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
Teresa-Meagan-Kaylee '06 GMC DMax CCSB w/a lil 'Xtra Jam 2006KZ KY-Yachty CT22 done comfy.!
Reese 750WD w/DualCam Sway: 50W Solar
Sounds like you're coming from the same direction I am.
I was pulling a 19H with our 07 V-8 Explorer. Daily mixed driving gets me about 20 mpg. On the hwy about 21.5- 22mpg. Pulling the trailer at 60 about 12 mpg, at 65 about 10 mpg.
It pulls fine even w/ single cam sway control. Did I ever pull it in the mountains? No. We have so many great campsites around, we hardly ever travel more than 4 hours from home.
That being said, if you were planning on trading vehicles - ok, then trade, if you are trading for the sake of fuel economy, don't. Factor in the difference based on your annual mileage driven, mpg you get now vs. on the new vehicle, and difference in cost, you'll probably see the difference in mileage is less than one payment on the new vehicle...
I was also considering a change in tow vehicles to try and save on fuel when I'm not towing but I've found that most SUV's that could pull a decent trailer (Explorer, Trailblazer) don't get any better gas mileage. Based on the new 2008 guidelines for fuel economy my 06 Chev Avalanche is rated at 13 city, 17 hwy. An 08 trailblazer 4x4 (v8) is 13/19 and Ford explorer 4x4 (v6 and v8) were both 13/18. Not much savings there so I'll be keeping the Chev. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/bymodel/bymakemodelNF.shtml
Not sure all have this luxury but we tried to limit the daily driving for our TV making the decision some time ago to become a 3 car family. The TV only daily drives in the winter when a car that handles poorly in the snow gets tucked away for 3-4 months until spring. In its day, the SUV was way more expensive than the used car that tries to absorb as many daily miles as possible.
JSGlow John, Stacey, Sarah, and Jack
2002 Ford Explorer (EB) 4.6L V-8, 3.73
2004 Antigua 215sso
1999 Starcraft Starfire 160DC
I towed an almost identical trailer to yours with a V6 Explorer. If I had to do it again, I would be getting a V8 Explorer at the minimum. Fuel economy is really not an issue as the V6 and V8 Explorers are so close it really isn't worth talking about, and a V8 will tow your trailer great.
John, the lovely wife, plus the 3 kids. 2007 Jayco Jay Flight 31BHS - Parked at the Seasonal Site Previous setups...
2002 Ford Explorer V6 pulling 2000 Trail-Lite Bantam B19
1997 Chevy Blazer pulling small Coleman popup
Hi Stk, hope the move out east went well. I'm originally from BC, Williams Lake. Transplanted to Dayton, OH area 1995. I'm assuming you're on a little flatter ground now. I've got an 03 Dakota quad cab 4x4 rated at 4600lb towing. I currently tow an 05 fleetwood laramie tent trailer, 2 kids, wife, bikes, firewood, etc. Mostly weekends at state parks, very little hills around here. We would like to upgrade to a hybrid, something similar to what you've got, (those middle of the night excursions ar taking their toll), we would like a bathroom and some more living space. How's my dodge gonna tow on the flatter ground with something with more wind resistance? If your advice is to upgrade the truck before the trailer, how do you like yours? I'm leaning towards a GMC. I was leaning towards gas though. What's your thought on that too.
Thanks for any advice.
Kevin
First, I'll say that I think you should keep your truck. As already stated, any SUV worth its salt won't get you all that much of an improvement in mileage. Unless you really think you "need" something smaller, or more seating?
EDIT: I'm going to back peddle on the above statement. Compare a truck that averges 13mpg to a SUV that averages 16. Assuming an average of 20k miles per year, the SUV will cost $1000 less in gas at $4 a gal. This does not take into account the expected poor mileage while towing. Is $1k insignificant petty cash? Only one that can answer that is you. One has to ask themselves what they might be able to do with an extra $1k.
But I will challenge the "conventional" thinking I'm reading here. I find it interesting that the guy towing with a diesel is the one recommending going to a PUP with an SUV. While I will completely agree that having a V8 will tow better and smoother, however, today's V6s and especially Chevy's I6 have little difficulty towing within thier ranges (And yes, I have towed my trailer, in mountains, with a 1/2 ton V8). Yes, for larger trailers, going up a mountain may be a slower ride with an SUV. So what? Are you really in such a hurry? Is saving a few minutes on a trip that important? I don't know about others, but when I'm on vacation, the last thing I'm in is a hurry. Still with my I6 TB and 3:42 rear end, I have no difficulty doing 50-55 up a 6% or 7% grade. The torque curve on my I6 is just starting to ramp up at 3000 RPM, and on flats I'm running at 2600 RPM in 3rd gear at 63mph.
The Wheelbase of most SUVs won't be an issue for you with a 19' trailer.
Another thing to consider is where you are towing. In your case, as mine, most towing is done on flat land. Even the hills in the areas along the Missisippi and St Croix rivers are not all that big of a deal. Most V6 SUVs with the towing capacity you need will handle it perfectly fine.
* This post was
edited 05/16/08 07:19am by Campfire Time *
Chuck D.
'03 Jayco Kiwi 17a, '03 Chevy Trailblazer EXT, Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS
Photography is my obsession: http://coldwater.smugmug.com/
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
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