Tow Vehicle Gas/Diesel?

[IsemanRacing48]

I am new to the forum. I have been looking around and reading. I pull about 5000 lb trailer almost every week. I am currently using a 1995 Chevy Tahoe. The fuel mileage is about 6-7 mpg most of the time. I am going to sell or trade. Trying to decide to stay gas or go back to diesel. I have read and talked to different people they say the 5.3 in the chevy/gmc get around 10-11 mpg pulling.
Very unsure of what to do. We did have a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 2wd Auto, I think pulling it would get 14-15 mpg. Not sure it has been so long.
I have done lots of reading and everyone is talking about gearing etc. I know most people will say MPG and pulling don't go together, we average 300 miles a weekend April-Sept pulling. So it is kind of important for us.
The 1995 Chevy Tahoe is TBI so I am thinking even if I go to a little newer that it will do better on fuel?
Thanks for all your time

[goducks10]

Engineer9860 wrote:

PartyMarty wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
5.9 Ram CTD. You'll get better mpg than any gasser towing or non towing.

i have to agree with goducks .
i own a 2002 duramax bought new , and it has been trouble free .
but the cummins trucks get better mpg .

According to this apples to apples to apples comparison that is not correct:

http://blogs.cars.com/files/mileage-comparison.pdf

I didn't see the 5.9 listed. We all know the Ram 6.7 didn't get as good of mpg's.

[splegge]

Had 5800 LBS trailer
Towed with Ford Exp 4.0 and got 9-11 MPG.
Upgraded TV 2006 3/4 burb with 6.0. same milage 9-11 MPG when towing. But having the extra TV size, 100 HP and torq was a dream come true.

F.I.L. has a 2011 on it Ford w/ Diesel b20 6.7 w 40K mile and getting 15 MPG towing in mountains of WY. Would imagine that might bump up on flat lands.

[Les_Balty]

I liked the comment re: using a van. A friend of mine tows his 30'er with a 3/4 ton 6.0 diesel van. It has over 200K trouble-free miles on it. Ken is looking at a smaller TT but keeping the van. I've towed with a 1/2 ton conversion van (5 liter gas, 302) and got in 11 - 12 MPG range in the 90's. My trailer weighed about 3K though.

[Airstreamer67]

Quote: "Nearly half my trip planning in the west involves finding gas stations that sell diesel and making extra stops to be sure we make between places that sell diesel. This more than negates any gain from getting more miles per gallon of fuel...."

My solution to that is a 91-gallon auxiliary diesel fuel tank in the bed of the F250. My range is now over 1500 miles towing...plenty of time and space to pick the cheapest and most convenient time to fill up.

One advantage to diesel is the ability to safely store and transport it compared to the more volatile gasoline.

[Redsky]

For more than 12,000 pounds tow weight go with a diesel. For less than 10,000 lbs. a gas engine and 4.10 gears are good enough and will save you a lot of money and it will be a lot easier to find fuel along the highway.

Nearly half my trip planning in the west involves finding gas stations that sell diesel and making extra stops to be sure we make between places that sell diesel. This more than negates any gain from getting more miles per gallon of fuel. The price of diesel is higher than for premium gas which also offsets any dollar savings from using diesel.

And there is the matter of keeping the DEF tank full as well to avoid going into limp mode and the problems with the associate NOx sensors - I have already had mine replaced at 12,000 miles and when it happens out of warranty will be a $700 repair. Maintenance costs for my Duramax are double what they were with my Tahoe SUV.

With a 12,000 lb. trailer the greater torque from the diesel helps greatly with accelerating quickly and being able to safely merge with traffic. The exhaust brake can be very effective in maintaining a safe speed while going down steep mountain grades with minimal use of the brakes. But with a 5k-8k trailer load diesel is needed as much as the 450 HP engine in a Corvette.

[Engineer9860]

PartyMarty wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
5.9 Ram CTD. You'll get better mpg than any gasser towing or non towing.

i have to agree with goducks .
i own a 2002 duramax bought new , and it has been trouble free .
but the cummins trucks get better mpg .

According to this apples to apples to apples comparison that is not correct:

http://blogs.cars.com/files/mileage-comparison.pdf

[phenrichs]

Our old trailer weighed 5K. Pulled with F150 and DW's Expedition. Same engine and trans but the Expy actually pulled it a little better. Aerodynamics I assume. Unless I had a really strong headwind mileage wasn't that bad in either vehicle. A little better than you are getting though. If I were to pull the same TT with my current truck I doubt I would even see a change in mileage at all.

[PartyMarty]

goducks10 wrote:
5.9 Ram CTD. You'll get better mpg than any gasser towing or non towing.

i have to agree with goducks .
i own a 2002 duramax bought new , and it has been trouble free .
but the cummins trucks get better mpg .

[goducks10]

5.9 Ram CTD. You'll get better mpg than any gasser towing or non towing.

[APT]

Any modern gasser will get closer to 10mpg towing a 5000 pound TT. I highly recommend something new enough for a 6-spd trans. Tundra in 2007. 2007 Yukon Denali. Expedition in 2007. Diesel will be better, but not 15mpg. 11-12mpg is more likely for budgeting.

IMHO 10k miles towing each year, once a week? I'd want a diesel. It's just a far more pleasant towing experience for most people.

[mbutts]

If you google "gas vs. diesel spreadsheet" you'll find a bunch of people have already done the legwork on the comparison. Just pop in your numbers and see the results.

I got a used diesel after 8+ years towing with a 1/2 ton. I was tired of high RPMs uphill while crawling up hills. Does my trailer absolutely require use of a diesel? No, but it sure is nice to tow with very little effort (no white knuckling, unbelievable range with a 39 gallon tank, higher MPGs, etc.).

[CKNSLS]

I pulled an 5,500 pound travel trailer 8,000 miles with the 5.3 in 8 months last year. No problems what so ever.

[jerem0621]

Why not a one ton van? You seem to need the people and storage room

I would look for a Duramax or a 7.3 if you want diesel. However, it's Hard to beat the V10 in the E-series van. You can find relatively new Ford Vans with the smaller 5.4 for very reasonable cost.

A van would be my number one choice for a TV that needed people hauling and cargo capacity.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[IsemanRacing48]

We are thinking used. We have looked at the Denali or a truck with the bigger motor.