Upgrading tow vehicle

[cruiser1701]

Hey I'm on a fact finding mission. The DW and I are thinking about upgrading our tow vehicle in the near future and I'm looking for specific info. What I would like from all of you here on the forum is to list what kind of TV you have engine size,axle gear ratio,gas mileage with and without the camper, towing capacity,payload etc. Please let's not give opinions or personal feelings into this I'm just looking for facts so we can come to a decision on what to look for in a truck,thanks

[davel1971]

to help you get answers pertaining to what you are looking for, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 ton? Gas or diesel? What are you looking to tow?

[Knightrider]

2015 ram 2500 get 8 mph towing an 8000 pound tt and 16 on the highway as my daily driver. 373 gears. 6.4 hemi


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

2015 ram 2500
2016 Cherokee 274dbh

[cruiser1701]

We are thinking 1/2 ton we have a 23LB which weighs less than 6000lbs. If we decide to change TTYL in the future chances are we will downsize to something smaller.

[cruiser1701]

Oops sorry I missed the gas or diesel part of your question I prefer gas over diesel just cause I've never had one plus I don't know anything about them either plus DW doesn't like the smell. Also I should also mention we want something that will tow well in the mountains.

[B and B]

I have a Diesel and do not smell a thing. Use gloves when refuelling. If you want power in the mountains you need torque created by a Diesel Engine. Also exhaust brake is very helpful going down slowing saving the brakes.

[Davidg]

Originally Posted by cruiser1701

Oops sorry I missed the gas or diesel part of your question I prefer gas over diesel just cause I've never had one plus I don't know anything about them either plus DW doesn't like the smell. Also I should also mention we want something that will tow well in the mountains.

Saying "gasoline engine towing well in mountains" caused my head to hurt. Those two attributes dont play well together. Ive had both. Ive never owned a truck that had the power this diesel does. Its amazing.

My diesel doesnt smell any worse than my gasoline engines, and i never use gloves to refuel with....probably should, but dont. Diesel engines are more expensive initially, but, with good care, will last for hundreds of thousands of miles.

Good luck,...have fun...

[aufinger]

2016 Tundra SR5, 2WD, Double Cab, Standard Bed
5.7L, 381 HP, 401 torque
4.30 Rear Diff
10,300 Max Towing
1,715 Max Payload
13.5 mpg City, 9.8 mpg Towing (per the computer). Actual Highway is Unknown.

TT: 2016 FR 23LB
Dry 3,814
Max Cargo 978
GVWR 4,792

[HONDAMAN174]

A good question to ask yourself is how much will you be camping/towing vs using this as a daily driver. The get in costs and maintance are largely different between gas and diesel.

Pulling 7500lb 31ft with 2011 tundra with 5.7. Upgraded intake and exhaust. Can pull at altitude 9000 ft. But I plan ahead and make sure it is in powerband entire time. 12 around town and 8-9 towing.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[jtaylor1920]

If you're looking for a 1/2 ton that tows well in the mountains, then you'll want to look at either the F150 with an Ecoboost or consider the 1/2 ton Ecodiesel Ram.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by Davidg

Saying "gasoline engine towing well in mountains" caused my head to hurt. Those two attributes dont play well together.

My Ecoboost just pulled a 8,000 pound 5er up to the Eisenhower Tunnel at 60 mph.

Just sayin . . . . .

[Paddytbud]

I know you said that you wanted facts only but I think that this is going to come down to what truck you like best. If you choose between Dodge, Ford or Chevy/GMC there are all positives and negatives you have decide what truck you like the best. I pull my 26tbud with a 2012 Silverado with the 5.3 it tows just fine, I won't win a race over the Cascade Mt's here in Washington but we will go up it 55 to 60mph with no problems. Our total weight with people, trailer and gear is around 8000lbs and we get 10mpg towing in most conditions.

[mxdad]

I pull a 26RR (6800 loaded) with an 08 Escalade ESV, and I am a huge fan of the GM 6.2. About to turn 160k and no issues so far with routine maintenance. Comes with a 3.42 G80 rear end, AWD, and I get anywhere from 7-10 MPG depending on terrain while towing, and 17-19 unloaded.

[Ken K.]

Originally Posted by cruiser1701

Hey I'm on a fact finding mission. The DW and I are thinking about upgrading our tow vehicle in the near future and I'm looking for specific info. What I would like from all of you here on the forum is to list what kind of TV you have engine size,axle gear ratio,gas mileage with and without the camper, towing capacity,payload etc. Please let's not give opinions or personal feelings into this I'm just looking for facts so we can come to a decision on what to look for in a truck,thanks

We just upgraded to an F250 Crew Cab 6.5 ft bed. Our TT weight approx. 7000 lbs. I set up the WDH as soon as I drove it off the lot.. Took the TT through the Smokies barely new it was there. This model has the integrated proportional break controller which I found to be super nice. I got 8.4 mpg avg going over the mountains, and 9.5 mpg on the rolling hills going home. I get 11 to 12 unloaded. It has the 6.2 liter gasser. Entry cost for me was pretty low, I didn't need the nicest truck on the lot, I got a plain XL with a few options (cloth seats, cruise control, Bluetooth etc...), I got out for 35K tax, tag, and doc fees. Tow Capacity is about 12K with the gas engine, Weighs: 9900-lb GVW with a 3959-lb Payload. I have the standard 3.73 gear option.

[The_Rhino]

In 2013 I bought a 2 year-old Ram 2500 CC ST w/5.7 Hemi for only $14K. IMO the newer gas engine/tranny technology handles the eastern mountains just fine. My Hemi had no trouble hauling our combined TV & TT weight of 15,000 throughout the Smoky Mountains last summer. Most of the time the tranny dropped just one gear & I had plenty of peddle left. When we head out West I know I won't be the first one up the hill - but for the money saved I don't care...

Besides a great price, my 2500 has a payload of 3,000 which means it can handle our TT's tongue weight of nearly 1200, family of 5 & 1 dog that weigh-in around 700, plus a fiberglass cap that keeps our firewood, bikes, tools, etc. safe & dry throughout our travels... I get 8-9 mpg towing and 16-17 on my daily commute.

If you drop-down to a 1/2 ton, especially one loaded with extras, you lose so much payload that you have to always monitor how much you are adding to your TT's tongue weight & how much stuff you are hauling in the TV, including people...

[dodosmike]

2013 Ram 2500 CTD, 3.42 rear, Automatic, 4wd. 2375# payload.
31(ish)' Heritage Glen TT. 10,000# loaded or there abouts, TW I also guess at 1100/1200# loaded. Set the WDH right and I dont even know the TT is there.

Its my daily driver. As for fuel mileage, no idea. It has taller and wider tires on it, so that throws things off. Ive never hand calculated the numbers, but on a guess, high teens (unloaded).

FWIW my 2010 F150 Lariat (5.4, auto 4wd SCrew) had a payload of 1050#.

[BandJCarm]

After driving home with new 13,000 lb 5'er, I'll never recommend anything short of a Kenworth for towing anything.

[wbdavey]

Cruiser - I'm not trying to be snarky, BUT.... don't base a $50K purchase on what I or any other internet expert says. Decide how you'll use the truck, how much and how often you'll tow, whether you plan to get a bigger trailer, and your own tolerance for towing at or near max tow ratings. Once you think you have a make/model in mind, search the owner's forums for that brand of truck (most have a towing section). You'll get a lot more specific info on a truck forum regarding axle ratios, engine size, optional equipment, real world fuel mileage, etc.

[Austintatious]

Today I had to go to the dealer to pickup my 17FQ after some warranty work was finished.

Below is a screenshot before I entered their parking lot. Sorry it's out of focus but that's showing 32.8mpg over the 22.7 mile trip on I-35 from Austin to Georgetown at an average speed of 66mph.

On the way back towing the 17FQ, I averaged 18.2mph.

This Ram 1500 Ecodiesel amazes me every time I drive it.

Specs: Lonestar Edition 3.0 turbo diesel, crew cab, 3.73 rear axle, 7950 tow rating, integrated brake controller, $33K + TT&L.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by cruiser1701

Hey I'm on a fact finding mission. The DW and I are thinking about upgrading our tow vehicle in the near future and I'm looking for specific info. What I would like from all of you here on the forum is to list what kind of TV you have engine size,axle gear ratio,gas mileage with and without the camper, towing capacity,payload etc. Please let's not give opinions or personal feelings into this I'm just looking for facts so we can come to a decision on what to look for in a truck,thanks

No opinions or personal feelings . you have a loaded ? to ask something like about what TV you should get .

if you want a 1/2 then you have a few options Chevy Ford Dodge toyota
all the specs for these will be on their web sites