What do you tow with?
We have abandoned our plan to buy a small hybrid and are looking at a number of hard-sided TTs, in the 22'-26' range. We have to buy a new vehicle to tow it with and are thoroughly confused. We've d...
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TV is a 2011 Ram 1500 with the 5.7 Vortec, Plenty of torque for the job which is a very heavy 2003 25' TT, (previous owners towed it probably 30K miles with a Ford Expedition. I bet it never saw anything north of 8mpg.). It does 11mpg below 60mph and much less above but it is not unusual to see an average of 20 mpg on a tank w/o the trailer attached. I am retired so I am not commuting and doing a great deal of stop and go. Dodge has other vehicles with this drive train that probably would give much the same result. I think the days of diesel have always been overblown for any application that is weekend or less than full-time. Today's vehicles, gas or diesel, have engine management systems that adjust for load, speed etc. and have transmissions that keep the rpms in a sweet spot for torque etc. Gas engines that are reasonably, not exquisitely maintained will far exceed 100K miles even as a tow vehicle unless that is the exclusive application and may even accomplish that achievement. The cost of diesel used to be offset by longevity and cheaper fuel but a quick look along the road indicates the fuel is now being priced more by btu/gal than cost to refine and the higher performance from diesel engines exacts a toll on longevity.
I have a Dodge Ram because it was a really good deal when I found it used, previous vehicle was a Ford Explorer, before that a GMC truck and before that a Chevy truck, I am not eclectic I am cheap, or thrifty so I am not endorsing the Ram but it behaves well, does its job and so far has made me happy. My friend has a Ford half ton with the eco boost and it makes him happy and he gets good mileage. He also tows occasionally. There is no better test for what you need and may want than to check a series of capabilities, find ones in your budget then do a butt test. Do they sit right, will you be comfortable spending time in them? The butt test kept me away from any Ford that did not have power-seats that allowed angle adjustment, standard angle killed my hips after two hours. I sold an SUV I really liked because the seat angle prevented long trips, all else was wonderful, even thought of installing custom seats until I priced that option. You have to be comfortable, at least over 50 you do, and I got that number beaten by more than one decade.
BTW diesel smoke is addictive, I used to stand up in the tractor seat when it was dark, the plow was pulling hard and there was a beautiful purple flame above the stack just so I could smell the perfume. Diesel was half the price of gas and the engines lasted 3 to 4 times as long. Diesel fuel is not the same, the engines are not the same but the diesel religion has not changed for the un-enlightened and un-converted, Hail dyno-fuel may diesel be thy name.
Good night as I duck for cover(s)
I have a Dodge Ram because it was a really good deal when I found it used, previous vehicle was a Ford Explorer, before that a GMC truck and before that a Chevy truck, I am not eclectic I am cheap, or thrifty so I am not endorsing the Ram but it behaves well, does its job and so far has made me happy. My friend has a Ford half ton with the eco boost and it makes him happy and he gets good mileage. He also tows occasionally. There is no better test for what you need and may want than to check a series of capabilities, find ones in your budget then do a butt test. Do they sit right, will you be comfortable spending time in them? The butt test kept me away from any Ford that did not have power-seats that allowed angle adjustment, standard angle killed my hips after two hours. I sold an SUV I really liked because the seat angle prevented long trips, all else was wonderful, even thought of installing custom seats until I priced that option. You have to be comfortable, at least over 50 you do, and I got that number beaten by more than one decade.
BTW diesel smoke is addictive, I used to stand up in the tractor seat when it was dark, the plow was pulling hard and there was a beautiful purple flame above the stack just so I could smell the perfume. Diesel was half the price of gas and the engines lasted 3 to 4 times as long. Diesel fuel is not the same, the engines are not the same but the diesel religion has not changed for the un-enlightened and un-converted, Hail dyno-fuel may diesel be thy name.
Good night as I duck for cover(s)
