New tow vehicle help please?...

[justrfb]

Hello All.
Every new season my wife Annemarie and I go through the same thing... Should we get a new tow vehicle?... Along with our 20' Princecraft pontoon boat, we also pull a Fleetwood Sun Valley (full sized pop-up camper). Our current tow vehicle is a 2006 Honda Pilot that I did a lot of work to to make it a nice, safe tow vehicle. It has about 125K on the ticker... I put a trans fluid cooler in, suspension airbags, brake controller... It is a good reliable vehicle and tow vehicle but it does get pushed around a bit when we tow the boat to Lake George, NY every year. Annemarie says she will drive a pick up so I am looking... Nothing like a beautiful woman driving a nice pick up... It needs to be able to pull our boat or camper with ease and carry 3 young adult children or 3 Border Collies, which ever is giving us less trouble at the time ...

I found these 2 adds local on CL. With all the experience on this list along with the amazing willingness to help, are these worth going to look at? Are they good deals? Honda's are very reliable and very well made, plus our Pilot can carry up to 8 people while towing the boat or camper... All thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thank you so much!!

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/4987327662.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/5029257747.html

Looks like the same person is selling both trucks... Thank you!

Sincerely,
Rich

[curtiscapk]

I love f150's on my list for next year. Those are both great trucks.... you will be losing room for passengers though.

[badmoonrising]

Being an ASE certified tech, I am partial to Ford trucks. Every Ford truck I've ever owned has been trouble free. My current '99 F-150 has 151,000 miles with zero issues. Zero body rust even after 17 years of launching boats in salt, brackish and fresh water as well as road salt. Last several Fords I owned had around 200k when sold.

Next truck will also be an F-150, Expedition or 250. Never have transmission issues like GM and Dodge.

[badmoonrising]

I love f150's on my list for next year. Those are both great trucks.... you will be losing room for passengers though.

Yeah, but the Expedition is mechanically identical to an F-150 if you want passenger room.

[Bamby]

In my experience with towing the uncomfortable sensation of being pushed around isn't really a shortcoming of the tow vehicle itself. It's the soft side-walled P rated tires that are mounted to the vehicle that allows it, and note they're also stock on most off the lot half ton pickups. Anyway if you could find a six or more ply rated truck tire that would fit under your Honda you'd probably still be satisfied with it. But as far as a pickup goes with three kids, dogs, and wife it sounds as if you should be shopping for an excursion with mounted light truck tires that are up to dealing with what a work vehicle is meant and designed to do. Move and pull a load.....

[robertm]

Fair amount of issues with the ecoboost engines. I'd be concerned owning one out of warranty. Look for an F150 with the 5.0 motor for the best reliability.

Plus the fuel econ is horrendous with the ecoboost. Also, you are supposed to be running premium when towing with ecoboost.

Food for thought.

[justrfb]

To all so far...

THANK YOU for your help and suggestions. You have already helped immensely (as I knew you would...)! Thank you.

Not sure why we were thinking pick up instead of SUV but... That is why I asked...

How about this one?... This looks like a nice one...


http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/5019002224.html


5.4L V8, 4 wheel drive, third row seating... What say you?

Thanks!

Sincerely,
Rich

[Flattop]

I just purchased a RAM 1500 Ecodiesel and have been extremely happy with the towing capacity and the fuel economy.

[Ray Jr.]

We have a 2009 Expedition and love it. Pulls our pontoon with ease. The only draw back was that there were no towing mirrors available for them from 2003 thru 2010, only option was the cheap ass ones that strap on to your existing mirrors with rubber bands, and vibrate like crazy until the band breaks. Then they end up on the side of the road. (F-150 mirrors were different so couldn't even swap them on)
But that has been solved now thanks to 1A Auto now sells aftermarket replacements that work great, I bought a set a couple months back and so far I am quite happy with them. They do shake a little when you hit a bad bump, but not bad at all.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231478020522?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

[robertm]

To all so far...

THANK YOU for your help and suggestions. You have already helped immensely (as I knew you would...)! Thank you.

Not sure why we were thinking pick up instead of SUV but... That is why I asked...

How about this one?... This looks like a nice one...


http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/5019002224.html


5.4L V8, 4 wheel drive, third row seating... What say you?

Thanks!

Sincerely,
Rich

That's a much safer bet. Tried and true motor and tranny. If I were buying I would require a pre-purchase inspection. Up to you and the buyer who pays for it.

[badmoonrising]

To all so far...

THANK YOU for your help and suggestions. You have already helped immensely (as I knew you would...)! Thank you.

Not sure why we were thinking pick up instead of SUV but... That is why I asked...

How about this one?... This looks like a nice one...


http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/5019002224.html


5.4L V8, 4 wheel drive, third row seating... What say you?

Thanks!

Sincerely,
Rich

You'll love it. The 5.4 is a proven engine with a long history of reliability. In fact, 2007 and newer Expedition is on my future. Yes, with any used vehicle, get an independent inspection.

[zoom650]

I like Ford trucks. I'm on my 5th one.

The first ad you listed looked pretty good until you consider all your passengers. As for the Expedition, I saw a tow hitch, but didn't see a tow package.

Get the VIN numbers and look them up here http://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Number-L ... /Ford.html

You'll see the original sticker of the vehicle, so you can see what you're really getting. Then run the numbers on Edmunds, NADA, or one of the others.

[TDJ2591]

Did you notice that the same interior photo was in both of the Ford listings? Just be careful as there are lots of vehicle and boat scams on CL. My local Budget Rental Car agent told me last week that he's had 5 rented vehicles stolen recently and put for sale on CL. Some had been sold by the time they recovered them and the buyer was out what he paid for the vehicle. They arrested a girl with a stack of fake titles and stolen license plates. The funny thing is that a couple of the people who tried selling the vehicles on CL had rented them under their own names and with their own DLs!

[Bamaman]

I'd be looking for a used vehicle with lower mileage.

Right now, the Big 3 are throwing around big sales incentives and/or low APR programs on 1/2 ton trucks. Sometimes buying new and keeping it for the long run can be a solid value.

I would be happy as punch with a 2015 F150 because of the new aluminum body style will look like new for the next 6-7 years. And being 700 lbs. lighter, people don't have to go to the 3.5 Ecoboost or the 5 liter Coyote engine. They tell me the 325 hp 2.7 Ecoboost is an incredible engine, and it'll certainly tow your pontoon boat or popup camper. Combine it with an XLT cab, and the price would be very reasonable. When you get into a Lariat 4 door cab, 4x4 and EcoBoost, you are talking serious $.

The Expedition has evolved over the last years, and Ford's now putting a 3.5 Ecoboost in it--for better fuel mileage. I've read it's now much better in every way than the market leading Chevy Tahoe. Unfortunately, the Expedition's running the high $40's and low $50's--out of most people's price range.

It all comes down to how much $ you're willing to part with and how long you intend to keep your vehicle. I'm really good at spending other people's money and telling them what to drive.

[RcgTexas]

I just found a 1996 F250 with a 7.3 turbo diesel with a crew cab. only has 73000 miles. I Love it, its like going back in time, a solid truck with an engine that will pull a small town. You can't beat a Good old Ford!

I can recommend Ford !