Guidance on tow vehicle
Hi all, I'm looking for some input from your collective wisdom on selecting a tow vehicle for my specific situation.
We have 3 boys (4,7,9YO) and are looking to start doing limited camping next year. Due to various activities we expect this will only be ~4 trips a year, with one of them being to family in western NY 400 miles away. I want to stress that do foresee limitations on how much time we will have for it, thus the limited # of trips. We are in southern new england and expect the trips to be long weekends in the region with the 400 mile trip being the longest. Hopefully that characterizes the distances and mountains (or relative lack thereof).
So we are looking to buy a used bunk house travel travel or 5th wheel this fall (we are also wanting it for a back up kitchen when renovating the one in our house in the early spring).
With our budget it looks like we will be able to procure a 30'+ travel travel with 2 slides dry weights in the 7-9k lbs range. Or possibly a 1 slide 5er that is a bit heavier. From what I've read the extra weight and stability of a 3/4T truck is merited, even if some half tons can to this "on paper" (due to length and wind/stability).
Therefore we are targeting a 3/4T crew cab 4x4, ideally with a front bench in case we ever have another kid along with us. We are looking at used trucks in the low to mid $30k range.
At this point I've driven both gas and diesel options, with some being 3/4T and some 1T. I prefer 3/4T because I think Massachusetts will force a 1T to be a commercial registration (more $ every year). That's a small debate (your thoughts welcome) but the big one is gas vs diesel? As well I have a 5YO Ford fusion that I can keep as a daily driver, or trade in an stretch the budget into up 30's.
I've read a lot on this age old debate on here already and but wanted to ask about this specific situation where we only plan ~4 trips a year. Any thoughts? The diesels I've look at have ~70k miles on them and I'm concerned about the cost for major repair/maintenance items (EGR/Injectors etc). However I know diesel is better for heavy towing (though 10-11k wet might not really be that heavy). Also, being that diesels are a little more $ on the used market I would need to trade in car so it would become my daily driver so the better MPG would be favorable.
So I guess it comes down to: Keep the car as daily driver, find a 3/4T gasser. Or a diesel and possibly turning in the car.
Any perspective much appreciated!
thanks
Chuck
We have 3 boys (4,7,9YO) and are looking to start doing limited camping next year. Due to various activities we expect this will only be ~4 trips a year, with one of them being to family in western NY 400 miles away. I want to stress that do foresee limitations on how much time we will have for it, thus the limited # of trips. We are in southern new england and expect the trips to be long weekends in the region with the 400 mile trip being the longest. Hopefully that characterizes the distances and mountains (or relative lack thereof).
So we are looking to buy a used bunk house travel travel or 5th wheel this fall (we are also wanting it for a back up kitchen when renovating the one in our house in the early spring).
With our budget it looks like we will be able to procure a 30'+ travel travel with 2 slides dry weights in the 7-9k lbs range. Or possibly a 1 slide 5er that is a bit heavier. From what I've read the extra weight and stability of a 3/4T truck is merited, even if some half tons can to this "on paper" (due to length and wind/stability).
Therefore we are targeting a 3/4T crew cab 4x4, ideally with a front bench in case we ever have another kid along with us. We are looking at used trucks in the low to mid $30k range.
At this point I've driven both gas and diesel options, with some being 3/4T and some 1T. I prefer 3/4T because I think Massachusetts will force a 1T to be a commercial registration (more $ every year). That's a small debate (your thoughts welcome) but the big one is gas vs diesel? As well I have a 5YO Ford fusion that I can keep as a daily driver, or trade in an stretch the budget into up 30's.
I've read a lot on this age old debate on here already and but wanted to ask about this specific situation where we only plan ~4 trips a year. Any thoughts? The diesels I've look at have ~70k miles on them and I'm concerned about the cost for major repair/maintenance items (EGR/Injectors etc). However I know diesel is better for heavy towing (though 10-11k wet might not really be that heavy). Also, being that diesels are a little more $ on the used market I would need to trade in car so it would become my daily driver so the better MPG would be favorable.
So I guess it comes down to: Keep the car as daily driver, find a 3/4T gasser. Or a diesel and possibly turning in the car.
Any perspective much appreciated!
thanks
Chuck
