[s-cars] Work vehicle advice needed

[Ian Duff]

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Taka, my 0.02 (if that!):

Long wheelbase. I've towed probably over 1/2 million miles delivering  
sailboats all over the US, most in the 6000 lb range, behind  
everything from 92" wheelbase 1976 Ford Bronco (wowee, that was  
exciting) to a variety of early '80s diesel 4X4 Chebby Subdivisions.  
The Subdivisions were universally nice tow vehicles, due primarily to  
their long wheelbase. Hiccup truck with a long wheelbase would be  
just as nice. Just beware of tight maneuvering. Long wheelbase=big  
turning circle. Big. Got stuck a couple of times in small towns,  
couldn't make a corner with the trailer, had to back up a ways.

Domestic. Much easier to fix on the side of the road coming back from  
the edge of no where, with a butter knife, baling wire and duct tape.  
Plus the tow truck driver prolly either has one hisself, or his other  
brother Darryl has one, and knows where to get parts at 8pm on a  
rainy Sunday. Can't say the same for a Toerag TDI fuel pump, now, canya?

Electric brakes on the trailer. We had surge brakes on one trailer.  
One. Unreliable, couldn't explicitly/manually control swaying,  
backing was frequently difficult, never again.

Dual Axle on the trailer. Much more stable, and safer if a wheel goes  
flat or falls off.

Go get 'em, lots of other good advice on the list so far.

- -Ian Duff.

On  17 Dec 2006, at 8:13:34PM, Taka Mizutani wrote:

> Hi listers,
> This may be a little while more in the future, but I will need a  
> vehicle
> that will need the following:
>
> 4-wheel or all-wheel drive
> carry 4 passengers comfortably
> enough ground clearance to go through at least 12" of snow w/o any  
> issues
> (any more and I'm not going anywhere- roads will be closed)
> quiet enough to carry a decent conversation on the phone (I want  
> hands-free
> Bluetooth speakerphone- aftermarket or OEM)
> can tow a 6000 lb. load w/o issues (3300lb. car and trailer as the  
> max.
> load)
> Under $30k, new or used, but financeable within reason (can't be  
> more than 5
> yrs. old)
> reliable
> good safety record
>
> The towing capacity is an absolute must- if I get a big vehicle, it  
> must be
> able to tow at least an open trailer with a max. 3300lb. car
> on it, comfortably for at least 300 miles, up and downhill (trailer  
> would
> have electric brakes, I'd get an Aluminum trailer if possible).
>
> I think there are no Audis that can do this except maybe the Q7,  
> which is
> way more than $30k, so what can you suggest?
>
> If I do need this vehicle for work, gas mileage won't really be an  
> issue
> (meaning I'll be able to afford it). :-)
>
> But I don't want to excessively waste gas for no reason.
>
> I'm sure that some of you have tow vehicles for going to the track  
> and such,
> no?
>
> Taka
> _______________________________________________
> S-CAR-List mailing list
> S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
>


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