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Muddy Waters · 10-11-2007, 12:20 PM

We may wind up trading in the Pathfinder, who knows... my DH was appalled at the gas mileage that the larger vehicles get. The Armada gets 12/17 mpg. Whatta pig. Still, we'll do some local camping with the A/S (when we finally get it) and see how it holds up. Maybe we'll get lucky. Since it's just two of us we may not load up beyond the recommended 4,500 lbs. I think 4,800 lbs. is probably a good limit.

Looking forward to this!

wkerfoot · 10-11-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy Waters

We may wind up trading in the Pathfinder, who knows... my DH was appalled at the gas mileage that the larger vehicles get. The Armada gets 12/17 mpg. Whatta pig. Still, we'll do some local camping with the A/S (when we finally get it) and see how it holds up. Maybe we'll get lucky. Since it's just two of us we may not load up beyond the recommended 4,500 lbs. I think 4,800 lbs. is probably a good limit.

Looking forward to this!

Muddy,

Towing and good fuel economy are mutually exclusive.

Bill

Muddy Waters · 10-11-2007, 03:48 PM

wkrfoot, that was funny! lol

Sad, but funny.

Relentless, I doubt seriously we'd load the camper itself beyond the 4500 lb. limit but I was thinking of what we might toss into the vehicle, plus ourselves if we gain a pound or two over Thanksgiving (a sure bet). Thanks!

Fyrzowt · 10-11-2007, 04:38 PM

I used to get anywhere from 9 to 12 MPG pulling with an overloaded Toyota 6 cyl.
Smaller isn't better, even in the gas mileage arena.
Dave

ljmiii · 10-11-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy Waters

The Armada gets 12/17 mpg. Whatta pig. Still, we'll do some local camping with the A/S (when we finally get it)...Since it's just two of us we may not load up beyond the recommended 4,500 lbs.

If you haven't closed on the 19' Bambi you might want to seriously consider the 16'er - at 3500lbs it a much better match for your tow vehicle.

HiHoAgRV · 10-11-2007, 07:09 PM

I get 21mpg on regular driving and around 16 towing, I consider that ok.

Mine is a 29 foot trailer and a '06 Dodge diesel Ram 2500 combo. I'd probably get over 17 mpg dragging the Armada...

mike rogers · 10-11-2007, 09:09 PM

The 4Runner will tow it fine. I tow a 25 footer with a '05 Tacoma. No problems with power or control. Some people think the bigger the belt buckle the better the cowboy. Nissans are always overated Toyotas are usually underated.

Muddy Waters · 10-12-2007, 04:40 PM

Good advice about the 16' Bambi. We aren't crazy about the wet bath but at this point we're being flexible.

We haven't got a tow hitch, although we have the tow package with the Nissan. Where does one obtain a tow hitch? (Tolja we were newbs!).

Kevbo10 · 10-12-2007, 05:28 PM

jeep w/ hemi.

add a bambi

true love.

kevbo

Relentless · 10-13-2007, 10:35 AM

You can buy a hitch from almost any trailer dealer or Camping World. Before you do, do a search on this forum for "hitches". You will find a LOT of free advice on what to buy. It seems to break down to Reese or Equil-i-zer at about $700 or jump up to a Hensley for about $3,000. Personally, I think for you size trailer, the $700 hitch should be sufficient.

John

DFord79 · 10-13-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy Waters

We may wind up trading in the Pathfinder, who knows... my DH was appalled at the gas mileage that the larger vehicles get. The Armada gets 12/17 mpg. Whatta pig. Still, we'll do some local camping with the A/S (when we finally get it) and see how it holds up. Maybe we'll get lucky. Since it's just two of us we may not load up beyond the recommended 4,500 lbs. I think 4,800 lbs. is probably a good limit.

Looking forward to this!

Please....read the other forums about towing. ONE word of advise..this may be hard for you to swallow, or you husband anyway. If towing with a larger vehicle than a V-6 pathfinder is out of the question I am concerened that you are not thinking about safety. WHAT IS MORE INPORTANT....YOUR LIFE...OR A VEHCILE THAT GETS BETTER FUEL MILEAGE. Sorry,, but its a fact. Pay attention to the exsperienced towers. Even with the 19 Bambi you will find that the vehicle you are interested in are marginal at best over the long haul. Longer wheel based V-8 tow vehicles that get worse fuel mileage may save you life. I am so sorry to be so blunt. But exsperence has tought me these things. And if just a bit of advice can prevent a desaster, its a good thing. I repeat ...do not let fuel mileage be the deturmining factor...it will bite you in the end. White knuckle freeway driving is the pits.

Safari-Rick · 10-13-2007, 11:55 AM

When I bought my 25 Ft Safari, the Dealer told me the same thing! He pointed to the V8 on my truck and said..."not a problem". But there actually is more to it then just having a small V8 (4.7L).

Are you going to be happy worrying about the temp gage reading past the half way point? Going up hills/mountains worrying if the trailer and all the stuff you have in the back of the P/U bed isn't too much for the truck. Watching the Tech gage tacking at 4-5K rpm? All this is called STRESS !

I thought taking off on a trip was about leaving Stress behind!

rick

DFord79 · 10-13-2007, 02:28 PM

Safari-Rick your correct. It is not about the HP under the hood. It is about frame strengh and weight,,,and BRAKES. Big radiators and strong transmissions like the Big three have behind their gas or diesel motors. Good weight distribution hitch and brakeing system.

DFord79 · 10-13-2007, 02:30 PM

ONE more thing....you will not get any better fuel mileage with a V-6 towing than you will with ...for ei....a V-10 gas Ford. Empty ya...but not towing. With your bambi to be..lol..the V-6 will be screaming its head off at 5,000 RPM to keep up with the frow of traffic...at 45 mph on a 5% grade....while the V-10 Ford will be Doing 65 taking a nap at 2500 rpm takin a nap wondering when you are gonna ask it to go to work.

Fyrzowt · 10-13-2007, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike rogers

The 4Runner will tow it fine. I tow a 25 footer with a '05 Tacoma. No problems with power or control. Some people think the bigger the belt buckle the better the cowboy. Nissans are always overated Toyotas are usually underated.

See post #24.
I was towing with a V-6 4runner. Control wasn't an issue, power was a definate issue.
Dave

Relentless · 10-13-2007, 03:57 PM

As you can probably tell by now, towing questions get a lot of feedback. The best rule of thumb I have seen is the 20% rule that I stated earlier. Make sure whatever you get to tow is rated at least 20% greater than whatever it is you plan to tow. For instance, my Safari, loaded, is about 7,000lbs. My 06 Expedition is rated at 8,800 lbs. so I should be OK. And, after several thousand miles, I am.

If your Bambi is loaded to 4500 lbs, you will need at least a 5400lb towing capacity. MPG is not a consideration.

Muddy Waters · 10-16-2007, 05:50 PM

The Nissan has a towing capacity of 6,000 lbs. The Bambi we're interested in has a fully-loaded weight of 4,500 lbs. It will only be two of us and I don't expect we'll go over that 4,500 lbs. We'll get all the safety features available.

We'll also be using the Nissan as an 'around town' vehicle which was why DH was so concerned about the gas mileage. If we take it on a short trip and it doesn't work out, we'll have to trade it it. Or something. (!).

Relentless · 10-16-2007, 09:29 PM

You should be just fine. I doubt you will find anything with a towing capacity of 6,000 lbs. that will get better "around town" mileage.

Pickups are OK but, certainly, not necessary at our level.

John

kwoolston · 10-16-2007, 09:38 PM

We've got a 78 Soveriegn, 31 foot. Traded up from a 05 Holiday Rambler Presidential fifth wheel. Still have the 06 Ford F250 and boy does it smoke it up, down and all around.

Most of the time, I cant even tell it's there. Only use tow/haul mode when going downhill or in town, for the extra braking provided by built-in brake system and downshift.

Gotta love it..........

Any heavy duty Diesel will pull it, but Ford outows pound for pound, so you could always trade up the trailer and not have to replace a truck.

As for gas mileage, I get 20+ out on the road without the trailer, slightly lower with the trailer or around town. Generally, diesel is cheaper and then, do you want a truck or do you want a TRUCK?.