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Gene · 03-09-2008, 10:00 AM

Dick,

I was able to go over any pass without a problem, though traveling above 8,000' for a while drops gas mileage to 10.5 from 11.5. I could go over Vail Pass at 65. I didn't go that fast (well, I did for a while because I crept up to it without noticing) because gas mileage at that altitude (around 12,000 if I remember correctly) and speed is really poor and the engine does get a bit loud, so I went about 55. I don't think you'll run into any passes or altitude like Colorado's going to Bozeman.

Of course you could have a lot more cargo in you truck and trailer than we did, or you engine performance as I suggested before may not be optimum.
You should be getting better gas mileage—you're reporting 15%+ less than I'm getting and the increase in weight (truck and trailer) is about 215-385 lbs. all other things being equal. With total weight of truck and trailer being 13,000 or more, that added weight difference is very small.

My mpg without towing range from 16+ to 18 (rare) and I'm unsure what it would be if I kept long term records, but it seems to be a little better than yours and I live at 6,837', so I expect it would be better at low altitude.

Maybe Richard can tell us his gas mileage in Phoenix just driving around.

Gene

BillTex · 03-09-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dick&claire

Thanks for the offer Bill but I'm doing my shopping and I'm already convinced. I'm using a Blue Ox weight distributing/sway limiting hitch. I had no problems with sway on Rte 495 at 65-70 mph with large trucks flying by. However, if you're going to be on the Cape give me a call and drop by (508-563-9936). Dick

Hi Dick, your experience is similiar to ours; 2 trips with the 25' Excella and I knew the 1/2 ton was not going to cut it for the type of travelling we like to do. Some folks have a greater tolerance for living on the edge. Moved up to the 3/4 ton and have never regretted it. There is no question which vehicle is the lead dog, we can pack as much as we like, and incredibly the economy is better with the big truck! (Diesel)

We cruise down the Cape occasionaly and will give a shout when we are in the neighborhood.

Smart move. Your travels will be safer, more relaxed, and you will be inclined to more traveliing under these circumstances!

Bill

SRW · 03-10-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dick&claire

Thanks for the offer Bill but I'm doing my shopping and I'm already convinced. I'm using a Blue Ox weight distributing/sway limiting hitch. I had no problems with sway on Rte 495 at 65-70 mph with large trucks flying by. However, if you're going to be on the Cape give me a call and drop by (508-563-9936). Dick

I use a Hensley and highly recommend you consider it in lieu of the Blue Ox.

My most recent tow MPG was 13.5 over 700 miles.

The TV is a 2007, 5.7L, CrewMax Limited, 2x4.

SRW · 03-10-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dick&claire

I have a 2007 Tundra Crew Max that I bought well before I bought my 27' Airstream. The Tundra handled the AS at highway speeds along coastal ME, NH, and MA but fuel consumption dropped from 16.8 mpg to 9.9 mpg and there was constant, annoying downshifting with any grade or increase in speed. We're heading to Bozeman for the 2008 International Rally in June. I will step up to a GMC 2500 diesel before that trip based on specs and what I read in this thread.

I am with CrawfordGene on this.

My 2007, 5.7 L CrewMax, 2x4, gave me 13.5 MPG on recent trip of 700 miles. 9.9 MPG seems pretty low.

If I was going to go diesel (and I am not) I would sure want an older truck considering that the new diesel's economy is lousy in comparison.

Gene · 03-11-2008, 08:44 AM

SRW,

13.5 mpg?! I see you have an International 28' which is heavier than my 25' Safari. And you have a 2 x 4 and I have a 4 x 4 (200 lbs. more). The weight difference isn't that much, so it must be altitude.

I can't wait to tow mine at sea level and see the gas mileage go up.

Gene

SRW · 03-12-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

SRW,

13.5 mpg?! I see you have an International 28' which is heavier than my 25' Safari. And you have a 2 x 4 and I have a 4 x 4 (200 lbs. more). The weight difference isn't that much, so it must be altitude.

I can't wait to tow mine at sea level and see the gas mileage go up.

Gene

Your right, I was towing from Austin, TX (Alt 600' +/- to Harlingen, TX (Alt slightly above sea level) and the road was flat, the temperature cool requiring no AC, and there was zero cross wind.

Jaxon · 03-12-2008, 07:41 PM

We've got 13.5 mpg in our F250 turbodiesel going from Austin to Port Aransas and back. Weather clear & AC only on the return. That's about 125 miles each way. We've only got about 15K miles on it so I'm expecting better mileage as it breaks in... Doubt the 30' Classic will get any lighter to help improve mileage unless we loose something on the way.

Westfalia · 03-14-2008, 05:06 PM

Just purchased an 08' Ram 2500 Mega for the new 27FB!!! I'm looking forward to towing with an oil burner, even with the extra cost of diesel.

TIMEMACHINE · 03-15-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westfalia

Just purchased an 08' Ram 2500 Mega for the new 27FB!!! I'm looking forward to towing with an oil burner, even with the extra cost of diesel.

Although I know the Rams are not made in Germany, the Dodge with it's former ownership, is about as close as you can get with a truck.

Congratulations

Time

Ray Eklund · 03-15-2008, 05:03 PM

I see lots of the pickups discussed on the roads of the West. Much of the choice is what you are use to owning in the past. I had been a Chevy man until my 1981 Toyota purchase. Chevrolet Diesel trucks are liked by the truck wholesalers buying in the USA and hauling to the Canadian oil patch around Calgary. Toyota 4x4's are the top gasoline burners wanted by the wholesalers for resale.

My 2006 Tundra pulled our 23 foot Airstream very well. Getting about 55%-60% of the non-tow gasoline mileage (9 to 12mpg towing mileage). Pulling the AS for 24,000 miles and sold the Tundra to the first looker with 48,000 miles on the odometer. Never a mechanical problem and I liked the smaller size of truck.

With the introduction of the heavier built 2007 Tundra with the 5.7L gasoline engine, we waited for the bugs to be worked out of the new model style. Our 2008 Tundra is wonderful in all respects, other than you will pay a bit of a premium in price... maybe not now. My turning radius also is better, as I can easily turn up our "tight turn" driveway with room to spare. The 4 wheel drive is quick to engage and disengage. The manual automatic shift is wonderful. Our camping season begins mid-April for the ultimate test... towing the trailer for the first time.

My second choice was the F250 Ford 4x4. A real truck, compared to the half ton trucks available. But I did not want the diesel that the Ford dealers seem to stock and want to sell to you. I never was a diesel fan and the general maintenance seems to be stiffer to the wallet. Just my preference.

The 2006 Tundra had a nice mounting location for the brake controller, while the 2008 brake controller is mounted much lower on the dash (above the gas pedal) and not easy to get to. Maybe I will find another place to mount the brake controller, but time will tell. If I am disappointed with my 2008 Tundra as a tow vehicle, I will the first to get the word out!

Msmoto · 10-16-2008, 06:18 PM

I just bought my 25' Int SS Ocean Breeze and pulled it from High Point to San Antonio, Texas and back with my Porsche Cayenne Turbo (450 HP, 462 ft/lbs torque). My experience... 10.5 - 11.5 mpg at 60 mph. Stopped about every 180 - 200 miles due to gas shortage. In a head wind the transmission shifted down to 5th fairly often. Cruise control is useless because the engine will simply hammer out the power to maintain the speed when much better fuel mileage is obtained from allowing speed fluctuation. My decision... I have been down to my local Dodge dealer negotiating on a 2500 4x4 Quad cab long bed... Laramie or SLT trim. It will not ride ride a Cayenne, but the 650 ft/lbs torque at 1500 rpm means it will not even know there is a hill or a headwind. And 14 - 15 mpg means 450 miles on a tank of Diesel easily. Big, long, heavy, Diesel. I think this is the answer.

Mike Leary · 10-16-2008, 07:35 PM

Look at the Chev/Allison combo: we've met tons of folk who tow & love them.

99Limited34 · 10-16-2008, 08:01 PM

Big long heavy diesels are definitely the way to go.. I get 14 mpg towing a 34 limited with my 7.3, have thought of buying a new truck but can't wear this one out..

ROBERT CROSS · 10-16-2008, 08:09 PM

Tundra= Alaska

Drive dirt if ya wanna

Wayward · 10-16-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Msmoto

(450 HP, 462 ft/lbs torque). 10.5 - 11.5 mpg at 60 mph. In a head wind the transmission shifted down to 5th fairly often. Cruise control is useless because the engine will simply hammer out the power to maintain the speed when much better fuel mileage is obtained from allowing speed fluctuation.

This is not a lack of HP or torque - you have more than enough of both for the 25 footer. Your rear axle is geared way too high.

Put a big enough differential gear in the Dodge you're looking at and it'll be struggling too.

Gears are far cheaper than trucks (and you still get a ride as cool as the CCD behind you !)

................Scott

Journalist · 10-16-2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayward

This is not a lack of HP or torque - you have more than enough of both for the 25 footer. Your rear axle is geared way too high.

Put a big enough differential gear in the Dodge you're looking at and it'll be struggling too.

Gears are far cheaper than trucks (and you still get a ride as cool as the CCD behind you !)

................Scott

Aftermarket Porsche Cayenne gears cost nearly as much as a good used HD pickup.

As to the original topic of this thread, the difference between a Tundra and a 3/4 ton diesel pickup from one of the big three is this: The Tundra will pull the 25' AS with no problems. Then, load the Tundra and the AS onto a trailer and the diesels will pull them both.

Ed Emerick · 10-17-2008, 05:41 AM

As an update, I have had my Tundra since August now, I like it and it pulls just fine. JUST LIKE A GM half ton with a 5.7. Thats apples to apples.

Westfalia · 10-17-2008, 07:41 AM

Coming from a VW Touareg with a V8, I enjoy towing with my Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins 6.7. It pulls infinitely better than the Touareg at any grade or speed and having bed space for gear, dogs, bikes, etc is nice. You should be able to get a fantastic deal on a new 08 at about $13.5K to $14K off of MSRP on these trucks. Stay away from the 07's unless it has the 5.9L in it.

Gene · 10-17-2008, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journalist

Then, load the Tundra and the AS onto a trailer and the diesels will pull them both.

Then load trailer and the diesel onto a freight train, and it will pull all of it. The train can be loaded onto an aircraft carrier…

About 8,500 miles towing the Safari 25' with the '07 Tundra and no problems.

I have read the newest diesels are very complex to reduce pollution and they are difficult to maintain. Is that true? Maintenance on a diesel is more than a gas engine anyway.

Gene

purman · 10-17-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayward

This is not a lack of HP or torque - you have more than enough of both for the 25 footer. Your rear axle is geared way too high.

Put a big enough differential gear in the Dodge you're looking at and it'll be struggling too.

Gears are far cheaper than trucks (and you still get a ride as cool as the CCD behind you !)

................Scott

Must be!!! My Sequoia has 389 bhp and 408 torque and pulls an '04 28' safari no problem up the mountains in colorado at 70+ mph

I don't need a 3/4 ton truck... If all I was doing was towing I might switch to one, but with two small kids and a dog, and a daily driver I like what I have and it is plenty for my needs and then some. Plus the price of gas is dropping. $3.05 here... in Delta CO..