What a average age/mileage of your Tow Vehicle?

[Passage0ftime]

Just entered the RV world last Spring (2017) with a 26' Greywolf but by the end of the season we were sold on the lifestyle and traded up before the value went down. Upgraded to a Rockwood fifth wheel. Dry weight @7,700. All totaled up was about 9,200 Lbs. Had a 2012 Silverado 1500 w/ 5.3L. Ok for short hauls, but felt like I was reaching outer limits even with air bags in rear end.

So, to the point of this post, I had an opportunity to get into a 2006 Silverado 3500 with dually and the 8.1 Gas engine and Allison transmission. Had about 105K on the odometer. 2012 is hitting 100K as I speak. Love the 8.1/allison combo, only thing it won't pass is a gas station.

So my question is, how many folks run older TV? Why and why not? Obviously maintenance is a key factor but what else?

PS: property tax on the older tax is $50 vs $300+ for newer rig. Insurance low.

Happy Trails!

[Atlee]

2014 F150 XLT Supercab, 3.5L Ecoboost, Max Tow and HDPP. 51k miles, about 1/2 towing, 1st a 4990 GVWR trailer, and now a 6500# GVWR trailer.

[Fordlover]

2002 Explorer V8 with 120K miles. Has been incredibly reliable and a good towing vehicle. It also does what heavy lifting I do around the house. I've towed our 5,800 lb camper, my small utility trailer, car hauler with about 5,500 lbs. loaded up, and a 26 foot cargo trailer, among others.

But the time has come to upgrade capability, so a 250/2500 series truck is on the shopping list in our future.

[kwslvdo96]

I have 1996 Silverado 4X4 5.7 vortec 85K original miles 3:73 gears, I tow my puma xle 18ft camper 4500 to 5000 all loaded up. I tow in 3rd gear 70mph at 2800 rpm and the truck loves it. Wouldn't trade it for a brand new Silverado I had 5.3 v8 truck and the towing torque of that motor was horrible so I sold it and bought the truck I have now from the original owner with 41K miles. I keep it very well maintained and I haven't had a single issue with it I get 9 to 10 mpg towing at 70mph if I bump it down to 65mph I get 11mpg.

[DaveF-250SD]

My 2004 F-250 SD 4x4 V-10 has 220,000 miles, and my '78 GMC one ton SRW pickup 454/TH400 has 42,000 miles. Both run and perform great, and no troubles with either of them.

[mrad]

2003 Ford Excursion V10 with 4.30's. 155,000. my combined weight per cat scale was 18,900 when we were in colorado 3 years ago. Could hold 50 on ever mount pass in first gear at roughly 4,500 rpms.
I wouldn't hesitate to take it across the country again.

[snowpeke]

2002 Duramax 87,000 miles. Had new injectors at 84,000 so should be good to go for another 100,000 miles I get around 12 mpg pulling a 9,500 fifth wheel.

[time2roll]

My 2001 has 197,000 and pulls same as it always has. Will be putting another 2,000 towing miles on next month. This is a truck I factory ordered and still love it.

[Passage0ftime]

Great hearing all the feedback folks. Everyone seems proud to drive what they have chosen. Reasonable arguments for both new and "vintage." I am pleased to see many with vehicles 10+ years old and running strong. First trip is early April so full fluid change, brake checks etc. before then, and keep an eye on all the regular wear items (hoses, brakes etc. No rust issues seen yet on my '06. BTW seems I am getting 8-9 mpg empty, but am told it does not get much worse pulling, or better playing "soft pedal." Happy to have a 40 gal. tank!

[gtnsmlr]

We bought a 05 GMC 2500 HD Crew Cab w/8.1 Allison new. We have a little over 100k on the clock pulling a 38ft 5ver 20% of the time. We're going to drive it till it dies. It gets great mileage for a house...

[parker_rowe]

96 GMC Suburban k1500 5.7 Vortec. So...22 years old.

135K miles, 7-10mpg towing ~6k. Always tow with OD locked out around 60-65mph.

Had to replace a split power steering hose and a cracked plastic radiator while on camping trips. Took longer to drive to the parts store than to replace the part in both cases!

Other than that, I've done wheel bearings, upgraded to 2500 calipers and a later model brake master cylinder, boosted the line pressure in the transmission, and normal maintenance.

Next up is rebuilding the differentials with 4.56 gears.

None of the rust or super worn seats like most older GM trucks I see around here, so I'll be keeping it for a long while!

[zenasboy]

We tow w/ a 02 F350 7.3L that has 83K miles. Pretty much stock except for a 4" turbo housing intake, TS tuner and muffler delete. Get between 9-11 (depending on road and wind) pulling a 30ft 7000# travel trailer. Just traded for a 2018 GD Reflection 303RLS 5th wheel that'll weigh in around 12K# loaded. Looking forward to seeing how it pulls and how much impact that'll have on my mpg.

[BenK]

1996 K3500, 7.4L Suburban. Ordered it with the F60 option (Snow Plow prep package for $68 bucks..IIRC). Currently around 169,000 HARD miles. Both driven hard empty, full up with people and towing.




Click For Full-Size Image.


Noodling what to do when the decision to rebuild/update comes. Very close now as the retro fashion statement gets me going...

As the 1980 Silverado dad gave me is approaching "don't want to fix it anymore". All of the years of neglect by dad and his grocery/butcher shop employees overloaded it to the bump stops has take a toll...it now needs a 'test only' SMOG certification...

This link to the GM Retro look: https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29585853.cfm



So if do go with this replacement for the 1980 Silverado...going to be a used, SRW, long bed, 6.0L +9K GVWR crew (short bed) or extended (long bed) that will also be a TV.

Leaving the Sub as both TV and fun 'car'. The 'car' aspect of my Sub would be to rebuild the 7.4L with more 'car' stuff than TV...

But, am frugal and this kind of money takes more noodling. Especially now retired and cutting back on consulting more and more...

[sidewayzz]

06 ram 2500 5.9 cummins. 191000 miles. previous owner maintained it very well. I intend to do the same and keep it for as long as possible. I pull about 7000lbs. it isnt my daily driver.

[shum02]

06 F350 6.0L Powerstroke pulling the 7500 camper in my sig. All loaded up with a GCVWR of about 16000lbs I get between 10-12mpg depending on terrain, weather and fuel quality(summer diesel is better).

Have 250k miles/400K kms on her and never worry about taking her out. It's a daily driver.

Pretty much with every camper except the popup and every truck that is all I've ever gotten.