Adobe2X

OK........there's been enough said here comparing the new engines, so that is hopefully NOT what this thread is going to be about.
If you do want to talk about any other engine, please have the courtesy to start your own thread.......
Here is our towing story:

I retired in May of 2011 and traded our 2008 Corvette straight across for a new 2010 XLT SCREW 5.4 Max Tow 6.5 bed the year before. We also bought a TT, 29 feet in length that weighed about 8,000 pounds all loaded up. We then hit the road and did the Oregon coast, doing about 5,000 miles towing that first year. The 5.4 did OK, but I did not like listening to it at 4,000 rpm in 3rd gear on the hills....it would do it, but it did not sound very happy. We got between 8 and 9 mpg when towing.



The next year, we took off on a cirumnavigation of the U.S. with a second TT weighing about 9,000 pounds with the same truck. We did about 9,000 miles before getting to Pennsylvania, where we drove a Lariat SCAB EB Max Tow 6.5 bed, and fell in love:



For the rest of the 5,000 miles on this trip, we towed with the EB at lower rpm's, much quieter in the cab, but got less than 8 mpg almost all the way. I would never tow any where near the max tow rating of 11,300 pounds and when we got back, we went with 10 ply tires (Michelins LTX's) and a 2,000 pound lighter 28 foot TT with a much more aerodynamic front end. This improved the towing ability, but I do think that the shorter wheelbase meant that we were getting into the truck's anti-sway more often than the SCREW did. We towed another 8,000 miles last year with this setup, and got consistently over 10 mpg -- often as high as 12. I do think that this weight, length and sloped front TT is the perfect choice for 1/2 ton towing. The TT is a Keystone Bullet 285 RLSW. It weighs less than 5,500 dry....

http://www.hitchrv.com/inventory/388...et-285RLS.aspx

Late last year, the rebates on the 2014's got my attention (you can see this coming, right?)...and I wanted the longer wheelbase, Pale Adobe, the powered tow mirrors etc etc...........we got another EB and moved the nearly new 10 ply tires over to it.




We have not towed with the new truck yet, but soon will. I am more than looking forward to the EB's ease of towing 7,000 pounds and having the longer wheelbase, along with the 10 ply tires.
For those shopping for a TT and truck, you can't do better than this combination for ease of towing, mpg, and ease of driving.

Ssls6

Thanks for sharing your towing experiences. I like the towing threads the best. I've got about 10k miles towing 7k lbs on my f150. It's an enclosed tandem and not a travel trailer but my f150 do s a great job.

bobkyle2

Trolls get a day off.

Adobe2X

"Thank you"... does not even seem to be enough.......

boomer85

I

have the crew cab with the long bed, pulls good and is stable with the TT behind or the utility trailer. Plenty of power outta the EB and 3.73. I don't have any photos with the TT as its put away for the winter

Adobe2X

DAYUM!!!...what does that setup weigh?

boomer85

8500-9000, not much for mpg with my 35s but it was never under 4th gear climbing hills. Pulled it across country no issues, trans temp around 200-203 the whole trip

Adobe2X

Sure looks like a WDH might help that setup....still, 4th gear and the turbos pulling feels GREAT when you are towing --- am I right?

boomer85

Yep, it would've. Pulled like this 1100 miles back home handled well though even without the wdh. No swaying to speak of but in the slush my front tires did slide a little while breaking, I'm guessing the wdh would've helped some there.

boomer85

Yep it was the same speed at the bottom and top of the hills at interstate speed, no red lining reving just 3-3500 rpm when the power was needed and around 1800-2000rpm in the flats