean by that is how does it ride compared to a F 150 or F250 crew cab longbed with the Mac under tow? Does anyone have any negative feedback on this tow vehicle?(It is not a 4x 4).I test drove a dually 1991 F 350 crewcab longbed and a 1987 F150 Lariot extended cab longbed and liked them but the amenities and interior feel and ride quality of the Suburban was much better.I think if I open the rear barn doors on the Suburban while backing the Mac down the ramp or into my tight 9.5 x32 foot driveway (while not taking out my eaves or neighbor's cars), I will have terrific visibility while twisting my body and neck around to see as I am backing up.I will be driving the Suburban less than 3000 miles a year so I might be able to get about 8-10 years out of it before it needs a rebuild or tranny with some luck.My liability insurance wil be around 20 dollars a month. If I press it into limo service it won't matter how long it lasts-we put around 70-100k miles per year on each vehicle. If any of you Mac owners out there have any personal experience with the Suburban please reply to this before 4pm California time Monday -Thank you -Curtis Becker

[puggsy]

Hi Curtis...i am very envious...however, as an ex truckie, LEARN to reverse on your mirrors....practice, practice, practice...This business of turning your head and looking backwards is a real no no.
I am sure that others with trucking experience will back me up...
Do you ever see those blokes with the BIG rigs lean out their side window and try looking back? maybe with a 40 fott trailer on.???
One of the biggest problems we see at the ramp when launching is OVERSTEERING. By using your mirrors, you will be amazed at how tiny increments on the steering wheel can have such big results at the stern of the
Hope i was not too harsh on you...Pugs.

[curtis from carlsbad]

No, thats good solid advice. Thanks. I usually turn around more when backing into the driveway because we do it late at night.My wife stands with cellphone headset on far end of driveway and discreetly communicates to me ( I have on cell phone headset also around 50 feet away so we don't yell loudly).I block traffic even at night when we do this(about one car every 30 seconds at 10:30 PM and one car from each direction every 3 seconds in daytime) and the clearance with my facia/eaves is < 1 foot. I need to install a light to illuminate rear of driveway where wife stands so I can see the garage door and eaves/facia neighbor's 2 cars ( we have a split,common driveway -clearance between Mac and neighbor's cars is < 2 feet).I will practice with mirrors more and more.That tow vehicle you used to use(4 cylinder flatbed) didn't look like it could tow Mac but apparently you were able to.Those overhead satellite shots of western oz with your mac in bay during your shore retrieval were awesome.

[TAW02]

The year make and model is a good bang for the buck, if it is in good condition.

A full-frame rear-wheel drive SUV/Truck has the ability to tow a MAC easily. But not necessarily.

That is, not if it was not equipped by the factory to tow.

Does this Beast have a so-called 'towing package' installed?

If so ... grab it before someone else does

Big T


A BIG PS;
Puggsy is right. Very right. My advice is the same on that note.

[1st Sail]

I had a '99 1500 Yukon. It was a the most seriously under braked vehicle I had ever driven. I don't think I would have wanted to pull a Radio Flyer wagon let alone my Mac. Bought it for the busines and to haul all the kids to college. Hitting the breaks at 65mph in an emergency was downright scary.
I currently have an '01 1500 Yuknon Xl and it is one fine driving machine. GM totally reengineered the suspension and brake system to truck grade in 2000. The '01 stops the Mac very well. My recomendation is shop for '00 and later and get some braking power. The reengineered 5 link suspension handles the the Mac in a cross wind on the interstate very well. Go drive a used '00 or later and then make your decision. Good luck.

[Chinook]

It's my understanding that the Suburbans are essentially built on pickup truck frames, so a 1500 Suburban should be comparable to a half ton pickup, while a 2500 Suburban would equate to a 3/4 ton pickup. The differences show up in suspension, brakes, transmission, and radiator systems. My sense is that a half ton pickup or a 1500 Suburban would serve adequately as a tow vehicle.

[dutchwinter]

when I was first considering a Mac I went out and bought a v6 ford escape. before i was able to buy the boat, i was in a terrible accident that took out the small SUV. the family made it through the accident well enough, and good insurance paid for my now second tow vehicle, and the 09 from bill @ boats for sail. that's why I call her Serendipity. the vehicle i bought was an 07 merc mountaineer. now i took the boat over the Rockies and it did the job, but with so much swaying and leading the vehicle that i white knuckled nearly the whole way, not to mention a near jack knife situation involving an icy bridge and a spring storm. shortly afterward, I traded in that vehicle for a 05 f150 4x4. it has a towing cap of 11k and its just great. i think with anything over 6 or so you'd be ok though. for me the 4x4 gives me peace of mind mostly on the ramps. at low tide the ramps can be a bit slimy, and the grade can vary a lot. i don't know how big of a deal that really is though. I suppose that if i would have felt more at ease with the mountaineer, i would have been good with that vehicle. i think after a certain point, like having 25% capacity over what you're towing, it comes to peace of mind. a relaxed, but attentive driver makes for far better driving. if you think you'll feel safe driving that rig, then I say go for it. i would stay away from any uni body SUV though, and try to stick to a framed vehicle.
oh btw cdl driver for about 12 years, and yeah, use your mirrors. if you memorize the way the boat looks when on the hitch, then you might not even need a ground guide. the ladder on the trailer, in the rear view is a great guide for me.

[Paul S]

had no problem with my 94 chevy with the Mac. Pulled it quite well with 2wd and v6. Just inspect each and every inch of the brake lines. the brake lines are notorious for rusting out..especially above the gas tank. I have replaced THAT line 2 times in 10 years. The transmissions generally last about 100-120k mi (check out fullsizechevy.com forums ..very helpful over there too) so if it is high in miles. you may be due. Is at the age (like mine) when many of the stock ignition systems start to wear out (ign module, coil, distributor, etc) and give intermittant problems...fixable..but pull out your hair troubleshooting it! CHECK the body to frame mounts.. VERY common rust area! Unless replaced..the fuel pump is also at the age to start flaking out..expensive repair as the fuel sending unit will have to be replaced (about $400-500 in parts + 5 or so hrs labor if you pay someone)

We then got a Land Rover Discovery 2. Just an awesome tow beast. tons of power, awesome highway manners..best thing is very inexpensive to buy used.. easy to fix..pretty robust..well made.. and (against its reputation) fairly reliable (certainly more so than my chevy).

[curtis from carlsbad]

yeah it's got the tow package.I'll specifically get the items you mentioned checked out thanks!

[Gypsy]

Can somebody tell me again what a 26X on trailer , with 50hp Honda weighs ?
we are also shopping for a new tow vechicle and I am thinking a 5,000lb tow capacity ought to cover boat , gear , water , gas , etc.

Is that a good tow weight capacity to shoot for ? I Don't want to get to big , but do want enough truck for the job.

[Nautek]

I tow my Mac with a Nissan Patrol 3 litre 4 cylinder turbo diesel with a manual transmission
It has a tow weight of 3200 kg
It is a wagon 4 x 4
I have to look in the mirror at times to make sure it is still hooked up
You don't need a big motor but one with torque.
A diesel is the best tow vehicle
The vehicle weight and towing weight are the critical ones

Allan

[bastonjock]

Over here,MacGregor uk reccomend a towing vehicle that is rated at a minimum of 1500 kg,thats about 3200 lbs.I di tow my macx with a mitsubishi shogun which is rated at 6500lbs,you did not notice the mac on the back ,unfortunately my wife fried the engine, so i now tow it with a mazda bongo,which is rated at 4000 lbs,the mazda is a permanent 4x4 and it tows the mac easily,not quite as easily as the shogun.

Pugsy,is correct about learning to use your mirrors,these days in the nanny state (UK) we have to have reversing cameras fittied to our trucks,this is not law,but most yards will not allow you to drop unless you have one fitted.They do come in handy for judging lenght of the trailer.

[bscott]

I have towed 3 different keel boats with various Jeep Grand Cherokee V8---all boats were on tandem axle trailers and did OK on the interstates and over high passes. My trailer was a single axle and I was not happy no matter how I loaded the boat/trailer and was thinking about a new P/U (122,000 miles on the Jeep). My wife thought the problem was the single axle and she was right. Rather than trade the Jeep and spend $30g + I converted the trailer for $1,800 and am please with the results (151,000 miles now). The Jeep has excellent brakes but the tandem brakes on the trailer make steep down hills a breeze with no sway even with 24 gallons of fuel in the stern lockers. Can't really tell the boat is on the hitch at 70 mph

Bob

[Russ]

Seriously considering the extra axle.....



--Russ

[Sumner]

You will love the Suburban. We got a '99 last summer (same as yours) for about $900 more than what you have found and with about 40,000 more miles. They will go 250,000 miles pretty easy with the engine and trans if you service them. Make sure you have a trans cooler, but if you have the tow package you should. With everyone conscious of gas prices you can get these pretty darn cheap and they don't get that bad of gas mileage. Without the mack and running 65 we get 17 mpg consistently. Not 30, but not bad for a vehicle as big and comfortable as it is. With the mac we got 10-12 mpg, mostly 11+ on a 3000 mile trip to Canada....



http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html

....... this past summer and there were a lot of big mountain passes. The 350 Vortec pulls very well. I'll run in overdrive on long downhills and the flat, but shift into 3rd on any hill as the 4L60E transmission is not real strong in overdrive. The manual will tell you to run in 3rd any time you are towing. Our trailer doesn't have brakes (now) and only one axle and we tow 26S with the outboard on the back with no problems with this vehicle. It is very stable even at times when the trailer isn't. I am adding a second axle with brakes over the winter since that is the smart thing to do.

If it checks out buy it and be very happy with it.

c ya,

Sum