I'm starting to think about a new tow vehicle...in 2 or 3 years I should be ready to pull the trigger. So I got to wondering, how does everyone start the process? In the past I've been set on the type/size/weight of the camper I'd be towing so the vehicle choice had a minimum requirement. Then I tried to get the highest gas mileage rating that I could.
Next go-around, we're looking at upgrading the camper and the tow vehicle. So I don't know if it is better to start with the camper we like or the tow vehicle and let the tow limitations dictate what we could look for in a new camper :-
What does everyone else do?
I had to select other. When we bought the pup, we had a Jeep Liberty with 5000# tow limit. I towed 2 trips with it and did not like the way it towed. The wheelbase was so short it felt funky. So we already had the pup when we decided to upgrade to the Armada. I knew that it could handle the pup's weight.
With our second pup the TV we had (05 Colorado I5 engine) seemed to do OK except for the hills. And no where to turn around in the driveway. Long and up hill to the house. So DW convinced me to get a full size PU, that did the trick. Mostly it was budget, I kind of knew that weight wouldn't be a problem and it wasn't a vehicle that was a daily driver so mileage wasn't the first concern.
When we bought our '07 Flagstaff (~2000 lbs.) we already had a Dodge Dakota w/3.9L V6. That was plenty of TV for the weight, most of the time. It did lag on hills ... either than or kick it into low and hear the engine roar more than I wanted.
It started getting long in the tooth, was closing in on 15 years old and we were kicking around the idea of getting a highwall w/slideout. When we had purchased the Flagstaff, it was just the two of us, so a 10 ft box was enough room. When our grandson came along, our daughter-in-law decided she'd try camping and she loves it. So, when it was time to replace the Dakota we decided to go with a full size extended or crew cab with plenty of V8. We found the '04 F150, which didn't even know the 10 ft PUP was there!
Last fall we upgraded to the '08 Niagara, which has plenty of room for 5 people. Now we just have to get our TV back 🙁
John
I had the Horse before the cart, got a Blazer to haul camping stuff in and keep it dry & contained, My Ford Ranger PU wasn't working. 1st time a storm came thru and made a river run thru my tent I started looking for a camper. and having good memories of Pop Ups I started there.
The Man I got my Blazer from towed a 26' TT, I can't feel my Pup unless I go over a big bump 8)
after having 2 popups over a 17 year period, we wanted to move up to a hybrid. but our TV wouldn't be a good one to tow with.
we chose to find the hybrid model we loved and then get a TV that could tow it easily.
we loved the 23SS and thought we wanted a Ridgeline to tow it.
did some research and found out that Honda recommends NOT using a WDH, which was just insane!
and the 5000lb. tow capacity was cutting it too close.
so we chose an Avalanche, which i found out gets almost the same mpg, seats 6 adults and had 2200lbs. more tow capacity.
after 5 years of ownership, i can say we made the right decision.
find the trailer first, then find a TV that will easily tow it.
don't cut it close, because you'll regret it.
Appreciate everyone's comments, we are going to be in the situation of upgrading both around the same time. And I'm trying to balance the floorplan of a new TT with various tow capacities & gas mileage.
Bikendan - - you are absolutely right "don't cut it close". I usually apply the 80% rule, i.e. the loaded trailer, people & cargo in the vehicle should be less than 80% of the vehicle's tow capacity. I was also disappointed to learn that Honda doesn't recommend a WDH. We love the Pilot, and may have looked at the Ridgeline for the next vehicle except for that little restriction 😉
I said I would read online reviews and other. Eventually I would likea HTT but that isn't in the cards right now..... but I know it will be there eventually. What I plan to do is get a full size quad cab pickup. Used. This would be my "extra" vehicle to haul mulch and stuff and be used when one of the other vehicles is in the shop. Since it would be my "extra" vehicle, mpg would not be a major concern (not getting anything less than 10mpg) and it can be a few years old. My commuter vehicle will be either my 4cyl Tacoma or DW's minivan. Both get about 22mpg. Going with a full size, tow capacity shouldn't be that much of an issue currently or in the future. Although I will read up on it.
Since I would be going used it would really depend on just what is out there at the time and what kind of a deal there is. I would really like to find a Tundra....but they don't seem to be out there as much yet. However if I tripped over a deal for a Dodge, I wouldn't pass it up.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
[quote author=Lone Lock link=topic=1578.msg12831#msg12831 date=1335355841]
My commuter vehicle will be either my 4cyl Tacoma or DW's minivan. Both get about 22mpg. Going with a full size, tow capacity shouldn't be that much of an issue currently or in the future. Although I will read up on it.
just something i learned when i was researching tow vehicles.
like i said previously, i found out the full size Chevy Avalanche got nearly the exact mpg as the Honda Ridgeline. only 1mpg highway less.
further research showed that many of the full size v-8 trucks/SUVs also got nearly the same mpg as the v-6 trucks/SUVs.
for example, my v-8 Avalanche got almost the same mpg as the Tacoma, Frontier and Ridgeline. only 1mpg difference in city and highway.
there exists a misconception that v-8 trucks/SUVs are gas hogs and their v-6 cousins are much more fuel efficient when in reality, this is no longer true.
newer v-8 technology has made vast improvements that no longer make getting a v-6 attractive.
only the new v-6 Ecoboost engine has made a v-6 more attractive in power and fuel economy, over a comparable v-8 engine.
Interesting thing about the Eco-Boost V6 Ford has, is that when you are working the engine pulling a 10,000 lb load, it gets the same poor mileage as it's V8 brothers.
When you're generating the Horsepower to pull that load, you use the fuel as well.
The Eco-boost does do phenomenally well in normal driving when the owners are driving it sanely.
[quote author=Storm Trooper link=topic=1578.msg12838#msg12838 date=1335369063]
What is the GVWR of the TT you are looking at?
Haven't decided yet, there are a few of the floor plans that we like. I'm guessing the unloaded weight will be between 3500-4200 lbs. Which by my calculations, means I'm looking for a tow vehicle rating 5200 lbs-6100 lbs. Plenty of options, plenty of time to figure it out 🙂
Dawn,
My F150 is a 2010, the Eco-boost didn't come out till 2011.
That being said, I have the 5.4 with the maximum tow package. My HTT weighs in just under 6000 lbs and my F150 is rated for 11,200 lbs.
The F150 barely breaks a sweat even in the mountains. I'll get around 20 mpg on the highway not towing and between 10 -12 mpg towing.
The EcoBoost V6 has 40 more HP than my V8.
It develops 90% of the torque by 2000 rpm. That makes it pull like a diesel. You don't have to rev it way up to get the pulling power like all the other V8's.
Spend some time on the F150forum.com and f150online.com to get an idea what the owners are saying about it.
Real MPH on the highway seems to range from 23 to 25 mpg and the city is at least 5 mpg higher than anyones V8.
My choice for towing would be the ecoboost V6 or the 6.2 V8 in a Ford.
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