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At Ease
Admiral

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Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 13:28:48

With that weight 5th wheel, you can get by with a 3/4 ton, don't need a one ton. Diesel is the way to go. You keep your vehicles a long time, the diesel will last 300k. Also, a previous poster said a V10 gasser gets the same mileage, I would beg to differ. Pulling a heavy load, a gasser cannot come near a diesel for mpg. Also, you'll find a diesel will make for a very relaxing towing experience. There will be no 4,000 rpm screams up a slight grade. In a diesel there might be a very quiet down shift and it will keep right on going.

As for brands, I would not buy a Ford PSD...they are on engine number four over the last 10 years, still having problems. The Cummins in the Dodge is a fine engine...I have a big one in a motor home. However, IMHO, Dodge does not have the amenities the others have. To me it's hard to beat Chevy's Duramax/Allison combination. The Duramax has been around for years and the Allison is about the only transmission you can get in a motor home, and the one in the Chevy has the same great reputation.

Last week I sold a one ton diesel dually that I used to haul a 14k 5th wheel, so I'm a recent diesel owner.

Also, don't forget that the TRUE tow capacity is the GCWR minus the weight of the tow vehicle when ready to tow.

Edited by - At Ease on 03/27/2011 13:30:26

Dave5041
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Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 22:23:56

From the land of Cherokees - If I were towing a 10,000 pound trailer package, it would definitely be on the back of a diesel truck. But I did average over 13 mpg with the 6500 pound boat on my Florida trip this year. Incidentally, if you don't have a supercharger or turbocharger, diesels lose torque at high altitudes too. They just start with an excess. Lower air pressure means a less dense air and less oxygen to burn fuel. It is still 21% oxygen, but a liter of air at 10,000 ft weighs less than a liter of air at sea level and so has fewer molecules of nitrogen and oxygen.

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At Ease
Admiral

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Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 12:48:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 From the land of Cherokees - If I were towing a 10,000 pound trailer package, it would definitely be on the back of a diesel truck. But I did average over 13 mpg with the 6500 pound boat on my Florida trip this year. Incidentally, if you don't have a supercharger or turbocharger, diesels lose torque at high altitudes too. They just start with an excess. Lower air pressure means a less dense air and less oxygen to burn fuel. It is still 21% oxygen, but a liter of air at 10,000 ft weighs less than a liter of air at sea level and so has fewer molecules of nitrogen and oxygen.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

True...as a rule of thumb, a non turbo loses 3% of it's power for every 1,000' of altitude it climbs.

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skybird
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Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 20:55:07

I don't know of any current manufactured diesels that are not turbocharged. Power is strong at altitude and I think that under light loads I may get better mileage in the mountains???

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At Ease
Admiral

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Response Posted - 03/31/2011 : 15:39:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by skybird
 I don't know of any current manufactured diesels that are not turbocharged. Power is strong at altitude and I think that under light loads I may get better mileage in the mountains???
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's correct, all current (and recent) diesel pick ups are turbo charged. Your mileage will be fine at all altitudes with a diesel...much better than a gasser.

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Dave5041
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Response Posted - 03/31/2011 : 18:20:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> may get better mileage in the mountains???<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Not possible if you maintain the same average speed and are in the optimum gear. If you are starting at a higher altitude and ending at a lower one, you may, depending on the nature of the + and - inclines, get better milage. We often unconsciously adjust our driving in different settings. And for the record, I wanted a diesel G. Cherokee, but that engine was only available with ridiculous and expensive option packages that added $15,000 to the price. And they wonder why they can't sell diesels in volume in anything but pickups.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 03/31/2011 18:29:53

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