Posted 2009-06-22 4:07 PM (#106837) Subject: Best gas mileage truck?
Member
Posts: 9
Location: Kentucky
I am starting to look at 1/2 ton trucks to eventually pull a 2 horse trailer, but it will also have to be my daily driver. I am also staying under $20k. What trucks should I look at to get the best gas mileage in my price range?
Posted 2009-06-22 4:31 PM (#106844 - in reply to #106837) Subject: RE: Best gas mileage truck?
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by mylittlebaymare on 2009-06-22 4:07 PM
I am starting to look at 1/2 ton trucks to eventually pull a 2 horse trailer, but it will also have to be my daily driver. I am also staying under $20k. What trucks should I look at to get the best gas mileage in my price range?
From what I have been seeing and using the Ford 1/2 tons (late model and NEW ones) have the best fuel mileage so far UNLOADED, have not used any of them loaded yet.
Posted 2009-06-22 4:31 PM (#106845 - in reply to #106837) Subject: RE: Best gas mileage truck?
Veteran
Posts: 197
Location: MT
I had a 2000 Ford F-250 gas that I pulled a 3 horse 16ft gn. I got about 10 with mine when I drove it nice and didn't put my foot throug it. I'm not sure where you are but when I looked for a 1/2 or 3/4 ton gas I found lots of pickups with lower miles for around 20K. I used autotrader.com when I was looking.
My dad has used gas pickups for his buisness he delivers products to farmers. He halls different sizes of load and he use to drive nothing but chevy's. But he got so tired of his chevy's using so much gas and being gutless wonders that he switched to fords.
Can't say I've really ever pulled with a dodge hemi much. What they get for gas milage or power I have no clue.
Posted 2009-06-22 8:32 PM (#106867 - in reply to #106837) Subject: RE: Best gas mileage truck?
Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas
One of the things that will improve mileage for anyone is to drive as intelligently as possible......and not necessarily at freeway speeds....having said that, a towing vehicle has to balance fuel economy against safety and adequate power issues....
We have currently a Ford diesel with 150,000 miles, a Dodge with 130,000 miles, an Infiniti with 120,000 miles, and a Chevy with 330,000 miles......all gas but the Ford. So we must not be qualified to pick a "brand"!
Posted 2009-06-23 1:01 PM (#106909 - in reply to #106837) Subject: RE: Best gas mileage truck?
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Posts: 197
Location: MT
If your going to do that you couple of questions you need to ask is how long of distances are you going to be towing and do you need that kind of power. A gas is cheaper to fix if one breaks down cheaper to have maintnance done on(oil chances and what not). But for a 2 horse bumper pull and gas half ton would pull it. But if a diesel is what you thinkg you need my advice would to find an older dodge because they got great mpg. My roomate in college pulled his 2 horse bumper pull with a 1/2 ton chevy. I also pulled my 3 horse gn with 3/4 ton gas(same motor as 1/2 though) which i stated earlier.
Posted 2009-06-23 1:10 PM (#106911 - in reply to #106837) Subject: RE: Best gas mileage truck?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714
Location: Minnesota
Another thought before you invest in a diesel truck.
"but it will also have to be my daily driver"
If you drive short distances or start and stop your truck a lot, stay away from the diesel. They need to run a while to warm up and lubricate.The other thought is that is a diesel worth the extra investment (up to $7,000) for fuel economy. Most say you need to put about 100,000 miles on before you will break even.
I had a 2000 1/2 ton chev and could pull my neighbors 18" bumper pull with almost 6000# of sheep in it no problem.
Posted 2009-06-23 2:11 PM (#106926 - in reply to #106837) Subject: RE: Best gas mileage truck?
Member
Posts: 5
Location: GA
I just bought a 2001 Dodge 2500 4x4 diesel short bed. 22mpg unloaded 14 pulling 3horse living quarters with 13ft shortwall. Very easy to get around in but still lots of power. I paid 11,000 for the truck with 128,000 and truck is in excellent shape