Road Ruler
Canada
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YSE wrote:that would work for towing a medium sized trailer? One around 20-22 feet long and about 4000 pounds, I guess. I'd prefer something (car, truck, suv, whatever) that gets at at least 22 MPG, but I don't know if that's asking too much for that price range.
There are cars or mini vans that will give you what you want. You will get 22MPG+ with some of these vehicles solo.
Some may require a custom built hitch or whatever but they are out there. For years we towed a 23' TT with a 1993 Nissan Mini Van with no problems. Ford Freestars, Siennas, and Oddy's also work.
Airstreams.... the best towing trailers on the planet!
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YSE
USA
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So I am finding plenty of F150's from the late 90's that fall into my price range and are available in my area. Since many of you are recommending them, I'll definitely consider getting one.
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YSE
USA
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Road Ruler wrote:YSE wrote:that would work for towing a medium sized trailer? One around 20-22 feet long and about 4000 pounds, I guess. I'd prefer something (car, truck, suv, whatever) that gets at at least 22 MPG, but I don't know if that's asking too much for that price range.
There are cars or mini vans that will give you what you want. You will get 22MPG+ with some of these vehicles solo.
Some may require a custom built hitch or whatever but they are out there. For years we towed a 23' TT with a 1993 Nissan Mini Van with no problems. Ford Freestars, Siennas, and Oddy's also work.
Awesome, thanks. I haven't really considered getting a minivan, but I'll look into it.
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BULLETLS1
Guatemala, C.A. (NOT Dakotas, Wyoming, Iowa...)
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it out of the range but you might consider the option of a crashed truck, i.e. My brother had just bought a chevy 2500 duramax diesel allison tranny 2007 w 45K mi, for $11,000!!!! of course included with the truck was a tree "branch" on the roof, that was VERY close to the dashboard!!!!!
also I bought a kia rio with 11K mi practically new (also came with a full tank of gas! ) it cost $1,200...
check a few auctions
I I HAVE A DATE WITH ETERNITY, AND I DON´T WANT TO BE LATE!
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
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A lot of minivans are limited to 3500 lb towing - or less. You need a TRUCK - or a variation on one like a Trailblazer (6000# towing capacity).
My own experience towing heavy stuff with a Trailblazer: with enough weight, the shorter wheelbase vehicle can get a little of that "tail wagging the dog" feel. Now that I tow with a Silverado, I don't get that. And the mileage is pretty much the same with both vehicles - upper teens for mpg.
Deb
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jyh818
Chino, CA
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With the F150s you're looking at about the limit in towing. If you decide in the future to tow heavier trailers, you may not be able to do so.
Diesel trucks will give you better MPGs. The super duty trucks (F250, Chevy 2500) give you great towing capability and good mileage. They are more expensive.
2002 Ford Excursion XLT V-10 6.8L
2009 Skyline Nomad 260
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Gdetrailer
PA
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YSE writes "Wanting 22 MPG was probably just wishful thinking. Whatever I get will be my main vehicle so something with decent MPG would be nice, but most likely is not realistic"
A mileage getter and a real tow vehicle are two different creatures. One must make some compromise depending on just what is the prioriy.
Whule there is some older pickups that may get you close to 22mpg they will tend to not be very good in the towing aspect. They generally will be equipped with the smallest engine and tall gear ratio (IE 3.55 or worse).
Personally I really don't see why folks recommend minivans, they are rather limited in HP and torq and will have highway gearing (3-3.55 ratio), very soft suspension which makes for a very poor towing platform (rather squirmmy). Overall most minivans would have a hard time even getting 22mpg going down hill with the wind pushing them.
Keep in mind when towing, you will not get close to the empty mpg so basically you will generally see 9-11 mpg while towing.
Don't be too afraid of the empty mileage of a pickup, in my case I have had a 97 F250 (light duty version aka heavy half) supercab shortbed 2wd with 2V 5.4 (235hp) 3.73 axle ratio. This truck would get 17.5mpg empty highway, towing a 20ft 3600 lb TT would get 9.5-11 mpg.
My 2003 F250 (super Duty) equipped the same as the 97 but engine was 265hp version) gets 17.1 highway, towing same 20ft TT would get the same as the 97.
My 2006 F250 Super Duty equipped the same but engine is 3V 300 HP version gets 16.9 empty highway and towing our 26Ft 4500 lb TT gets 9-10.5 mpg.
Keep in mind my super duty F250s tend to weigh in at 800-1000 lbs more than a F150. This weight comes from bigger and heavier frame, springs, axles, it adds weight but the results are a much more stable towing platform.
While you don't "need" a big heavy truck to tow a 20-22ft TT I personally feel it adds more stability, better handling and over all a much more enjoyable trip towing (no white knuckle driving for me). The bigger trucks also have engines, transmissions, and drive train that are completely designed for towing and heavy hauling. This gives you longer life of your vehicle.
Small SUVs, cars, minivans all share the same engine, transmission, drive train parts. They are less than ideal for heavy towing without performing a bunch of performance upgrades. They also have softer springs and suspension which would also need to be addressed. By the time you make all the upgrades you could have bought a pickup for less.
There are used trucks out there, just need to really hunt them down.
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sh410
Northwest
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Another thought is finding a 20-22' TT weighing 4000# will be difficult. An HTT maybe or a pop-up would be in the 4000# range
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Road Ruler
Canada
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Gdetrailer wrote:YSE writes "Wanting 22 MPG was probably just wishful thinking.
Personally I really don't see why folks recommend minivans, they are rather limited in HP and torq and will have highway gearing (3-3.55 ratio), very soft suspension which makes for a very poor towing platform (rather squirmmy). Overall most minivans would have a hard time even getting 22mpg going down hill with the wind pushing them.
Buddy, you are so far off base with your comments it's a laugh.
FYI We towed a 23'TT for many years with a now, dated, Nissan Mini Van. I had enough power and TQ tow the trailer (dry weight was 3,500lbs, road ready 4,500lbs). The van had 3:89 gearing and the suspension was firm but compliant. The front sway bar was thicker than the ones found on an F250 Ford pick up from that era. The van towing the trailer was very stable and solo the van got 28mpg (imp).
The following tests were performed to analyze the stability of various vehicles. The mini van (Freestar) came out near the top of the list.
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tatest
Oklahoma
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In our area, you can get a decent 100,000 - 150,000 mile gas 3/4 ton pickup for that kind of money (they come out of ranch or construction company fleets), or a 3/4 ton van under 60,000 miles for $10K to $15K (out of rental fleets).
Either will pull a 20-22 foot trailer (which is more likely to weigh 8000 pounds than 4000 pounds, a weight you might find in the 13-16 foot range).
A vehicle in that class will not get 22 mpg, certainly not pulling a trailer.
There are some medium-size SUVs and mini-vans that might get as much as 22 mpg when not towing. Some mid-size SUVs might be rated to tow as much as 6000 pounds, but realistically that is a stretch, they don't tow well. You won't find either in the $5000 range until they are well worn. Many lighter vehicles do not tolerate high mileage as well as a heavier truck.
Almost any 1/2 ton pickup will tow 4000 pounds comfortably, and will come down to the $5000 price range at 8-10 years with about 100,000 miles. Find one with proper gearing and a big enough engine, it might tow as much as 8000 pounds, it just won't do so as comfortably and as long as a 3/4 with heavier frame, springs, axles, brakes, etc.
Question is, will you really find a 20-22 foot travel trailer that weighs only 4000 pounds ready to go. I spent a lot of time looking for a TT in that size range I could comfortably tow with a mid-size SUV rated for 4500 pounds and found very few unless I was willing to look at 19-foot and smaller.
Tom Test
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