Decent pickup MPG's?
 

Well after i bought a boat over the winter i need a little more then my cavalier to pull it. I always wanted a pickup but settled for the 4 banger cavy. How are the full size trucks on gas? I can deal with 16 around town but would a 8 cylinder chevy or ford get that? And does anyone know how the gas mileage of the 6 cylinders are? im looking to spend a couple grand so the truck would most likely be early to mid 90s.

First, how big is the boat and how much does it weigh? If you're towing a 12 foot aluminum lake boat, a V6 will tow it just fine whereas if it's a giant yacht, you're not going anywhere without at LEAST a V8.How often are you going to have to tow the boat and for how many miles? What about brake controllers, load levelers, and other accessories? These are huge considerations in buying any kind of tow rig, especially if you're going to daily drive it. In some instances, you can get by with, say, a 1/2 ton truck if you're only towing once in awhile versus needing an all out Cummins powered monster if you're towing a yacht or two trail rigs every weekend.

Do some research. Find out what trucks are capable of handling the load (Heh heh) you need them to tow and narrow it down from there.

I have a 2000 GMC Yukon XL that I just picked up last year. It's the monster 3/4 ton with eight lug axles and capable of towing 10k pounds. It's got the 6.0 liter Vortec V8 that can definitely get out of its own way, even with 160k+ well-maintained miles on it. I plan on towing my Jeep with it and it should do so comfortably. It's also a very comfortable ride for the family and I've picked up lots of steel with it and the truck reacts as if it's not even there. Sadly, mileage sucks. Unloaded, maybe 16 to 20 on the highway, but 12 to 14 around town. Which is why it's not my coummuter/daily driver.

i have an 04 sierra 2500hd with the 6.0l. i get about 13mpg highway(thats pretty much all i due). i tow a 18ft trailor with my car on it and i get around 9mpg. not the most fuel efficient vehicle but it tows pretty good

might want to think about a diesel if you're concerned about fuel economy while towing

x2, My next truck will be a diesel, no question about it. You can not compare the two when it comes to towing.

Its a smaller aluminum boat so thats why i was going to six cylinder route. It doesn't weigh too much but i dont think a 4 cylinder would cut it. Its not nearly heavy enough for brake controllers and all that. I should have reworded the original post. Im not really looking for what can pull what.. since i need a truck to pull the boat and the truck would become my daily i just wanted to know what got decent MPG's as a daily driver.

Went to a Toyota dealership (shoot me) yesterday to scope out a Tundra/Tacoma... now would be a good time to buy one because they dropped in price BIGTIME (some were up to 10K less) and they are offering 0% interest because of the whole recall ordeal. Just thought I'd throw that in there.

Wow maybe something to check out.. Toyota makes some nice trucks.

The more recent 4 cyl engines are plenty to tow with. The Tacoma's come with a 2.7L which has enough towing ability and can get you 22+ mpg like the 99 I had last year. The V6 nd V8 will drop off quickly in gas mileage. Expect mid teens to maybe 20 on the highway with most trucks. Also depends on regular cab vs extended cab, automatic vs manual, 4x4 vs 2wd.

As much as I love my truck (silverado 1500 with a 5.3) the gas mileage is terrible. I use it for landscaping, so I am constantly pulling a landscape trailer with a couple mowers, which really isn't all that heavy at all. But the mileage drops off a lot, although I've never really calculated the difference. For towing every once in a while, a 1500 v8 would be plenty of power, and a little fun to drive too. But don't expect much in terms of gas mileage with or without the trailer. I'm aiming for a diesel next time around myself.

Yea, 3 people I know picked up new Toyotas in a 2 day period after I told them about the deals they are giving. I may go back tomorrow, cuz that Tundra is ****ing sweet for a Toyota. Very tempting.

Just some input...

I drive a 2005 F150 FX4 5.4 w/ 3.73s as my daily driver and i average about 17-18 mpg highway and roughly 15 stop and go. Truck and motor are excellent, i could not be happier. If i were to pull the aluminum boat you are speaking of im sure my truck would barely feel it and still average a respectable 15 - 16 highway. I also tend to drive with a light foot

My 4.3 powered 1500 got between 18-20 mpg with mixed driving, the best I got was 23 all highway. If you want a v8 15-16mpg is attainable with light/highway driving or even better, depending on what you've got.

If you wan't a consistent 20mpg or so, you should consider a ford ranger or possibly even a colorado. Since you only have a little boat a v6 ranger or s10 would work nicely, maybe even a blazer or explorer if you need the interior space.

Toyota would be the last manufacturer I'd be looking at right now, but thats just me.

*facepalm*

New Ram is very cool. The 390hp Hemi is pulling down the same EPA numbers as Ford and GM are with lesser engines. I was shocked at that.
With all the problems with teh Tundra, and problems with Toyota overall, I would not go with them. Ram, GM Twins, or F150.

before you think about a toyota, watch this frame strength demo...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfE_XAk2mE

http://www.youtube.com/user/CarDataV.../2/EWjTbiYo3x0

Agreed

Or... If you want a fullsize with good MPG. you could possibly look for a used mid 90's Cummins powered Ram with like 150 - 175k on the clock. Engines are excellent and still young at 150k. Although for a boat your size its a little overkill

if its a small boat, why not a small truck like a ford ranger or something? I tow a 12 ft boat and a 16 ft boat, both fiberglass, with my 96 ford explorer with a v6 with no problem.

My 96 Dodge ram 2500 diesel get like 20mpg easy, and i was trying to sell it for only $3,000. It had a mere 68k miles on it with the trans rebuilt already since dodge cant make good factory transmissions. It just had a very rough body, dent-wise, no rust/rot. Im now slowly replacing the damaged body parts with used parts of the same factory color. But it can tow anything and you can barely feel the load on the truck.

I'm also going to be towing a camper too. Me and my friends go to races and stuff and the only other trucks they have are a ranger and a jimmy so they can't really pull a bigger trailer like that. That's what i actually was just thinking of and an 8 cylinder may be more ideal. I would go with a Dodge but i'm not much of a fan of dodge, never really was. I was just trying to get an idea of what kind of gas mileage a full size would be pulling down. i don't have too much to spend. I'd be trying to sell my cavalier so that would add to the funds, even though id be only looking to get like 800 for it. Diesel would be nice i always wanted one but wouldn't gas be a little more?
I also don't have a ton to spend.. probably 2500 at the most unless i sell the camaro but i dont think that will be happening

Diesel costs more at the pump, but the fuel mileage and towing capabilities can't even be compared. Our Dodge 2500 Diesel gets around 23 mpg with a crew cab and a long bed. An open trailer with car on it drops it to 19 or so

you can get a f150 pretty cheap with the 5.4 v8. their gas mileage is generally around 20 combined and can pull pretty well. What size camper do you have?

I have always had good luck with chevy/gmc full size trucks with the vortec 305 (5.oL)
good mpg and last for friggin ever.

Its my buddies camper that we use so im not sure. around 25 feet i think. If i could find a diesel in my price range i would pick it up.

feel like rebuilding a trans? talk to SteveR, he's got a diesel truck that could be sold cheap if you're willing to put a trans in.