Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] Trucks Again - Gas vs Diesel Mpg Weight - Roger Rittenhouse

Not doing much today so I am offering some opinions about a few subjects.. that
may not start the RC Wars :)

The truck selection depends on the trailer size and where you drive.
Assume - 3/4  or 1 ton  truck.
GN trailer  lets assume the trailer plated GVW is 12000   or at least not over
14,400. That is a 2/3 horse rig with LQ 6 to 8 ft short wall and a box length of
no more then 24 ft.

Gas- newer gas engines will pull good . BUT the mileage will be around 10 mpg or
LESS. Really doubt you would get close to the Diesel mpg when towing. Assume the
truck will be  yrs 2000  and newer.
The 454 Chev and 460 Ford were great but my MH 454 got 8 mpg pulling  on a flat
trip. The new gassers are V-10. Still around 10 mpg. Gas is just a bit less then
diesel fuel. 

Diesel- I get 12 to 14 mpg on the 05- F350 6.0L- pulling  combined weight of
21000 pnds. I dont have any real idea what it gets with no trailer since I very
rarely use it that way. I have not used a modern V10 gasser. I doubt it can pull
as good as the diesel.

I would consider the places I drive. Flat landers may OK with a gasser. Mountain
driving  I would ONLY use a diesel.


If I was going to pull a BP and camp light in the truck bed with a capper or in
the BP trailer, a gasser might work fine. If I had a 2H small GN with small LQ
like 4ft- cracker box..on a 18 ft box, then maybe a gasser would be OK

When I was thinking about getting another MH the gas powered rigs were rated at
10 or less and the dealers said to assume less like 6 when I pulled the BP 
trailer. 
The  smallest diesel MH was to get 12 or better.. with way more power.


I think all the big 3,   2-government  owned and one free-market.. have great HD
diesel trucks. 
Would I buy a Chev Duramax or Dodge Cummings, (they may not be available in  a
few years ? :)--   yes I would,  but they both have other issues then the
engine/tranny ( frame chassis running gear GCWR) that would keep me driving a
Ford 350.

Of course all this could start the weight wars and driving overloaded... which
'most' or many endurance riders do..As was said many times before herein, weigh
your rig fully loaded and see if you are over the mfg GCWR. This one is the most
important of all the weight 'numbers'.

Roger R

A little chatty today :)




=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-