I figured this is the best place to post this because most of the pros and people that actually race and tow their cars are in this forum.

I am looking to get a new tow setup with an enclosed trailer. I found a 2001 Chevy K3500 with an 8.1l gas motor, Allison trans and a 2004 30ft vintage trailer. The guy needs to get rid of the setup cheap b/c of some problems he is going through. The setup looks super nice and clean but I am just wondering if getting a diesel truck would be a better way to go. He claims he gets 11-13 mpg while towing.

What do most diesel (F350’s Dodge, Chevy) trucks get while towing?

Also for those of you that have sleepers and a shower in the truck or trailer how often do you use it and is it worth it? I really wanted to get a setup that has someplace to sleep and a shower that way I can stay with the car overnight at the two day events and if I finally end up traveling where I need to pull over and sleep while driving I can do just that. Just wondering if people that have it really even use it or do you end up staying at a hotel?


Sorry if these are dumb questions but it is a big change going from a rollback to this type of setup. Thanks for any help.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by underpressure02 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I figured this is the best place to post this because most of the pros and people that actually race and tow their cars are in this forum.

I am looking to get a new tow setup with an enclosed trailer. I found a 2001 Chevy K3500 with an 8.1l gas motor, Allison trans and a 2004 30ft vintage trailer. The guy needs to get rid of the setup cheap b/c of some problems he is going through. The setup looks super nice and clean but I am just wondering if getting a diesel truck would be a better way to go. He claims he gets 11-13 mpg while towing.

What do most diesel (F350’s Dodge, Chevy) trucks get while towing?

Also for those of you that have sleepers and a shower in the truck or trailer how often do you use it and is it worth it? I really wanted to get a setup that has someplace to sleep and a shower that way I can stay with the car overnight at the two day events and if I finally end up traveling where I need to pull over and sleep while driving I can do just that. Just wondering if people that have it really even use it or do you end up staying at a hotel?


Sorry if these are dumb questions but it is a big change going from a rollback to this type of setup. Thanks for any help.
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I'n not so sure about the 11-13mpg loaded. I can't get that on my 2500HD (6.0L)with a loaded 24' tag trailer.

I wish I got the diesel for the Allsion, more torque and better gas mileage.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skunked &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'n not so sure about the 11-13mpg loaded. I can't get that on my 2500HD (6.0L)with a loaded 24' tag trailer.

I wish I got the diesel for the Allsion, more torque and better gas mileage.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is what I was thinking sounded high for a big block gas motor.

 

i dont beleive that for gas milage at all.

i went diesel

 

i towed my 16' beavertail with a 360 dodge this weekend and was lucky to get 8mpg.

 

you said beavertail haha

 

hahahahahaha

 

kinda rolls off the tongue nicely huh. "BEAVERTAIL" he hee.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Turbo-charged &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you said beavertail haha </TD></TR></TABLE>

hahahahaha. NICE..................

 

I have a Nissan Titan with a 20ft enclosed trailer I get 7-8 mpg. I wish I got a diesel.

 

get a dodge Will...my family will hook it up You just have to take trip out to the dalles.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ~RTErnie~ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get a dodge Will...my family will hook it up You just have to take trip out to the dalles. </TD></TR></TABLE>
I would love to but My Titan trade in value is $24,000 and I owe $29,000. I want the new mega cab.

 

If you plan to pull that big of a trailer DO NOT get a gas engine, I tow a 19ft Diamond Plate Appalachian Flat Bed Car trailer w/2 ft dow tail which weighs 1970lbs empty, but I normally tow a weight of 5-6k with it loaded up. I use to have a Titan and man it was horrible on gas, but sold that and bought a 03 F250 Powerstroke Diesel and with very minimal mods i'm getting almost 19 mpg towing the trailer. So whatever you do get a diesel!!!!!

vnt

 

powerstrokes are nice

 

Chad
Diesel all the way, Your a Baller u can handle the payments.

You see what i have open trailer with f250 (gas I konw I m poor) and i get about 12 towing. give or take, but i try to use the cruise. but this is with a 5.4 liter, and it doesnt want to get out of it s way loaded but it is good enough for me

If i could afforded it i would have got a f250 diesel gets way better gas mileage and has enough power to pull without downshifting ALL The time

dan

 

Diesel all the way.

(My Ram 1500 gets 7-8mpg towing btw )

 

Ive got a 2001 8.1 Silverado with the allison, i love the off idle torque but deisel is the way to go. i got about 9 MPG when towing at 70+ this also could be due to a dirty *** MAF sensor. The only bad thing about the Chevy gas motors is the fuel pumps going out at 60k miles also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Trooper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only bad thing about the Chevy gas motors is the fuel pumps going out at 60k miles also. </TD></TR></TABLE>

no ****?

&lt;-----at 58K miles.....

 

Yep, mine is on the way out. The coolest thing is when the truck stalls randomly in traffic, also the big block motors crank angle sensor tends to go out. I have a very dirty signal coming from my crank angle sensor causing random missfires at idle.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Trooper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yep, mine is on the way out. The coolest thing is when the truck stalls randomly in traffic, also the big block motors crank angle sensor tends to go out. I have a very dirty signal coming from my crank angle sensor causing random missfires at idle. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I think it maybe time to buy a new pump and keep it in the toolbox....

thanks for the heads up

 

Any other issues with that motor?

 

Well there is the usual GM lifter clatter when its cold. From what i have been told the lifters don't pump up right away when the motor is cold. This is cause by a bad gasket between the oil pump pick up and it aerates the oil. i don't think its detrimental, just annoying. Personally i love the 8.1 (496) with the Allison transmission. when out on the highway the power is just along the lines of a stock diesel truck, just not the gas mileage.

Mercury Marine offers this motor in several forms including a HO motor that makes 425 HP.

 

Diesel all the way and anyone who knows diesels will tell you the only true diesel motor is an inline diesel motor—Cummins is the best my Ram gets 22 empty and 16 with my open trailer and 3500#car, I go over 600 miles on one tank without even thinking about it.

 

my 2005 dodge ram 2500 Cummins turbo diesel gets about 18.5 mpg towing and I do 80 mph like I'm not even pulling any thing behind me.

 

I drive my 06 CTD(cummins turbo diesel) EVERYDAY and love it! When i pulled a 16ft trailer with a Civic HB I was getting 14mpg on the highway. Keep in mind that my motor only had 6000 miles on it. As you will know, when a diesel motor breaks in it will improve fuel mileage. I know a few CTD owners who get an average of 20+mpg unloaded and 18mpg loaded. Bottom line, get a diesel even it's used cause these motors are known to last a lifetime(250k-500k) I had 2 gas trucks and I will never go back to gas truck EVER again. Believe me, had this discussion with many truck enthusiast and they all say diesel is the only way to go.