If you and your admittedly heavy foot are only getting 9 mpg now you probably don't want to tow anything. Most folks lose about one third of their mileage when they hook up to tow. The lift kit, tires and heavy foot are a poor combination and if you start towing and don't change (dramatically), the way you drive, 6 is about all your going to get. Also, driving with a heavy foot will shorten the life of your entire drive train not to mention tires, shocks and brakes. Sounds like this could get expensive. Good Luck!
Desert Captain wrote: If you and your admittedly heavy foot are only getting 9 mpg now you probably don't want to tow anything. Most folks lose about one third of their mileage when they hook up to tow. The lift kit, tires and heavy foot are a poor combination and if you start towing and don't change (dramatically), the way you drive, 6 is about all your going to get. Also, driving with a heavy foot will shorten the life of your entire drive train not to mention tires, shocks and brakes. Sounds like this could get expensive. Good Luck!
I pull a boat about 4 times a month, I don't have the heavy foot while towing...
Desert Captain wrote: If you and your admittedly heavy foot are only getting 9 mpg now you probably don't want to tow anything. Most folks lose about one third of their mileage when they hook up to tow. The lift kit, tires and heavy foot are a poor combination and if you start towing and don't change (dramatically), the way you drive, 6 is about all your going to get. Also, driving with a heavy foot will shorten the life of your entire drive train not to mention tires, shocks and brakes. Sounds like this could get expensive. Good Luck!
I pull a boat about 4 times a month, I don't have the heavy foot while towing...
thanks
Heheh. That's good. You may be one of the few that gets the same MPG towing as not.
There is a reason you don't see many lifted trucks with large tires at the camgrounds. Those tires are turning your 3.73 rear gearing into more like 3.42 and the extra mass is tough on the drivetrain and ride quality since it is unsprung. The lift raises your center of gravity and depending on how you did it, also makes the suspension a little soft for towing.
Even if you didn't mod your 1500, I would caution you that even if it could pull a TT that heavy, you probably wouldn't be too happy with the towing experience.
Bottom line is, you will most likely have to trade your lifted 1500 in. I love lifted trucks and enjoy some moderate offroading myself. The factory lift on our current truck is about as high as I ever want to get towing something.
As someone already mentioned, single rear wheel HD trucks certainly can pull 5th wheels, just not the big ones because of all that weight they put on the truck's suspension and rear axle.
2008 Keystone Sprinter 299BHSS
2003 Ram 3500 CC DRW 4x4
I pulled a 6,000 lb 30' travel trailer across the country earlier this year with a Tahoe with the 5.3 engine and tow package. That Tahoe did ok in most areas, but when I hit the mountains out west it was a different story. My speed drastically dropped on those mountain grades and I wound up destroying my deferential after an extremely hard pull on I-70. I still have that Tahoe but I'll never head out west with it again. Next time I'll have a tow vehicle that can better handle that terrain.
Since a Tahoe is basically a short pickup I'd say your experience will be even worse with the additional weight. If you don't plan on travelling into the mountainous areas you'll probably get by ok, but if you do then upgrade now before you find yourself broke down a thousand miles from home like I did. That's no fun at all...
Sorry, but with a dry weight of 7300 you are going to be over 8000 easily before you head out to camp. The 5.3 with the 3.73 and large tires would not be enough. For a similar weight I have been using and 8.1L and 4.10 gears and standard tires. Also, what is your payload? I don't quite trust that tongue weight of 875. Will likely be closer to 1000. Once you have that 1000 lbs on the hitch plus the weight of the hitch, plus you, your passengers and your gear you will likely be over payload.
I believe you will be short on engine, gear ratio and payload.
There are great deals on used 3/4 gas trucks out there that would work for you. And your milage will probably be the same as you are getting now. Maybe better.
The right combination of truck and trailer is out there, good luck!
* This post was
edited 08/20/12 09:47pm by AlmostAnOldGuy *
8000 pound loaded TT is a lot for the most capable half tons. Your lift kit and larger tires do not make it the most capable from a power/performance stand point, plus the half ton payload and receiver limit. So both RVs are well beyond your current truck's capabilities.
4.56 gears will probably increase your city FE to about 11mpg unloaded, along with better performance. But I would not spend $1500 on that truck with an RV in mind.
Get a single rear wheel 1-ton and go 5er shopping. Skip the 3/4 ton, especially diesel.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009 2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS 2012 VW Passat TDI
wbwood wrote: Don't think that a 250 can pull a fiver. That's a broad, open and incorrect thought. While they can deal with many fivers on weight, the biggest problem is pin weight. My f250s pin weight is in the 2000 range. I would need to look in the 1500-1700 pin weight area to alow some variance for my truck.
Wait...are you saying the F250 cant pull a 5th wheel???
thanks
No, I'm saying just because it's an f250 it wont be able to pull any fiver. An f250 is going to limit you. We are findi this out. It's not so much with gvwr, but more of pin weight. Most fivers have a heavier pin Weight than the f250 is rated for.
Its something we had not been paying attention to before, but after reading up on here, it's a definite issue.
Brian RVing Illustrated
2010 Keystone Sprinter Select 31BH
2001 Coleman Santa Fe
wbwood wrote: Don't think that a 250 can pull a fiver. That's a broad, open and incorrect thought. While they can deal with many fivers on weight, the biggest problem is pin weight. My f250s pin weight is in the 2000 range. I would need to look in the 1500-1700 pin weight area to alow some variance for my truck.
Wait...are you saying the F250 cant pull a 5th wheel???
thanks
No, I'm saying just because it's an f250 it wont be able to pull any fiver. An f250 is going to limit you. We are findi this out. It's not so much with gvwr, but more of pin weight. Most fivers have a heavier pin Weight than the f250 is rated for.
Its something we had not been paying attention to before, but after reading up on here, it's a definite issue.
I have to add to this as I have had a 2008 F250 6.4 Diesel Extended Cab short bed. He is absolutely correct about the payload being the issue. While the 6.4 could pull mountains the payload on my truck per the door jam was only 1800lbs. When you calculate up how heavy a ford super duty is, + diesel engine etc the 9800 GVWR only left me with 1800lbs.
Keep in mind the newer trucks have massively higher payload numbers the 2008 - 2010 generation were heavy pigs. I ended up trading my diesel truck in for a 2500HD gas with 3,000lb payload for my slide-in truck camper.
What I learned with my ford is I would REALLY investigate the truck on all aspects prior to purchasing again. Max tow rating, max payload rating etc.
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 6.0, 3.73, Firestone Air Bags, CCSB LTZ
Thanks to everybody for all the useful information. I have been busy and could not post but as an update I just purchased a 2012 f250. Now I have to figure out this whole pin weight thing.
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Also, driving with a heavy foot will shorten the life of your entire drive train not to mention tires, shocks and brakes. Sounds like this could get expensive. Good Luck! 
