m0-0m
Green River, WY
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Joined: 02/12/2004
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I just found this forum a few days ago and was thrilled at all the useful advice. I am going to stir up a hornet's nest now.
We are researching 5ers to replace our 12 year old HiLO. Our target purchase date is next spring. We are looking at 25 footers as our maximum size/weight combo (GVWR around 11,000) We do much "dry camping" in off road places (40 miles to the nearest hardtop roads)
We plan to buy a new truck this fall, as Bronco's don't do 5ers. So we have begun to research the big three brands, 3/4 ton, 4WD (essential in the Rockies)extended cab, GAS not Deisel, (not always available in backwoods stations here in WY) and probably the shorter bed models.
We came away staggering today when a Chevy dealer told us to expect 5 to 7 or so MPG when towing.  Geesh! We can't even get from here to Salt Lake City on a tank of gas 170 interstate miles!
Question: Is the milage REALLY that bad in hilly and mountainous country?
And now to stir up the forum: recommendations please on truck/trany/engine combos. We have our prejudices, but are willing to consider well thought out opinions. Experience counts more than dealer hype. I know we're going to get back a bunch of Deisel persuasions; We're just not convinced we'll always be able to find it, and after working a summer at a large campground, I shudder to think of hearing/smelling another deisel!
Sign us confused. 
Two Happy Campers Eric and Carol and Two 4 year old cats Moxie and Pixel
1993 Bronco and 22 foot Funchaser by HiLo
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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The 4x4 F-250 crewcab is rated at an impressive 810 pounds of cargo capacity.
Pick up a RV & Towing guide before anything else.
I think the GM dealer has a lot of Duramax diesels for sale, and is pushing them this week, so they stated you will get 6 MPG, unless you pay another $4,000 + for the diesel option.
I bought a gas motorhome to save money. Not on fuel, but on oil changes, maintenance, insurance, and first time cost. Unless you drive more than 30,000 miles per year, the diesel will not save a significant amount of money on fuel.
Towing your same trailer, you should get 1 MPG better mileage than you are getting now. Going bigger will cost more in fuel, but you already know that.
THe F-350 SRW 4x4 supercab can carry 2,800 pounds, and the 4x4 can carry 4,300 pounds in gas engines. Diesel engine is 800 pounds less cargo capacity.
Good Luck, Fred.
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T210DRVR
Grants Pass, OR
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Joined: 12/20/2003
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Diesel is really the way to go. No, you don't recoup your investment from fuel savings for a very long tine - if ever. However, if you look at the higher resale of the diesel unit you may find that the payoff comes sooner. Also, you can't beat one of todays diesels for pulling a big rig. They do some serious work and generally give you little to no trouble. A gasser won't last nearly as long.
As far as fuel consumption is concerned, here are my numbers for my Cummins with a combined load of 21,000 Lbs.
Highway - empty 20 MPG
Overall - empty 17-80 MPG
Towing - flat freeway 12 MPG
Towing - Hilly/Mtn 10 MPG
H.R. Next Level 37CK Toy Box Fiver
'05 Dodge 3500 Dually CTD 350 HP Chipped
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Rvndave
Medina, Ohio
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Joined: 01/23/2004
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I have towed with gas and diesel since our 1st travel trailer in 1987. A 31 foot basement model 10,000 gvwr. 6-8 mpg is the best I could get . Underpowered and overloaded I burned up 5 automatic transmissions. I creeped up mountains at 30 mph. We even caught on fire once. Luckly I had pulled into a dairy mart and the kids ran in and got there big fire extinguisher, while I emptied the trailers small one. Had a tow truck take us up to the campground that weekend. The previous troubles were with different gas tv. I never wanted a loud, smelly, won't start in the winter diesel. Found a 1 1/2 year old diesel looked like new for $13,000 out the door. Had 118,000 miles on it. I had heard diesels were more reliable and could easily go in excess of 250,000 miles. Well 8 years later we just traded that old diesel in. Had 213,000 miles on it and still used the one quart of oil between oil changes as when we got it. Went thru 2 sets of glow plugs, 2 master/slave cylinders for the clutch. Brakes, tires, an the usual stuff for that kinda mileage. It ran around 13 mpg unloaded 11-12 towing. Now I passed the semis on the hills. Even loaded firewood and a golf cart in. This extra power was awesome. For me the choice is simple. Diesel. Everyones needs will be different. The newer gas engines have taken quite a jump in hp ratings and even have 10 cylinders now. Back in the mid 80's powerful gas engines just weren't out there. I was impressed enough with the diesel it had to be on our next truck. This truck gets 20 plus mpg running empty on the highway. Towing is around 12mpg, havent been able to run a full tank towing yet. Spring vacation will fix that problem tho. Due to my experiences I would recommend a diesel with a manual transmission. But more than this do not overload whatever truck you have.
For a 5er I would recommend a one ton. The long bed I believe is better for a 5th wheel ask some who are experienced. Think of a travel trailer and then keep the bed open for an off road vehicle to beat up off road. The money you save on the 4 wheel drive will almost pay for the atv/golf cart, and the money you save on repairs due to off roading in your new truck will pay the rest. Happy trails, dave
* This post was
edited 02/12/04 10:44pm by Rvndave *
2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]
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curt12914
Northern NY State
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Joined: 03/15/2003
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I've had both gas and diesel and both have advantages.
I'm a Ford man, so most of my heavy towing experience is with Fords, but we have all the "Big Three" at work. All have advantages and disadvantages.
My previous truck was a '99 Ford F-250 SD with the 5.4, auto, 4.10 gears that I towed a 98 Dutchmen fifth wheel (33RKS) and it did a great job. It had 95,000 miles when I traded it in March of '02 with no major problems ever. Mileage was normally in the 7 mpg range towing at (or slightly above) the posted speed limit. (I try to stay with the majority of the traffic and run the same speed they are.)
To answer a few of your questions, I'd go with the tallest gears available (4.10 or 4.30). If I was going Ford, I'd probably go with the V-10 if I was going with a gas engine. I, personally, won't even consider a standard transmission. The newer automatics (at least Ford & Chevy) are pretty bulletproof if you take care of them.
As far as Golden_HVAC's (WEIGHT POLICE) comments about the carrying capacity of the 250, I don't put as much stock in that as a lot of these guys do. The 350 has slightly heavier springs than the 250, but most everything else is identical. If you're going to be in the 11,000 lb range, you'll be fine with a 250 (if you choose Ford).
Good luck with whatever you choose.
05 Ford F-350 Lariat CC 4X4 PSD DRW Line X Retrax
02 Montana Big Sky 3295 RK (2) Honda EU2000is
When my grown kids were inspecting our new fifth wheel, one asked why we bought a trailer that sleeps 4. My reply was that we couldn't find one that sleeps 2!
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m0-0m
Green River, WY
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Joined: 02/12/2004
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Good responses all and you have our thanks for taking the time.
Those mpg readings are still awfully depressing, as we currently get 10 and 11 towing 6000lbs in the mountains with our bronco. Dilemas, dilemas.
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Beatfarmer
Somewere over the rainbow
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Joined: 07/17/2003
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Your Hi-Lo has little frontal area compared to a 5er. That is the biggest factor concerning mileage. Large frontal area = more wind drag = more power needed = more fuel burned.
You could always add a larger fuel tank to the truck to extend the range (for gas or diesel)
Time's sure fun when you're having flies!
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marka123
Poland, OH
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Joined: 02/13/2004
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Howdy,
Quote:We came away staggering today when a Chevy dealer told us to expect 5 to 7 or so MPG when towing. Geesh! We can't even get from here to Salt Lake City on a tank of gas 170 interstate miles!
Question: Is the milage REALLY that bad in hilly and mountainous country?
I can't speak for the Chevy, but I can tell you that I get 6mpg towing with this setup:
* '03 Dodge 3500 extended cab 4wd dually
* 8.0 v10 gas motor w/48r3 automatic
* 4.10 gears
* 24' enclosed trailer weighing around 7k lbs (I haul cars, not an RV...)
I'm also not terribly happy with the available power/torque.
If I were doing it again, I'd try harder to be able to afford the diesel. My truck gets the job done and on a financial comparison I don't do terribly (gas has been cheaper than diesel since I got the truck and the initial price was $5k or so less, both of which help out that equation), but I think I'd prefer the diesel in my situation.
YMMV. :-)
Mark
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timrhunt
Northeast ,IL
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Joined: 09/13/2003
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Its pretty funny that even though in your post you were asking advice on gas TV's the diesel boys still got come in and post that you need a diesel. I tow a 8100 lbs TT with my sig TV, Its 11 feet tall, has a large frontal area and my 8.1 pulls it like its not even there. I get 8-9 mpg pretty much all the time. With a Trailer gvwr of 11000 lbs The 8.1 allison combo will tow it with no sweat. If you go Short bed all you need is a slider hitch, no big deal.
Tim
Tim
04 2500HD LT CREW SB 4x4 8.1/ALLISON 4.10
04 OPENROAD 357 RLDS-5
HH 18K SLIDER/PRODIGY
MY RIG PICS
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Road Ruler
Canada
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Joined: 09/11/2003
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m0 Have a look at this site. There is some good info that may be of use to you.
http://www.rvlifemag.com/file324/hitchhints324.html
Airstreams.... the best towing trailers on the planet!
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