sdef

I would rather drive my vette to the track, but that means I can not take a race seat and 2nd set of tires.

Since I can now afford a truck and trailer, could you please answer these questions.
1. What type of truck would you suggest buying? Could I go with a Honda Ridgeline or Toyota Tacoma?
2. What type of trailer do you suggest buying?
3. What do you get for gas milage with your truck and trailer?

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Mojave

You can't go with anything smaller than a full size 1/2 ton IMO. A Honda Ridgeline is UNIBODY; it doesn't even have a full frame. It's a Honda Odyssey minivan, complete with transverse V6 FWD engine. Most definitely NOT a tow rig. A Tacoma is closer, but definitely not up to the task.

A Silverado 1500, F-150, Ram 1500, Titan, or Tundra are the bare minimum. I would step up to a 2500 myself; the 1500's will definitely tow a car, but the 2500's do it with such ease. If you want to tow an enclosed trailer, you NEED at least a 2500.

NASCAR314

I agree with above post.
1/2 ton full-size pick-up will tow an "open car hauler" just fine
go with a 3/4 ton for an enclosed trailer.

You can pull with smaller vehicles, I've seen many, including mini-vans ?? but not an ideal situation, and look out for hills.

Brakes on trailer are very important, get electric brakes with a good controller that mounts in the cab of the truck, adjust to suit your needs.

Keep speeds reasonable, don't tailgate

GettReal

I tow a 19ft open trailer with my 07 Yukon 4x4 and theres no issues. I get about 12 mpg. If I didnt need this for a family vehicle as well Id be looking at a 3/4ton (2500) quad cab pick up.

Scooter70

How about a small tire trailer to tow behind the car? A friend of mine has a Harbor Freight trailer that he pulls behind his Mustang. There's room on it for 2 sets of tires plus a big plastic box that holds all of our tools. We actually towed it from Detroit to Watkins Glen a few years ago and it pulled pretty well. Trust me, you wouldn't be the first guy to show up towing a little trailer behind a Corvette.

If you really want to buy a truck, my old Silverado 1500 towed my cars just fine on open trailers. I would figure out how much you're going to really use it before going out and buying a truck. If it's just to attend a few track days a year, it might not be worth the expense.

Oh one other thing - BUY AMERICAN... please. My job depends on it. If you want a deal on a new F150, get a hold of me and I'll get you my "Friends and Neighbors" deal.

Bill Wilson

I tow an open 20' tandem axle trailer with full deck using a F-150 Ford with the smaller V-8 and it tows like a dream with no issues. It cruises the Interstate at the speed limits of 55, 60 or 65 MPH depending on the location and state. The Vette weights in at 3200 lbs. and the F-150 is a Crew Cab model. I average 15 to 17 miles per gallon on the open Interstate while towing.

C66 Racing

2001 - Corvette Z06
2002 - Corvette Z06 and wife's SUV with racing seat/wheels/tires
2003 - Wife's SUV and Corvette on 18' open air trailer
2003 - F350 and Corvette on 18' open air trailer
2008 - Sierra 3500HD and Corvette in 28' enclosed race trailer

It's a slippery slope you're starting down.

sperkins

I pull my vette on an 18' solid steel deck trailer with my Titan with no problems at all. My old truck (2000 Silverado) couldn't pull a go-cart out of a mud puddle, but this Titan has ***** man. BUT..It gets terrible gas mileage.

If I had to do it all over again, I would buy the Cheby 2500.

c4cruiser

I agree that you need a full-size 1/2 ton pickup to safely tow a car. Part of this is because you won't be hauling just the car on a trailer. Once you add the tires, tools, jack, equipment, the wife and/or gf, the kids, dog, and your buddies, the total weight that the vehicle has to move goes up quickly.

So all of that has to be tanken into account when you choose a tow vehicle. The important figure is the total gross cargo weight (what goes into the truck and what is towed behind it) the vehicle is capable of.

I tow my 87 on a full deck open trailer (steel, 2000lbs) and my 99 Silverado (5.3L Z71 with 4.10 gears) towed it just fine. Most of my towing was on flat ground with some hills but I could accelerate while going uphill. Mileage was not that great at 11-12 but I expected that.

I just bought a 08 Silverado with the 6 liter motor that has 367HP and about 390 ft-lbs of torque so it should do a lot better in terms of power and maybe a bit better gas mileage.

beerkat

I tow with the Honda Ridgeline and have for the pass couple of years. I tow an 18' Featherlite aluminum trailer (1400#) with the car on it is about 4600# total. I carry a second set of tires, jack, jack stands, tools, extra pads/rotors, and other track gear. My wife, cooler and clothes for the weekend. I get 14mpg at 70mph with cruise control on. Yes if go up steep grade I slow down some, but so do the big 18 wheelers.

It was point out to me at the NCM/VIR event that I had the small tow vehicle there. The Ridgeline does a good job towing and all the '09 comes with the class 3 hitch and wired for electric brakes. It is also a great truck for running around town in or traveling. It gets 17 around town and 21 on the road when not towing. also it has a great ride.

I do between 6 and 8 events a year. some of the tracks are a 6 hour haul. I have yet to have any kind of an issue with the truck.

lkelliott

I have a lot of toys so I decided to setup a toy trailer that can haul my C5 Autocrosser to the races behind my F-350 Ford dually with a 7.3 Diesel. The trailer has three axles with a GVWR of 15,000 lbs and it hauls and stops like a dream. There is nothing like taking a nice break in the a/c during a hot day at the track.

Wicked Weasel

I tow an open 18 foot rollback trailer with a Trailblazer SS with no issues. Gas mileage towing is 11 mpg. The best part is the TBSS is fun when you are not towing. I originally was going to buy a Diesel Excursion, but then thought outside of the 20 times per year I tow what the heck was I going to do with the Excursion.

bosco022

We tow our LS1 powered GTA stock car with a 2001 Chevy 2500 3/4 ton with the 502 ci motor (cost 4500). gets 9-10 mpg whether you are towing or not. Trailer is 30' Haulmark Edge tag, with nice cabinets, HONDA generator, A/C, 5000# winch. awning, exterior lighting. Much nicer to load/unload and operate at the track over the old base 24' tag. It was 2 years old, we picked it up for $12,000.


the Nissan Titan pick ups are a super value right now, you can pick up
2004 with the 305 hp motor for $6000 or so. They will tow about 9500#

AU N EGL

I use a 1500HD and a 24' enclosed. the 1500HD is not enough.

For an open trailer it might be.

Ideally tow no more then 80% of the trucks capacity.

When you start towing to events, now you have THREE vehicals to get ready. Your car, your trailer and your truck. Each should have a check list of things to prepare.

JimbeauZ06

I'm slidin' down right behind you! Just bought a 2000 Excursion dirt cheap. It actually get's decent gas mileage (for a V-10). 15mpg HWY w/out trailer. 12MPG w/ 5000lbs of car and trailer. It actually rides and handles better pulling a trailer.

I haven't settled on a trailer yet, but got the Excursion with the intent of buying a 24ft racing trailer. Right now, I'm using the newer U-haul trailer @ about $150 per weekend which isn't a bad deal either considering that when I buy a trailer I might have to pay to store it somewhere.

I drove the car to about 13 events in the last year, but now I have track tires, and also lost a tranny bearing in April this year, so I'm full speed ahead with the trailer now. It's actually less of a head ache to trailer than to drive, IMHO.

RusherRacing

rasrboy

This is a really cool company perk for getting to the track if the motorsports semi is not in use for our other series we support.

I have a really awesome boss but other wise I am towing with my GMC P/U and an open aluminum trailer.

Had to throw this up here.

Aaron Quine
Kumho Tire (Motorsports Division)

spazegun2213

Aaron, you SUCK!!!!

I have a 93 chevy suburban, and a Econo trailer 16fter, Its great on flat but once i hit some serious hills that 350 is just not really cutting it. I get ~10-12 mpg while towing.

rasrboy

The semi gets 5 MPG but holds 150 gallon plus the 75 gallon tank to run the generator in the trailer. Company Gas card comes in handy when the bill is $900.00 to fill it up!

Otherwise Ross, I am in the same boat with you brother.

Aaron

spazegun2213

Thats a big otherwise haha, although as long as you go thought those tires at the rate you do we'll call it even! haha