My grandfather used to say that there was no substitute for cubic inches.  As someone who occasionally tows a travel trailer, I would agree with that and add that the weight of a tow vehicle matters.  It also doesn’t hurt if everything is built to a heavy duty standard and you have an extra two wheels in the rear.  If you are looking for a very red and very capable tow vehicle, then take a gander at this 1988 Chevrolet C30 dually pick up for sale on craigslist in, where else, Houston, Texas.  This red and tan behemoth may be just the thing for you and your family to tow the camper out west with this summer.  However, is this refurbished cowboy Cadillac worth the $22,000 asking price?  Thanks to Spencer C. for this crimson and cream find!

OK.  Let’s say you want to have one of the world’s best tow vehicles, but your budget rules out a modern diesel.  If you look around on the used market, there are few better choices than a square body dually.  First off, there is no denying that they are tough as nails.  Second, you could get one in a double cab with a long bed.  The more wheelbase you have, the better it will tow.  Having dual rear wheels also increases the tow capacity and helps with stability in the wind.

There are some drawbacks.  The automotive world has changed a lot in the past 35 years since this truck was built.  Electronic aids such as anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and entertainment and information systems make trucks safer and more enjoyable to drive.  In regards to safety, air bags and tougher crash standards are a big plus.  Finally, newer trucks are much more fuel efficient.  The lion’s share of that is due to having electronic controls on the fuel system of the engine working in conjunction with computer controlled automatic transmissions with multiple gears.  A four speed with a “granny” low gear has gone the way of the dodo bird.

So how does this 1988 Chevrolet stack up?  On the plus side, it has been recently treated to new paint in a very eye catching red and cream eighties scheme.  Some enterprising new truck sellers have begun repainting portions of new truck bodies to replicate this eighties look and to good effect.  We can also surmise that the seats have benefitted from a recent recovering to match the paint scheme in what looks to be vinyl.  The dash is also a recipient of this refurbishment, as the wrinkles in the material where it bends into the instrument shroud lead us to believe this is some sort of new cover for the probably cracked dash pad.  New carpet was also added.

One thing missing is the pull handles on the doors.  These were plastic straps used to pull the doors shut.  Perhaps they have been removed for restoration or re-coloring them, but the ad makes no mention of their location  The door panels have been refinished in red, and the inserts have been reupholstered in the new cream colored vinyl.  Looking at the panels reveals that the truck is equipped with power windows and power locks.  The truck also has a brake controller for towing under the far left part of the dash.

We don’t get a very good look at the radio.  A round, chromed knob is visible.  Chances are it is one of the standard analog AM/FM radios that GM put in just about every vehicle at the time.  This may cause some withdrawl for those who haven’t had to live with such primitive entertainment in decades, but aftermarket units that are smart phone friendly are cheap and plentiful on Amazon.  The picture above also shows that the rear section of the cab has been upholstered as well.  Given the size of this truck, it is almost impossible to believe that so little legroom is available in the rear.

Under the hood is the legendary big block Chevrolet V-8, displacing 454 cubic inches of petrol gulping power.  The truck does benefit from fuel injection, but don’t get your hopes up for axle twisting power.  These big blocks produced a respectable amount of torque for their displacement, but horsepower was shockingly low.  The engine was designed to produce low end grunt, and it would benefit greatly from some aftermarket parts and some freeing up of the exhaust system.  Just don’t expect to pass a gas station without fueling up.  At least you will ride in comfort, as the air conditioning compressor has been replaced to make sure the new owner is ice cold.

In today’s truck market, any truck has value.  If you need a truck that can pull a house off a foundation, that value is even greater.  There just are no substitutes.  At $22,000 with a rebuilt transmission and a lot of efurbishment, this rust free Texas truck may be just the right choice for someone.  The price may be a bit on the high end, and the paint scheme may draw a bit too much attention, but there is a lot of life left in this dually.  What else are you going to tow big stuff with if you are on a budget?

Have you ever owned a dually?  What was the experience like?