Tow vehicle advice

[stevenhickeys]

Hello,

I have a 19' Bluefin that weighs about 1600 lbs. I just lost the transmission on my current tow vehicle 2003 Envoy 4.3 with 195,000 miles (towing the boat). I don't think it would be wise to replace the transmission so I am in the market for a replacement vehicle.

I can only spend @ $3,000 for another vehicle so I am looking at a number of late model trucks and SUV's. My preference is to get an American vehicle and I would need seating for 5 or 6 people. Can anyone reccomend a vehicle they have used that would fufill my needs. There are alot of choices but I am not familiar with which vehicles are the most reliable for towing.

I was hoping I could get another 4.3 liter 6 cyl, but I'm not sure if the motor and transmission will be enough for the job.

Please help, I don't discriminate between the different American manufacturers!!

SH

 

[matt167]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Replace the transmission and go from there. You're not going to get much for $3k, and 1,600 lbs is nothing. Your vehicle has at least a 3k lbs tow rating.. If you were looking into that $3k range with that criteria, your looking at used Ford Explorers and Chevy S10 blazers with high miles, so you might as well spend $3k and fix what you have because it's going to be better than what you can get

 

[bigdee]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

I was hoping I could get another 4.3 liter 6 cyl, but I'm not sure if the motor and transmission will be enough for the job.
SH

Yes it is more than adequate I towed twice that weight with a Blazer 4.3 quite frequently on hilly roads. A gentle foot on the gas is the best advice for ANY transmission. Also keep it out of overdrive and you will be fine. After all,you said you made it to 195K and that is not to shabby!

 

[batman99]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Getting a mini-van or CUV that's rated to pull 3,200 lbs should work fine (for your 1,600 lbs boat and 450 lbs trailer). Finding a vehicle that pulls 5,000 lbs would be even better - especially if loaded down with 5-6 people while pulling boat trailer at same time. 3,200 or 5,000 lbs towing rating vehicle depends on boat ramp conditions (slope and surface) and how much room inside the vehicle you want. If you like the Envoy, simply get an Envoy replacement. And, ensure it has ATF aux transmission cooler (LDP design for 5,000 lbs trailer) as well. And, change its ATF, engine and axle fluids for heavy towing conditons. Lubrication replacments more often then normal maintenance schedule recommendations.

Hope this helps...

 

[calvinator]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Chevy Astro or GMC Safari.

Mighty mights. People haulers. Tow beasts for 6cyl engine. 5000 lbs easy. I towed my 4500# 21' Wellcraft for many years.

 

[SilverSS07]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

The tow rating on your Envoy depending on gearing is minimum 5000 lbs. Does it have the 4.2 I6? I honestly think you're better off rebuilding the trans unless there are lots of other problems with it. Anything in the 3k range will usually have lots of miles on it. If you don't want to pay for a rebuild check out the local junkyards and see if they have anything that will work. A lot of those places will install and warranty them.

 

[stevenhickeys]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Thank you all for the advice. I learned that the 4.3 should be fine for my rig, never to put the shifter into overdrive (which I did not know was harmful for the transmission), install a transmission cooler, and drive easy (which I do). I have some reservations about putting a transmission in my high milage but finding older vehicles around 100,000 miles and some that have not towed anything is not impossible. Any favorites like Durangos, Explorers, Blazers, Silverados, Jeeps, or Mini vans??

SH

 

[batman99]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

I used to tow with a Safari van RWD version. Yes. It would pull up to 5,000 lbs with ease. But, it didn't have very good factory brakes. It barely had enough brake strength to stop itself. Probably explains why the 2005 models had factory disc brakes. If you do use a Safari/Astro van, I'd install brakes on the attached trailer as well.

The 2007+ GM mini vans with 3.9L engine have better "take off" power than Astro / Safari models but with 5-6 adults + onboard gear + attached 2,500 lbs trailer (with boat) is at its tow limits (due to its FWD design). And, pulling up steep boat ramps with FWD vehcile can be a slip - slide situation. Thus, always best to pick cement boat ramps with this vehicle. For this GM mini-van, I'd install brakes on the trailer as well. Especially since its front brake rotors can warp under panic stops. Probably explains why 2007+ models have the larger size front brake rotors.

I'm not a fan of < 2007 GM mini-vans for towing. Their front brake rotors are too small (that can warp under panic stops) and they have weak front wheel bearings as well. Especially the Venture van - that is known for its "small car like" FWD design.

Remember that there's no perfect vehicle. Each make/model has their pros / cons and weak design points. Especially when used for heavy load conditions - like towing & loaded.

Hope this helps

 

[SilverSS07]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Best advice I can give you is to research all of them as best you can on those specific forums. I can tell you on the older 5.2/5.9 Dodge's with the 46RH or 46RE are known to have transmission issues. Usually due to lack of maintenance but there is a check valve that is known to clog in the lines and fry the trans. There is a plenum gasket on the intake manifold that is a common failure also. I have 165,000 on my Ram with no trans issues yet (knock on wood!) and have had very few problems. Love the truck just hate the mileage! Blazers usually have the 4.3 V6 and 4L60e trans. Personally I don't care for the 4L60e but they usually seem to hang in for a while. 4.3's are good engines but known for lower intake manifold gasket's leaking. I bought a blazer with 130k that already had a rebuilt trans in it and the one in my parent's truck went out at 110k- never towed a day in it's life. Blazer was kind of cramped in the back seats but seemed to tow ok. If I was getting an Explorer I would look for one with a 5.0 V8- very proven reliable engine with decent low end torque. No sure what trans they have but they should have an 8.8 rear end which is a lot more stout than a 7.5 GM rear. I wouldn't consider a jeep for a tow vehicle or a mini van really except for the GMC Safari/Chevy Astro which have the same drivetrain as the blazer. Also with any tow vehicle change the trans fluid more often.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Replace the transmission and go from there. You're not going to get much for $3k, and 1,600 lbs is nothing. Your vehicle has at least a 3k lbs tow rating.. If you were looking into that $3k range with that criteria, your looking at used Ford Explorers and Chevy S10 blazers with high miles, so you might as well spend $3k and fix what you have because it's going to be better than what you can get

Best answer for your budget. Replace the transmission and the Envoy will be good as new and certainly better than anything you can pick up for 3 grand.

 

[Husker-Q]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Best answer for your budget. Replace the transmission and the Envoy will be good as new and certainly better than anything you can pick up for 3 grand.

Second that

 

[keith2k455]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Here's the thing ... Your price will buy another high mileage vehicle with an unknown history and unknown problems. I say repair based on your situation....but new ... At least to you ... Is always nice

 

[jkust]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Someone asked if the OP has the 4.2 I6 but the op has the old Blazer version of the Envoy not the newer version in the GMT360 platform that upgraded to the higher HP and torque know inline 6 or the superior 5.3 liter V8. For some reason the two platforms overlapped for a couple years. 3 grand for a fully capable suv is going to get you something really old, insanely high miles and likely a combo. Your boat and whatever the trailer weigh fully loaded up weigh practically nothing and any 3500lb tow ratinge vehicle could take that on with ease. If it were me, I'd look for a higher mile 4x4 2002 and above Trailblazer or Envoy you know the new version that was made through 2009. That vehicle is simply superior to the old Blazer with the 4.3 in literally every single respect. They made so darn many of them because they were such capable trucks, you can actually get one for not a ton over your price point.
End of the day any minivan with a tow package can tow your load so really the bar isn't that high.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Chevy Astro or GMC Safari.

Mighty mights. People haulers. Tow beasts for 6cyl engine. 5000 lbs easy. I towed my 4500# 21' Wellcraft for many years.

Also a notorious history on those two for going through transmissions like candy, at least on the AWD versions.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Another vote for fixing what you have and adding an auxiliary trans cooler. Also be sure to read your owner's manual for info on using overdrive when towing. Many vehicles should NOT be in overdrive when towing, but there are exceptions. GM will give you the best advice.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

I also suggest rebuilding your tranny. Talk to a good transmission shop you trust. They can often use better quality rebuild components than the factory. I had a car years ago that puked it's transmission at about 60K. Turns out the crappy factory transmission was not up to the upsized engine option (Thanks a whole padload for that one, FORD), that I had in the car. Base engine was a 4cyl, my engine was the V6- great engine, too much for the tranny. The rebuild guy at the transmission shop offered me 3 options- Swap in a used transmission, get one already rebuilt, and have him rebuild the existing one. The used tranny was cheapest, but would be the same crap I already had. The already rebuilt unit cost about the same as paying him to rebuild the existing unit. But he had access to rebuild parts that would make the transmission up to the task, cost a couple hundred more than the other options but that's what I went for, and got a whole lot more miles out of the car, far in excess of the first transmission.
In your price range your looking at older high mileage vehicles, so which brand/model isn't as important as the condition of a specific vehicle. You may end up spending your 3K and needing another expensive repair in a few months? Doens't sound like you have the means to afford that. If your vechicle is in otherwise good shape, fix it.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

I would surely say that getting your transmission replaced or rebuilt is absolutely the most economically smart move.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

I vote for the rebuild. Since heat is the big culprit, you can hang an auxillary cooler on your tranny cooler for just over $100--good money spent.

If the rebuilt tranny is too much $, find yourself a quality auto salvage yard. The Chevy trannys are a dime a dozen, and some of them will have very low mileage. See Car-Parts.com where you can filter the search for salvage yards closeby.

Or, drop a used tranny in it, and then you'll be in much better shape to trade it for a newer, lower model vehicle than you have.

I tow with a 3/4 ton diesel crew cab 2wd Powerstroke. It's good for up to 13,000 lb. trailers, and I'm spoiled. I'm also a fan of V-8 pickup trucks which are easy to find on the used market, and easily maintained. They're good for towing up to 9,000 lbs. realistically. But a crew cab p/u doesn't come cheap on the used vehicle market--if they're a Ford or Chevy. You can buy 2 year old Dodge Ram's for much less $ on the used market, however.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

If the rebuilt tranny is too much $, find yourself a quality auto salvage yard. The Chevy trannys are a dime a dozen, and some of them will have very low mileage. See Car-Parts.com where you can filter the search for salvage yards closeby.

Or, drop a used tranny in it, and then you'll be in much better shape to trade it for a newer, lower model vehicle than you have.

With that many miles on your van I would go the cheap route. I would not waste money on the cooler though...your old tranny made it 195,000, that is testimonial enough. A cooler can be substituted with a light foot.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Tow vehicle advice

Rebuild the tranny, add a cooler, stay out of overdrive when towing and don't gun it.
My humble opinions.