Info on Tow Vehicle

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by jim powers

they dont offer 8.1 engines from gm anymore

Had to get one built fairly early in the model year, when they were available. Same with the later 454". You couldn't order one late in the model year. GM could only afford to sell so many each year. Both were hard on GM's CAFE (Coporate Average Fuel Economy) averages. That average gets too low the gov fines them. Both can be helped a good bit with some tuning. Both engines had the timing so backed down to help Hydrocarbon emission, you could almost tow a building on kerosene with no detonation. LOL
The 8100 can perform much better (faster) while getting better gas mileage with the normal 4L80E transmission. It is hard to overcome the excessive torque management in the Allison transmission computer.

[GTX JOHN]

I have been very happy with the 5.7 HEMI in a 2500 for the
past 10 Years. The difference in Mileage is made up by price
of gas being so much lower out here. I have towed 36 Enclosed
and 40 open all over the Division

Ram rates them to pull 14,450 lbs.

I have a 8 month old Ram 2500 single cab with 9,000 Miles
that I would sell for $21,500.00 with all the HD towing Stuff
factory installed.

[Ed Carpenter]

I have a 2001 Chevy 1500HD 6.0 with 201,000 miles. Still pulling my '24 enclosed trailer with my super stocker,scooter,tools, etc

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

What kind of fuel mileage are you getting with the 8.1. Towing and empty. Just curious. The big gas motored trucks I have had were brutal on fuel.

Mine gets around 9 towing, around 11-12 empty. It has a 4.10 gear, which I think is too much. It's an 03 loaded crew cab, highest available GVWR. It hasn't had anything done to it. Yet.

[FED 387]

Mine is a 2000 F250 extended cab---7.3 Powerstroke 2 WD auto-- Get about 15 around town just about 18 on the hiway empty --- towing a dragster and all my stuff in a 24 ft Haulmark gets about 11 1/2- 12 as long as its not hilly or windy-- 3:73 gear -- hafta keep it under 2000 RPM/62-65 MPH or the mileage goes to hell real fast--FED 387

[Alan Roehrich]

Yeah, well in my case that's 70+, and well over 2000 RPM. A 3.73:1 gear would probably help mine considerably. I hope the change to 19.5" medium truck wheels and tires takes some RPM out of it. I looked the other day, where the previous owners let the truck sit, the muffler is rusting out, so odds are it will get a complete exhaust system. That may help. I'm sure getting the ECM reprogrammed will help.

My one real complaint about the 8.1 is that it is way under cammed, so it runs out of power too early, the shift strategy holds it in gears too long under moderate throttle.

Still, the truck would have cost 1/3 more than I paid for it if it were a diesel, diesel costs 50% more per gallon than gasoline, and any repairs would be twice as high for the diesel. I love it, and I would not trade it for a diesel.

[Kenny Wigington]

I would not use a 1/2 ton truck to pull more a 24 ft, for just a sat fternoon race. I have an 06 Chevy 2500HD with the 6.0 gas burner,and it does. It does tow my 28 ft trailer fairly well, but I'm usually @ 10 mpg towing, and 12/13 empty. It got better mpg with the shell on back, and that partially kept the effects of " the windwall" of the front of the trailer, right behind the truck,to somewhat of a minimum. My truck now has 245,000 miles on it, and I still would make a 500 mile trip with it, without worry.
I have to agree, with most,from their experience and my own, to get at least a 3/4 ton truck, even it you use it as your daily driver, unless you already have something else.

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Mine gets around 9 towing, around 11-12 empty. It has a 4.10 gear, which I think is too much. It's an 03 loaded crew cab, highest available GVWR. It hasn't had anything done to it. Yet.

I get about 9-10 towing my 40 ft goose with my 1996 F350 dually w/7.3 diesel it gets about 17 empty. My toter gets about 8.5 towing. I use the dually for local races and a weekend driver. Cost to run the toter is about the same as the dually because the diesel gen in the toter uses way less fuel than the gas gen in the trailer.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by Feltham.Justin11

I plan on buying a 24ft enclosed car trailer. I do not have a truck yet would like to get an idea of what would be a good choice on truck. Looking to spend at most 13,000-14,000 preferably gas. Any ideas and or suggestions are appreciated.

Do you have a preference on brand ?


I agree with the above...a 24 foot trailer needs a 3/4 ton or larger truck.

A couple of years ago I bought this 2004 F-350 Dually for $8,700. ( duallies are not for everyone but I needed dual rear wheels for stability)

It had 138K miles on it with the 6.8L V-10 gasser.

I Put $ 1,300 worth of new tires, brakes and (air bags on the rear) and am very pleased with it. ( so I have a tad over $ 10K in it)
Fully loaded with my 24 footer and slide-in camper it get 8.5 mpg consistently.

If you are patient, there are deals on gassers out there.

[Greg Hill]

The one bad thing about the 8.1 is the fuel mileage. I get between 6.5 and 8 mpg towing. It only gets about 12 empty.