Give me an example...
Of a Truck/Camper(that with kitchen/bath) combo with high MPGs. Now, I'm assuming it's going to be diesel, but I'm also curious what one can get on the half-ton campers.
Forum Discussion
Downwindtracker2 wrote:
Ford has a nice 3liter diesel in their new Ranger, so they do have an engine.
Yes they are everywhere here in Australia and are used as Truck Campers or Motorhomes
Here is a Truck Camper on a Isuzu Pickup Truck similar to the Ranger
Jfet wrote:
I am at 18,000 pounds on our diesel Isuzu NRR and I get about 10mpg if I go 55mph. This drops to 9mpg if I go 60mph. Probably 8mpg at 65mph.
Amazingly I could get 13 or 14mpg even pulling 18,000 pounds if I stick to forestry roads and go 30mph.
Atmosphere sucks.
Pretty unusual base for a Truck Camper, Isuzu NRR. Company here uses a Canter 4x4, but modifies suspension ect to get SUV ride- Ford has a nice 3liter diesel in their new Ranger, so they do have an engine.
- From what I'm reading guess my old rig is doing good . Up and down the mountains of northern NH , ME , VT an NY , almost no interstate . Average speed 40-55mph . High 16mpg , low 13mpg , averaging 14.5mpg ,Gross weight 11.5K . No lie-o-meter , hand calc .
- Pretty much anything on a gasser 1/2 ton is going to relegate you to about 10MPG. It's mostly about aerodynamics than anything. That gap between the roof of the truck and the cabover is the worst offender, and the flat rear of the camper is a close second.
Your best bet would be a pre-2007 3/4 ton diesel with a lightweight popup, and some aerodynamic tweaks. Someone here has a design for a baffle that fits between the cab and cabover which makes a huge difference, and you can use any number of tricks on the rear to improve aerodynamics. - I am at 18,000 pounds on our diesel Isuzu NRR and I get about 10mpg if I go 55mph. This drops to 9mpg if I go 60mph. Probably 8mpg at 65mph.
Amazingly I could get 13 or 14mpg even pulling 18,000 pounds if I stick to forestry roads and go 30mph.
Atmosphere sucks. - 12-14 mpg, in my 05 Ram 3500. Mine is 2wd, and auto, but i do not travel over about 65, so that helps, as I like to keep the motor on the torque curve. I also do not have to slow down when the hills come.
I have an OOOOLD "72" El Dorado camper, and it is HEAVY! Mote wrote:
From your question I'm not sure if you are just asking for just 1/2 ton trucks/campers or all combos.
Mine is a 3/4 ton 2wd dodge diesel with a Lance camper with a dry bath and a nice size kitchen. We get 15mpg driving 65mph on the interstate. I won't go any faster than that.
Hope this helps
This here will be about your best combo for mileage with a normal size hard side camper regardless of half ton, gas, diesel, etc.
You can pretty much only go downhill from here.
New diesel, subtract.
4wd subtract
Heavy slide out camper, subtract.
Gasser anything, subtract.
Dually truck, subtract.
Fwiw, my 07 Dodge in my sig gets estimated 12-13mpg with a 4000lb plus camper, normal driving. Add mountains or 75 mph freeways = subtract!
Add a 6000 lb trailer = 10-11 mpg normal driving.- A Class B diesel van will get the best mileage. Most truck campers fight wind resistance reducing the vehicle mileage. I get 10-11 mpg hauling my Arctic Fox on a Ford F-250 or Ram 5500 diesel and loose another mile when also towing my trailer.
- Wimpy Tundra with a wet-bath Outfitter Apex 8. Gets 10-13 mpg, usually about 10 since I drive fast. Goes like hell, stops like hell. Burns gasoline. Very happy with it since 2004.
