Diesel Question for truck campers
I believe a diesel engine is the best for hauling a truck camper. With the price of diesel going up more each week is it still worth it? Just looking for opinions. Today in Canada a gallon ...
Forum Discussion
Someone in the thread made a comment about hauling vs towing, I think there is something to that. In addition the gas engine is lighter and gives you the ability to carry more camper
I had a 2000 F250 CC SWB 4x4 with the V10, I carried a Lance 845 self contained camper and towed a jeep wrangler. I NEVER had any issues with power. For those of you who have traveled either the grapevine here in ca or over highway 80 from Sacramento to Reno will understand the grades. In both those situations I would be accelerating at 70MPH away from the traffic with the camper on and jeep in tow
I NEVER had any issue with engine braking coming down the grapevine with the above set up, i punched the tow haul button, droped the tranny down a gear and came down totally under control at 50MPH with an occasional tap on the brake
What problems I did have, especially with the SWB small gas tank, is simply range. There were times I got 5MPG, there were times I only got 160 miles on a tank of gas, and that gets dicy crossing Nevada to Utah.
I really dont recall being bothered by high rev's climbing the grapevine while I passed all those minivans, I probably enjoyed it.
I didnt have the heaviest camper or setup, so I guess there is a point of no return. But my point is there is a point to where a good gas engine will suffice
Let me leave you with this. When I was a kid my dad worked a second job for two years to buy a brand new 1968 F250 with the 351, a 10 1/2 ft Angeles cabover camper with a flushing toilet (big deal then) AND a 1968 white over red Jeepster Commando with the Buick V6 (man that friggin thing could fly). There were 6 of us in that camper, fully loaded, and I never remeber as a kid a huge problem. Yea, my dad had to kick it down going over the grade and would swear at people getting in his way, but it never seemed like we were in danger because of power. I don't know what the numbers were but I bet that engine had 200HP and probably 260 pounds of torque
I always try to keep that in perspective when I get the itch to buy the next latest and greatest 400HP 800torgue rig (soon to be higher with the new Fords)
Yes, I do believe Diesel is better for towing these huge fifth wheels or a heavy boat etc
But these new gas engines have their place and cost a lot less to own (and Im not just talking about the purchase price)
Most of us are never going to drive our truck much more than 100K, especially those of us who are close to retirement and looking for something econmical that can preform. So the fact that a diesel going 300-500 miles is lost on me, unfortunately Im not going to live long enough to drive that far
And yes, I have owned since that V10 a duramax, Cummins and Ford Diesels. The V10 was the most trouble free engine of them all. I never worried about getting stuck anywhere with the V10, when I turned the key, I knew it would start and keep going.
To each his own I guess
I had a 2000 F250 CC SWB 4x4 with the V10, I carried a Lance 845 self contained camper and towed a jeep wrangler. I NEVER had any issues with power. For those of you who have traveled either the grapevine here in ca or over highway 80 from Sacramento to Reno will understand the grades. In both those situations I would be accelerating at 70MPH away from the traffic with the camper on and jeep in tow
I NEVER had any issue with engine braking coming down the grapevine with the above set up, i punched the tow haul button, droped the tranny down a gear and came down totally under control at 50MPH with an occasional tap on the brake
What problems I did have, especially with the SWB small gas tank, is simply range. There were times I got 5MPG, there were times I only got 160 miles on a tank of gas, and that gets dicy crossing Nevada to Utah.
I really dont recall being bothered by high rev's climbing the grapevine while I passed all those minivans, I probably enjoyed it.
I didnt have the heaviest camper or setup, so I guess there is a point of no return. But my point is there is a point to where a good gas engine will suffice
Let me leave you with this. When I was a kid my dad worked a second job for two years to buy a brand new 1968 F250 with the 351, a 10 1/2 ft Angeles cabover camper with a flushing toilet (big deal then) AND a 1968 white over red Jeepster Commando with the Buick V6 (man that friggin thing could fly). There were 6 of us in that camper, fully loaded, and I never remeber as a kid a huge problem. Yea, my dad had to kick it down going over the grade and would swear at people getting in his way, but it never seemed like we were in danger because of power. I don't know what the numbers were but I bet that engine had 200HP and probably 260 pounds of torque
I always try to keep that in perspective when I get the itch to buy the next latest and greatest 400HP 800torgue rig (soon to be higher with the new Fords)
Yes, I do believe Diesel is better for towing these huge fifth wheels or a heavy boat etc
But these new gas engines have their place and cost a lot less to own (and Im not just talking about the purchase price)
Most of us are never going to drive our truck much more than 100K, especially those of us who are close to retirement and looking for something econmical that can preform. So the fact that a diesel going 300-500 miles is lost on me, unfortunately Im not going to live long enough to drive that far
And yes, I have owned since that V10 a duramax, Cummins and Ford Diesels. The V10 was the most trouble free engine of them all. I never worried about getting stuck anywhere with the V10, when I turned the key, I knew it would start and keep going.
To each his own I guess
