Current top picks for tow vehicle for 21'

[oldwave]

I already did know and replaced the bad two piece plugs with the redesigned one piece immediately

No broken plugs I'll also do it at 70000 per consumer reports recommendations
But thanks. With regular maintenance I suspect I'll get my monies worth

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by oldwave

I was lucky and found a 2004 f150 with 37000 miles on it with a Triton v8 and tow package for 12000
Not a hint of corrosion
Not as good gas mileage as a new eco boost but 25000 buys a lot of gas.

You may find there's nearly zero difference in fuel mileage between towing and non-towing. Those Triton V8s are fuel hogs. Mine was a daily driver, 26 miles round trip for work. Granted it was rush hour and lots of minutes just sitting and not moving. I had to fill up every six business days. OUCH when gas was $4.10 a gallon.

[oldwave]

Yes not great though non towing on the freeway I got close twenty
New ecoboost is 35000 plus it'll be a while until the cost effective gas mileage would make that up

[cpaharley2008]

What kind of transmission in the Ford Triton? I had a 2009 Ram with a hemi, got 12 mpg towing or not. It had a 5 speed auto. Traded in and got a 2014 Hemi, 8 speed auto, range from 20 unhooked to 15 avg towing, so the transmission gearing can help. You may also be able to change the rear end for better gas economy.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Chotch

I have the crew cab, not quite as big a back seat, so I removed 2/3.

That's the SuperCab - not the SuperCrew - right, Chotch?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

What kind of transmission in the Ford Triton?

Unfortunately, in 2004 the 5.4L Triton V8 would have come with a four-speed automatic... Ford had not advanced to the 6-speed yet.

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

You may also be able to change the rear end for better gas economy.

It looks like there were four ratios available: 3.31:1, 3.55:1, 3.73:1, 4.10:1

2004 Ford F-150 Specifications

[oldwave]

Yes 3 speed overdrive
Not sure of the rear end
But it's not a daily driver only for trailer and some music gigs I have a file efficient car for other stuff
I got about 12 towing
I'll keep it a few years it's really in mint shape though I might look into a rear ending swap if I thought it would pay for the increased fuel efficiency
I got no better mileage in my 2000 tundra that I had before the ford

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

That's the SuperCab - not the SuperCrew - right, Chotch?

I've got the smaller cab with the rear doors open backward, that's why I removed part of back seat. Now it's 3 passenger & a big dog. It works for us.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[BCnomad]

Sounds like a great find for your needs oldwave. Make great memories!

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by oldwave

Yes not great though non towing on the freeway I got close twenty
New ecoboost is 35000 plus it'll be a while until the cost effective gas mileage would make that up

If you can find a nicely equipped Ford F150 EB for $35 K that's amazing . When we looked at Ford F150 EB at our local dealers ,
the prices were closer to $50K and lacked a lot of the available options such as the tow package.
If I could pay for a new F150 EB with the Gas savings , I would buy one tomorrow. All we find on the local dealer's lots is either the stripped down models or the super highend models.

[rbryan4]

Right now you can get a new but previous model year Lariat 4x2 for around 42K here, due to the model year discounts and other incentives. Maybe 3 or 4K more for the 4x4. An XLT can be had for around 33K. Here's a local example, 2.7L Ecoboost:

https://www.nsford.com/inventory/new...pCoaAtsh8P8HAQ

Of course, the XLT isn't as well equipped as the Lariat, but still a nice truck.

[oldwave]

Yep incentives abound
I look at it this way I got and escape and a truck for the price of a new truck. Gas mileage I can live with. Tows fine, I also was very impressed with the 21's stability withe the cheapest WDH that Escape sells. Very stable. We are brand new to this but Iris and I are learning fast. What a great forum with wonderful feedback.

[cpaharley2008]

I can say this, as an owner of 2 different Escape models, I find the 19' tows better than the 21' Escape, using the same tow vehicle and driving the same route. Aerodynamics can play into driver comfortability as well as weight and frontal area. It is not a night and day scenario but more subtle changes. Over a long trip of 7,000 miles I was less tired and more relaxed with the smaller unit. In addition the 21 was with the Andersen w/d set up and without it, whereas the 19 has all been with any w/d set up.

[Route 66]

Folks, some posts have been removed for being off topic and more seriously, attacking or discussing other members.

Please stay on topic and within the rules.

[phalaney]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Can you believe this? Think that's a 24 foot plus? Airstream towed by a - what? A little Volvo?

Crazy. As someone who doesn't mind "right sized" towing vehicles, this driver should be legally sidelined. How can a statie not see the problem?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by phalaney

Crazy. As someone who doesn't mind "right sized" towing vehicles, this driver should be legally sidelined. How can a statie not see the problem?

It is crazy, but I see examples of it all the time. Over on FGRV the typical debate about tow vehicles starts with something like "I've towed a (insert whatever 3000 or 3500 lb trailer here) with a (insert vehicle with 1500 lb towing capacity here) for years and years and never had a problem."

What can one say in the face of such brilliant engineering and scientific analysis? [emoji23]

[Iowa Dave]

Hi Robert
Reminds me of the old Henry Gregor Felsen books we read in middle
School. Where the main character strapped a clip board to his leg as he refined the steering and suspension components of his street rod and jerked it around on a Blacktop road and took notes. The people you are referring to aren't fibbing, they've never had a problem because if they had, they would be dead.
Dave

[float5]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Can you believe this? Think that's a 24 foot plus? Airstream towed by a - what? A little Volvo?

I do not know what TV that is, but some SUVs can tow 7,700 lbs. which would work for some Airstreams like that. I once saw a review on such a set-up and was also surprised to see it, but it met the weight requirements. Of course, you have to pay a big bundle for both.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by float5

I do not know what TV that is, but some SUVs can tow 7,700 lbs. which would work for some Airstreams like that.

True enough, but the tow vehicle in the photo is an XC90, max towing of 5000 lbs if properly equipped. The trailer is an "International", with a base (dry) weight of around 4800 lbs. Not much margin for error.

[float5]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

True enough, but the tow vehicle in the photo is an XC90, max towing of 5000 lbs if properly equipped. The trailer is an "International", with a base (dry) weight of around 4800 lbs. Not much margin for error.

Could possibly be one of those folks who thinks dry weight is the one to use and, well, they pack light!