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Old 08-01-2017, 07:17 PM   #1
Mikew1962
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Gas motor big enough to pull a 9000lbs trailer?

Hello, I'm pulling my 2007 Keystone 36' mountaineer with a 2000 Ford Excursion 7.3 power stroke diesel. It pulls fine. My question is. I would like to get a 4 door gas burning pickup. I don't need all the seats of the Excursion anymore. Plus, I don't like paying for diesel year round to pull my camper a few times a year. Does anyone make a gas burning pickup that would pull this camper up down the mountains without much trouble? If so, is it going to get better than the 9 mpg my diesel gets pulling? Not real happy with that. I could live with getting the same mpg, but want to make sure that it will pull it.
Thanks in advance.
Mike
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Old 08-01-2017, 08:01 PM   #2
JRTJH
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I don't have the specs on your trailer, but I'm guessing it's comparable to the 32FLD. That's a 11,000 GVW trailer with over 1,000 pound tongue weight. That's quite a "chunk" to pull "up and down the mountains" with a gas engine. You're looking for "at least a 3/4 ton, and most of them "top out" around 12,500 pounds max trailer with 3.73 gearing and about 16,000 with 4.30 gearing. Of course with the 4.30 gearing, you won't pass many gas stations, even when not towing.

There are gas engine trucks capable of towing your trailer safely, but none of the 3/4 or 1 ton trucks have turbocharged gas engines, so "towing up and down the mountains" will be "exasperating" to say the least.

If you haven't done some "serious comparisons" between your 7.3L and today's diesels, you might want to give the modern diesels a look. They are much cleaner, quieter and less polluting than what you're driving. My 6.7L F250 is quiet enough that I can actually start it in the garage with the windows open and still hear the radio. That was "unheard of" (pun intended) with either of my 7.3l engines.
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Old 08-01-2017, 08:05 PM   #3
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I'm sure there are those that do it. I pulled 7000# with a gasser, average 7.3 mpg mostly flat and a few hills. Stayed far from any real mountains but it did OK in the foot hills of the Smokies.
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Old 08-01-2017, 11:17 PM   #4
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Getting 9 mpg in the mountains with a 3/4 or 1 ton gasser is a pipe dream. I get 8-9 with my 6.4L Ram 2500 pulling on Michigan flats. Greater than 9 MPG would be highly contested even with a diesel going up and down the Rockies. I've watched enough videos from "The Fast Lane Truck" boys to know realistic economies commuting over elevated mountain ranges.

The biggest thing you have to ask yourself is how much you'll be towing with your future truck. If it's the occasional trip during your camping season, a gasser will move your load but win no races, all the whIle having the gas characteristics when predominantly in non-towing mode.

However, if you find yourself in the mountains passes frequently, a diesel is the more practical choice.
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Old 08-02-2017, 03:00 AM   #5
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I recently traded my Ram diesel for a 6.4 Hemi 2500 after the emission system shut the truck down for the second time in a month. I was willing to trade some mpg for simplicity and reduced maintenance costs. The new gasser with 3.73 gears can tow 12,600 with a 3200lb payload, both within my requirements. 4.10 gearing will provide a tow rating somewhere north of 15,000 lbs. I don't tow or haul heavy very much anymore, the increased costs of the diesel just dont make sense for me.
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Old 08-02-2017, 03:34 AM   #6
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If you are only pulling your camper a couple times a year I would contact Enterprise Rental. They maintain a fleet of 2500 Ram CTD 4x4 Laramie's. Should be plug and play once you get the hitch height right. They only keep them about 8 months so they are always new. The engine brake on downhill's is amazing.
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Old 08-02-2017, 04:51 AM   #7
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Mike, I believe you have gotten good advice from all above. At least we didn't have to listen to any of the claims of V-8 gassers pulling Montana's through the mountains and getting 13 MPG. I believe your mileage would be in the 8 range just like was suggested AND I don't believe you would be very satisfied with the performance. JMO
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Old 08-02-2017, 06:20 AM   #8
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Great information. I think I will stick with a diesel. The guy I bought the trailer from had a new GMC gas truck he pulled it with and said he got 15mpg pulling it. That is what made me think I should be looking at gas burners. I had a transmission guy tell me once, "There are two things guys lie about, one of them is gas millage". LOL
Thanks, again for the responses.
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Old 08-02-2017, 06:32 AM   #9
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The guy you bought the trailer from is one of those your transmission repairman was talking about.....

My 2013 F250 supercab longbed had a 6.2L gas engine. I tow a 8000-9000 pound fifth wheel. Typically I got 13-15 SOLO in town, 16-18 SOLO on the highway and 7-9 towing on FLAT ground, much less with a headwind or in the mountains.
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Old 08-02-2017, 03:16 PM   #10
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My V-10 Ford tows my 5th wheel(12.8K) very good........average about 8.0 mpg with no lack of power.
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Old 08-02-2017, 05:40 PM   #11
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I pull an 11k TT with a 6.2 Ford. No issues.


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Old 08-02-2017, 05:47 PM   #12
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My guidelines for towing a trailer, for me, is over 10k you need a diesel if you tow much at all, absolutely if you tow a lot in the mountains.

I have a Ram 2500 6.4 and my trailer is 10k gvw. Weighs 92-9400 ready to travel. The 6.4 pulls it "fine" everywhere I go but you will 1) be spinning rpms climbing mountains, 2) it seems to run out of "breath" when over 10-11k altitude and 3) your mileage (pulling my trailer weight) will run 8-9 mpg (flat to rolling hills - considerably less in the mountains - depending on grade).

In your situation I believe I would go with a diesel. Anyone that told you they pull 11k? in/out, up/down and got 15mpg probably needed a new computer, glasses, pencil......or something.
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Old 08-04-2017, 05:27 AM   #13
flybouy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikew1962 View Post
Great information. I think I will stick with a diesel. The guy I bought the trailer from had a new GMC gas truck he pulled it with and said he got 15mpg pulling it. That is what made me think I should be looking at gas burners. I had a transmission guy tell me once, "There are two things guys lie about, one of them is gas millage". LOL
Thanks, again for the responses.
Mike
He must have checked it going downhill. One other consideration for diesel, the transmission is a heavier duty unit to handle the higher torque of the oil burner. This can make a huge difference in the life of a transmission operating under extreme loads - towing heavy load over steep grades.
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Old 08-04-2017, 06:59 AM   #14
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I had a ram 1500 eco diesel. Haven't replaced it yet and have been renting from enterprise. Rented an f250 gas. Averaged 13mpg normal driving and 9 mpg towing my 7500lb trailer.. For comparison I averaged 24mpg and 14.5mpg..
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Old 08-04-2017, 09:04 AM   #15
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So many varables

I had a 1997 Dodge diesel 3.73 gears, 185 hp 420 ft lbs torque, rear end came apart and bought a 2015 Silverado gas 4.10 6.0 365 hp 385 torque and it will pull circles around the old Dodge with my 14,000 horse trailer. Now we really don't have any mountains here but the gas works good on the Laredo also.
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Old 08-04-2017, 09:23 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by schwalbach View Post
I had a 1997 Dodge diesel 3.73 gears, 185 hp 420 ft lbs torque, rear end came apart and bought a 2015 Silverado gas 4.10 6.0 365 hp 385 torque and it will pull circles around the old Dodge with my 14,000 horse trailer. Now we really don't have any mountains here but the gas works good on the Laredo also.
Curious...that year only had 3.55 or 4.10 gears from the factory. Was it a 2500 or 3500? 14K is a pretty stout trailer for that 1997 rig.
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