Tow Vehicle Mpg

[cadman]

1994 Ford F-150, 10-12 with a 20' Ranger.

[HoosierHawgs]

Technically not a tow vehicle.. But the 2007 Toyota FJ w/aftermarket tires/wheels gets about 17. I'll have to see how it does with the yaks on top this year.

[J Francho]

Brian, any new 3/4 ton pickup outfitted like my half ton.

[Lip 'em!]

There is no need for a diesel for a simple bass boat. 1500 sized trucks have towing capacities 3 to 4 times the weight of a boat. My 2013 F150 Ecoboost is a little over 11000lbs towing, the new 2015 is over 12k. The other manufactors are not much less than that. The only manufactor to have a diesel in a 1500 is Dodge and its a smaller unit for gas mileage. To get to the larger diesels requires a 2500 and 3500 which are extreme overkill. Save the money instead of paying the extra unless you need the larger truck for other reasons. More money for the boat, electronics, power poles, etc....

The towing capacity is not the real reason i recommended a 3/4 ton diesel. I have pulled a lot of boats with half ton trucks and gas mileage and power arent the issue....its 5 years down the road when the wear and tear of the extra weight of towing a bass boat finally catches up and things start wearing out. Also, its much easier to stop a 20ft loaded down bassboat quickly (and safely) with a 3/4 ton truck than with a 1500, when that car in front of you decides to abruptly come to a stop with no warning. Safety and reliability are why i choose diesel, to each his own! Do what works for you OP

[J Francho]

I'm gonna sell on the notion that weight = shorter stopping distance as well. It was a lot less to get a 1/2 ton with big brakes than step up to a 3/4 ton. Mass is mass - you still gotta stop the truck itself. If a bigger truck doesn't stop as fast as a smaller one, why would it magically do better with the same boat in tow? Bass boats are all at the bottom of the towing range, so I say you can rule out control as well. I can tell my 22' boat is back there, but I guarantee I get better performance in 0-60, 60-0, cornering, and at the pump.

Anyone got data to support this?

[zachb34]

You'd be surprised how well some of those "big diesel" trucks actually do perform under a load even though a bass boat isn't much. If you can afford the big 3/4 ton plus trucks then there is advantages to them. When taken care of the diesel will last longer than most gas trucks. A 6.7 cummins can also get about 20 mpg under a load.

[Lip 'em!]

I cannot find any "bass boat towing" specific data, i am going by my personal experience with trucks and towing anything from boats, to hay, to dozers. And its not as simple as putting "heavy duty brakes" on a half ton truck and it will stop better than a 3/4 ton. 3/4 ton trucks have not only uprgaded brakes, but stronger frames, axles, and transmissions as well, which are built to last much longer under strain than their half ton counterparts. And I am curious about your performance statements J, what truck do you tow with?

[J Francho]

I've used 3/4 ton to tow. It's not really any different. A stronger frame, axles, and transmission aren't going to change footprint, mass, and the potential of the brakes to dissipate heat. I've got over 90k on my truck. Toes my Bullet just fine. Now if you're gonna tow a monster 26'+ offshore boat, sure. For just about every bass boat, it's overkill. And costly.

[Siebert Outdoors]

04 Silverado v8 and the tow package. Approximately 14 pulling a 20' 6" boat

[WildcatBassin]

I've used 3/4 ton to tow. It's not really any different. A stronger frame, axles, and transmission aren't going to change footprint, mass, and the potential of the brakes to dissipate heat. I've got over 90k on my truck. Toes my Bullet just fine. Now if you're gonna tow a monster 26'+ offshore boat, sure. For just about every bass boat, it's overkill. And costly.

 

J,

 

How can you say "it's not really any different"? If you actually travel and fish tournaments why you wouldn't spend the extra money on a diesel is beyond me. I have  owned and towed with 3 different vehicles in the recent past here is my experience:

 

1) Ford f-150 (150k miles) - Blew while towing up hill, less than 10 mpg while towing

2) Ford Expedition (120k miles)  - Transmission gave away and motor begin to miss/bog down. less than 10 mpg towing

3) Ford f250 7.3 Powerstroke (118k miles) - Never had an issue, stays under 2500 rpms while towing up Tennessee mountains. to many benefits to list. 15-18 mpg towing.

 

When you're traveling longer distances, that extra 5-8 mpg really adds up. I can go 400+ miles on one tank of diesel, i would be lucky if my gas trucks got 300. Diesels last way longer (and that is a fact), tow better, get better mpg (towing and not towing), have bigger and better components that wont break down after towing for 50k miles. Diesel may be more expensive at the moment but when you're comparing 3.30 to 3.80 your only saving 10 dollars at the pump but your going to go a lot farther with that extra 10 dollars. 

 

Once you OWN and tow with a 3/4 ton you will never go back. 

 

Last thought, you say you are well under the weight limit for a half ton with your boat. the specs given by boat manufactures on "weight" may not include trailer weight, motor weight, and the extremely heavy gear and gas that are in the boat.

 

Just my 2 cents on the topic. Obviously im giving my opinion to the OP and if you can't afford a 3/4 ton than don't get one, but if you can its well worth it.

[Trent Wilson]

I'm pulling a 1996 Ranger with a old H1. As for mileage.....disappointing.

[J Francho]

I would buy a diesel if it came in close to what my truck currently costs to operate on a daily basis. I don't make my purchasing decisions based on a one aspect of it's use. I do a tournament every other weekend from Late June to ice out. I drive the truck everyday. A 3/4 ton diesel adds more cost than I can recoup through fuel savings. Furthermore, it adds zero performance. In fact, most are slower than what I use. If I plowed in the winter, towed a heavy tool trailer daily, and ran my boat three days a week on long hauls, then maybe the cost and wear and tear would be offset. But as a wholesale recommendation to tow a bass boat, a 3/4 ton or larger is just an ego trip. The numbers don't add up.

[Trent Wilson]

Well, when you're running biodiesel, you'll save the money.

[J Francho]

Ok, now I have to add to my list the time to harvest used cooking oil, the equipment to process this into bio diesel, and the time and effort.

Ok, I'll hop in my cheaper truck, fill it with cheaper gas, and go fishing while your busy with that. Lol.

[DTack]

I will just try to keep this directed at the OP and answer the question.  Other people can comment on it all they want haha. 

Currently towing: 2000 Champion 181 single axle Mercury Optimax 150.  Tow with a 2003 Tahoe Z71 5.3l 3.73 gears 4x4.  I get between 10 and 12 overall towing so far.  If I drive strictly in downtown Sacramento I get around 12-14 without the boat.  If I'm "mixed" it's around 14.5-16, if I drive freeway I can get from 18-21. 

How you drive makes a world of difference is all I will say when it comes to "safety", mileage and wear on a vehicle.

I hope you find a vehicle that you love to drive if you're going to be paying for it.  I recently upgraded to mine and I love driving it.

[DILLY07]

Sometimes I'll tow my friends Stratos or Champion, I get about 9-11 mpg on my truck.

 

I drive a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 1/2 ton Big Horn Edition with several upgrades.

[South FLA]

I want a diesel colorado for towing. My frontier won't make it. Colorado is supposed to get 35+mpg. How that translates to towing I dunno. Has a ton of torque though 350 plus I think.

 

I had an 2009 Frontier and that little truck was a BEAST for a small truck. I towed a 24' open fisherman to the Keys every summer no problem.  I chipped it so power was about 275HP w/ close to 300lbs of torque, which was pretty good back in the day.   As far any bass boat, any 6 cylinder will tow with easy.   I have a 2011 Ford F-150  Ecoboost  (3.5 liter turbo charged) 4x4 and it gets about 14-16 towing boats around town/highway, about 21-22 highway without towing and 17-18 city, not much better than my old Nissan Frontier. 

 

Small truck wise though you are right theupcoming Chevy Colorado in the 2.8L Duramax I-4 diesel platform looks pretty nice, it only tows about 7,000 not much better than a gas powered Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma, but MPG is higher with diesel.  

[BrianinMD]

Have not looked into the Colorado, used to have a Frontier though. The only thing that concerned me with the smaller size trucks are the short wheelbase, and how they handled crosswinds on the highway when towing.

[Fishing Rhino]

The short wheelbase is actually a plus.  Much easier and quicker to maneuver.

 

My friend pulls his 17' Triton with a Jeep (not the military type), and it has a much smaller turning radius than a standard pickup, even if the pickup has a short bed.

 

If there is a down side it's that it takes a bit of getting used to when backing up.  You need much less steering input than with a long wheelbase tow vehicle. 

[BrianinMD]

I agree it is easier to maneuver, my concern is stability on the highway.

[South FLA]

I agree it is easier to maneuver, my concern is stability on the highway.

If you are towing anything under the rated capacity you'll be fine, trust me.....famous last words!    The Nissan Frontier did just fine towing a 23' Proline (6K lbs trailered) filled with fuel, washdown water, rods, coolers, etc.  making 250 mile round trip.   I had the shorter wheelbase vehicle, not full crew cab. The overseas highway can get steep, very wind, slippery,  especially in the Summer, and the V-6 powered and lightweight relatively small Nissan did just fine!

[Montanaro]

I have a first gen frontier. Going up a steep grade on interstate is difficult with nothing in the truck...add a boat and I'll be limping.

[BrianinMD]

There is a huge difference between the first gen and the one South FLA is referring to. The v6 in it is very strong, power was not a concern. It is built on a shortened version of the Titan frame so it is also very strong in that regard.

 

Yes I am a fan of Nissan trucks, all I owned before my F150 Ecoboost. Just couldn't see buying a Titan again without it being updated for so long, rather behind the times. Interested to see what the new one next year will be like.

[Trek]

  In my business in the last 31 years I've owned a lot of trucks. Diesel and gas. I've done the math on the diesel and it doesn't add up. Maybe if your running 60,000 plus miles a year or pulling very heavy loads all the time but my trucks running 30,000 a year with about 1,500 pounds of tools just doesn't pay for it. The motor costs you $5,000 plus more, then you have higher costing fuel plus it will cost you around $1,500 to replace your injectors at 100,000 miles. One can buy a lot of gas for that.

  There is a difference between a guy that hauls 1,500 pounds every day 24/7 and a guy that hauls a load now and then. My trucks get a good test on how good they really are. I've never had a Nissan so I can't say how they are but we've had the rest and the best work truck by far has been the Toyota Tundra. I'm running the small V8 and we're getting around 17 mpg on a average. I never got that on the Ford or Chevy diesel. The one I drive has 147,000 miles and I have not done anything to it other then tires, brakes and oil changes. That's unheard of in a work truck. Normally by now we would be looking to trade. Transmission, rear ends, tie rods, bearings and you name it would have gone bad. I also drive one for a personal truck and it pulls my 2010 Z519 like it's not even back there. And it has the small V8 too. My mileage will drop to 12 mpg pulling but who cares, I'm not pulling it every day.

[South FLA]

There is a huge difference between the first gen and the one South FLA is referring to. The v6 in it is very strong, power was not a concern. It is built on a shortened version of the Titan frame so it is also very strong in that regard.

 

Yes I am a fan of Nissan trucks, all I owned before my F150 Ecoboost. Just couldn't see buying a Titan again without it being updated for so long, rather behind the times. Interested to see what the new one next year will be like.

 

 

Very similar feelings here, had a 2009 Frontier, own a 2011 Pathfinder and a Eco Boost F-150.