207,000 miles, reliable to tow with?
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Rookie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
This is all really good input guys, thanks for the replies.
About small stuff breaking on the road, I've replaced most of it already. It has a new radiator, water pump, pulleys, fan clutch, timing chain. I fabricated a new aluminum plenum pan and installed it last year. I replaced the rear driveshaft u-joints just yesterday. I have some more open discrepancies to solve with the front end still.
It does burn a little oil though honestly and the transmission is really the big what if I think. I don't know much about them so it's pretty much full of magic smoke and I don't have any way of telling how much magic smoke is left in there.
Also like ya'll were saying I haven't pulled much with it. I pulled a friends airstream camper a few times, it was near equivalent or over and it did fine but they were relatively short distances. I have a small boat I pull but it barely knows it's back there.
About small stuff breaking on the road, I've replaced most of it already. It has a new radiator, water pump, pulleys, fan clutch, timing chain. I fabricated a new aluminum plenum pan and installed it last year. I replaced the rear driveshaft u-joints just yesterday. I have some more open discrepancies to solve with the front end still.
It does burn a little oil though honestly and the transmission is really the big what if I think. I don't know much about them so it's pretty much full of magic smoke and I don't have any way of telling how much magic smoke is left in there.
Also like ya'll were saying I haven't pulled much with it. I pulled a friends airstream camper a few times, it was near equivalent or over and it did fine but they were relatively short distances. I have a small boat I pull but it barely knows it's back there.
Champion
Joined: Feb 2007
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Can't say how your truck was maintained previously, but mine has been great towing. I started towing with it at about 120k and it has moved me across country three times over the mountains out west and might do it a fourth. I have the 318 with 5spd so I had zero concerns but keep it in 1:1 (4th) and between 60-65mph. I take time stopping and downshift. I am completely confident in my truck on the hwy, towing or not. These trucks are very stout. Remember, they were the strongest and most powerful half-tons (and higher) in their era. If your plenum is good, get a 180 t-stat and run 10-40 for towing. Drive smart and you should be fine. Might want to add a towing leaf or AAL to avoid too much squat. You know your truck best so trust your mechanical knowledge. I would be scared with the auto trans but some have had good life.
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Rookie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 59
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From: North Carolina
Yeah I was planning on just running whatever speed the truck felt best at. I'll be in no hurry so 55mph is what I'm figuring. If I had a five speed I wouldn't even be worried about it!
Does anyone know a way to access the health of an automatic transmission?
Does anyone know a way to access the health of an automatic transmission?
Not exactly what you had in mind though I would guess. 
The way I see it it boils down to this.
Is the extra scratch you might save worth the risk of towing it yourself with a high mileage, but otherwise healthy truck? Vs paying that extra scratch to have someone tow it?
If you're on a tight budget and every dollar counts your almost obligated to tow it yourself. If the extra hundreds of dollars isn't a big deal than just pay to go the U-Haul route. I have no idea how expensive or inexpesive that is tho.
Is the extra scratch you might save worth the risk of towing it yourself with a high mileage, but otherwise healthy truck? Vs paying that extra scratch to have someone tow it?
If you're on a tight budget and every dollar counts your almost obligated to tow it yourself. If the extra hundreds of dollars isn't a big deal than just pay to go the U-Haul route. I have no idea how expensive or inexpesive that is tho.
Champion
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,103
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Get a trans cooler and lock out OD. That should be it.
I was thinking along the same lines before my first move back in 2010 and UHaul wanted waaaaay too much money for renting plus I wanted to stop half way and visit family but they said I would have to empty the trailer and return it. Then rent ANOTHER trailer and reload it to go all the rest of the way. Stupid. Would have cost over a grand one way. So shop the prices. If it's too close to call, use your truck. The big Uhaul trucks are uncomfortable and can be a handful if you're not used to them.
I ended buying my own trailer for 2k and have now had to move 4 times with it. Best money ever spent. Although it's been broken into once and had a second attempt, I am pleased with it. You probably have more stuff than that but I would still not worry. So what's the worst that happens? You overheat and blow the trans. Aren't you about 100k past the due date anyway on that thing? I have seen a lot of half tons towing heavy trailers and campers out west. Get a cooler and check things over real well. I say go for it.
Oh, and if you don't have stock size tires, get some on there for the trip. Will help power and braking. Some 245s E rating from Discount shouldn't be more than 600 bucks and that's the best thing you can do. I towed with big ol' 285s Nittos and that was like adding another trailer. But I still made it. Four times.
I was thinking along the same lines before my first move back in 2010 and UHaul wanted waaaaay too much money for renting plus I wanted to stop half way and visit family but they said I would have to empty the trailer and return it. Then rent ANOTHER trailer and reload it to go all the rest of the way. Stupid. Would have cost over a grand one way. So shop the prices. If it's too close to call, use your truck. The big Uhaul trucks are uncomfortable and can be a handful if you're not used to them.
I ended buying my own trailer for 2k and have now had to move 4 times with it. Best money ever spent. Although it's been broken into once and had a second attempt, I am pleased with it. You probably have more stuff than that but I would still not worry. So what's the worst that happens? You overheat and blow the trans. Aren't you about 100k past the due date anyway on that thing? I have seen a lot of half tons towing heavy trailers and campers out west. Get a cooler and check things over real well. I say go for it.
Oh, and if you don't have stock size tires, get some on there for the trip. Will help power and braking. Some 245s E rating from Discount shouldn't be more than 600 bucks and that's the best thing you can do. I towed with big ol' 285s Nittos and that was like adding another trailer. But I still made it. Four times.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Clayton MI
Get a trans cooler and lock out OD. That should be it.
I was thinking along the same lines before my first move back in 2010 and UHaul wanted waaaaay too much money for renting plus I wanted to stop half way and visit family but they said I would have to empty the trailer and return it. Then rent ANOTHER trailer and reload it to go all the rest of the way. Stupid. Would have cost over a grand one way. So shop the prices. If it's too close to call, use your truck. The big Uhaul trucks are uncomfortable and can be a handful if you're not used to them.
I ended buying my own trailer for 2k and have now had to move 4 times with it. Best money ever spent. Although it's been broken into once and had a second attempt, I am pleased with it. You probably have more stuff than that but I would still not worry. So what's the worst that happens? You overheat and blow the trans. Aren't you about 100k past the due date anyway on that thing? I have seen a lot of half tons towing heavy trailers and campers out west. Get a cooler and check things over real well. I say go for it.
Oh, and if you don't have stock size tires, get some on there for the trip. Will help power and braking. Some 245s E rating from Discount shouldn't be more than 600 bucks and that's the best thing you can do. I towed with big ol' 285s Nittos and that was like adding another trailer. But I still made it. Four times.
I was thinking along the same lines before my first move back in 2010 and UHaul wanted waaaaay too much money for renting plus I wanted to stop half way and visit family but they said I would have to empty the trailer and return it. Then rent ANOTHER trailer and reload it to go all the rest of the way. Stupid. Would have cost over a grand one way. So shop the prices. If it's too close to call, use your truck. The big Uhaul trucks are uncomfortable and can be a handful if you're not used to them.
I ended buying my own trailer for 2k and have now had to move 4 times with it. Best money ever spent. Although it's been broken into once and had a second attempt, I am pleased with it. You probably have more stuff than that but I would still not worry. So what's the worst that happens? You overheat and blow the trans. Aren't you about 100k past the due date anyway on that thing? I have seen a lot of half tons towing heavy trailers and campers out west. Get a cooler and check things over real well. I say go for it.
Oh, and if you don't have stock size tires, get some on there for the trip. Will help power and braking. Some 245s E rating from Discount shouldn't be more than 600 bucks and that's the best thing you can do. I towed with big ol' 285s Nittos and that was like adding another trailer. But I still made it. Four times.
Don't spend the money on someone else's truck, that they take care of, instead, spend several hundred dollars on tires you will use for one trip?
I really don't see the logic of that course of action.......
Champion
Joined: Feb 2007
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You don't have to. It's not your trip. And Uhaul is not known for quality products. If he's so worried about towing heavy, smaller tires will be very smart. It looks like he has 35s in that pic. Maybe he should just trade it on a brand new 3500 dually CTD with the Aisin. That should do it.