Does anyone tow a toy hauler?

[kfxguy]

I was wondering if anyoNe has a toy hauler they tow. The reason I ask is I'm looking at getting one and I'm trying to make a decision today....so the question about it that I have is, how much does your gas mileage drop? I know, crazy question. There is two we are looking at getting, one weighs 5900lbs and the other weighs 5500lbs. The 5900lb is a 27ft hyperlite. The other one is a 21ft puma. I have a 2000 silverado 5.3 I'll be towing with. I get about 19mpg average right now. How much will it drop? We are planning on taking it long distances and if it's gonna drink gas like no tomorrow, I'm just gonna hold off. Thoughts?

Btw, how much maintenance and what not am I looking at too? It's brand new, but at the moment I don't have a cover to put it under yet. That will be within a year, but I don't want it getting ruined in the sun.

[kfxguy]

Here's the bigger one:




And the smaller one:



Another thing I thought of...the puma will be easier to pull because it's shorter and it kinda looks doodoo like my truck... So they will match better. Lol. The hyperlite on the other hand will make me embarrassed to pull it with my old doodoo looking truck.

[BigMikesZ]

Cant speak from experience about a trailer that size, but my boat weights about the same. Two different tow vehicles, different results: Dodge w/318; 14-16mpg empty, 10-12 mpg towing. Dodge w/360; 14 mpg empty or loaded.

I too thought about a camper/toy hauler, my choice was to get the toys there , and "rough it" (tents) thats what being outdoors is all about to me, not tv's and air conditioning!

[cataway]

you make me feel so inadequate.

[spize909]

You will obviously see a drop in mileage especially because you will be somewhat underpowered in towing something with that weight. That is dry weight so figure on 100 gallons of water (8 lbs per gallon), fuel in the tank (or in cans), quads, propane, etc, etc, etc, and you're pushing 8000 lbs pretty quick. Make sure your truck is up to it.

Wind and hills are your biggest factors for mileage drop.

I drive a motorhome with an open trailer. The odometer works once in a while. I have no idea of my mileage (I think it's about 7 mpg at best) and don't care. It does exactly what I want it to do. If you're worrying about it that much then maybe it's not the best move for you.

[kfxguy]

Al, don't feel bad, this is the garbage I'm working with right now


Of we don't buy a Toy hauler, I am buying a better trailer!

[riot936]

do a 6.0 4l80e swap! tuned with lt headers and a gear swap and your good!

[riot936]

what part of baton rouge you live in? I used to live in tiger manor near campus.

[spize909]

Originally Posted by kfxguy

Al, don't feel bad, this is the garbage I'm working with right now


Of we don't buy a Toy hauler, I am buying a better trailer!

I can tell you this, if you do it buy the bigger of the two. You'll regret it later if you don't. The weight isn't that much of a difference.
I would really think about used though. If it's anything like here things can be had for very good deals.
Gearing with that 5.3 will have alot to do with the way it pulls (and drinks the gas) as well.
I've got an '02 with the 4.8 and I'm lucky to get 15 mpg.....use to get 17 no matter what I pulled, where I drove and how much was fwy. That was 120,000 miles ago though (got 170,00 on it now). The 5.3 is a way better engine.

[spize909]

and what's up with the gas meters out in the middle of your front yard?

[beaverclever02]

IMO, The puma looks to have a higher profile, the xlr seems a little lower, the axles on the puma look to be set back further than the xlr also which looks to be more centered. With that said I think I would be more inclined to go with the XLR I think it would distribute the weight better and offer less wind drag. A goog equalizer hitch will even the weight out on the tongue. I think ultimately your transmission will be your biggest obstacle. I don't think the truck will have a problem pulling either one but gas milage is going to suffer no matter what. Good luck..

And I'm with spize, Gas meters in the middle of the yard??? How weird, around here we keep them close to the house so the lawn mower dosn't bust them..

[TRMN8TR]

Spize is right, truck might be a little undersized for one of those trailers loaded down. Will it pull it, yes. But any kind of hill or wind and its gonna be struggling and sucking lots of gas.

I pull a 14 ft enclosed trailer with an F150 with a 5.4 and I've driven it all over the country. You will see your mileage drop way off. I average about 16-17 mpg daily driving and about 10-12 with the trailer. Wind makes a huge difference when you're pulling a wall behind you.

[cataway]

Originally Posted by kfxguy

Al, don't feel bad, this is the garbage I'm working with right now


Of we don't buy a Toy hauler, I am buying a better trailer!

ya i have one of them to but its a single that I've modified to carry two

[kfxguy]

Originally Posted by spize909

and what's up with the gas meters out in the middle of your front yard?

Silly guys....that's not my house. Lol. This is my house:

[kfxguy]

Btw, I rebuild the Trans about 5k miles ago, it has:
Trailblazer converter
Billet 2-4 servos
High energy Borg Warner clutches
Turbulator steels
.500 boost valve
Beast sun shell
Z pack 3-4 clutches
29 element sprag
High energy 2-4 band
13 vane pump with hi po slide springs

So I think I'll be good on the Trans. The engine has a custom tune with all torque management removed and timing advanced. K&n intake.

I live in Watson actually....