Want to learn what others use for towing

rrwayne · 07-19-2011, 06:19 PM

It would be helpful to know what Sunline Travel Trailer models under 25 feet you are pulling with what towing vehicle. Make, year and model number of the car/suv/truck would be appreciated. I really want to hear from folks who have been in the mountains with their combination of towing vehicle and Sunshine trailer.

And if you have it handy, please include MPG when towing and not towing.

Thank you.

pwb01 · 07-19-2011, 06:46 PM

'06 T-1950 and '07 F150 (4x4). I get best 18 mpg on the highway and 11 towing the camper. In the mountains or on the highway, with a 7500# towing capacity I hardly know it's back there. I maintain speed up hills and get to 65 on the ramp entering the highway.

Gene · 07-19-2011, 06:53 PM

There is another older thread with towing MPG
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...mpg-10267.html

I have a 2008 Toyota 4Runner, 4.7 V8, 3.73 rear towing a 2002 T2363 with GVWR or 5500#

Typical milage RI to New Hampshire, mostly Interstate:
not towing (65 mph) - 20 to 21 MPG
same route towing (60 mph) 11 to 12 mpg with overdrive off.

Steve Collins · 07-19-2011, 07:45 PM

'02 Dodge Ram 3500 Duallie with the Cummins Diesel pulling a '99 T-2453.

Highway mileage averages just under 15 mpg. Towing pulls it all the way down to 13.5 in the Adirondacks.

Shutting off the OD only seems to matter on the steeper and longer uphill runs, especially climbing the hill eastbound out of Blue Mountain Lake. I don't get better mileage, but it sure keeps me accelerating all the way up that grade.

suebobby · 07-20-2011, 05:32 AM

Pulling '05 T-2075, 22', 5500# GVWR with a '07 Dodge Ram 1500 Q/cab 4X4, 5.7 Hemi and 3.93 gears. We have had no issues to date and use the "tow-haul" mode when hill climbing. 10-12 mpg avg. tow mpg. 20" wheels keep towing capacity down to 8500#, should look to get std. 17" wheels to up tow ability. Our Honda CRV gets at least 30 mpg so I guess you could say were getting an average 20 mpg over all

bdichristina · 07-20-2011, 05:52 AM

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (V6) pulling a T-1750 at 2500 lbs. I don't have a MPG yet, but I also click off OD if not on a highway.
_________________
Bob & Kathy
Western New York
1984 Sunline T-1750
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo

rebellious78 · 07-20-2011, 06:30 AM

We pull a 2006 t-264 SR with a 2011 F250 6.7 Diesel. We get 17.5 miles towing the camper.

MOKID · 07-20-2011, 06:48 AM

We have a 2005 T-1950 Sunline Solaris Trailer
Our TV is a 2006 Ford F-150 Super Crew Cab 2x2 with 3:73 rear end
Since it is a 2x2 and has 3:73 rear end the towing capacity is 9200#
Highway MPG = 20-22
Towing MPG = 12
It tows the trailer great and I have to watch it our I will be over the speed limit. I normally pull between 60-65.
Our last trip out I went through the scales and the TT weighed 4400#
We love the trailer and the TV and think it is a great set up.

mainah · 07-20-2011, 04:21 PM

Toyota Tacoma 4X4 4.0L 6 speed towing a T1700 around, 15 highway and I have no problem towing in 6th gear.

JB2004 · 07-20-2011, 08:14 PM

Chevy Silverado 4x4 1500 5.3 liter V-8 3.73 rear end. Plus we have an aftermarket transmission cooler. We haul a 1998 T-2053. Our last trip was through the Green Mtns. of Vermont on our way to New Hampshire. We had an easy ride with our combo. The only time i felt a little uneasy was descending down one grade that was 8 degrees, i decided to drop it into 2nd gear as we started the descent. I have new brakes on our truck all the way around and didn't like the idea of heating them up so i decided to use the tranny to keep from building up too much speed. That seemed to work well. Our 1/2 ton p/u does a great job with our Sunline, we downsized from a 28' Fleetwood Wilderness that pushed out truck to its limits even though we were well within towing capacity and weight. I am very comfortable with this combination and it serves our needs well. As far as MPG, I haven't checked it with the Sunline. With the Fleetwood it was between 10 and 12 mpg. I've never checked it as a regular ride..... it's a truck !

bdichristina · 08-29-2011, 11:28 AM

We finally have our 1984 T-1750 ready to roll. We put about 300 miles on the new hardware in the last 2 weekends (8/19/11 & 8/26/11), and averaged 12.6 MPG with the Jeep Cherokee's V6 in towing mode (no over-drive). We averaged 11.1 MPG in the steep hills of Arkport, NY. The Jeep normally averages 16.2 unladen.
_________________
Bob & Kathy
Western New York
1984 Sunline T-1750
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo

GKLarson · 08-30-2011, 07:27 AM

We tow our T-1950 w/ a 4.7 liter '06 Tundra dbl cab. If I'm careful I can get 18-19mpg on hwy when driving "naked"

.
When I mount a canoe on roof I give up almost 2mpg. When I also add the trailer, mileage drops to 10-11 mpg.
Although I didn't check it every fill-up, & did some driving w/o taking the trailer along during our 9500m round trip to SW last winter, our overall avg was that same 10-11mpg. We slowed way down & were passed by many when climbing steep hills but I refused to tromp on gas pedal & send rpm's skyrocketing just to keep speed up. Have never towed trailer w/o also having canoe mounted so unaware if doing so would yield increased mileage ??
It cost us $1000 just to drive back to our upstate NY home from Las Vegas area @ height of gas prices last April but that won't keep us from returning to SW this yr

LanCoPA · 09-05-2011, 12:58 PM

2004 T1950 towed by a 2001 Dodge Durango 5.9L. I am scared to check the gas mileage, as we only get around 13 MPG when not towing! But it does pull the trailer fine.

LisaKana · 09-07-2011, 09:03 AM

1998.5 24V 5.9 Cummins Dodge 3500. I have not done a raod trip w/ the slidein camper yet, but fully loaded w/ only a fiberglass truck cap & pulling two jets ski's to Canada I averaged 24MPG last Summer. I was careful with speed & take offs.

Diesel is the way to go, everything is heavy duty. Guys use them to pull 20,000GVW horse trailers, 3 car haulers. People have documentation of getting over a millon miles w a Dodge Cummins straight 6 diesel. If you can't afford a new one get a used one like we did. Just do your research on what to look out for w each brand, year, & model.

I am able to run my own biodiesel which helps keep down the cost of driving a diesel too!

Dave

mainah · 09-07-2011, 06:15 PM

Wow that's really good I just got back from Canada pulling my T1700 with a 6 cylinder Tacoma and did not do nearly that well like half that. You are right about the diesel it is the way to go my commuter is a VW TDI and even if I drive it like I stole it I still get at least 50 MPG. I love my Toyota but I would trade it tomorrow if they offered a new one with a turbo diesel and it's got less then 10,000 miles on it.

LisaKana · 09-07-2011, 09:25 PM

TDI's are amazing. Do you have a auto or stick?. The early 80's Rabbit truck got the same kind of Mileage 50+.

A friend of mine put a programer on 2001 3/4 ton, 2500, & claimed to be getting over 30 w/ his Cummns diesel in economy mode.

mainah · 09-08-2011, 05:52 PM

Mine is a 5 speed I have done as well as a tenth or two below 60 MPG and it's fun to drive unlike other hyper mileage cars more then enough power even with 216K on it. I think your friend maybe be streching it a bit that thing still weights 5,000+ all though diesels react to chipping far better then a gas engine.

MACK C-85 · 09-09-2011, 08:38 AM

The best I've done with my '04 2500/Cummins is just short of 22 on the road with just me, the wife, and 2 kids in it. So, I wouldn't be surprised that he's pushing 30.

LisaKana · 09-12-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainah

Mine is a 5 speed I have done as well as a tenth or two below 60 MPG and it's fun to drive unlike other hyper mileage cars more then enough power even with 216K on it. I think your friend maybe be streching it a bit that thing still weights 5,000+ all though diesels react to chipping far better then a gas engine.

I agree mainah, VW TDI's are the best, way better than a hybrid all the way around. What year is yours again? At 216K it's still a baby!

It's too bad that we can't get the diesel hybrids that get like 70 mpg's like they have in Europe. That would be the only hybid I'd want. The critics all like the sporty feel & handling of a TDI as well.

Diesel duz it better,
Dave

LisaKana · 09-12-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainah

Wow that's really good I just got back from Canada pulling my T1700 with a 6 cylinder Tacoma and did not do nearly that well like half that. You are right about the diesel it is the way to go my commuter is a VW TDI and even if I drive it like I stole it I still get at least 50 MPG. I love my Toyota but I would trade it tomorrow if they offered a new one with a turbo diesel and it's got less then 10,000 miles on it.

The old Toyota diesels from the early 80'2 were killin'! I think they make 'em new for other county's but we don't allow them here.