Boggle- USA bound!
- Thread starter Michen
- Start date
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
A small pickup like a Toyota Tacoma or F-150 with proper tires and a low box will do you nicely. You won't get stuck in that.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Aha cross posted. Gotcha. It's kinda sounding like I should just buy a truck sooner rather than later, we are due a big dump of snow up there on thursday.
The company car would be a chevy equinoxe so I'm not sure even with snow tyres that it would be as good as a truck?
Then there's the whole do I need a ridiculous tuck to tow or could I have a ford 150 with a small gooseneck trailer. argh! It would be so much easier if I had a credit rating here to finance one.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Thanks, and if I got a 5,000lb trailer it should be ok to tow with. Do they have exhaust brakes? I am being told not to tow down mountains without them but google is not clear!
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
Looks like Equinox has an AWD model. If they give you that spec and if you stick some winter tyres or all-seasons on it, you should be quite happy in that. Maybe. I don't know anything about Chevrolet's all-wheel-drive system because my parents were Toyota and Subaru people (except for the F-250, which my dad never liked, mostly because it kept the mechanic's kids in college, but I loved that thing).
The Chevy won't have a low box or diff lock, but you only need that if you are doing really stupid stuff or going off-road. What's the driveway to your barn like? My Mom has been driving a Subaru XV for years, and she's been very happy with it. Most of Boulder owns Subaru Outbacks.
The tires are the most important thing. A front wheel drive car on wnter tyres will outperform a 4x4 in summer tires on snow. 4x4 (or AWD) on winters or all-seasons wins.
I have no clue what exhaust brakes are. I just whacked a bumper pull on my truck and got on with things, but it was probably lighter than a gooseneck.
The Chevy won't have a low box or diff lock, but you only need that if you are doing really stupid stuff or going off-road. What's the driveway to your barn like? My Mom has been driving a Subaru XV for years, and she's been very happy with it. Most of Boulder owns Subaru Outbacks.
The tires are the most important thing. A front wheel drive car on wnter tyres will outperform a 4x4 in summer tires on snow. 4x4 (or AWD) on winters or all-seasons wins.
I have no clue what exhaust brakes are. I just whacked a bumper pull on my truck and got on with things, but it was probably lighter than a gooseneck.
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Michen
Well-Known Member
Yeah it will definitely be the AWD Model. It's just a question of when I'll get it, at the moment they have no clue. They've extended the rental for the hire car (a 4wd merc) until end of november. And the rental company (national) won't put snow tyres on.
I might just have to accept there may be a number of days I won't see Bog until I get the company car. Although it seems you can hire a random dudes truck around here for 40 dollars so that's kinda cool!
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
4x4 Merc sounds fun.
It would be nice if they sped that process up so you could get a useful vehicle.
It would be nice if they sped that process up so you could get a useful vehicle.
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
You can get exhaust brakes installed (Jake brakes) on diesel pick ups. OH's dad has them on his Dodge Ram 2500 (or maybe it's a 3500, cannot recall) diesel pick up.
I driven 3/4 ton pickups though snow many a time and they do quite well. Tires are very important.
I wouldn't tow a gooseneck with a F-150, personally, but I don't know much about the newer ones and their ratings, I'll admit...and people do it.
I driven 3/4 ton pickups though snow many a time and they do quite well. Tires are very important.
I wouldn't tow a gooseneck with a F-150, personally, but I don't know much about the newer ones and their ratings, I'll admit...and people do it.
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
I once slid backwards down a snowy hill near Inverness in a Land Rover Disco on summer tires. Thinking, “Whoops. Should have changed these.”
Michen
Well-Known Member
Tbf, they are trying, but there's a massive shortage of AWD at the moment. I was offered a sedan AWD immediately but said no as it would have been totally impractical for the dog if I bring her over.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Yeah I'm sort of coming full circle on it. I think for where Bog is boarded I would feel better with a gooseneck.. side winds, unexpected snow etc. Ideally if I can get some credit rating here over the next few months I can finance a truck and then purchase a trailer.
It's unreal that I'm going to need a fair bit over 50k for it and that will be "well used"
scats
Well-Known Member
That hacking looks amazing! When can Millie and I fly over and join you?? 
Trouper
Well-Known Member
Does your company have any finance schemes which might help you out in the short term as you have to wait for credit rating??
SibeliusMB
Well-Known Member
If towing a gooseneck in/around the mountains, possibly through snow, my preference would be a 3/4 ton truck (Chevy or GMC 2500, Dodge 2500, Ford 250 etc). That is plenty of truck for total control of the rig, plus the horsepower you need for terrain and weather. Bonus points for diesel with exhaust brakes. I had a Chevy 2500 Duramax for my 2H all-aluminum gooseneck and I will never tow without exhaust brakes again. A 3/4 ton diesel truck is expensive, but they hold their value and you will never regret the extra power and control they give you.
Yes people do tow some small, all-aluminum goosenecks with an F150, but I would strongly recommend against it in that part of the country. I grew up in New Hampshire with lots of ice/snow and hills, so I'm from the "get more truck than you need" vs "the bare minimum is totally fine" towing club.
Yes people do tow some small, all-aluminum goosenecks with an F150, but I would strongly recommend against it in that part of the country. I grew up in New Hampshire with lots of ice/snow and hills, so I'm from the "get more truck than you need" vs "the bare minimum is totally fine" towing club.
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humblepie
Well-Known Member
Only just caught up with this thread but wow what some fabulous hacking photos and glad all has gone well.
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
If you don't mind a zillion miles on them, you can get trucks like this for 7k.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...rivedpriceASC&numRecords=25&clickType=listing
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...rivedpriceASC&numRecords=25&clickType=listing
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
That mileage on a diesel wouldn't be the end of the world, but if that truck were a diesel, it also wouldn't be that price.
It's got some cosmetic damage, but you might find that on many used trucks, IME. We paid 25k for our 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel with mileage in the lower 100k range, which is honestly nothing for that engine. The truck is pretty clean rust wise, and in general, just needs a new grille due to some chrome damage, but that's only a couple hundred dollars.
Thankfully OH is very mechanically inclined and can do repairs and maintenance. The truck is safe, sound, and does the job well. We just couldn't fathom spending $80k or more on a new one. It's like, even if the money is there, I rather spend it on other things or save it! I can be a bit frugal at times. If something used is out there and it will do the job, I opt for that...in many instances. There are other decently clean 2500's out there with about 150k miles (or a bit less) or so for under or around $30k. If I'm buying a 3/4 ton I'd only go for diesel.
palo1
Well-Known Member
Cor, things are expensive stateside...having said that I have only ever bought scruffy but functional vehicles so know nothing of 'clean, new' ones lol. But there must be decent s/h vehicles and good mechanics in the state of Colorado?!!
Michen
Well-Known Member
Sadly not, company car or car allowance only
Michen
Well-Known Member
Yeah the truck prices are crazy. In my head I am budgeting to need 50-60,000 USD to get a set up I'd feel comfortable with. If I can finance most of a truck then just bite the bullet on the capital for the rest and accept losing a lot in the exchange rate then I'd be ok. I don't want to totally use all of my cash incase I ever need to get Bog back to the UK quickly.
I don't really want to tow with an older truck tbh, I'd rather finance as much as I can to be in something I feel comfortable in that won't break down.
Also, turns out insurance on a UK license is almost impossible unless you want to pay 5k a year. So need to crack on and get my CO license! And even with it, I'm looking at 3k a year. Crazy!
I don't really want to tow with an older truck tbh, I'd rather finance as much as I can to be in something I feel comfortable in that won't break down.
Also, turns out insurance on a UK license is almost impossible unless you want to pay 5k a year. So need to crack on and get my CO license! And even with it, I'm looking at 3k a year. Crazy!
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palo1
Well-Known Member
That is kind of sobering @Michen. Boggle is a very lucky pony!! That sort of finance is, I suppose comparable to a decent set up for towing here (good new'ish 4x4 with a decent up to date box) but somehow I think we imagine that equestrianism in the USA is somehow more accessible. I am sure it can be I totally get your reluctance to take chances on the roads with your horse.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Well for my UK set up I spent 22k on a used touraeg and 2.5k on a used ifor. I guess the difference is the sheer size of truck needed here is different, plus I just don't want to tow with a bumper bull. And the insurance is crazy, my friend here is paying 3k a year and I expect I'll need to pay the same. The investment in being able to move your horse around... wow.
Then I need to decide if I'm even bothered about having transport! I can hire a truck for about $50 a day, well if I bought a trailer even if I hired a truck weekly every two weeks that would still be cheaper than owning.
I can totally understand now why there is not a single bumper pull at the barn.
It's a lot of money! I actually have left the car loan for my UK car open with the money sat in the bank, so I could transfer it over but again it's the issue of the exchange rate. I need to do the sums but I bet I'm better off financing a truck rather than exchanging pounds into dollars.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Maybe something like this @CanteringCarrot ? Just crazy money for such an old truck https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ivedpriceDESC&numRecords=25&clickType=listing
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
It's alright. It has some cosmetic issues around the wheel wells, especially, and I'd want to look at them a bit more to see if there is rot or just dents/dings. I'd also want to see the underside of the truck, but it looks like someone sprayed it (likely to hide rust). Some rust isn't terrible on the underside, and it's a used truck after all, but there's a certain level that I'm comfortable with. We also do rust removal and preventative on our vehicles before winter (OH started on the truck last weekend), but it's a lot of work.
It might be in decent condition as someone's occasional tow rig, and that's why the miles aren't soo high. Ours was sort of like that and the owner didn't really drive it much in bad weather/winter, so it's in good shape.
It's not my favorite year Ford or favorite engine, but if it's somewhat local I might give it a look.
palo1
Well-Known Member
deleted - double posted!
Michen
Well-Known Member
It's so weird that I'm sitting out in 21 degrees in a t shirt yet fretting that Boggles new rug must come today because tomorrow a dump of snow and cold temps are forecast.
Oh and I need to go and buy a thick jacket for myself too that's not a horsey one!
Oh and I need to go and buy a thick jacket for myself too that's not a horsey one!
Trouper
Well-Known Member
With winter coming how much are you going to need to transport Boggle around? If not much, then hiring when you need to would be a financially sensible option for the first few months until you know you and he are really settled into US life??
Michen
Well-Known Member
oh for sure. I always intended to do truck/trailer in spring. But if my company car with snow tyres doesn't come in soon, I may need to purchase a truck imminently to get up there/around.
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
The CO driving test used to be (probably still is) super easy. Drive around for ten minutes, don’t do anything scary, stupid, or illegal, and you pass. Not like the UK one- 40 minutes of hell on earth and then they fail you for some arcane crap.
Could you buy something like an old Subaru Outback to just get around in the winter? Then when you want a truck, you can probably sell the Subaru for close to what you bought it for. An old one is probably cheaper than a truck but doesn’t need to be reliable enough to tow your baby. They are awesome in snow.
Could you buy something like an old Subaru Outback to just get around in the winter? Then when you want a truck, you can probably sell the Subaru for close to what you bought it for. An old one is probably cheaper than a truck but doesn’t need to be reliable enough to tow your baby. They are awesome in snow.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Maybe but sucks if it goes wrong. I’d rather just transfer my pounds and bite the bullet to buy a truck for keeps.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Just about to pay $80 for shoe removal and a literal run around with a rasp.