RE: What are you towing with and what is your MPG
06 GMC Crew Duramax with a few mods 150,000km on it
06 KZ Coyote Hybrid
I Tow in the BC mountains: The rockies..where the hills last 35 kilometers and are typcially 6-10% grades. Those are serious hills..!
Avg. towing mileage to Kamloops from Calgary 12.6 mpg hand calculated. That's with the trailer ully loaded with gear/food/clothes & 5 Gal water and 4 persons in the truck. Trailer loaded = 4450 lbs.
I find the biggest thing is not the weight but that giant "sail" we push the wind with.!
MT Truck: All depends on speed/tire pressure. 80 psi on all 4 rubbers, running 60 mph: I'll get up to 21.5 mpg. (My), normal hwy driving will net me 17.5 to 19 mpg and thats at 70mph on avg.
I am about to embark on a cross Canada trip (Moving). From Calgary to Barrie, Ontario. I will keep track using the DIC and receipts/mileage. We shall see..!!
RGds,
Stk
RE: Help am I being SOLD!!!
I had a Dakota 4.7 Crew cab - towed a 22' Hybrid in the BC mountains. The 4.7 simply did not have the cojones at all in that environment. Actual camping trailer weight was 4450lbs. That was scaled at Golden BC at the time. On two occaisions in warmer weather, I overheated. Now The truck had some camping gear in it but not overly so, as well 2 adults and 2 teens in the truck. CAI and exhaust were done too...didn't really help.
In my opinion, towing capacity is overstated by every vehicle manuafcturer. they are interested in selling vehicles...and vehicles only.
Take what is stated on the truck and cut that # in half...and the end # should be what your loaded/actual trailer weight is/should be.
As you can see from above, I too, was already overloaded with my set-up for the truck I had. I do believe the Dakota was rated at the time for 7000lbs. I got there but one has to wonder what the overall wear and tear on the motor and transmision was in so doing.
I have since bought a duramax - no real worries now except for speeding tickets.;)
rgds,
stk
RE: Minimum tow capacity for my trailer???
Ahhhh What a treat to read mostly common sense in regards to Tow Vehicle's, Tow Ratings and why one is recommended to stick to a larger wheel base vehicle as opposed to the SUV/MINI Van Type platforms.
No question that those smaller platforms may well get you the extra 4-6mpg better as a daily driver. If that is the prime reason, then fine, go with one of them...but put your 19 foot HTT up for sale and go back to a tent trailer.
The reality is that trucks, tend to have a much longer wheel base that gives the driver that much more comfort when towing ( read safety as well here). Having the V8 there is also something to value. And if it's a diesel, well - perfect cause then you have the torque as well..and going uphill towing at 60mph is in my humble opinion, a real treat...not to mention a real time saver.! could not tell you how many times I have since gone past SUV's/MiniVans towing 17-19' HTT's/TT's etc doing less than 30 mph uphill and struggling. I am talking mountains here folks..not little hills of a mile or so.
Other thing to think about is the fact that our HTT's are in fact a giant sail that the wind is pushing against. No matter what we drive our mileage will suck compared to non towing times. It will be just that much harder and greater wear n tear on a smaller drive train. than on a truck.
Lookin for better mileage.?? fill your tires up to their max sidewall rating..that could be worth up 10% increase in mpg with less rolling resistance, better handling & more even tire wear.
As for towing with an SUV or smaller truck...I've been there and done that too.
NEW '05 4.7 Dakota (w/CAI and Exhaust done and a 7000Tow Rating), pullin the Coyote that was 4450lbs scaled weight with the family n gear in the truck..on an 8% grade for 30 kilometers and that is/was no fun believe me..!! Towing in BC has it's moments. Took pretty much 45 minutes to do that with 2 stops for an overheating engine .. (it was 33C outside that day)..
So my experience tells me "get the best TV you can afford" and then scale your trailer to it's capabilities...not the other way round.
..keep the Ford.!
Given the way fuel prices are going though...we are all gonna be driving smart cars pullin 100lb bicycle wheeled rickshaws pretty soon..!!
cheers,
stk
RE: Slide Out Cover
I have never seen one of these slide toppers. Very Kewl..!! indeed. gonna keep that in mind for when I eventually get a 5'er.
and by the way....
it was snowing like crazy (only in colorado) !!!
not.!! Come to Calgary..we get exactly the same thing here..!! our moto is "don't like the weather..?? wait 5 minutes.!
the other moto pertaining to Calgary weather is this: 10 months good skiing - 2 months lousy skidoing.!
cheers,
stk
RE: Foul odor from hot water tank?
Anodes are there for a reason. They react with a small amount of exposed steel inside the tank and protect it and when they are consumed (or removed), the tank eventually rusts out.
Randy is right on the money here guys..
Basically the reason that they are there is this. H20 (water w/some salts in it) + Fe (Iron) + heat = a corrosion cell (actually a battery of sorts with electrons moving from one to the other), and results in corrosion of the interior of the heater (rust).
In a water tank (same as the one in your home), one of the materials is the cathode and the other is the anode (tank wall). Without a "sacrificial" anode the tank would likely rust out in a couple of seasons or quicker even.! So taking it out is not a good thing to do.
If you take out your anode while winterizing your trailer (I do in order to drain the tank), you will notice that it starts to look corroded and that is exactly what is happening...better it than the inside of your hot water tank.
I have had my anode in since new and it will go on it's 3rd and last yr. as I will replace it next time I winterize.
rgds,
stk
RE: 15W solar panel not charging batteries
It sounds like 1 of biggest problem you have is voltage loss over the distance you are running your panel from the batts. I would make sure you use at least 10 ga wire as a minimum and try to limit the distance you need to run said wires. 15 Watts may well be enough to keep a fully charged batt up..but not might not be enough to charge it when really down. Any shadow will cut your panels ability by 50% or more.
If ya can..go 6Volt. You'll love em.
Here is an excellent FAQ for all those that want to learn more on Batteries:
Battery FAQ
Rgds,
stk
RE: MPG - Gas vs Diesel
Quick n dirty: 2500HD D'max
MT truck: 60 mph - 21.5 mpg
70 mph - 17.8 mpg
Towing 4 bodies in truck with a loaded 5000lb trailer.
12.6 mpg
I typically tow in British Columbia in the Cdn Rocky Mountains...ergo the low mpg. (sic)
The 'older' gen diesels generally got better MPG's. I defintely agree with that statement. My old 6.2L GMC got close to 29 mpg..but no turbo & no injection and not a lot of power.
Now one thing I gotta say. I do not believe for a moment that weight is the primary issue facing trucks towing. It is relevant, but not the major limiting factor. It is the size of "sail" that the front end of the trailer presents to the wind along with ones speed that really will determine ones mileage while towing.
Still I find that the newest Dodge Cummins with the 6 spds and the Dmaxes get pretty good mileage for 7000lb trucks.
cheers,
stk
RE: Automatic Manual Shifting
Hmmm. I have a 6 Spd Allison. The times I have used the "M" mode I have found it will not upshift, but will in fact down shift.
I had thought at first that by using Manual mode it would be easier going donwhill or on curvey mountainous roads. Well that just seemed to increase my tranny temps to the point where I started to get worried. I later learned that using tow/haul was the way to go. Seems that mode will lock the torque converter in at 2nd gear, leading to lower trans temps and much better control donwhill and other types of driving.
So although the 6 Sp manual is a neat kind of thing...I don't use it much at all. (not sure how/if the racers use it..??).
stk
RE: Diesel vs gas......................
Yup the price of diesel has gone up big time no question. I wonder how much one will pay over a 10 - 15 yr period totally...I mean fuel and vehicle costs and who will come out ahead..?
There's not too many gasoline driven cars/trucks that will get over 200,000+ miles. Yet there's plenty of diesels that have well over that # and still going strong.
I know of nobody who had managed to wear out a diesel truck...
So yea, I might have to pay significant $$ now for fuel & maintenance & maybe some new foam for the seats & maybe a water pump and a few sets of tires etc, but I'll still be towing with this unit in 10 years and then, after it's got better than 350,000 miles on it. Bet on it. (I drive 35k annually)
So no need to buy another new vehicle for what, 35+K dollars by then..?? A bargain in me eyes byes.!
...and besides, ya can't make BioGasoline.!
.."appleseed" away. (research that term)
cheers, Stk
RE: Post your tow vehicle pics here
'06 GMC 2500HD D'max 6Spd Allison w/ Banks 6gun PDA, Transgo Jr., 4" Turbo Back Exhaust, Secondary Oil & Fuel filtration and many other mods. 69,065 BOSE powered miles to date. LUVIN it.!!
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/38624/2414568490047245006S600x600Q85.jpg
I call it my Mid life crisis...LOL.!
rgds, GO FLAMES GO
stk
RE: Pontiac Torrent
Dave and Debby. Wecome to the world of camping with ...any kind of trailer.! It beats the daylights outa using a tent..but read on.
This is a FWD/AWD, 112" wheelbase vehicle offering a 3.6L V6 engine at the largest. IMO, it is totally unsuited to towing a full-height trailer of any kind, hybrid or otherwise.
Absolutely.!! emphasis on "Full Height" here.
As a general recommendation I'd not tow more than 2500 pounds with a 3500 pound maximum towing capacity vehicle as that weight is based on a empty truck. No passengers, no cargo.
I totally agree with Chuck.
To do so with a family is a recipe for potential disaster IMHO. Want to camp with an HTT..?, get your TV first, then look for a suitable HTT. A Torrent or for that matter (and I'm going to get some flack on this), any MiniVan type of vehicle is in my opinion, completely unsuitable for towing an HTT. And please don't talk to me about a single axle 17 footer either. Those that have towed will tell you: single axle & high wall trailer = mega sway that a MiniVan type of TV simply cannot handle. So try to get yourself something that can EASILY (4500lb HTT, 7500lb tow cap TV - that's my ratio), handle the HTT you wish to use. Not only is that the logical solution to keep you and your family safe, it also keeps the rest of us safe too.
Or if the Torrent is the vehicle you wish to use to tow/camp with, then I would highly recommend that you stick with a tent trailer for now. One thing to keep in mind is that most of these types of vehicles use Front Wheel drive. Anything hanging off the back end is going to raise the front axle and reduce your traction and subsequent steering control. So even with a tent trailer-in particular the 12' types that can get up to 2500+ lbs loaded, look at the REESE Mini 350 WD.
Kudo's to you to come to a website for info...many don't and unfortunately, we sometimes see them rolled over on the side of the road.
Once you do get a larger Tow Vehicle (TV), that can handle an HTT - make sure your tow hitch is up to the challenge. Again I would suggest a Weight Distributing type with integrated Anti Sway...period....for the extra 5-600 bucks - cheap insurance.!
I camp in BC through the mountains and as such drive through them too. Not quite as mountainous in NB, but plenty of hills and curves on 2 lane roads...been there and it's really beautifull...might even retire there...St. John river..??
Cheers / regards,
stk
RE: KZ coyote cabinet construction
Jeez...wish I could help..but our Coyote is a 22CT (2006 - 3 pop out style),and as such we don't have the slide out. Now mind you I am not too too impressed with the construction quality of these units. We had our couch fall apart and to see what the frame was made of kinda makes one wonder. I do not think you will see much structural strength in the walls ... probably just aluminum filled with styrofoam for rigidity. ...maybe a stud every 36" or so if at all.
Overall though, it has not been a bad trailer at all.
I would be tempted to use not only screws, but some kind of very good construction adhesive as well. Pre-drilling small holes with a very small drill bit will help if using short screws in conjunction with the adhesive or glue.
What we did with the storage (supposedly for hanging clothes..?? who does that camping.?). We put in some small slides and added 3 metal racks that can slide in / out and we use that now for our pantry.
http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/37791/2006086190047245006S600x600Q85.jpg
rgds,
stk
RE: Diesel vs gas......................
bigger E...sorry man but I don't for a minute buy you got better mileage than an 05 duramax did. Aint happening for the most part. I tow 5000 lbs and avg 14.5 mpg on prairie. In the BC montains it drops to about 12.5 mpg. And a Ford does better than that...and an '04 at that..?? Take some pretty strange convincing for me to buy that. I mean yea he might have had his right foot in it..or something was screwy..but overall Nahh.
Now mind you a lot of the guys (DieselPlace.com), will tell ya that their mpg sucks till they hit 25,000+ .. I know both the LBZ and the ('07.5+), New LMM motors - many were/are getting terrible mileage to start. MT Trucks and not towing....Typ avg of 11-13 mpg. After Break-in most will tell ya @ 70mph they are getting 18-19 mpg. Add/subtract whatever mods/toys you want...18-19mpg. Go slower and it goes up, go faster and it goes down.
Pretty much what one might expect when driving a 6000# vehicle.!
I drive one because I can, because I get paid miles (which pretty much pays all the costs and then some), but most of all because I really like this vehicle.!
Stk
RE: Diesel vs gas......................
...U drive what you want & so do I. Now ain't that the truth.
Gasoline, Natural Gas, Propane, Diesel whatever ... the bottom line is there ain't never gonna be enough cause it is the internal combustion engine that is the issue.
The earlier comment about bio fuels being an issue is correct. We are seeing it now that the price of corn has gone up dramatically..why.? Ethanol production and the fact that those producing will pay higher price for corn than feedstock owners will. Guess what.? your food prices will eventually skyrocket.! and not just grain prices but whatever feeds from that grain: cattle, pork, chickens etc.
We need to devise another way to get around. And electrical, In my opinion is the only way that I can think of - at least for city commuters and for the foreseeable future. Yea there are lots of issues to date. Battery life, range, how to charge etc. But those will all be solved. They will have to be. One only needs to look at the cost of a Barrel of oil. $92.00 and rising. I bet we see $150 or close to it by Summer 2008.
Hmm $1.80 per litre .! anyone..?? (that translates into about $7.00 a gallon)
and Diesel again in my opinion, won't be far off Gas prices either.
stk
Time to sell the HTT
We had two awesome summers in our Coyote...but have decide to sell it and rent cabins, BnB's or Hotels for the next few years. This does a cpl of things. No winter styorage issue and the $500+ to store it, as well as a monthly payment that can be put towards the mortgage. It was and still is a great trailer .. No question. Light, easy to pull had all the amenities...but now it's just not a good fit for us. The girls are now busy teens with a social life as I'm told "don't ya know Dad..??"
And that's fine..no trailer for a cpl of years or so...and then we get one just for the boss n me. (Don Teresa...!). Maybe a small 5'er or a 21' or so with maybe a nice slide out and a bed that can handle more than 4" of foam....and made up when you get to where you're going.! oh yea baby.! If the girls want to come then...no problem, we still have a nice little dome tent they can use..!!
Take care y'all..not done camping/trailerin just quite yet..!!
Cheers,
Stk
