plan on traveling alot what is a good fuel efficient truck to pull fith wheel

[hylasw]

We are plan on traveling quite a bit right now I have a 2002 Ford 7.3 diesel F250 truck and a 2012 High country Cougar 5th wheel

Right now pulling my 5th wheel I only get 9-10 mile per gallon. We are plan on traveling quite a bit and wondering what is a really good fuel efficient Truck I am thinking about trading mine off and getting a different Truck. I have thought a little bit about a F150 Lighting Electric truck but not many charging stations and also we plan on doing alot of boon docking and not to sure about a electic Truck.
Want to hear peoples thought of if their is anyway of making my 2002 Ford 7.3 diesel more fuel efficient I have tried chipping it and not much change.

[sourdough]

There is no fuel efficient way to pull a 5th wheel. Gas costs are really just part of the pay to play scenario. If you are getting 9-10 you won't get a lot more regardless. What is the model of your trailer? What you get might be good or not so good depending on size and weight of the trailer. For max mpg look at a new diesel. For max cost......look at a new diesel. There is a delta between costs and benefits and only the buyer/owner can ascertain what that is.

[Northofu1]

I can tell you that that seems to be about an average mileage to pull a trailer, new or old truck. The only advice I can give is If you're happy with the look, feel, condition that truck is in, and it is in tip top shape. Keep it. If you have any doubts about it lasting the long haul, sell/trade it in on a used late model or new truck.

With the size and weight of that trailer I would definitely be going with a diesel 1 ton. The 3/4 ton diesel is probably already maxed or over the trucks payload.
If you have any inkling about moving into a newer heavier 5th wheel, 1 ton dually is called for.
Good luck to you

[Badbart56]

On my 97 F-350 dually with the 7.3 I was getting 10-13 mpg hauling various sized RV's but I had an Edge programmer that I ran in the number 2 position. It actually bumped my mpg up to 20.7 running empty at 55 mph. And that was with 4:10 gears. My 2011 6.7 F-350 typically gets 7-9 mpg towing my Fuzion but it weighs in around 18K pounds and that's running 70-75 mph with 3:73 gears.

You won't get that if you switch to a gas model. The 7.3 you have is probably your best bet when it comes to both mileage and reliability. It's just getting harder to find parts for the truck itself these days. Some aftermarket interior parts are available, some aren't. I held onto mine for awhile after I got the new truck but I just didn't drive it much anymore and sold it to a friend about 4 years ago. It's still running strong with about 300K miles on her now.

[Javi]

I have no clue as to why I'm bothering to post on this thread, except boredom while waiting on DW to finish her evening bath. But before I head off to bed I'll say 9-12 is all you can hope for pulling any average 5th wheel with a diesel pickup, dually or otherwise.

You got to pay to play.

But in a few minutes the used car salesmen, lawyers, bankers and politicians will crawl out and tell us all about the 20 mpg they're getting with their XYZ Delete and chipped Bullwinkle, Chevy or Ford.

[jasin1]

I have a 2020 Ram 3500 dually with the HO 6.7 and I get about 10 mpg towing…I really don’t care that much about a few mpg here or there…like others have said..it is what it is….only way possibly to gain more mpg is get a smaller trailer or spend $75000 on a new truck to maybe get 3 more mpg

[hylasw]

BadBart56 got a question for you, you said your 7.3 you were able to get 10-13 mpg hauling what all did you do to it to get better MPG ? I am pulling a 2012 Keystone High Country Cougar 246rls MODEL APPROX DRY WEIGHT 7000 LBS.

[Gegrad]

Originally Posted by Javi

But in a few minutes the used car salesmen, lawyers, bankers and politicians will crawl out and tell us all about the 20 mpg they're getting with their XYZ Delete and chipped Bullwinkle, Chevy or Ford.

I love it. I always roll my eyes at those folks.

[Badbart56]

Originally Posted by hylasw

BadBart56 got a question for you, you said your 7.3 you were able to get 10-13 mpg hauling what all did you do to it to get better MPG ? I am pulling a 2012 Keystone High Country Cougar 246rls MODEL APPROX DRY WEIGHT 7000 LBS.

The Edge programmer along with an MBRP 4 inch exhaust system from the turbo back added about 1.5-2.0 mpg empty. Towing I kept the cruise set at 62 mph but you can probably run 65 or so with yours. Anything higher than 62 with my 4:11 gears just cost me mileage. I'm sure it would be ideal towing at 55 mph but you'd get run over on the interstate. 62 was bad enough.

Like others say, it's only going to get so good. Diesels are just more efficient than gas when it comes to towing and since you already own one it probably wouldn't be cost effective to buy a new one if the goal is to get better fuel mileage. But the newer trucks with the 6, 8, and 10 speed transmissions don't have to work as hard as the old 4 speeds do. I bought the 6.7 mainly because I had more RV than the old 97 could haul. It did ok with the Gulf Stream Sedona but this Fuzion was a bit over the top.

[Badbart56]

And a K&N air filter too.

[flybouy]

Let’s look at some numbers. Let’s say you pull your camper 10,000 miles per year. At 10 mpg that’s 1,000 gals. At 13 mpg that’s 769 gal. or a savings of 231 gallons. At $3/gal that’s $693.00. That wouldn’t cover one payment on a new truck.

[markcee]

May have missed this being addressed, but OP mentioned considering an F150.

While this is a short length 5th wheel, you will bust the payload on most every standard issue F150, even modestly loaded.

Loaded to 8K, your pin weight @ 23% would be 1840 lbs. This is before anyone, any gear, or the hitch even made it in the truck. Depending on option level, a non heavy duty payload package (HDPP) F150 is going to be in the 1500-1900 lb range payload-wise.

Even if you were to find/order an HDPP F150, you may be pushing things depending on how much you plan on putting in the truck.

[JDDilly]

Correct, a 150/1500 is out of the question. Not enough truck for the trailer.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by JDDilly

Correct, a 150/1500 is out of the question. Not enough truck for the trailer.

I haven't looked at the latest payload ratings of the HDPP F150, out of the question not sure, depends on the final payload. That said looking at the specs on that 5er, it has a heavy pin percentage Dry I get 21.5%, and that is without battery and propane. Then most storage is forward of the axles, so it will be heavy for the weight of the 5er.

A gas 3/4 ton would likely have both enough power and payload for that 5er, but fuel mileage would be an issue.

A diesel 0ne ton with a 10 speed and diesel and very tall rear gear like 3.42 or taller would get great fuel mileage towing or empty and have payload to spare.

[wiredgeorge]

The Lightening! Ford claims 230 mile range. There is likely a SHARP drop off in range when towing. One major car magazine estimates 100 mile range. This is with the optional extended range package (must be a bigger battery and upgraded charging gizmo). Payload is 2000 lbs TOPs with yet another towing package and not sure it would be compatible with the heavier battery. FWIW: With my 2006 F350 6.0L I get about 10 mpg towing and 13 mpg regular driving. I think these mileages are the cost of pulling an RV. Price of diesel will likely go up in the next year with us now having to bed Middle Eastern countries of fuel so just camp closer to home as there will be no cheap ticket to towing until we become energy independent as a nation again.

[JRTJH]

I towed a 2011 Springdale 242FWRLS with a 2010 F150 (5.4L 4x4). The best gas mileage I ever got was about 9MPG and that was downhill with a tail wind. Average was around 7-8 MPG and in the mountains or with a "Kansas headwind" I saw 5 MPG more than once. Even with gas being cheaper than diesel fuel, that isn't a savings. Heavy duty gas trucks are typically "thirstier" than diesel, so a gas truck is out of the question as far as "economy".

An electric vehicle ??? We're in the early stages, no infrastructure on the road to recharge them, so travel trailer towing with an electric is really "out of the question" if you intend to tow the way most people tow a travel trailer.... You simply won't find recharging stations where you'll need them.... A generator might work, but gas for that and the expense of the generator would probably make it far more expensive than a diesel truck to operate.

So, that leaves a diesel as your only "viable alternative" if you're looking to get "better mileage than the 9-10 MPG you currently get. I have a 2015 Ford F250 diesel 4x4. Towing the trailer I average between 10-11 MPG. That is essentially the same as what you're getting with your current truck. From every indication, diesels from any of the truck manufacturers are in that same range for MPG.

Some people might "boast" of getting 15MPG towing their 16K fifth wheel, but I've never seen anything but "forum boasting" to support those types of claims. I'd suspect either they are relying on the truck "lie-0-meter" or simply exercising a bit of fantasy. I could see a low profile fifth wheel in the 8K weight range getting, maybe 12 MPG under ideal conditions, but that's not enough of an improvement for you to consider a major investment of 50-60 thousand dollars on "economy improvements".

Towing a heavy box down the highway will cost you in fuel expense. There's no way around it and if anyone has found a "silver bullet to get phenomenal mileage improvement" they sure haven't shared their secrets with the public.

Like the "catalyst screens" in old carburetors that claimed 100% mileage increases, diesel trucks towing fifth wheels at 17-20 MPG are a unicorn that nobody has ever captured......

If your truck is reliable and you're comfortable with the weights you're towing, stick with what you've got, "economy improvements that will benefit you financially" are not going to happen with any current truck model, electric, gas or diesel.....

[flybouy]

I would just add this RE: electric vehicles. Everywhere we’ve gone I have taken note of the available charging stations. Two notable points. First I have yet to see one with sufficient space to park a truck and trailer. Secondly, from my observations, they just aren’t being used. Maybe they are full in downtown cities but at our local shopping centers nada.

The Walmart nearest our home that we shop at they installed charging stations about 4 years ago. I have yet to see a single car plugged in. On several occasions over the years I’ve asked the “regular folks” that are usually retrieving carts from the parking lot if they have seen anyone use them. Their response? Nada, not one.

If the concern over fuel milage is economic then my advice is by. Small truck and tent camp. If the concern is environmental than buy a hybrid truck and tent camp. If you want a huge camper without using A LOT of fuel then sit it on a permanent site and drive your fuel efficient vehicle to the site. Not trying to be harsh but just realistic.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by flybouy

I would just add this RE: electric vehicles. Everywhere we’ve gone I have taken note of the available charging stations. Two notable points. First I have yet to see one with sufficient space to park a truck and trailer. Secondly, from my observations, they just aren’t being used. Maybe they are full in downtown cities but at our local shopping centers nada.

The Walmart nearest our home that we shop at they installed charging stations about 4 years ago. I have yet to see a single car plugged in. On several occasions over the years I’ve asked the “regular folks” that are usually retrieving carts from the parking lot if they have seen anyone use them. Their response? Nada, not one.

If the concern over fuel milage is economic then my advice is by. Small truck and tent camp. If the concern is environmental than buy a hybrid truck and tent camp. If you want a huge camper without using A LOT of fuel then sit it on a permanent site and drive your fuel efficient vehicle to the site. Not trying to be harsh but just realistic.

As one who has NEVER seen a "charging station" connected to a Walmart or any charging station anywhere, does a commercial store like Walmart meter the use of these charging stations and charge you to use it? Walmart and most service stations around where I live charge for air at an air pump.

[xrated]

I really have nothing of value to add here other than..........

Talk of fuel efficiency and towing 5th Wheel Campers really shouldn't even be in the same sentence.......kind of like.......Screen doors and submarines!

[Ken / Claudia]

Simple, lets keep it simple: None.
Sorry, I cannot print just one word in a reply.