a question about cheap towing vehicles

[oneup]

well we have booked our USA tickets for 2017, got a bike in Connecticut ready and waiting. now we are looking into a cheap car or truck and trailer to tow the bike across the USA. as we wont be taking the vehicle home with us after we leave we dont want to waste too much money on it.. we havent any set ideas on what sort of vehicle would be most practical but it needs to be reliable and roadworthy for the month. fuel economy is a factor too.. no point buying a big block gas guzzler... we have seen the dodge pickups that look reasonable for under $2000. are they any good and how is their fuel economy compared to something like a Lincoln town car which also seem to be able to be bought under $2000 in what appears to be fairly good working order.
any thoughts on what might be worth looking at as our tow vehicle. we want American. 6 cylinder or a small V8..

any help or ideas appreciated

 

[consitter]

You may want to look into rentals for both. Honestly, you'll never find anything reliable at the prices you're wanting to spend. A rental wouldn't be much more than that and you have a guarantee with them.

 

[oneup]

i thought not many rentals will let you tow anything most dont have a tow bar.

 

[consitter]

i thought not many rentals will let you tow anything most dont have a tow bar.

There are many places that rent both tow vehicles and trailers at the same place.

 

[oneup]

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5913351448.html
seems ok to me. should get a months use out of it for $1000. thats sort of what im thinking...


http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5913412616.html or this jeep... $1400.

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5895967022.html $2000

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5907102274.html $1900...

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/5904830804.html town car $1500


they all look reasonable to me.. am i missing something?

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There are many places that rent both tow vehicles and trailers at the same place.

will they do one way rentals Connecticut to LA?

are they expensive??

 

[consitter]

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5913351448.html
seems ok to me. should get a months use out of it for $1000. thats sort of what im thinking...


http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5913412616.html or this jeep... $1400.

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5895967022.html $2000

http://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5907102274.html $1900...

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/5904830804.html town car $1500


they all look reasonable to me.. am i missing something?

This is just me....you are usually buying somebody else's problem, especially when buying that cheap.

Regardless of what I say, you are going to do what you want. I'm just trying to give you a little bit of reality here. If you say you're towing all the way across the USA, well there's a LOT of open space out there to get stranded in with a vehicle that has no guarantee.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Fowler]

There are many places that rent both tow vehicles and trailers at the same place.

I have actually been looking into this myself.
I have a VERY tight budget and I am looking for my next donor vehicle
1 of the issues I have is if the vehicle does not run I have to toe it home.
U-Haul rents a trucks with trailers
But for me the cost of renting the truck and trailer puts me over my budget every time.

 

[Sidecarbill]

A month not a long time. I'd just ride the bike. Towing something around is a waste of time. And time is something you don't have enough of. Rent a car or ride the bike. As far as I know rental company's won't allow towing. 2000 dollars isn't enough money for a vehicle that you expect to make it across the country.

 

[Sunman]

Rent a pickup or van, buy a folding ramp and load the bike in it. I agree with the others, for the prices you are looking at to buy a vehicle you are not going to get anything dependable.
Sunman

 

[LadyonaMission]

I have never towed a bike, but it seems to me that you will be seeing some places twice when you could be using the time for new adventures because you have to unload the bike, return to the trailer, load up and start over.

Have a fun, safe trip and enjoy the USA.

 

[oneup]

it isnt easy to travel for a month in another country, on a 2 wheeler with a pillion.
last time we did this it was on a trike with a trailer.
was hoping for some information. not a lot of negativity... i did ask for it though..
ive been on the spanners working on cars and bikes all my life. still am.. my collection includes a 1970 ironhead.
i do have a good eye and ear for a sound motor and gearbox...
was hoping for info on older vehicles with a good reputation. and bit of info on gas mileage etc.
maybe as we age we loose our sense of adventure...
or an ability to encourage others taking a chance and throwing caution to the wind...
i love the adventure.
perhaps its me who needs to grow up... but im not ready for that yet...

 

[consitter]

it isnt easy to travel for a month in another country, on a 2 wheeler with a pillion.
last time we did this it was on a trike with a trailer.
was hoping for some information. not a lot of negativity... i did ask for it though..
ive been on the spanners working on cars and bikes all my life. still am.. my collection includes a 1970 ironhead.
i do have a good eye and ear for a sound motor and gearbox...
was hoping for info on older vehicles with a good reputation. and bit of info on gas mileage etc.
maybe as we age we loose our sense of adventure...
or an ability to encourage others taking a chance and throwing caution to the wind...
i love the adventure.
perhaps its me who needs to grow up... but im not ready for that yet...

I wasn't trying to be negative. I thought you were asking for opinions.:Shrug:

Honestly though, if you are mechanically inclined, buying an old car or truck may be in your best interest. Just buy or bring along a decent set of tools in case the worst happens. Myself, I'd hope for the best and expect the worst so you won't be surprised. Like I said in a post before, the US has so many wide open spaces in to get stranded if bad stuff happens.

Know that any 'negativity' comes from a good place inside me. Saying that, I know that you are adults that can take care of yourselves, and I'm sorry if I offended you.

 

[oneup]

no offense taken.. i appreciate the feedback.. but come hell or high water we will be following our dreams. we travel overseas as often as possible for as long as possible.. earlier this year we made our way across europe and the greek islands for a month...
even though we can afford it i dont drive a flash car at home.. people laugh about my big house and old car.. i recently upgraded my car to a ute (what you call a pick up) but its just an old banger paid $2000 for it coincidentally.. my previous car i payed $500 for and drove it around for 2 years then sold it to my son in law for $150 as he got a job and licence.. its still going strong...
i dont mind a rusty faded car as long as its got a good motor.. and ill hear a death rattle a mile off..
BUT IF ANY OF THE VEHICLES IM THINKING ABOUT ARE A LEMON OR EXCESSIVE ON GAS OR SOME SUCH.. WOULD BE COOL TO KNOW...
ADVENTURE IS FOR THE LIVING..

AND WE HAVE PLENTY LEFT TO DO...
i did sense you good intentions..

 

[consitter]

no offense taken.. i appreciate the feedback.. but come hell or high water we will be following our dreams. we travel overseas as often as possible for as long as possible.. earlier this year we made our way across europe and the greek islands for a month...
even though we can afford it i dont drive a flash car at home.. people laugh about my big house and old car.. i recently upgraded my car to a ute (what you call a pick up) but its just an old banger paid $2000 for it coincidentally.. my previous car i payed $500 for and drove it around for 2 years then sold it to my son in law for $150 as he got a job and licence.. its still going strong...
i dont mind a rusty faded car as long as its got a good motor.. and ill hear a death rattle a mile off..
BUT IF ANY OF THE VEHICLES IM THINKING ABOUT ARE A LEMON OR EXCESSIVE ON GAS OR SOME SUCH.. WOULD BE COOL TO KNOW...
ADVENTURE IS FOR THE LIVING..

AND WE HAVE PLENTY LEFT TO DO...
i did sense you good intentions..

Can tell you the pick up and jeep even though they have different size engines will get about the same gas mileage of 18 mpg on the road. Lincoln town car will be about the same. I can't get craigslist on this computer, but if memory serves me, there was a chevy sedan that would probably get 20-25mpg. But that all goes out the window when towing. Probably would want a larger motor for towing.
I would think you would be much better off with the pickup. You would have a much better chance at resale at the end of your trip--both people wanting it, and money you could get out of it.

 

[Bikerbozo]

Nothing to add about car but as far as trailer, you might want to consider U-Haul. They do 1-way trailer rentals and are located everywhere here. I did rent a truck from them once to carry a bike with blown engine across 3/4 of USA.

 

[consitter]

Something I should add about buying a vehicle in the US. Each state has different ideas of 'registration'. Buying in one state, and selling in another may not be possible. And some won't allow the tag to go with the vehicle. It can be a real mess.

Just make sure to ask the seller of the vehicle about what is required in their state. As far as trying to sell it in the state you end up in, you may not be worried about it, and might just abandon it. :Shrug:

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Nothing to add about car but as far as trailer, you might want to consider U-Haul. They do 1-way trailer rentals and are located everywhere here. I did rent a truck from them once to carry a bike with blown engine across 3/4 of USA.

^^^What he said^^^
Might be more expensive in the long run, but would be soooo much more simple. Check into it.

 

[oneup]

i was thinking we would probably give it to a homeless or struggling person in LA.
i have had a good life and luck come my way despite also knowing hard times.. im happy if I can pass something on that might make a difference to someone less fortunate. so long as its not a burden to them...

 

[consitter]

i was thinking we would probably give it to a homeless or struggling person in LA.
i have had a good life and luck come my way despite also knowing hard times.. im happy if I can pass something on that might make a difference to someone less fortunate. so long as its not a burden to them...

Good on ya if you do that. Hopefully some good karma will come your way as a result.

 

[Keystone]

Right off the bat Jeff I would tell you to take the Lumina off of your list. They just were not built to do much towing at all. Same thing with the Towncar.

The Chevy 1500 in my opinion would be your best bet of all the ones you listed. It will tow with ease. 118k miles isn't too bad for the age and it's well with in the expected life of the drive chain if it has been properly maintained. With the 4.10 rear do not expect to get very good MPG. Be happy with 15 mpg.

 

[Sidecarbill]

Sorry when you ask on a motorcycle forum I'm not going to encourage you to drive a car. I tried what you want to do didn't work for me. Never used the bike. I've been coast to coast more than once wife on the back no problem ,no trailer. The thing is it was the journey for me thats why I ride a bike. For you its the destination. I'm a retired auto tech. In the north east you won't find many cars that still have a frame. Salt destroys them. I've seen pickup trucks 6 yrs old you could put your hand through the frame.

Good luck, and have safe journey.

 

[peteg59]

In the north east you won't find many cars that still have a frame. Salt destroys them. I've seen pickup trucks 6 yrs old you could put your hand through the frame.

Good luck, and have safe journey.

/\... Quoted for the truth.
Rust in Connecticut is a real concern & towing an expensive toy with a vehicle having a questionable frame condition is a risk I wouldn't take.
Do you want to be stuck in small town Kansas with a broken tow hitch, looking for a welder on a Saturday night?:Shrug:
As suggested, a U-Haul or Hertz/Penske small truck/trailer combo is the only way to go trouble free, in my opinion.
If altruism is a factor at your journeys completion, donate $$ to a homeless shelter.
Good luck in your choiceThumbUp