Well I have a 2006 Durango SLT PLus with the engine management system,the ESP,anti skid system AWD,4wd lock,4wd low,anti sway system,5.7 hemi,3.55,awd,and 18" tires.It certainly does get 25mph at highwat speeds and 12 mph towing a 27'TT5200lbs.And it does not lack any power towing in the Rockies.Tons of storeage with the back 2 rows of seats folded down,for golf clubs,coolers,BBQ and firewood.The Cummins is gone and so is the big 5th.w2heel.We decided to go smaller and lighter,we will just rent in the winter down south and let someone else do the towing.
nhshep wrote: ...we tow 28 foot travel trailer weighs 6500lbs...we get 12 mpg average...
I love these posts - I think you'd have to drive 40mph around a parking lot to get that mpg average
You have this set up and know from first hand knowledge that it will not get better fuel economy then 40 in the parking lot,I love these
all knowing experts.
We have an 06 Durango awd 4x4 with the V-8 Magnum,and my fuel mileage is nothing to brag about either.Living here in Ohio,I didn't need a 4wd,but the deal was so good,I couldn't pass it up.We won't be pulling on any mountains,since most all of our camping will be within the state.We are pulling a 24' TT.
Thanks everyone for your advice/thoughts! Wow! What a response!
I think, with all your kind input, we have decided to go ahead with the V8 (gulp). I found on the website www.fueleconomy.org that there is only about 1-2 mpg difference...so, with that in mind we are going to go up for the future.
We are going to be buying used (new to us), around 200-2005 depending on mileage/price combination. We think we are either going with the Ford Explorer or the Mercury Mountaineer. Drove both this past weekend, and the Mountaineer was definitely a better ride.
So.... if any of you out there have these vehicles and would like to give your input on your favorite options/likes/dislikes, etc. I would appreciate it!
ltlbear01 wrote: Thanks everyone for your advice/thoughts! Wow! What a response!
I think, with all your kind input, we have decided to go ahead with the V8 (gulp). I found on the website www.fueleconomy.org that there is only about 1-2 mpg difference...so, with that in mind we are going to go up for the future.
We are going to be buying used (new to us), around 200-2005 depending on mileage/price combination. We think we are either going with the Ford Explorer or the Mercury Mountaineer. Drove both this past weekend, and the Mountaineer was definitely a better ride.
So.... if any of you out there have these vehicles and would like to give your input on your favorite options/likes/dislikes, etc. I would appreciate it!
Thanks again everyone!
I think you'll be much happier in the end with the V8 and will be a much better choice and you'll be a lot happier in the long run. Buying the V8 now will save you a LOT of $$$ in the end as you won't be having to consider another tow vehicle upgrade because you moved from a pup to a regular TT - and real world mileage you'll not notice much of a difference between the V6 and V8. Paper mileage isn't worth - well, the paper it's written on and I often wonder if the person was dreaming when they wrote it down (in the case of my V6 Pilot they said it would get 19 city - what a joke. I don't know of anyone who gets above 16 city in theirs - and most get 12-14mpg city).
So...really the V8 will be no difference in mpg so no *gulp* needed!
Though I won't buy a Ford - I do like how the Explorer drives - it, to me, was just a fun car to drive - but that's how we buy cars - the "fun factor". We would rather drive a car that's not as smooth and have a blast and get that "I love driving this car" feel everytime we get behind the wheel over a smooth, boring to drive car. Never drove a Mountaineer so can't comment on those.
As has been mentioned before, most new V8s will get similar (if not better) mileage than a V6; plus, you'll be able to pull more, too. Our Buick Rainier AWD with the 5.3 V8 gets 17-18 in town and 21-23 on the highway...keep in mind, this is basically the same vehicle as the Envoy/Trailblazer/Ascender, but with the same V8 as in the 1/2 ton Suburbans and Tahoes. Our Rainier gets better gas mileage than my Mom's Honda Pilot. Towing our KZ Coyote 23CMS Hybrid at 5000lbs, we got about 12mpg at 60-65mph and 9-11mpg at 65+. There is more to consider than just engine size, however; you also need to think about wheelbase. The longer the wheelbase of your tow vehicle, the more stable it will be when towing a trailer. Our Rainier is great, but we're in the process of selling it so that we can get a Suburban or Tahoe with a longer wheelbase. When those big rigs pass you on the highway, it's nice to have that longer wheelbase and a good sway control hitch, like the Reese Dual Cam.
ltlbear01,
I sent you a PM, but please do some research on the transmissions and transfer cases of those two vehicles; they are known to be prone to failure. Both vehicles look nice and have nice features, but you may experience premature mechanical failure.
I have seen you have received some very sound advice to your question and thought I'd throw in my humble opinion. I like to plan ahead as well, unfortunately over time mine and DW tastes have changed often. We began with a popup and also had a boat to think about towing. From a 6 cyl Cherokee which served well on both counts we bought a full size van with the large V-8 and got horrible mileage though not much worse than the Cherokee. The van held more stuff DW NEEDED to take and we did not upgrade either the boat or trailer as expected. When the time came to replace the van we got a full size Tahoe certain to need it for an upgraded TT. Guess what, we took our boat, rented cabins and used the popup for shorter getaways. When we were able to decide on a new TT, the Tahoe did not cut it. But it served very well for our sons travel hockey years, camping, off-roading, hunting and my construction work. So a new Pickup and a V-8 did the trick for the final TT choice. Actually got the Truck to pull Construction equip. and realized the pulling capacity would get us into a TT more to our liking. After a year with new truck, a diesel sounds nice but cost/gall. and replacing a new truck that puls what we have seems silly. Met a fellow camper who just upgraded to a Outback and bought a used but in great condition Tahoe like my old one at the same time for his TT and camping use only.
This is what I know, the V-8's today are much more capable with better fuel efficiency than even two yers. ago. I get over 20mpg highway. 6-7 mpg better than the Tahoe, about the same in the city.
Every time we see a new TT model we think about it comparing it to ours, though we are happy, a different one is always a possible. A diesel will prepare us to get anything we want if we change.
Best advice, if you don't have definitive plans to upgrade, don't change what you are doing chances are you will change your mind. The TT weights vary greatly and will limit your future choices and perhaps leave you feeling you are stuck again. Or, like the family I met, purchase a single use "used" Truck for your towing needs when you know what those needs are. There is no perfect setup without overspending and sacrificing something including mpg or money. Perhaps your planning abilities are better than ours, (I hope somebodies is), but just going to a camper show sends me on my next set of plans. My wife loves to camp, I do too, I also love trucks and machines and this is not going to change. You have all you need for now. But that isn't as much fun I know! PS: Now we have a seasonal spot we like very well, want to buy my truck?
Sign me hopelessly solving problems I don't have! Happy trails.
Tom O'Neill & DW Kathie
07 VR-1 305FKS
07 Silverado CC LTZ 6.0 MAX
Honda EU3000is
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