I’d guess my net environmental impact is just now lower than US average because, despite my fuel consumption when moving my home, it’s tiny, energy independent, and it doesn’t move far or frequently. I don’t really know. I just don’t want to be judged unfairly, particularly when seeking help trying to do it even better.
I want to downsize my truck for cost and fuel efficiency. I’ve had this truck, my first, for a year, 3.5k miles. I’ve towed the trailer a short thousand miles without incident and including city, highway, and interstate.
Current setup:
'19 Chevy 2500 6.0L 4WD
Hitch towing ~2.5 tons GVWR (14’, enclosed, tandem, brakes)
Getting 8mpg @ 70-75mph
Next truck budget is $10-20k. I’ll keep it probably until the frame rots. I’m planning on replacing shocks & wearable steering components, am not averse to some work.
Should I target a 1/2 ton gas (leaning Ford 5.0L 4WD), a different 3/4 ton gas (which and why), or a 3/4 ton diesel (leaning Dodge Cummins)?
The paper numbers say I should get a 1/2 ton gas. But, my more experienced friend thinks I’ll be a lot happier spending more for a diesel because diesel engines can last a long time, it’ll at least double my fuel efficiency, and it’s a little extra overkill for an easier tow.
I’m open to all informed perspectives. What’s my best plan and why?
I have a 2WD 2019 F150 with the 5.0 I use to tow my horses around. With the tow package, I think its max is 12900lbs and it does a hell of a job on stuff in the 6-9k range but get up in the max range and it struggles a bit. I would say it gets about 8-12mpg depending on what we tow with it. I think it’s rated for 19/21mpg just on its own. I get about 17/19mpg just driving it around.
It lives a light-duty life hauling horses down highways and South Texas caliche roads, but I am happy with my f150 most days. I think when it comes time to replace it I will go back to the f250 for the higher towing capability but stay gas only because everything we run is gas.
Hopefully, my experience helps, have fun truck hunting.
The fact that you’re entirely happy with your F150 but will replace it with a 250 is very helpful. Much respect for moving living cargo. I think I’d want 5-10k miles before I’d trust myself to do that.
Toyota. You’re a fool to buy domestic, especially if you’re only towing 2.5 tons.
Hey city slicker. Know a good mechanic?
city slicker
Lol
know a good mechanic?
Of course I know him, he’s me.
OK. Then, I ask with humility and respect, “Why?”.
My objection to the Tundra is that I could buy a diesel for nearly the same money that’d give me double the fuel economy and double the miles. And, it’s not going to be much more reliable than a domestic tuned and maintained by myself.
If I had to have the best gas 1/2 ton on the market then I think it’s a Tundra. But, I’m not looking for the best tool. It seems a 1/2 ton is a mistake. I want best value under the assumption labor is free.
What am I missing?
How hilly is your terrain, and how often do you pull the trailer?
Mostly flat and not pulling often = 1/2 ton, although you might occasionally be annoyed with getting going slowly with the trailer.
If hilly and/or pulling often going for the 3/4 for more consistency would be better.
It is like picking between economical hatchback. Being low powered isn’t generally a big deal if you aren’t loading the back with heavy stuff and driving around flat roads, but if you use the hatch to move a few hundred lbs a few times a week uphill then getting one with a more powerful engine makes sense even if the hatch size is the same.
The biggest advantage to diesel in my outdated experience was low speed torque for heavy loads, especially trailers.
It could be the northern Rockies. It could be Iowa (flat). Most of the miles will be interstate and highway. I’ll be pulling the 2.5t trailer almost exclusively for 10-12k miles. Then, I’ll have many short haul loads in the 1-4t range for maybe 2k miles. Then, it’ll spend maybe a third of its remaining life with that same 2.5t, the other two thirds with less than 0.5t payload.
Based on what we’ve both said, it seems like you’d favor a 3/4.
I’m not worried so much about pull power acceleration as efficiency at 70-80mph.
Oh, and you will wear out a truck where you regularly pull the max load a lot faster than one where you regularly pull closer to half the load. Those max loads are not intended to be regular.
Wasn’t sure if your first year was representstive of future years.
My first year was about 1500lb payload. I went easy on it. But, there’s no such thing when pulling at the limits of the transmission & drive line. This is why I thought of a 1/2 ton, 2.5t sitting at around half the max capacity. But, because I’ll be towing full time for awhile, the accepted perspective seems to be to overkill even a bit more.
I think this might be a case where downsizing is actually a bad idea.
You have a six year vehicle that serves it’s purpose, why not invest in a micromobility option to save fuel while you’re not towing your trailer?
The '19 3/4 ton is worth $38k. It was a great truck for my wife and I to build experience. Only now, with some experience, do we know it can be done for half the price. But, with only a little experience, we’re not quite sure what our best choice is and why.
Can’t do an electric bicycle out here for lots of reasons, first and foremost range and speed. But, we’re thinking along those lines. We’re aiming at a 650 motorcycle in the next six months.
No problem, I gave you my opinion so hopefully someone else can give you the advice you’re looking for.
You did give me the advice I was looking for, sorta. You had me thinking, “How could downsizing be wrong”
Yesterday, every opportunity, three times, I asked someone else that was towing (random drivers stopped) what they thought. They all agree with you: Downsizing is not good.
Also, the diesel owner wishes he’d bought a gas. The gas owners wish they’d bought a diesel.
… I want to say it but it’s probably overused
If it’s the opinions/assholes thing then yes, my asshole is probably overused.
I wanted to say that’s very considerate of you, SatansMaggotyCumFart
