First RV tow with EcoD

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

Well it's not my first time but it is with the Eco-diesel. Was only about 30+ miles and all in the mountains around Knoxville Tn with some very step twisty grades. The travel trailer was a 25' weighing in at just over 5800#. I have towed my boat without any issues at all and it weighs in at 6800# so I was not worried about towing the TT.

The truck felt planted and very stable, the factory brake controller work great, and the trans kept the truck in the torque band at all times. I personal would not tow over the rated specs but have to say from how it handled this trailer, 8000#+ would not be any problem for the truck. The engine brake worked great also and even worked empty when we were sight seeing in the Smokey Mountains National Forest! Thanks GDE this is a must have for anyone towing and even if you don't tow!

Over all this is one great tow vehicle no mater what the Blue Oval boys think! 😛

Here is a pic of the truck and TT after I got it over to my BIL house.



Don

[mowingman]

I was looking at sticker prices on 1/2 tons from dodge, Ford, and Chevy. I can buy nicely equipped, gas engine, Ford, Dodge, or Chevy trucks for just under $30,000, if I catch the right deals. The 1/2 ton Dodges with the diesel, are WAY over that, not just the sticker, but the out the door prices. At least around here. Ave. premium, out the door, seems to be from $10,000 - $15000.There are no incentives or cheap financing offered on them right now that I can see.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

ChooChooMan74 wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
240 horsepower sure ain't much. I think you will find the engine exists to satisfy the upcoming fuel economy standards.

671 and 6v71 Detroit motors had 238hp from the factory, and they were in a lot of decent sized trucks.

Ya, and you could count the lug nuts as they clawed up hills screaming at WOT at blazing snail speeds.

[ChooChooMan74]

Lynnmor wrote:
240 horsepower sure ain't much. I think you will find the engine exists to satisfy the upcoming fuel economy standards.

671 and 6v71 Detroit motors had 238hp from the factory, and they were in a lot of decent sized trucks.

[ChooChooMan74]

mowingman wrote:
I can buy a lot of gas for the approx. $15,000 premium it costs to buy one of these diesels.

Where did you pull that number out from? I paid 39,500 on a 50,000 sticker price. The same gasser with a Hemi sure doesn't have a 35,000 sticker price.

[MetalGator]

Lynnmor wrote:
240 horsepower sure ain't much. I think you will find the engine exists to satisfy the upcoming fuel economy standards.

My 1998 Dodge ram with the 360ci V8 only had 240HP and only a 4 speed transmission. The torque I believe was around 350 or so. It pulled everything I put behind it great. Unfortunately it got about 13 miles per gallon towing nothing on a good day!

[VernDiesel]

Naturally all the HD diesel pickups are a lot more money as they should be. The premium over the Hemi isn't out of line IMO. Don't know where you get the 15k from. So if you want a new diesel truck but don't need a HD truck and you don't order all the whistles and bells you can buy one very reasonably.

240 HP isn't much if you are trying to win a race with a truck. But 420 TQ and a well spaced 8 speed diesel will move a load very well or your truck very efficiently.

[Lynnmor]

240 horsepower sure ain't much. I think you will find the engine exists to satisfy the upcoming fuel economy standards.

[STANG23L]

mowingman wrote:
This has been interesting reading, as I have been wondering how these Ecodiesels perform. I thought these might be the ideal RV towing vehicle, UNTIL, I looked at the price. Wow, no Ecodiesel for me. I will stick with my F250, 6.2 gasser. Tows great, and I can buy a lot of gas for the approx. $15,000 premium it costs to buy one of these diesels.
I am glad these are performing well,as I have mostly been a "Dodge guy", but way out of my price range now.

Yes this engine option is expensive. But if you play your cards right these trucks can be had pretty reasonable. My loaded Outdoorsman sticker-ed at 53K and I walked out the door @ 35K.

I was just down there memorial weekend stopped at Brimstone and Fontana Dam. Was towing my RZR & bike would guess around 4K lbs or so with the wind drag in the up position. Had hoped for better but maintained a 15 mpg average down on 75 & 40 in KY & TN.

[ShinerBock]

Good to hear that your truck meets your expectations!

Although I have found out a long time ago that not everyone's towing expectations are the same. It was right before I bought my old F150 with a 5.4L and was eyeing a 4.6L to save fuel for my long commute. A cousin of mine had an F150 with a 4.6L and he assured me that it would tow whatever I needed to just fine with no issues. I was a bit skeptical so I invited him to the coast with me so he can show me how well his 4.6L would pull my RV. His truck was screaming the whole way and barely able to do 55 mph yet he had a big ole smile on his face and commenting on how well she was towing. To him, that was perfectly acceptable. To me.....not so much which is why there was a brand new F150 with a 5.4L in my driveway the following week.

[mowingman]

This has been interesting reading, as I have been wondering how these Ecodiesels perform. I thought these might be the ideal RV towing vehicle, UNTIL, I looked at the price. Wow, no Ecodiesel for me. I will stick with my F250, 6.2 gasser. Tows great, and I can buy a lot of gas for the approx. $15,000 premium it costs to buy one of these diesels.
I am glad these are performing well,as I have mostly been a "Dodge guy", but way out of my price range now.

[Bionic_Man]

Nice report. If I didn't have my 5er, the EcoDiesel would be on my short list of trucks.

Your MPG towing your boat is impressive. My '11 Yukon XL Denali gets around 10 MPG towing my 6500 pound boat at 68.

[brulaz]

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:

...
The engine brake worked great also and even worked empty when we were sight seeing in the Smokey Mountains National Forest! Thanks GDE this is a must have for anyone towing and even if you don't tow!
...

Thanks for the report. Definitely a nice combo.

IIRC GDE makes software that manages the turbo so you effectively have an exhaust brake?

Did you haul the trailer up & down Newfound Gap in Smokey Mtns NP? That's the main road through the park east-west. It's coming down the west slope of that road that's especially tricky with all the hairpin turns and that loop-de-loop.

Know somebody on another forum with an EcoD and a heavier trailer than yours. His first problem was rear end sag which he's fixing with air bags. Doesn't seem that concerned about exceeding his weight limits. But I think that GDE software might be a real help, agree?

[kw_00]

Thanks, sounds like a great match, one of the guys at work is thinking about that truck. I will pass along the info.
Thanks

[ChooChooMan74]

PBDB, I see you posted. I already have a unit that I am eyeballing since I upgraded to the EcoD. Glad it towed well for you. I also think GDE is a must on this truck.

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

KW no idea towing a RV but my 6800#+ boat I get 16 towing 65 mph. But a boat is a heck of a lot more aerodynamic then a RV LOL. My truck does have the 3.92 gears in it.

Guys @ the EcoD forum are reporting 13/15 tow 7500#+ RV's.

Don