Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-11-2009, 03:35 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
Interested in 2010 Salem 26tbud

Just wondering if anyone here has tried to pull a 26tbud Salem with a Ford Explorer and if so, what kind of mileage did you get? Also, any comments from owners of this model and what they like or don't like about it would be great. We haven't been RVing since we were children so this is all new to us.
Looking to Buy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2009, 04:48 PM   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 2,381
First of all, what kind of Explorer, year, engine size, full or part time 4wd, towing package, anything been added or suspension changes. Next the camper, tongue weight and camper weight with all your gear, and water if you're going to dry camp. Then we can start to help. By the way, towing capacities for the Explorer are in the owners manual. Weights for the trailer should be in a cabinet door. At least that will get you in the neighborhood. Also if tou're worried about mileage towing, don't tow. You might get 8 mpg, with a tail wind.

I just looked up the specs on a 2008 Explorer, max trailer weight 7130. The gross on the Salem is 7800, empty weight 5880. If you can limit what you add or put in the camper it might pull it downhill, mileage more like 6, and with a short wheelbase sway is going to a problem that approaches dangerous all the time, don't even think about a windy day. You need more vehicle or less camper. An Explorer is better suited for something under 5000 pounds.
__________________
LadyWindrider
2012 Ford F250 ext. Cab 4x4
2002 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2008 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic

2008 Work and Play 18LT
LadyWindrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2009, 05:47 PM   #3
Member
 
dharri770's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Huron, Ohio
Posts: 67
I have the 26tbss which I believe is essentially the same camper. I tow with a 07 Ram w/Hemi. I would not even consider towing it with an explorer. Too big of camper for that truck. I sometimes wish my Hemi had just a bit more torque. I usually get around 8mpg.

Be careful, swaying campers are no fun at all!!!
__________________
2002 Ford Excursion w/ 7.3 TD, 3.73 rear
2008 Salem 26TBSS
Wife and (3 kids): 10g, 9g, 4b
dharri770 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2009, 09:43 PM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
We have a V8, 4.6 AWD Explorer with tow package. We will likely be pulling with my husband's F-150 V8, 5.4 but we aren't sure how long we will have it. I know technically the Explorer should pull it but my concerns were the same as yours. Thanks for the info. If there is anyone on here with something like the salem 2010 26tbud that has a F-150, I'd be interested on what kind of mileage they are getting with that as well. Thanks for all of the comments!
Looking to Buy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2009, 07:49 AM   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 2,381
I'm towing 6500 pounds with a Work and Play 18LT, when the bikes are loaded. Weight wise will be close to the Salem. Last trip in to the mountains, I got 9.5 mpg. 100 miles of highway, and 50 miles of mountain road. I have a 2001 Supercrew 4wd, 5.4, 3.73 diff. We ran the air conditioning, and towed mostly in drive. The Work and Play is a rectangle box, very flat nose. No aerodynamics at all. Your mileage will be close.
__________________
LadyWindrider
2012 Ford F250 ext. Cab 4x4
2002 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2008 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic

2008 Work and Play 18LT
LadyWindrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2009, 11:16 AM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
MtnGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
Quote:
Originally Posted by Looking to Buy View Post
If there is anyone on here with something like the salem 2010 26tbud that has a F-150, I'd be interested on what kind of mileage they are getting with that as well. Thanks for all of the comments!
Mileage is a varaible depending on where and how you drive. I can say that I got 15.2 mpg coming back from an earlier camping trip.........but would have to admit that I only got 8.3 going to that spot.........about a 2500 elevation change and only a 70 mile trip.

According to my ScanGauge II, which I have pretty closely syncronized to the actual "at the pump" figures, I can get 11 mpg on the interstate at 65 mph, and the mid 11s on 2 lane roads at 55 mph. Both of those figures are on the rolling hills of the Piedmont section of VA. But throw in a stoplight every couple of mileson that 2 lane, and you can see that figure drop down to the mid to lower 10s. A pitstop or 2 on the interstate, traffic, and headwinds will drop that figure also.

My trailer is lighter.....around 5500 lbs. ready to camp. I am a very conservative driver.....slow starts, and I try to read the traffic and time the lights so I don't have to slow down or stop.......I think that is a big key to good mileage......don't loss your momentum. I also do not use the cruise very much while towing. I prefer to keep the tranny in OD, and if I see a hill coming that I know that it will shift down, then I do that manually.
__________________

Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
MtnGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2009, 08:56 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
TravelSoftballDad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hemet, Ca
Posts: 125
I too have the 26TBSS and your floorplan looks pretty much the same with the exception of the U-Shaped dinette (a nice change BTW). Gotta agree with the earlier post, if you're worried about milage you're prolly not going to be happy. If I'm lucky, I will get 8-12 mpg. If using E85 (dont know if your Explorer is flex-fuel), you can subtract another 10% but E85 costs less and rolls at about 105 octane.

Let us know if you get it !!
__________________

2006 Avalanche 1500 w/6" lift
2007 Suburban 2500 4x4 w/4" lift
2008 Salem 26TBSS
P3 Controller
4 lil' ones & a Hottie for a wife
TravelSoftballDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2009, 10:14 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 2,381
E85 is 85 octane rating. E90 is 90 octane rating. That's where your mileage goes, takes more of it to produce the same amount of power. That's also why it cost less, less octane. You will get better mileage with 93 octane, usually not better enough to offset the cost.
__________________
LadyWindrider
2012 Ford F250 ext. Cab 4x4
2002 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2008 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic

2008 Work and Play 18LT
LadyWindrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2009, 04:40 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
TravelSoftballDad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hemet, Ca
Posts: 125
Actually no...E85 is 85% (or thereabouts) ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 has an average octane rating of 105 and it burns with more heat thus cleaner, yet you suffer some MPG. E90 (if you can find that...not an alt fuels industry 'standard') would be 90% ethanol and only 10% gasoline.
__________________

2006 Avalanche 1500 w/6" lift
2007 Suburban 2500 4x4 w/4" lift
2008 Salem 26TBSS
P3 Controller
4 lil' ones & a Hottie for a wife
TravelSoftballDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2009, 04:44 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
TravelSoftballDad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hemet, Ca
Posts: 125
In addition...despite the common belief, 93 octane (or 105 for that matter) does NOT equal better gas milage by definition. It may result is specific vehicles (which demand a hotter burn) running more efficiently and THAT may cause a slight increase in MPG, but the overwelming average joe driver gets zero increase in MPG alone by running a higher octane fuel. It's also not a bad idea to run a tank or two of 93 with a fuel injector cleaner every few months...that too will help slightly with MPG.
__________________

2006 Avalanche 1500 w/6" lift
2007 Suburban 2500 4x4 w/4" lift
2008 Salem 26TBSS
P3 Controller
4 lil' ones & a Hottie for a wife
TravelSoftballDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2009, 03:54 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
NRhodes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
This is the camper that I'm looking at also. I would be pulling it with an '04 F150 crew cab, 5.4 4x4 3.73 rear end, tow package with heavier springs. I would get a sway stabilizer hitch with the trailer. I'm not so much worried about file economy, I know it's not going to be the best, but on wear and tear on my truck. Do I need to be looking at a lighter weight camper?

Here's a link to the dealer I'm talking with and all the specs on the trailer. They list it as being 5,880 empty and 'can be pulled with light duty vehicles' but I still wonder. I will be living in the camper for most of the year. Average trips would be driving from NC to OK, staying for several weeks to a month, and driving back.

I really like the layout of the camper, it seems very livable, since I would spend quite a bit of time in it. I also like that the construction seems very sturdy compared to some of the other brands I've looked at.

What do y'all experienced campers think?
__________________
Nicole Rhodes
The Stockdog Journal
NRhodes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2009, 10:00 PM   #12
Member
 
dharri770's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Huron, Ohio
Posts: 67
I tow my 26tbss with a Dodge 1500 1/2 ton. Trailer pulls fine, but I get envious of the diesels out there. I can pull fine at 65mpg, but longer inclines really outs a load on the engine. I'd love some more torque.
__________________
2002 Ford Excursion w/ 7.3 TD, 3.73 rear
2008 Salem 26TBSS
Wife and (3 kids): 10g, 9g, 4b
dharri770 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2009, 02:05 PM   #13
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
I had a 2006 eddie bauer with the same motor and tow package. I bought a Salem 26T with similar weights empty - maybe a little more. Set up with a Reese straightline hitch and duel sway. It pulled OK. No sway but didn't feel real comfortable over 60 mph. This could be because it was my first time towing something this big. Got 8mpg towing back from the dealer. Went camping near home, no highway driving, got 8 mpg. Stopped at the scales on the way back and found the hitch weight pushed me over the GVW for the Explorer. To reinterate the Explorer started fine, stopped fine but...In BC we have big mountains. Even with the 6 speed tranny and the 3.73 gears the idea of chugging up the Rockies didn't appeal. Now I have a 2003 Yukon xl with an 8.1 L and 4.10 gears. Still get 8mpg but at much lower rpm uphill
ford up is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
26tbud, salem

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:27 PM.