Tow Vehicle vs. MPG

[dkottum]

I can't imagine why you would want an in-bed fuel tank. You will have to stop to leak before you will ever run out of gas.

Be careful not to get caught up in the quest for the truck/trailer that can do everything but none of them well.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by dkottum

I can't imagine why you would want an in-bed fuel tank. You will have to stop to leak before you will ever run out of gas.

Be careful not to get caught up in the quest for the truck/trailer that can do everything but none of them well.

There is a huge advantage to having an extra fuel tanl

I carried 65 gallons in a 1973 Buick.

Why?

If you need to visit the bathroom, stop and go into the trailer your hauling.

The other huge reasons are if you tow late at night, many gas stations are closed.

And the best reason, is you can avoid paying ridiculous fuel prices by avoiding the need to refuel, in states like California.

Andy

[Ridgerunner3]

I had a 2008 Chevy 1/2 ton 3.73 4x4 that got the same to worse towing mpg as my 2012 Chevy 2500 gas engine 3.73 4x4. (8.5 to 9 mpg over many miles of towing). My truck's role in life is to tow my 25 foot Airstream. The diesel is more than I need and the 1/2 ton is less than need because of payload capacity.

I don't think you can buy an in-bed aux gas tank. I looked at that when I had a 25 gal tank and could not find one. Present truck has 36 gal tank which works out good.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner3

I had a 2008 Chevy 1/2 ton 3.73 4x4 that got the same to worse towing mpg as my 2012 Chevy 2500 gas engine 3.73 4x4. (8.5 to 9 mpg over many miles of towing). My truck's role in life is to tow my 25 foot Airstream. The diesel is more than I need and the 1/2 ton is less than need because of payload capacity.

I don't think you can buy an in-bed aux gas tank. I looked at that when I had a 25 gal tank and could not find one. Present truck has 36 gal tank which works out good.

In bed fuel tanks can easily be added.

The harder part is to have the change over valve installed near the driver..

A word of caution though.

There is usually a return line to the regular fuel tank.

Therefore it's essential that you burn off some fuel from the regular tank, so that the returning fuel does not over fill the regular tank when using the spare tank. Then watch the regular fuel gauge increase as you continue with your trip. This prevents the spare tank fuel from over filling the regular tank which then simply dumps it over board.

Andy

[SSquared]

About what Andy R. said above....My 2013 25FB Flying Cloud came from the factory with 3800 pound axles. I don't have any explanation why they would provide axles that heavy (As others have mentioned above, the trailer's published GVWR is 7300 pounds).

(On the main topic, I tow with an SUV, not a pickup. I get about 11 MPG.)

[RickDavis]

Originally Posted by dkottum

I can't imagine why you would want an in-bed fuel tank. You will have to stop to leak before you will ever run out of gas.

Be careful not to get caught up in the quest for the truck/trailer that can do everything but none of them well.

Having had an in bed fuel tank for years I can't imagine not having one.
I can drain myself behind a tree but not likely to find fuel there

[4RXLA]

I chose a 3/4 ton super duty over the 1/2 ton F150 purely for extra payload. The 150 can pull my 7500lb trailer but I wanted more than a few hundred pounds carrying capacity. I have a thirsty V10 that gets anywhere from 7-10 towing depending on grade and headwind but I can climb any mountain. I replaced the 29 gallon stock fuel tank with a 47 gallon from Transfer Flow. Best investment I ever made as I can now travel up to 400 miles between fill ups and like Andy said, get out of California without having to fill up at high prices.

[RickDavis]

depending on what you carry the weight thing can creep up on you.
In my case the truck is a 13 ram crew cab, long bed 4x4 diesel which is pretty heavy to begin with .
Add an aluminum cap, 50 gallons of extra fuel,2 people, all the usual chairs barbecue etc. and way to many tools and it weighs in at 9300 lbs before I hook up the trailer so that does not leave a great deal of leeway at a 10k GVW rating.
Admittedly overkill with a 5000lb trailer but it did deliver 15 mpg plus (hand calc.) on our recent 3000 trip. Almost all towing. I have not driven it solo enough to accurately determine the mileage.
We may put to much emphasis on the MPG thing. At $4.00 a gal. the difference between 14 and 15 is $20.00 per thousand miles

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, first off you want fuel mileage and power to climb mountains at the same time. You will more than likely get one or the other, but not both. As for axle ratio 3:73 was the golden number for decades, but now with 6 speed transmissions and their very different gear ratios, taller than 3:73's can a do work. Next is the payload capacity of a half ton truck. It can be as low as 1,200 lbs to around 3,000 lbs. With, maybe, a 1,000 lb tongue weight, the first one [1,200 lbs] is almost useless.


As for the comment about 7,300 lb GVWR on a 25'er, this has been the rating on the Classics and most all of the 25'ers since the beginning of the front bedroom models. [my trailer is 6,300 lb rated] Also, [my opinion] 65 gallons of gas in a Buick is a death wish.

[4RXLA]

I would imagine a 60s era Buick could carry that much fuel...along with a few dead bodies in the trunk

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by SSquared

About what Andy R. said above....My 2013 25FB Flying Cloud came from the factory with 3800 pound axles. I don't have any explanation why they would provide axles that heavy (As others have mentioned above, the trailer's published GVWR is 7300 pounds).

(On the main topic, I tow with an SUV, not a pickup. I get about 11 MPG.)

The weight rating selected for each trailer, in part, is based on history.

When Airstream picks a given weight, several factors are taken into consideration.

Today, most owners pack the trailer to the limit and then some. Therefore the little extra weight carrying capacity assures a longer lasting life for the rubber rods within the axles.

If for an example the trailer will be lightly loaded, then simply drop the tire pressue down to 45 to 50 psi.

Make sure that the running gear is also properly balanced.

Andy

[pappy19]

Originally Posted by 4RXLA

I chose a 3/4 ton super duty over the 1/2 ton F150 purely for extra payload. The 150 can pull my 7500lb trailer but I wanted more than a few hundred pounds carrying capacity. I have a thirsty V10 that gets anywhere from 7-10 towing depending on grade and headwind but I can climb any mountain. I replaced the 29 gallon stock fuel tank with a 47 gallon from Transfer Flow. Best investment I ever made as I can now travel up to 400 miles between fill ups and like Andy said, get out of California without having to fill up at high prices.

He doesn't say what year is his Ford V-10, but I have basically the same setup with the Transferflow replacement tank. I also have the Mike's 5 Star SCT programmer set at 89 octane/tow/performance mode. Pulling our 30' W/S, I average 8.5 towing at 70. Best truck I have ever owned including a bunch of diesels.


The only big problem I am hearing on the newer pickups is from my transmission friends; they all say that the new Dodge 8 speed automatic is prone to fail since it never stops shifting, especially when towing, and the internal clutches wear out sooner. The Ford/Chevy 6 speeds are almost as bad. The best tranny is still the Ford 5 speed TorqueShift and the older Allison.

[4RXLA]

I've got a 2010 F250 super cab V10 4wd with a 5 spd transmission and a 4.10 rear end

[pappy19]

Originally Posted by 4RXLA

I've got a 2010 F250 super cab V10 4wd with a 5 spd transmission and a 4.10 rear end

That's a perfect TV IMHO.

[rodsterinfl]

Greetings Hoboplayer,

I have a 25' that I pull with a 2009 4.6L 3V HO 6 speed Ford F-150. It pulls great. Over the past two years I have averaged 12 mpg (calculated at the pump). I tend to pull it at limit 65mph or now, even 70 with the truck tires. I get a consistent 21 mpg on the highway not towing @65mph and guaranteed 20 mpg in most conditions @70mph. On my last trip I got 13.4 mpg but I was on back roads driving about 60mph through central FL. The 1/2 ton is optimum for the size as long as it meets your payload requirement. The ironic thing is that in 2009 Ford had a 5.4L as the next size up engine but it was only slightly more powerful and had I believe 30 ft lbs. more. When I was in northwestern SC near Table Rock there were some stretches where incline made the engine shift the transmission more often but it had no problem pulling at any time.

I will share that the most important figure is the payload capacity and having the tow package. I am looking to get a King Ranch Ecoboost in the next year I want a payload of around 1700 lbs. if possible. Just waiting for the aluminum F150! They are now saying that the new model will have greater towing/payload as an offset to the lighter truck.

[Hoboplayer]

Thanks to the great responses on this forum, I felt that I had the ammunition to make a logical decision. I chose to purchase a Dodge 1500, 2wd, 7.3L V8 HEMI, 3.92 rear end, Quad cab with 6.5" bed. It rides like a car and has some really nice features. One is a 8"display for the backup camera. Should come in real handy for hitching up.
Again, thanks everyone for the help...........Don

[1965 mustang]

I would love to hear more about what others are towing and what they are towing with and the mpg they get. I think the data is valuable to anyone looking for a new tv.

[BoeingJet]

I’m probably way too late to answer this person’s question on Tahoe gas mileage when towing an Airstream, but here is my experience.
I tow a 2014 International Signature with my 2016 Chev. Tahoe. I average 12-13 mpg, depending on hills and winds. I like to stay between 55-65 mph. That’s the sweet spot to get decent gas mileage and feel comfortable towing a 7000 lb. trailer. I’m delighted to get this kind of gas mileage. My last rig was a 40’ Monaco Class A, that got 8 mpg, but a much heavier vehicle.
My Tahoe has the 4 cylinder shut-off, and if I’m only doing 45-50 mph, on the flat, it actually goes into economy mode, even while towing. This is usually on the coastal highways on the west coast.

[jim6090]

2017 30 FC Bunk.

2016 Ram 1500 Eco Diesel GDE 13-16 MPG. I set cruise at 70 most of the time. Flat ground around 14. Tough to beat Handles it like a dream with a Pro-Pride Hitch.

[Mollysdad]

Since we're on the subject of why we bought our tow vehicles, let me add; some trade TV every year or two whole others keep a TV for 10 years. I'm in the second category. IF I was trading every year, I probably wouldn't have selected the Tundra 5.7 because the gas milage isn't that great. But I didn't want repair bills five or six years down the road, so I sacrificed a mile or two per gallon for longevity.

Also, Toyota doesn't win every year on JD Power quality ratings. Depending on the model year, Ford has won some.
You can do your own research, but I wanted to add that opinion.