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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / September 2005towing vechile what to get?
I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has better mileage. What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg while pulling, and have enough power. > I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has > better mileage. > > What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg > while pulling, and have enough power. Depending on which Aliner you have you are talking of pulling a minimum of 500 pounds and maybe 1000. I would say you would be lucky to get 20 mpg pulling but don't expect to have a lot of power unless you can find a small diesel. Just dropping the 4x4 you will give some improvement. >> I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the >> cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >pulling but don't expect to have a lot of power unless you can find a small >diesel. Just dropping the 4x4 you will give some improvement. Rich, why would dropping the 4x4 increase the fuel mileage? He has lock out hubs, there is nothing in the front drive train being moved, so no effort is being lost moving anything. Even with electronic 4wheel on the fly, the hubs are engaged with vacuum and no front end parts move when disengaged. And the 200lbs extra weight won't make a tenth of mpg difference.  SignatureFrank Tabor > >> I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > >> cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > vacuum and no front end parts move when disengaged. And the 200lbs > extra weight won't make a tenth of mpg difference. The weight difference makes a difference in how much can be pulled. He can go for a smaller vehicle and still be able to pull the trailer. I would say when you are talking about pulling a 500 or even a 1000 pound trailer the extra 200 pounds can make quite a difference. I don't know about the ford, but on my Dakota, there aren't any automatic hubs. There's the disconnect at the transfer case, but the front driveline still spins. Don't forget about the increased wind resistance from being taller as well. I'll admit though that the difference isn't dramatic even with both of these factors (I owned a 2wd dakota before this one). Korey >I don't know about the ford, but on my Dakota, there aren't any >automatic hubs. There's the disconnect at the transfer case, but the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Korey On your Dakota there is a disconnect on each shaft as it goes into the hogshead. So each front wheel turns a short shaft about 14" long. Chevy and GMS are the same. SignatureFrank Tabor > >> I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > >> cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > vacuum and no front end parts move when disengaged. And the 200lbs > extra weight won't make a tenth of mpg difference. 200 pounds??? no way. The drive axle alone has to be 3-400 pounds more. Then there is the transfer case, and other assorted stuff to make the 4 by go. A long time ago I had a Ford 2 x and a friend had the same model and year 4 x we weighted them, just about 1200 pounds more for the 4 by. Not counting the additional friction that the drive axle generates. I have a 2001 Ford F-150 with the 330 motor. I installed a new 3 inch exhaust (cat back) and 70 series Flowmaster, a throttle body spacer, and a K&N filter with modified intake box. I get 15 with the air on in town and if I keep to 75 mph on the highway I get 20 occasionally a tad more. Towing my trailer which weights in at 1400 pounds empty I generally get 15-17 as long as I decide not to pass anyone going up the mountain grades. Fords have never been known for gas mileage. I like the power under the hood and use it when I want to. > Rich, why would dropping the 4x4 increase the fuel mileage? He has > lock out hubs, there is nothing in the front drive train being moved, > so no effort is being lost moving anything. The transfer case adds friction. >> Rich, why would dropping the 4x4 increase the fuel mileage? He has >> lock out hubs, there is nothing in the front drive train being moved, >> so no effort is being lost moving anything. > >The transfer case adds friction. When the hubs are free, the transfer case adds zero friction. Nothing is turning in there. SignatureFrank Tabor > When the hubs are free, the transfer case adds zero friction. Nothing > is turning in there. What about the input side to the transfer case? >> When the hubs are free, the transfer case adds zero friction. Nothing >> is turning in there. > >What about the input side to the transfer case? The input side is a shaft that goes through a clutch. When the transfer case is disengaged, the shaft turns freely as if the clutch wasn't even there. Just like a manual transmission when you put your foot on the clutch. Nothing there. Nothing in the transfer case moves when it's disengaged. Go to www.ask.com and type in How does a transfer case work? and do a little research. SignatureFrank Tabor I could be wrong, but I have trouble imagining that there's anything out there that does a good job of towing that will get 25mpg *while* towing. A minivan will get you that running solo, but I'm sure it drops a good bit when you put a load behind it. If you're really only towing 500-1000lbs as others have suggested, most small cars will tow 1000-1500, but I wouldn't want to do much of that...and you'd still probably be under 25mpg. We were talking a trip to the beach next month, but lots going on, so leaning against it. The latest price on the pumps puts the nail in the coffin for us. Not sure what it's doing other places in the country, but here in VA it has gone up to $2.99 a gallon - up from $2.79 at lunch time today! :-( Hopefully the extreme prices will be relatively short-lived... Yeah, I know, it's still cheaper than other countries pay...but that doesn't help my wallet any! Wesley > I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has > better mileage. > > What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg > while pulling, and have enough power. > I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has > better mileage. > > What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg > while pulling, and have enough power. Without reading the other replies, I believe you are S.O.L. I believe there is NO mass produced vehicle capable of towing your Aliner at posted speed (or 50 mph, whichever is less) that can deliver the economy you desire. Sadly, your only options are to stay home or pay the price. I filled-up with 87-octane, E10 regular (10% gasohol) last night for $2.799/gallon. This morning and for most of the day, the same gas at the same station was $3.199/gallon. By this evening, it was at $2.999. I broke a record with $72.00 in the tank. <sigh> JR Signature2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 >I filled-up with 87-octane, E10 regular (10% gasohol) last night for >$2.799/gallon. This morning and for most of the day, the same gas at the same >station was $3.199/gallon. By this evening, it was at $2.999. > >I broke a record with $72.00 in the tank. I got back yesterday from a 600-mile round trip from the SF Bay Area to Reno. I left on Thursday morning and filled up in the Central Valley at a Flying J for $2.85 per gallon--total cost $88.00 Driving back from Reno on Monday, I gassed up at a ARCO station for $3.11 per gallon, costing $75.00. I always fill up with 87 Octane regular, per GM's recommendation. I returned to home with about the same level of fuel I left with on Thursday. I stayed at a VERY upscale RV Park in Sparks, NV (just outside of Reno) for $55.00 per night. An equivalent hotel room would go for $200.00 per night for the Labor Day weekend. Since I would have spent the $$ on gas in any event, it really was a no-brainer to take the trailer and suffer the 3 mpg less while towing and the increased fuel costs. I saved at least $145.00 per night for a 4 night stay in lodging costs. Gasoline prices aside, I think that I got a deal on this trip. Plus, the "21" tables were pretty kind to me as well. 8-) Mark Filice 2004 Homestead Settler 255RS 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 > I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has > better mileage. > > What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg > while pulling, and have enough power. 25 mpg while pulling???? I think you're asking for a bit much. An economy car that gets good mpg isn't too safe for towing. How much will it cost to trade your F150 in for something else? Will it wipe out any gas savings? I guess I should have kept my Ranger 4.0 2/2 I got 20 pulling the trailer. > I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has > better mileage. > > What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg > while pulling, and have enough power. 2000 Ranger 4X4 4.0, ext cab, we got 20 mpg on a recent trip, pulling a 2000 Coleman Sun Valley...this included a solo trip into a small town for a new battery when the 5 yr old camper battery gave up the ghost...I was impressed! >I guess I should have kept my Ranger 4.0 2/2 I got 20 pulling the trailer. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > mpg >> while pulling, and have enough power. >I guess I should have kept my Ranger 4.0 2/2 I got 20 pulling the trailer. I had a 1990 Ford Ranger 4.0 2WD. I routinely got 15 mpg around town, and 17 on the road. When towing, I generally got around 13 mpg. It always got lousy gas mileage. It was perfectly maintained, and I got it from my father-in-law who is a retired dealership mechanic. He never got any gas mileage out of it, either. Mark Filice 2004 Homestead Settler 255RS 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 Wait for the new specs on the Jeep Liberty Diesel. Probably a very bad tow vehicule because of wheel base lenghts... but probably OK for an Aliner Mel gary a écrit: > I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has > better mileage. > > What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg > while pulling, and have enough power. > I have a Ford F150 4x4 5.4 liter truck which I pull my Aliner. With the > cost of gas I have been thinking about getting something else. That has > better mileage. > What do you all use or whould like to have? I'd like to get at least 25 mpg > while pulling, and have enough power. I believe Aliners are really light. If its 1500lbs or less wet, then a 4-cylinder Camry with an automatic transmission + extra cooler ought to meet your needs. Its got a rock solid drivetrain and is rated by Toyota to tow 2000lbs. Its wheel base is only 2.3" shorter than the Tacoma. |
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