scannon Posted June 22, 2011 Posted June 22, 2011 I decided it was time for a new truck for this summer's trips so I traded the Silverado 2WD on an '11 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4WD with the hemi engine. It has 105 more HP than the 5.3 engine in the Chevy and is rated at 1 mpg higher. Amazing since it is 4WD vs 2WD, 700+ lb heavier and 7" taller. The new topper arrived today so I snapped a few pictures.
Kitcat Posted June 23, 2011 Posted June 23, 2011 The Beast! I am seriously looking at a VW Touareg 2 TDI. It's AWD, weighs abt 4500 lbs and theoretically gets 28 mpg. Tow rated for 7700 lbs.
WestTexasS2K Posted June 23, 2011 Posted June 23, 2011 Kitcat I agree with your assessment of the Touareg I love VW tdi engines. That v10 make some good torque.
scannon Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 I towed the trailer with the Caterham loaded inside to Utah and back last week. Going over it got just 7.5 mpg. I was bucking a 45 - 50 mph head wind most of the way. Coming back it got 11.5 mpg with no wind. That's 1.5 mpg better than the Silverado ever managed towing the same load. Regular gas was $3.31 all along the Wyoming section of I-80.
Kitcat Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 As noted elsewhere: I got 11.5 towing my Caterham over the "mountains" of Maryland (Plz don't laugh Skip:)), 13.5 on the trip back over the "mountains" of PA, which were not as steep, or frequent. Diesel is abt $3.90. Yellow SS told me he got 11.5 towing his much bigger trailer w/his new F150.
scannon Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 I'm hoping it will eek out another mpg once it has more miles on it. It had 600 when I left on this trip. Slowing down would help (that's not going to happen ), I cruised at 75+ almost all of the time, even going up the grades. Gotta love all the HP and torque.
slomove Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 I towed the trailer with the Caterham loaded inside to Utah and back last week. Going over it got just 7.5 mpg...... :willy_nilly: I think I keep my wimpy Hyundai Santa Fe with light trailer for a while. Towing on I5 e.g. across the mountains to the Buttonwillow track yields me 18-20 mpg. Maybe not at 75+ but at a license conserving 65 or so.
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