Picked up a New Tow Vehicle N Trailer

[charmalu]

We are in the process of buying a new house on acreage with a large shop . The large shop is 40 X 50 and a smaller one 18 X 30 with a 1600+ ft house thrown in on 4.25 acres. Nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away, that`s nice so if I have too much stuff sitting in the yard, they really have to be nosey.

We are moving out of Calif to Nevada, a 260 mile move.
Now the problem to move all this stuff.

Three weeks ago I found a Car Trailer on CL, got it for $1900. It`s 18ft long and has a 10K GVWR Guy has been keeping it for me till I source a truck, something larger larger than my 82 Datsun PU to drag it home. I stopped by the U-Haul guy a few days ago to see how much he would charge for me to go about 150 miles each way just to bring it home. he said something like $150 to $175..
I then said I would need to make 10 or more loads to Nevada. Well that would be like $300 X the # of loads, NO Way that is happening.

I can have some brackets welded on the sides for stakes, and then screw on some ply-wood for sides. sounds easy enough, the we are our own U-Haul or as they say in the south, Yall-Haul. LOL.

Normally it is like a 6hr drive each way in the MB, and pulling a load plus loading, unloading, probably 2 days a load.

I decide to check what is on CL. I want a Diesel, manual gear box, no electronic engine, no 4 X 4, nothing jacked up with 4 shocks on ea corner, nothing pumped up, rolling coal, or chipped or need a ladder to climb into.. really thins the heard.

Early Dodge 12V Cummins or a Ford 6.9 or 7.3
Most stuff is 4X4, automatic trans, way over priced and been hacked etc...
Or the owner thinks it is Gold Plated. LOL.

I found a 93 Dodge 12V, 5 spd od, posi rear with air bags to level it, extra cab with all the bells and whistles, set up to tow a 5th wheel. only problem it`s 150+ miles away, needed upper BJ and Control arms. said the BJ are ready to pop out of the arms and has to be trailered. Priced at $6500

Then there is a 86 Ford F250 4-Spd 6.9 Diesel, 192K in Sacramento. 150 miles and 3 hrs from here. had it on my Desk Top in a folder with a bunch of other maybe`s. Kept going back to this one, probably because it is a Manual Trans. Finally call the guy, and set up a time yesterday, and get with him a 3:30pm. OK it looks good enough for what it is, offer $1800, and he takes it.

Had a thought, buy the Ford, go up to Folsom, buy and load the Dodge. Fix the Dodge, sell the Ford and we would be good to go. Sounded good, but looking at the CL listing, the Dodge is sold. OK, I know, dumb idea.


Now I need to get with the guy with the Trailer, that is another 75 miles away in Navato, north of SF, took about 3 hrs to get there. The ford was low on fuel, and the area I was in was sparce on Diesel stations, found one at $4.01 a gallon. Grab a burger and Shake and off we go for the Trailer.

It is Dusk when we get there, hurry and hitch up while we can still see. BS`d for a while and off we go back tracking for a ways to the town of Benica, stop at Denny`s for coffee, and then head back toward San Jose and Hwy 680, past all the Oil Refineries, over the Richmond Bridge. This is the free direction.

Not sure where we were, but my Wife is flashing the lights at me. Pull over, and she said, there are a bunch of sparks shooting from under the trailer. Iam thinking it probably is just a wire dragging. wish it was.
between the two axles where the front and rear springs attach, is a part that has a bolt it hangs on from the trailer, and the springs then attach to it. seem the bolt fell out of the center piece along with the bolt from the rear spring, and Iam dragging this thing. from the front spring.

All I can find in the trunk is a short Zip Tie, I usually have a package of long one`s that are gone. use the one Zip and tie it back to the forward leaf spring. then found a piece of wire to wind around to secure it.

5 miles later, she is flashing the lights again. damed thing is dragging again. Called AAA, thinking they would come to my rescue. I have the 200 iles tow. so no problem, right.

Explain to the woman what the problem is. want me to send the CHP? NO!!! well we can come and change your tire. WTF. explain again, I just need a bolt etc... well our guys don`t carry bolts on the truck, I can send the CHP. Yeah, send one and I use his gun to put the dang thing out of it`s misery.

OK, I have the 200 mile tow, maybe haul it home for me. OH we don`t do Trailers, you will have to call a tow CO, pay out of pocket, go commercial etc...etc... wtf do I have this member ship for? don`t hardly ever use it.

Lucked out, there was Hwy night work, and a guy gave me some 7/16" bolts 4" long, large washers and nuts, a roll of tie wire and rope.
Folded the shackle thing back, ran the bolt over the top leaf, and cranked down on the nut, and double nutted it. Double tie wrapped it, and off we go.

Made it home w/o any other problems, and rolled in the driveway this morning at 3:25am. what a night.
Trailer followed right along almost like it wasn`t there, almost was.

Ordered 4 new tires at Big-O this afternoon. 8 - 14.5 load range G 14 ply.
Then I`ll cut off the remaining bolts and replace with new grade 8 and lock nuts, both sides. We should be good to go.

OH, here is the PU we bought. Even came with one of those Tail Gates that is louvered and low in the middle for a 5-th wheel set up. Think I`ll put it back on, sure will make it easer backing it up when looking out the rear window.
The bed has the rubbery Rino lining.
For the number of miles, it does not leak any oil.
Picked up some new belts and fuel filter. has only one large spin-on filter as far as I can tell. Tine to start searching about the 6.9 Diesels and get up to speed.
Has two fuel tanks, but the guy only used the front tank the past 3 years. so wonder how much fuel or what is growing in it?

She is a beater, but a solid old truck.

86 FORD F250 - $2500 (north sacramento)


1986 Ford F250 odometer: 192000 fuel : diesel transmission : manual title status : clean

86 Ford F250 Pick Up Truck, 3/4 Ton Model, 2 Wheel Drive, Diesel 6.9 Engine, 4 Speed Manual, Air Condition, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Stereo, Dual Fuel Tanks, 18 MPG, 192,000 Miles, No Smog Needed, Starts and Runs Very Good, Good Work Truck, Dependable, Some Body Rust but still functions, Tires have lots of Tread left. $2000. Offer



Charlie

[DeliveryValve]

Nice deal on that pickup. 6.9 is a great dependable engine.

Too bad you had some trouble with the trailer, but glad you made it home!

[charmalu]

The 6.9 runs good, a bit on the thirsty side. Got to pay for all that power. LOL Think it is 170HP.

Well it all makes for a good story. wasn`t funny last night. Makes us stronger, right?


Charlie

[cfh]

What an adventure! You might want to repack the bearings on that trailer - that was the first thing that came to my mind (no need to ask why) as I was reading your post.

Congrats on locating what sounds like a perfect homestead.

- Ch

[t walgamuth]

Another great adventure!

You are an ambitious man, Charlie!

Good work.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by charmalu

The 6.9 runs good, a bit on the thirsty side. Got to pay for all that power. LOL Think it is 170HP.

Well it all makes for a good story. wasn`t funny last night. Makes us stronger, right?


Charlie

Glad you made it through ok!

Suggestion: re-evaluate your auto insurance and towing etc.

I might talk to you more, I may move to Nevada. Or at least find a small place there, not sure.

[GregMN]

You are not going to appreciate how much better the ford rides then the dodge because you got the ford first. The dodge rides like a truck.

[Dan Stokes]

That should be a great old truck for you and for the price you STOLE it. Our last move was MI to coastal NC which we did in a two axle covered trailer (sort of like a short car trailer). Worked well. I pulled it with my old F150/5L manual and it was just a bit too much for all the above. Explains why I have the Dodge/Cummins.

And you're getting out of California's weird legal climate (hope that's not taken as political).

Happy adventures!

Dan

[TheDon]

Nice truck!

[vstech]

IDI navistar is a decent motor, BADLY needed a turbo... And HUGE. I have the 7.3 in my 89 car hauler... It'sa LOUD motor too. Looks good to me.

[daw_two]

Originally Posted by cfh

What an adventure! You might want to repack the bearings on that trailer - that was the first thing that came to my mind (no need to ask why) as I was reading your post.

X2 --- I think I've got my misadventure dealing with my car hauler bearings and electric brakes.

Just repack the bearings and check the brakes while you are in there.

[funola]

Charlie,

Nice story and good ending! From my research, the 6.9 does not have block cavitation issues (coolant leak into combustion chambers) of the 7.3 idi if incorrect coolant was used. Had to do with too little meat between cylinders when the 6.9 block was bored out.

What did you get for MPG on the trip? Not the 18 claimed in the ad?

[eatont9999]

Nice truck, Charlie! I am glad to hear you chose the Ford. The only thing I like about the Dodge trucks is the Cummins engine; the rest is not worth it. I had to make the same decision and decided that I need a whole truck and not just the engine, so I went with the F250 I have now. Check out ford-trucks dot com as it is the best site I have found so far. Tons of info on there and a Diesel 6.9/7.3 section.

A turbo helps A LOT on these engines. I installed a Banks Sidewinder on my 7.3 and it made a world of difference. You will forget at times that you are towing something because these engines have a lot of torque.

6.9s are not immune to cavitation, so SCAs are still recommended. I have only heard of a few cases where 6.9 blocks were compromised but it is not worth taking the chance over buying the better coolant for the same price. I use FleetCharge - pre-charged with SCAs and can be topped off with DCA4.

[eatont9999]

18MPG should be achievable if you are not towing or romping it. I used to get around 20MPG in my 7.3 using it as a DD.

[Dan Stokes]

Originally Posted by eatont9999

Nice truck, Charlie! I am glad to hear you chose the Ford. The only thing I like about the Dodge trucks is the Cummins engine; the rest is not worth it. I had to make the same decision and decided that I need a whole truck and not just the engine, so I went with the F250 I have now. Check out ford-trucks dot com as it is the best site I have found so far. Tons of info on there and a Diesel 6.9/7.3 section.

I'll strongly disagree with this. I LOVE my 2002 Dodge - including the truck part. They have a couple of foibles (like the dash cracking up) but the Ford has it's weak points, too. I'm at 205K + and everything works and it's a joy to drive.

Don't take this wrong - My options were the Dodge or a Ford but I found a Dodge that met my needs first so that's what I got. I've heard a lot of "the Dodge truck is no good" talk and yet anyone I know who actually has OWNED a Dodge has been more than satisfied. I don't know where this originated but the truth is that they're both great trucks. I just don't know enough about the Chevy/Duramax to have an opinion.

Dan