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Posts: 494
Location: midwest | What's your preferred tow vehicle? What are you towing with it and why is it your preferred vehicle? I'm in the market for a new tow vehicle and looking for options and real world MPG comparison. Open to trucks and SUV's pulling an 18' glass rig/single axle with surge brakes. Towed for a couple years with a Tacoma that worked good bit is getting old. Not really fond of the new Tacoma motor option. |
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Posts: 8782
| Silverado 2500 HD. Why?
1. Because you can never have too much truck.
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | best pull vehicles have a long wheel base ... and diesel engines. they are a joy to drive with a boat connected ... F350 Superduty here. the interior is enormous on the Superduties and make them a great choice for the job. i pull a big trailer all winter too and something is almost always connected to it. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | F350 King Ranch... Very comfortable. This thing will pull a House ! I have a 40 ft. Fifth Wheel that weights about 16,000 lbs. and pulls well.
also have another one (company work trucks) both get about 13-14 mpg pulling a 20 ft. boat or 20 ft cargo trailers Both trucks have 300,000 miles on them. love these trucks.
have two F250 that have 250,000-300,000 miles on them and still get 18-19 mpg @75 mph. They pull Company Trailers all over the place also.
Once you go King Ranch you'll never want anything else.
Can't beat looking down on a pair of good looking legs in a convertible on a very sunny July afternoon.... Come on Summer !
Edited by Top H2O 3/28/2018 6:04 PM
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | 2012 Chevy Avalanch why because I like the avalanche and they quit making them so I guess I'll have to buy a truck . I pull a 2012 skeeter 1850 MX |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Depends on how much you want to spend. The ecoboost is nice.
Jeff, the resale on you're truck should be excellent. Make sure to show the perspecive buyer the paint that is still intact on the inside of the hitch!:-) |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Trucks these days are pretty capable. I have a 2012 F150 with the 5.0 liter. Pulls my Tuffy 1760 GT with no issues at all. Hayward to LOTW averages about 13 mpg or maybe a touch better. General driving at 70 mph in the summer is 17 to 18 mpg with more agressive tires. Doing 60 average 18 to 20 mpg depending on trip and how flat.
Before upgrading tires I babied it on hills and did about 21 mpg going between 65 to 70.
If you could afford the truck and justify it a big diesel would be where it's at for pure towing I'm sure. Never towed with one myself but they sound pretty impressive. |
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Posts: 633
Location: Madison, WI | I have a 2012 F150 with the eco boost and my mileage is almost exactly the same as curlytail above. The eco is nice but I have not seen any real world benefit in mpg. My dad has the 5.0 and actually averages better mileage than me but he also drives his truck more. If you do a lot of interstate driving without a trailer the eco would shine, but for everyday around town driving and towing mpg it is not any better. However it is rated to tow almost 2000 pounds more. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Dan, your post mirrors a lot of what I read about the ecoboost mpg. Don't have one so I can't verify but I read some people say they get great mileage when loping along easily, but work then enough to get the turbo spinning and they like gas then.
Sounds like the eco trucks can really get up and go when you want them to though! |
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Posts: 494
Location: midwest | Looks like lots of ford guys... no dodge or toyota fans? Not looking to go any bigger than a 150/1500 size truck. I'm pulling a 18' boat that's fairly light. |
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | I have a 2016 F150 with the 3.5 eco boost. I pull a 19' fiberglass boat and to be honest it pulls it like there isn't anything there. I get on average 15 mpg towing and 19-21 on the highway not towing. Really surprised at the power especially when passing with boat in tow. Kicks my old 5.4 in the butt! |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | i just recently traded my f250 for a 2017 f150 eco lariat.. getting 20-22 mpg all day. haven't hooked up the 620vs yet.
f250 was an 8 cyl gasser. terrible mileage in that thing. 13 mpg normal driving/ 8-10 pulling boat. so far so good in the 150!
hauls nice try as well when you want it to |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | A buddy of mine has the ecoboost, he only gets 13.5 towing his 1850 fishhawk. Not that much better without. Certainly nowhere near 20-21mpg. It will beat my old suburban in reverse though, lots of power. Another good friend has a tundra with a 400hp V8 and gets 12. Same deal. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I've had Tahoe's for 20 some years, while they may not have the most power, I will likely never own anything else. get about 12 mph pulling my 690 at highway speeds ..buddy has a 6.6 duramax turbo diesel that pulls unbelievably. |
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Location: Northern Illinois | 05 powerstroke deleted and tuned, pulls my Ranger all day 17-18 mpg on highway feels like nothing there at a |
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Posts: 228
Location: Tinley Park, IL | I agree about the new Tacomas. Plus, they were surprisingly given a low reliability ratings in Consumer Reports. My next truck will be a Tundra after I move on from my 2008 Tacoma. My Tacoma has been flawless and tows my X-190 well. Our boats are comparable in weight and any full size truck will tow them easily. Since towing the boat will not be a problem, I next look to reliability and the Tundras shine there over all the other manufacturers. Gas mileage is awful but I have come to accept that. |
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I use a 2010 ram 1500 4x4 with the hemi. I wouldn't consider one of the other "big 2" based on experiences I have had in the past. I got 17.9 mpg towing my boat to Canada and back. I have gotten as high as 18.7 towing a buddy's bass boat on a 6 hour round trip. When I bought mine, it had the biggest brakes, most hp, and the transmission out of the 3/4 ton. I have 140k on mine now and haven't had any issues with it. Toyota trucks are reliable, but as stated above, i get better mileage towing than it does just cruising at highway speeds. |
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Posts: 1000
| My preferred tow vehicle would be a tacoma with a small V8 and 4-wheel disc brakes, because it would go down any grouse/state forest trail and tow very well.
Unfortunately that truck doesn't exist so I settled with a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 All Terrain. It tows well, is very quiet/comfortable, and is slightly smaller than the other full-size trucks out there. I currently tow a crestliner 1850 fishhawk. I intend to upgrade to an 07-10 619 next year.
Edited by tolle141 3/29/2018 12:33 PM
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Posts: 1089
Location: Hayward, WI | My 2012 Ram 1500 Hemi has been great. Milage is what I expected and has a great ride and power.
Work 2014 Tundra has been disappointing. Lots of issues, terrible mileage and I don't think it is a comfortable ride. I had really wanted to like this truck as I was thinking of getting one for my next truck, but I have not been impressed. |
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Posts: 303
| 2015 GMC Seirra for me. Get roughly 14-15 towing a 18' lund and get around 20-21 without. |
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Posts: 280
Location: US | I have a 2500 Sierra with the duramax. I used to race cars and have had a diesel pickup ever since. It's not needed for pulling the boat but it sure is nice. |
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Posts: 59
| 2017 F-150 with the 2.7 eco, 17' ranger. Smaller motor, but the turbo's are the s**t for towing, very little downshifting at highway speed. Pulling a boat I get the same gas mileage as pretty much everyone else, in the 13-15 range depending on speed. 55-75 highway speeds, it will range from 23-17. I really couldn't be happier. |
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Posts: 34
| I run a chevy 2500 duramax diesel and it is a pulling machine! Once you go diesel you will have a tough time going back to gas. |
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Posts: 1209
| Dream- ram 2500 cummins,
What I have- 2016 ram 2500 cummins, Laramie. "Leather heated seats and STEERING WHEEL, ventilated seats nav......
Why, pulling -14-15 mpgs at 79-80 mph on normal summer days obviously conditions can reduce this, it makes up to 800 ft pounds of torque at 1650 rpm, that's where it is at 79 miles an hour. ( buddys ford power stroke makes more power and would win in a race but his will shift on some hills where mine just makes more boost)
Not pulling 20+-2 mpg at 80
Heated steering wheel is the greatest thing since sliced bread, for the last month when I have got the boat loaded up just soak the warmth up into my hands and fingers
Edited by Fishysam 3/30/2018 8:39 AM
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Posts: 291
Location: Madison, WI | Have a 14 F150 with Eco boost and like everyone else said, no change in gas mileage from the 5.0 engine which is lame. Turbos are nice for towing but based solely on gas mileage it's fair.
Question for Eco boost truck owners, you have any issues pulling up a hill in tow/haul mode. Mine starting down shifting like crazy (downshifting to 2 gear going 75mph on the interstate is interesting to say the least). Took it to dealer, full warranty, they went through it, checked everything, reset computers and no change). It's going back soon. (Only towing a 175 navigator so not a huge glass boat either, and not a terrible grade, just when I hit the gas hard). |
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Posts: 59
| Question for Eco boost truck owners, you have any issues pulling up a hill in tow/haul mode. Mine starting down shifting like crazy (downshifting to 2 gear going 75mph on the interstate is interesting to say the least). Took it to dealer, full warranty, they went through it, checked everything, reset computers and no change). It's going back soon. (Only towing a 175 navigator so not a huge glass boat either, and not a terrible grade, just when I hit the gas hard).
Mine has just about 18k miles on it and I have not experienced that. Have not heard of it from anyone else either and I did a lot of research before I purchased mine.
FWIW: Sounds like what happens when a throttle position sensor goes..... |
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Posts: 770
| Where's all the Chevy guys? |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | Timely topic as I just bought new Tundra SR5 5.7L DOHC 4x4 with upgrade packages just yesterday. Getting the leather for the seats and some other extras added on right now...picking her up late next week.
I had a 2003 Tundra Limited w/a 4.6L DOHC V-8 4x4 with admittedly very low miles, no rust and never had a single thing go south with her. Extremely well made, solid etc. etc. It was a wonderful truck and still wonder why I'm buying a new one...
Diff. strokes for diff. folks. We're lucky to have so many choices. |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | Tundra. Why....because it can tow a spaceship. Remember that commercial? Lol |
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Posts: 427
| Depends on what you tow. My F150 eco-boost does a great job towing my 18ft. Lund. I have a friend with the same truck towing a Lund 1875 Impact with no problems either. Milage is great as long as I'm towing down hill!
Edited by 7ovr50 3/31/2018 5:00 AM
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Posts: 427
| PredLuR - 3/30/2018 8:45 AM
Have a 14 F150 with Eco boost and like everyone else said, no change in gas mileage from the 5.0 engine which is lame. Turbos are nice for towing but based solely on gas mileage it's fair.
Question for Eco boost truck owners, you have any issues pulling up a hill in tow/haul mode. Mine starting down shifting like crazy (downshifting to 2 gear going 75mph on the interstate is interesting to say the least). Took it to dealer, full warranty, they went through it, checked everything, reset computers and no change). It's going back soon. (Only towing a 175 navigator so not a huge glass boat either, and not a terrible grade, just when I hit the gas hard). Nope. I've got a 2013 eco-boost that has never had the problem you are having. I've got friends with the same truck that never mentioned that problem either |
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Posts: 2326
Location: Chisholm, MN | 2003 f150 5.4! Why? Because it’s paid off and has 201k with not a single issue. I wouldn’t buy anything but ford for my next truck. Obvious reasons. |
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Posts: 256
Location: plant earth | Dodge ram 1500 ecodiesel. Fuel mileage of a 3.0 v6 with as much torque as a 5.7 hemi. |
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Posts: 65
Location: Springfield, IL and Vermilion Bay, ON | 2011 Silverado 1500 w/ 5.3L V8. I pull 2002 Mr. Pike 17 SC w/ a 90 hp Merc 4 stroke. 15-17 mpg. |
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Posts: 88
Location: Des Plaines, IL | After what may be the most frustrating search ever, we ended up getting a 2018 Honda Ridgeline. It's a unibody mid-size truck, so the drive is basically like a Pilot (which my wife has) and the trim level we got has the advanced safety features (important to us because we have a little one). Towing the boat for the last two years with the Pilot yielded an average of 16.2 MPG, which I was pretty happy with. The engine in the Ridgeline is the same, so I expect that number to be within 1-2 this year.
While I found many quality vehicles during my search, I couldn't justify the higher level trims of the F150, Silverado, or Ram, which would end up in the mid $50s and up. Unfortunately the advanced safety features like adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, etc. aren't filtering down the trim lines as far as I had hoped yet. As for the Ridgeline, it's got a payload capacity of 1500 lbs (good for a midsize), and a towing capacity of 5000 (less good). I tow a 17' Crestliner, so the weight is no problem. Additional features that we enjoy are "tailgate friendly" with an in-bed trunk that is pretty good size (you can make it a cooler) and the in-bed speaker system. All in all, if you aren't worried about off-roading but want something to tow and haul at the DIY level, I think this is a great urban/suburban truck. |
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Posts: 383
| Nissan Titan Pro 4X. Pulls my heavier than heck 20' Ranger bay pretty easily, has been incredibly reliable, and the factory stereo really thumps  |
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Posts: 386
Location: SW Ohio | I recently replaced my '03 Sierra with a '18 Chevy Colorado with the 2.8L turbo diesel. Finally got to tow my boat (Lowe FM1710) further than the nearest Cabelas (5 miles). Took it to Cave Run yesterday. Plenty of power and 16-17 mpg. Just don't try to pass a semi going up hill, though. Doesn't have the HP for that. Otherwise, it handles great, has the integrated brake controller that acts like surge brakes, exhaust brake. Very happy with it. |
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Posts: 441
| I love my 2008 Toyota Tundra! |
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | 7ovr50 - 3/31/2018 4:53 AM
Depends on what you tow. My F150 eco-boost does a great job towing my 18ft. Lund. I have a friend with the same truck towing a Lund 1875 Impact with no problems either. Milage is great as long as I'm towing down hill!
I also tow a 1875 Lund impact with a 2016 3.5 ecoboost I love it I get the same mileage as posted above. |
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Preferred tow vehicle?