Tow Vehicles, Keep what you have or Upgrade? |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Topic: Tow Vehicles, Keep what you have or Upgrade? Posted: 21 Sep 2017 at 4:50pm |
Think your going to forget it's there! LOL!
Have to say that mileage is big! Have to think not many hills in the way to get that mileage. Will love to hear the report! From what I'm reading shouldn't change much. Larger engine means less stress. Very curious how it works out. Thank you for the report. |
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4508 |
Posted: 21 Sep 2017 at 4:32pm |
We towed our 179 with our Dodge Grand Caravan for many years, it handled good, ranged from 12.5 -16.5 depending on wind. We really liked it and still have it,BUT this year we purchased a 2017 Ford F-150 with the 5.0 engine and really like it, tows the camper with ease, taking it on our first trip with it to North Carolina next week. Will report back on mileage etc.
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Posted: 21 Sep 2017 at 4:22pm |
Agree with you on what I'm reading and learning. Especially on RPM. What I have also heard is that means no only being first but reaching down to 1st or 2nd gear to get over over the biggies.
Thank you for your honesty of a report. |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Posted: 21 Sep 2017 at 3:48pm |
I'll share a little personal history that will perhaps provide some helpful information.
We started out intending to purchase a Casita. I had found a Craigslist post and thought I had arranged to purchase with escrow. Turns out, it was a pure scam that set me back $2K. In view of that purchase, we traded our 2009 Ford Escape which was inadequate to a 2016 Ford Escape SE with 2L Ecoboost engine which had the factory tow package rated at 3500 lbs. I did not want to give up on the idea of a camping trailer. My search led to the Forest River R-Pod 179 which we purchased from a dealer (no more Craigslist for me!). The 2L Ecoboost engine in the Escape was pretty good on the highway but average in town. For towing, Ford recommended use of premium gasoline. Premium is much more expensive than Diesel in every place we have traveled. While I can use regular when not towing, our trips were much more expensive with premium gas. Last December, we had an accident when we hit ice with a strong cross-wind in Wyoming. Because the Escape was going to be out of commission for longer than we could wait, we purchased a used Nissan Frontier LE Crew Cab with a 4L naturally aspirated engine. It also has the factory tow package. An advantage is that premium gasoline is not required. The down side is that at any significant altitude, the Frontier has less power and torque, with a loss of 4% per 1000 ft. The Escape did not have that power loss. Mileage in both vehicles is around thae average I have seen other people post which is about 12 mpg. In the Escape, I could get a little better, around 14 or 15 once I learned how to deal with hills. The Frontier does not have as many gears as the Escape had. I learned that if I keep the RPMs lower than 3000 RPM, my mileage was much better. That means no cruise control, especially onuphill stretches. Don't expect to be the first one up the hill. Become comfortable with the right lane. Limit top speed to 60 mph--all these will help you get better mileage. A turbo diesel is probably the best for towing, and will give good performance when not towing. A turbocharged V6 will likely outperform a naturally aspirated V8 in most cases, especially when at higher elevations. If Nissan were to release a Diesel Frontier, I would definitely be looking hard at it. Ford is supposed to have a Diesel F-150 next spring. If so, that would be a good choice. I understand that Fiat/Chrysler has some emissions problems with their diesel, so the diesel Grand Cherokee is not currently available. I'm not sure about the diesel Chevy Colorado. If not the diesel, then a Ford F150 with Ecoboost engine would be a good choice for towing an R-Pod. I have grown to like the Frontier because the pickup bed has been very useful. Before, I did not have a good place to carry spare propane or gasoline for the generator. Now, I can put things like that in the pickup bed. That is something that can't be done with an SUV. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Posted: 21 Sep 2017 at 3:11pm |
A subject that is beat to death on several forums, yet still of importance.
I still have a few years of life in my F-150 and she'll be my TV for a few. Since I'm on the edge of retirement and we will buy one more before, it's time to move research into possible TV's. Do I wish to step down to one of the SUV Class with a V6 or stay with a full size V8 Pickup? From a gas mileage stand point, I'm seeing, with towing, a full size V8 will actually do better. Yet when unhooked and exploring, the V6 will do better. So the question becomes: What are you currenting towing with? What kind of mileage you getting when towing? Have a anti-sway bar? How you doing on hills? And of course: Would you stay with it or upgrade to something bigger? |
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