Better Tow vehicle - big SUV or 1/2 Ton Pickup

[manitunc]

Originally Posted by bigeasy1

You got me beat Don..
I got a whopping 8 mpg towing the Tsunami 400 miles with my 5.4 Triton F150 with 3.55 gears.Its horrible on fuel.I was giving some thought about changing to a big suv like a suburban or Expedition but as others mentioned I'd miss the pickup bed .
My truck bed is always is always full of stuff that would ruin the interior of a nice suv.My preference for dual use both as a tow vehicle and a trip to the lumber yard would be best with a pickup truck.
Bought the F150 in 05 and would love a new truck but with pricing from 40 to 60 grand (and even more) it aint gonna happen ,especially on a fixed income.

With my extended Expedition EL, I can load a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the back and close the doors, or 2x4s or whatever up to about 12' diagonally until I have to open the back window. Mine is always full of crap back there but can still haul a bunch of people when need be.

Oh, I only see 55mph on the way up or down. I can't imagine driving hundreds of miles at that speed. Couldnt do it even in the 70s and 80s when that was the limit. I usually dont go over 65 though with the trailer.

[NoBones]

Over the last 30 years of tugging my 20 all over the state, every vehicle got
around 11-12 mpg towing ......

Thinking back

1988 Jeep Grand Wagoner 360 CI 8-MPG
(terrible handling 'cause of short wheel base)

1990 Dodge Ram Charger 318 CI 8-MPG (same as jeep short wheel base)

1993 3/4 Suburban 350 CI 12 MPG towing or not....

1994 3/4 4WD 350 CI Chevy 2500 P/U 11 MPG

1999 1/2 Dodge Ram 360 CI 11-12 MPG

2003 Dodge Durango 4.7L 11 MPG (actually tows well with short wheel base)

2016 3/4 4WD Dodge Ram Cummings Turbo (full delete) 23 MPG

Out of all of these my favorite was the 99 Dodge Ram !!

So long story short, good friend & I heading to Miami Dolphins game
in his new 1977 Olds Toronado with the 455, asked him what his MPG was?
Response was, if I found out it was 1/2 of what it should be what do you think I'am
going to do... Turn around and go BACK !

That has stuck with me ever since.