harvwong wrote: ....The question is, is there a noticeable difference in vehicle power when carrying a camper verses towing a trailer? I have never towed anything and this is the first real trip with the camper.
With most TTs there will be less frontal area creating drag when compared to a truck with a larger TC on it.
2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
95 Bounder 28' ClassA sold
91 Jamboree 21' ClassC sold
D&SBarnes wrote: ...My best mileage with that rig was about 14 loaded, driving under 50 mph in mountains, and I believe that the slow speed was the main reason....
While this solution might be viable on the secondary roads (55mph speed limit) it could have resulted in a ticket or even an accident if it was on a major highway (75mph speed limit). Most Hwys are signed that you can't go more then 15mph below the limit (except for specially marked truck lanes) and traveling over 25mph slower then the traffic flow is a recipe for disaster when the guy doing 80+mph who isn't paying attention comes along. Yeah it would be his fault but that won't make either of you less dead.
I am not dinging you on this (after all you did say it was unacceptable and upgraded to a bigger engine), I am just highlighting the info for others.
f350blueberry wrote: How about some deeper gears like 4:80 ish ? Cheaper than a new truck.
The ideal solution would probably be to combine the deeper gears along with an overdrive unit. That way you get increased pulling power but can still get the rpms down for fuel economy.
Or if you are happy with the power/mpg of your truck when it is running empty then go with just an underdrive unit for when you are loaded.
You might look into Gear Vendors 2 speed add-on gearbox (over-under). I don't know any of the particulars, but if your truck is otherwise sound it seems a lot cheaper than buying a new truck (been there done that$$). I've seen them advertised at Camping World. Perhaps another poster could provide more info as to the merits of this product. Incidentally, we took basically the same route a year ago (Armstrong B.C. to Vancouver B.C...very scenic!) with power to spare, but for a gasser bare in mind how steep some of those grades were!
harvwong wrote: The question is, is there a noticeable difference in vehicle power when carrying a camper verses towing a trailer? I have never towed anything and this is the first real trip with the camper.
The truck is fine on flat and slightly hilly terrain, it's just the mountain passes that is the killer. I'm not switching trucks or changing the gears.
The main question I had was is there is big difference between towing 4000 lbs vs carrying 4000 lbs?
harvwong wrote: The main question I had was is there is big difference between towing 4000 lbs vs carrying 4000 lbs?
Yes and no. It's not the weight per-se that affects mpg but how it is arranged.
4K carried low in the bed (as in a load of bricks) would have less affect on mpg then 4K (or even less) of TC sticking way up into the air stream. When towing a TT much (if not all) of its frontal area is behind the truck and so doesn't have to fight the air it is traveling though since the truck has already done that. The trailer is basically getting a free ride as far as air resistance is concerned, much like NASCAR racers when they tuck in tight behind the car in front of them. That is why even a heavier trailer can have less affect on mpg then a lighter TC.
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