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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 21:40:16 GMT -5
So next spring I'm hoping to get a bigger camper hopefully same weight as old one just newer. I'm thinking 26'-28' and my problem is my truck. I have an 04 Silverado and it has the 4.8v8 with 3.73 gears and I'm thinking a 2500 gas because I can't justify a diesel even though that's what I'd like however everything about diesel is 3x more expensive other than mpg.
Does anyone know much about the 2500 gas class of trucks pulling 6000-8000lbs? What would be your recommended brand? And how come?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 22:06:16 GMT -5
A gasser and 8,000lbs is gonna get you in the high single digits at best. We have a couple 2015 f-350's with the 6.4 and they are dogs, make 400 hp sure but at 7,000rpm, who's gonna get any use of that? Pulling 12-16k I get about 5mpg and regular driving 9-10. I would be afraid to buy a diesel without warranty, paying to have injectors replaced can run you 3-5k pretty quick. It's at least a double edge sword so good luck!!
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Post by Richard on Jul 2, 2015 10:17:43 GMT -5
Cheaper to rent a motel...............No injectors to clean I know. I know, camping is fun! But sure is a shame to spend that kind of money on a truck when the camper (generally) gets so little use? Most people have the truck as a second vehicle..............then have to feed it all year long just so they can pull their camper a few times. At least if you have a business that needs a HD truck it can be written off as an expense............oh well, just my thoughts. If you happen to have a money machine like our illustrious president, then HEY, no problem Richard
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 10:42:12 GMT -5
Ha ha funny Richard! we actually camp 2-3 times a month with my parents and one or two big trips a year. Not to mention I burn fire wood during the winter to cut gas cost so a truck is very much needed. I don't know anything about Ford but I give allot of people crap for driving one so if I bought one I'd never heard the end of it. Lol A guy in our rebuild shop has a 2014 Chevy 2500 6.0 whose getting 12-13 mpg empty. Says the last one he had he put dual exhaust and cold air intake and was getting around 15 mpg then. Last night after I made this post I was doing more thought on this subject. July 13th my family and I go to Francis Case for a camping/fishing trip. This will be my trucks first real test pulling our 1996 24' 6000lbs travel trailer. Once I get a good ideal how my truck will do will help me make a better decision. I might only need to get a 1500 truck with bigger motor same gears. Most of my camping areas will be flat ground and maybe a couple times to mountains hunting or just camping. I usually drive a little Saturn car for my daily driver that gets 32-35mpg so the truck will be my fishing, hunting, winter driving, and camping. Richard glad my wife doesn't read this forum cause if she read what you posted she'd be all over that thought! She grew up going on cruises, resorts, and very expensive trips where I grew up going camping and fishing.
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Post by rambler on Jul 2, 2015 10:48:26 GMT -5
IMO...Go with the Chevy 3/4 ton. After you get it and when your cash flow allows put flojet mufflers and a K&N air intake kit on it. You'll recoup the money in short order on gas mileage. Ford...well I think everyone knows what that stands for
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 12:38:26 GMT -5
I know some guys that pull 6,000lbs campers with 1/2 tons. When you are planing your trips around the wind conditions you don't have enough truck! Pulling might not be the issue but stopping and overall control almost always are. Just my opinion as a guy that pulls stupid heavy stuff with a normal size truck
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Post by rambler on Jul 2, 2015 13:46:01 GMT -5
sway bar and equalizer hitch is a must regardless
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Post by schunter on Jul 2, 2015 14:31:50 GMT -5
And a transmission cooler....
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Post by 03mossy on Jul 2, 2015 15:45:54 GMT -5
I have a '08 Dodge Ram, mega cab 2500 hd with the 5.7 Hemi. Last summer we rented a 34' camper with 4 slideouts, dry weight of 8,500 lbs, it was big and awesome. Id like to brag and say the truck handled it fine but it didn't. That was too much camper for the truck. I have the adjustable airbags in the rear so it didn't squat at all and granted I didn't have sway bar and equalizer hitch but it was a white knuckle puckered cheek journey with it. I had to really plan for the hills ahead and let that hemi bark in order to make it up at a decent speed. I got about 9-10 mpg towing it. I had an '04 Chevy 2500hd with the duramax and allusion combo that would have handled it a lot better. I don't pull skid and dump trailers everyday like I used to so that's why I went gas this time around. There are times I sure do miss that old noisy diesel.
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Post by Richard on Jul 2, 2015 15:51:51 GMT -5
My bad............. I did was not aware you were a "frequent flyer" . I always had that guilty feeling owning a 4 x 4 all my life and plowing snow with it in the winter. But like you, I put a heating type wood stove in my basement with surrounding duct work and heated my 80' ranch all winter..........and yes, that truck hauled a lot of wood. And, like you, have always been a Chevy guy. I hear the new Silverado's do pretty well on gas. Richard
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 16:39:06 GMT -5
My bad............. I did was not aware you were a "frequent flyer" . I always had that guilty feeling owning a 4 x 4 all my life and plowing snow with it in the winter. But like you, I put a heating type wood stove in my basement with surrounding duct work and heated my 80' ranch all winter..........and yes, that truck hauled a lot of wood. And, like you, have always been a Chevy guy. I hear the new Silverado's do pretty well on gas. Richard Richard I took it as you messing around so it didn't bother me. Either way I knew you intentions were good no worries.
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Post by hankinsrfls on Jul 2, 2015 16:54:50 GMT -5
I have a 2001 dodge 3/4 ton diesel with a 5 speed that I bought new. I love that truck and will never go back to a gas engine in a truck that I plan on using as a towing vehicle. I can get great mileage with it loaded or empty and I can haul a max load on my 29 foot goose neck trailer and not even know its back there.. Only problem is stoping it as the trailer brakes are not working at the present time..
The new Dodge 3/4 ton diesels can get 21 mpg and that awesome fuel mileage...
Jeff.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 17:04:20 GMT -5
I have a 2001 dodge 3/4 ton diesel with a 5 speed that I bought new. I love that truck and will never go back to a gas engine in a truck that I plan on using as a towing vehicle. I can get great mileage with it loaded or empty and I can haul a max load on my 29 foot goose neck trailer and not even know its back there.. Only problem is stoping it as the trailer brakes are not working at the present time.. The new Dodge 3/4 ton diesels can get 21 mpg and that awesome fuel mileage... Jeff. Jeff a guy at work claims his neighbor has an 04 dodge diesel that pulls a 35' fifth wheel getting 20 mpg for me I find that hard to swallow. My boss has a 2014 Ford diesel pulls a fifth wheel and boat 12000 lbs and he only gets 12 mpg. However he said if he could take all the stuff that chokes his diesel down he thinks he could get closer to 20mpg pulling. If I could get a diesel that gets closer to 20mpg pulling them I could justify getting one and I know for sure if I got a diesel I'd never go back. I'd really love a diesel just can't justify the extra $10k up front and 3x the maintenance cost.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 18:03:32 GMT -5
Jeff made a very important point on the dodge, manual. I don't trust dodge for their autos whether they say they are better or not, especially with a newer diesel powerhouse in front of it. Depending on what generation cummins you get you absolutely can get 20mpg hauling a heck of a load and nearly 30 empty. Gotta fork out some cash upfront for really good custom tuning that isn't going to lead to a destroyed motor. Dodge would be your cheapest way into a used diesel besides a 6.0 powerstroke, someone would likely give you that piece of trash.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 18:29:24 GMT -5
Jeff made a very important point on the dodge, manual. I don't trust dodge for their autos whether they say they are better or not, especially with a newer diesel powerhouse in front of it. Depending on what generation cummins you get you absolutely can get 20mpg hauling a heck of a load and nearly 30 empty. Gotta fork out some cash upfront for really good custom tuning that isn't going to lead to a destroyed motor. Dodge would be your cheapest way into a used diesel besides a 6.0 powerstroke, someone would likely give you that piece of trash. Yeah I have a neighbor who is a die hard Ford fan and has always said stay away from 6.0 diesel he had nothing but problem with his. Next year if all my ducks align up right a diesel might be what I get.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 20:57:45 GMT -5
I bought a 2014 2500 Ram 4x4 6.7 diesel 6 speed manual in April of 2014 new. I filled my truck up Friday morning, drove 26 miles round trip to work and back, drove early Saturday morning to pick up Hillbill, drove to Kentucky to the range, back to drop off Hillbill and home. I filled up with diesel Monday morning on the way to work 553 miles on the tank 26 gallons of diesel 21.3 mpg. The only modification I have done to my truck is replace the air filter with a K&N air filter and replaced the factory resonator intake to the turbo with K&N's. About $230.00 total. This is the second Dodge/Ram I have owned, bought the first one new in 97 drove it 291K, bought this one and sold my first one to a buddy in Danville KY. Ram. Kyle
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Post by hankinsrfls on Jul 3, 2015 15:23:41 GMT -5
Riverrat. It is hard to believe 20 miles per gallon loaded with 12,000 pounds or so unless it was across the Arizona salt flats.. Even with modifications to the truck.. I get close to 20 mpg empty and depending on what I'm pulling it can go down to 15-16 mpg.. Only mods I've done to my truck is a bigger exhaust, fast fuel lift pump, and a k&n air filter. I also added a Bully dog computer upgrade that I run on #9 which is the most powerful and you do need to remember its there or you can spin out pretty easy in third gear on wet roads.
I bought the truck new in 2001 and it has never been back to the dealer or any other repair shop since., I do all my own mechanic work and all though this truck has been a good one and I can't complain I have had to replace the fuel injector pump, the ball joints twice and I completely rebuilt the transmission a few years ago and upgraded the clutch while I was at it.. Other than that the truck has not gave me any other problems, except the dash is cracked all to pieces, but that don't effect the way it runs..
To justify buying a $60,000 + truck (IMO) you need to tell yourself you're going to drive it till the wheels fall off, with 170,000 miles on my truck it's really just now getting broke in but the body is getting kinda rusty and needs a paint job.. I'd like to do that soon but I don't know when I'll find the time to spend a month or so painting it as I do use the truck every week just about.
One of these days I'll brake down and buy another new truck and keep it for 15 years or so, but I hate making payments and at this time I'm truck payment free..
Jeff Hankins..
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 17:04:37 GMT -5
I'll be the oddball out. Buy a new Ford diesel and forget about it. Drive all the new ones, as I did, and then make your decision. I'd be driving the Ford if they had the rebates Dodge did, but they don't so my pocket book said you must get the Dodge. Not that it's a bad truck, but after having 4 Super Duty's in a row, I've became a Ford truck guy. If you buy a new Ford diesel and don't like it, I'll trade ya a dodge diesel for it. Honestly, they're all good, just get what suits your needs and your budget.
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Post by rambler on Jul 5, 2015 17:24:39 GMT -5
I agree with ohioguy, nothing is truly American made these days. All the technology is so alike, if it's not from china it's from japan.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 20:16:02 GMT -5
Ram... Mecho en Mexico
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Post by joe1379 on Jul 5, 2015 23:13:17 GMT -5
Here is my two cents. I used to own a 2002 Ford F-250 Super Duty with the 7.3 liter Diesel. The only reason I sold it was because it was a single cab and the wife wanted room for her and the kid. They didn't like sharing the front seat. I now have a 2000 chevy 2500 with the 6.0 Now, I do like some features on the chevy better ,but the Ford had better gas mileage, WAY more powerful, and drove better. I actually am a chevy guy but that 2002 super duty was the best vehicle I have ever owned and would buy it back if the guy would sell it to me. If you can find someone willing to sell a 7.3 diesel Ford you won't be sorry. If you are buying a gas motor I would definitely go with a chevy, hands down. My buddy owns a landscape business and has several Duramax/Allison combos. He says they are awesome but gas mileage sucks. New diesels are outfitted with a fuel additive tank and are limited on the aftermarket stuff you can do. And big $$$$$ Older diesels that are good (7.3 ford, 5.9 cummings, Duramax) are pretty hard to come by in good shape but you can put lots of aftermarket chips in them to get pretty decent gas mileage. The 5.9 is probably the best diesel ever made, followed by the 7.3 (my opinion of course) If you are towing a LOT, the diesel with pay for itself in longevity and better towing gas mileage. A chevy 2500 with a 6.0 will do the job as well, but don't expect any better mileage then 8 or so while towing. I used to get 12 or so loaded down with the 7.3. You have some things to think about and I probably didn't help one bit. Just my thoughts.
Joe
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2015 0:47:51 GMT -5
I really appreciate all the post, as you can see there is really no real ryme or reason to the "right" truck. Which is why I've had a hard time knowing exactly what to do.
Been thinking just fix the rust, drive the truck, pulling or not, and if it doesn't have enough power just go slower. Or get bigger truck (2500) and have a little bit bigger payment, little worse mpg, and enjoy the ride.
One of my biggest issues is once I get something in my mind I have a hard time changing it. So this more power thing is driving me crazy.
When we buy duck hunting boats I always tell my friends always max out the motor size cause you'll always be wishing you had. Which is what I'm doing now over a truck for camping, fishing, hunting, and work. Yeah guess I need to follow my own philosophy.
Thanks guys for all the input I really do appreciate it.
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Post by joe1379 on Jul 6, 2015 14:13:37 GMT -5
One more thing to add to your headache!!! The most stable towing pick up I have ever driven was a dually. The wide four tire wheel base makes them very stable and feel like they are on rails. Joe
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 9:54:35 GMT -5
Update:
Well on the way up to our camping spot in south Dakota the truck averaged around 10 mpg pulling around 6500-7000lbs. It for sure was under powered and last leg it ran 3/4 hot but got the job done. On the way home we left after noon and it ran 3/4 hot the whole way and was struggling the whole way cause of head wind and cross wind. The whole trip it averaged 9 mpg.
Over all guess I should expect that out of a 1500 Silverado with 4.8 vortex and 373 gears with over load springs.
Wife found a bigger lighter camper we are going to look at Monday. It's 700 pounds lighter.
Going to look for a 2500/from now till next spring.
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Post by rambler on Jul 18, 2015 10:09:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 10:42:49 GMT -5
We are looking for a 26-28' bunk house would like a slide out but if the deal is right and inside is laid out right then a slide out isn't necessary. Hope to stay under 6000lbs the one we have now is 5900lbs dry weight.
Not sure if the truck struggled because it was so hot and it was running fan to cool engine. Going to change thermostat and flush radiator see what happens.
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