240 LTS

Now I have a full size Ford van, 156,000 miles, 5.8 L, for vacation, camping, and pulling the boat. Not good gas mileage. I use a 97 Nissan P/U 4 cylinder, 254,000 miles for work, 24 mph. The gas saved every day going to work, commercial construction, right now 100 mile round trip offsets the cost of two vehicles, I believe..

Both run great now but when they bite the dust I would like to only have one truck to pull the boat and go to work. I do not NEED a 4wd.




Suggestions? Would the new Frontier or Tacoma be enough power to pull the boat while still getting better mileage for work then the full size trucks?

thundertrout

chevy 1/2 ton

bc22

i still have a 1998 chev reg cab 4.3L v6 4x4 1/2 ton truck. it's ok, but doesn't get used much because the 2003 3/4 ton 4x4 dodge diesel crew is so much nicer and the operational and fuel costs are very similar. booting around town both burn 16-17 mpg, hi-way 18-19 mpg. when towing the diesel is much better on fuel and control.

i too thought about a mid size truck like the tacoma, but if you look at the fuel #'s the saving is very minimal compared to full size trucks and when you tow with it the burn on the smaller truck will actually be higher with the smaller engine with that boat.

currently there are a lot of nice late model and new trucks (gas or diesel) being almost given away. Good time to buy if you ask me.

check out a dodge cummins diesel truck (5.9L engine), surprisingly good on fuel as long as you dont stand on the throttle.

240 LTS

bc22,

I have never had a diesel. Would the better mileage offset the higher diesel price per gallon over gas? This may have already been discussed to death but I have not read any of it.

bamaboy473

I have a Ford Excursion for Sale. 2000 model, 2WD, 7.3L diesel, 113K miles for $10,800OBO.

The truck has pulled several boats without a whimper. If you can keep the highway speed around 65, MPG will approach 20 without a trailer, down to 12 with one and less if through hills/mountains...but the constant downshifting of a gasser is a thing of the past.

I can fit a ton of stuff into the back of the Ex and it rides great. Mine isn't the leather interior, either, so the seats still look good after all these years.

PM if any questions. I'd say you're a lot better off with a diesel; especially at resale with the miles you put on your vehicles. People aren't even a little bit nervous about a diesel with 150K miles.

__________________
Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)

razoo125

Nissan Titan. I pull a Sea Pro 206 DC with NO problems whatsoever.

240 LTS

razoo125, whats your mpg, towing and non towing? 5.7 L? Cab, single, extra, double? Thanks, Jeff

razoo125

I have never actaully recorded my mileage towing the boat. I know that my engine turns 1500rpms when I drive 55mph. IMO thats impressive.

240 LTS

razoo,

5.7 L? 4X4? Cab, single, extra, double?