Is Your Tow Rig a Diesel Engine?
#61
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#63
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#64
-Mike
#65
With the 7.3 the van had less power than the F-250 or Excursion due to packaging issues. Maintenance on the van is going to be a lot more difficult as well.
There is more than enough room in a Suburban or Expedition EL to sleep in the back.
-Mike
#66
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The econoline diesels are great. Tow really well. User error for sure.
More common in the mountains as lots of ski resorts bought them to use to ferry people and things around with as they could also get them in 4wd.
More common in the mountains as lots of ski resorts bought them to use to ferry people and things around with as they could also get them in 4wd.
#68
Rennlist Member
We have a 2010 Ram 2500 Laramie Diesel Single. The engines in these trucks are legendary. While I only pull a 2400 pound trailer with a 2000-4000 pound load (maybe a hammer on a walnut), I can say that the towing experience is wonderful. It is a truly comfortable truck and is my DD here in the Boston area. Yes, that's a bit nutty but I REALLY LOVE MY TRUCK!
We intentionally went for the Laramie package to get some creature comforts. I added the NAVTV module so that we can play DVDs on long tows. It's like a mobile living room. We can easily put a big *** cooler in the back (or front seat when I'm alone), which plugs into the ciggy lighter.
When not towing I get 18-22 mpg on the highway. Around town is brutal between 9-12.
Towing I get 13-15 mpg depending on the day.
I have the 'standard' rear axle but I could have gone taller for the work I do with the truck. I also feel that when we ultimately step up to a 2-car carrier that the truck will still be great.
I would say the only problem I've had is some rust along the rails and rear diff cover. I sanded them down and put POR15 on and it's new again.
We intentionally went for the Laramie package to get some creature comforts. I added the NAVTV module so that we can play DVDs on long tows. It's like a mobile living room. We can easily put a big *** cooler in the back (or front seat when I'm alone), which plugs into the ciggy lighter.
When not towing I get 18-22 mpg on the highway. Around town is brutal between 9-12.
Towing I get 13-15 mpg depending on the day.
I have the 'standard' rear axle but I could have gone taller for the work I do with the truck. I also feel that when we ultimately step up to a 2-car carrier that the truck will still be great.
I would say the only problem I've had is some rust along the rails and rear diff cover. I sanded them down and put POR15 on and it's new again.
#70
Burning Brakes
If you feel like getting rid of the vague steering and being blown about be the big trucks, you can. I did. First I replaced ball joints and tie rods. Then I found out about CT Performance (Carey Towery) in Nevada. He is on PowerStroke.org. He developed a kit that includes F350 springs, matching Bilstein shocks, an adjustable track bar, leveling brackets, and rear sway bar. I did the work and now have an F350 with an Excursion body. Tows 24' box @ 8000 lbs much better than before. Only thing left is replacing the steering box.
2000 Ford Excursion 7.3L diesel pulling an open trailer. Big (huge actually), tons of room inside for all my crap, barely know the trailer is back there except instead of 20-mpg I get 12-mpg. Comfortable but vague steering feedback on the highway - kind of just lumbers down the road. I switched to this from a VW Touareg and like all the torque and extra room.
#71
Tread carefully.
-Mike
#72
2003 Freightliner with a Mercedes MBE4000... Does OK, mileage is awful, and exhaust brake is fairly weak. Gets the job done, home on wheels, and can pull 3 cars
If only towing 1 car, have an x5 diesel, which does great with 1 car open steel trailer + tires and parts.
If only towing 1 car, have an x5 diesel, which does great with 1 car open steel trailer + tires and parts.
#73
Rennlist Member
2003 Freightliner with a Mercedes MBE4000... Does OK, mileage is awful, and exhaust brake is fairly weak. Gets the job done, home on wheels, and can pull 3 cars If only towing 1 car, have an x5 diesel, which does great with 1 car open steel trailer + tires and parts.
#74
I find it hard to believe anyone is getting 20MPG+ towing 3000lbs+. You can't bend the laws of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics with stickers.