Tow Vehicle

"WARREN WOLK" wrote in message
news:BXyPg.7367$832.1938@trnddc04...
Hey now! I'll take ya 4-wheelin in my Suburban anytime Stevo!

Don't knock it till ya try it!

Best damn tow-vehicle I've ever been in, barring gas mileage. I'll take
comfort over economy anytime for those 10+ hr drives....

Warren

Have you seen the 2007 Suburban? The Suburban used to be a rompin',
stompin' 4 wheel drive vehicle that you could load the wife and kids into
and go anywhere. Not anymore. I think my wife's Oldsmobile Achieva has the
same amount of ground clearance.

Unlike most 4 wheel drive owners, I actually use my 4 wheel drive and go
off-road more than a gravel driveway. I guarantee that if I owned a new
Suburban, the thing would be torn up inside of 6 months.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

"Dan, danl, Redbeard uh Greybeard now" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 06:41:12 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Dan, danl, Redbeard uh Greybeard now" wrote in
message
. ..
On 17 Sep 2006 18:23:28 -0700, "Ronnie"
wrote:

I have been pulling my 20 foot Skeeter with a 2000 Z71 pickup. Love the
truck, handles the boat real good, gas milage not very good, got about
12 mpg on the road on my trip but I drive pretty fast, usually set the
cruise control 10 mph over the posted limit. It has 140,000 miles on it
now.

I had planned on replacing this truck with another one just like it,
keeping the old one to haul wood and do dirty work, keep the new one
for trips and pulling the boat. Sleeping in the cab of the truck and
trying to load it for a 2.5 week trip made me think about getting
something different, like a Surburban.

I pulled boats with full size vans for about 20 years and like the
truck better for backing, especially, but think I can handle most
anything. Not real worried about gas milage. Want something that will
handle the boat as well as my truck but give me more inside room.

I talked to Chris and Jim I think it was with a Surburban and a Tahoe
at the NWC and both liked their choices.

Any comments on tow vehicles?

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Hi Ronnie,

I would look at the same truck in a 3/4 ton and put a pop up style
slide in camper in the bed. Some are pretty light, don't appreciably
increase drag over a topper style cap and in most cases you wouldn't
even need to raise it to catch a few zzz on the "Settee". When you
want to clean up or cook you can do it where ever you can park. Plenty
of storage too. Throw a porta potty in and you have everything you
need. Cross wind effect would be about the same as a van/suburban.

I agree whole hardily! I tow a 4400# boat and trailer that scales at
about
4400# with a 2004 Chevy crewcab, shortbed Duramax diesel. I get about 14
mpg towing at 65-70 (speed limit in Calif for towing is 55) That is with
my
Palomino B-800 slide in pop-up camper. Since this is a shortbed, the
sleeping on the settee would suck if you are over 5' tall. But the good
part is that it takes about 5 minutes to pop up the camper. Has queen
size
bed, heater, stove and 3 way fridge. We do not cook in the camper as do
not
want the food smells, so use a colman stove outside. Without towing and
with the camper, I get about 17 mpg at 55-60 mph. We just came back from
a
drive to Alaska and for the 8200 miles averaged 15 mpg. Fourwheel popup
campers out of Woodland, CA have a slide in that is about 800#, where mine
is 1200#. I would go with gas if you do not drive a lot of miles a year,
or
do not tow in mountains. I tow into the Sierra Nevada mt's and favorite
lake is at 4400' elevation, but do tow to Lake Tahoe and Reno, NV.


Bill & all,

Regarding the diesel. I have read that the new diesel fuels required
by the EPA will reduce mileage greatly. Not sure of the debut date. I
have heard estimates up to 25%. This will get better once the
Manufactures bring out engines designed for the new fuel but it will
take 5 years or so for mileage to increase to current levels or
better. Then there is another change in fuels scheduled and the
mileage will drop again.

Not sure if it will happen like this but it is something to consider
and research.

I have run some of the new fuels. California is always at the lead, good or
bad. I get about 5% less milage. Mine is the LLY engine. I understand the
newest Duramax diesels are getting 2-3 mpg moe than mine, both design and
the new 6 speed Allison tranny. And mine loses a mile or 2 because of the
crewcab. More weight. Coming back from Canada a month ago, running about
85-88 mph on I-5 I averaged about 13.9 mpg. Seems as if 82-83 is a point
where I start losing lots more milage than expected for wind resistance. I
think it is the chip programming from Chevy.

Mines an 03, did some serious "muddin" in that puppy!

WW

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
message ...

"WARREN WOLK" wrote in message
news:BXyPg.7367$832.1938@trnddc04...
Hey now! I'll take ya 4-wheelin in my Suburban anytime Stevo!

Don't knock it till ya try it!

Best damn tow-vehicle I've ever been in, barring gas mileage. I'll take
comfort over economy anytime for those 10+ hr drives....

Warren

Have you seen the 2007 Suburban? The Suburban used to be a rompin',
stompin' 4 wheel drive vehicle that you could load the wife and kids into
and go anywhere. Not anymore. I think my wife's Oldsmobile Achieva has
the same amount of ground clearance.

Unlike most 4 wheel drive owners, I actually use my 4 wheel drive and go
off-road more than a gravel driveway. I guarantee that if I owned a new
Suburban, the thing would be torn up inside of 6 months.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

I did. Sold my venerable 1992 Suburban a few years back and am now
completely satisfied with my 2002 Dodge Ram crew cab pickup. That means
nothing to Ronnie, of course... when it comes to vehicles, everyone has
their personal preferences.

Ronnie, take a look at the Lincoln pickups. I hear dealers are just about
giving those things away, and they have all the creature comforts you can
imagine. Basically they're a tricked-out Ford F-150.

Joe
"WARREN WOLK" wrote in message
news:mUyPg.7366$832.4070@trnddc04...
Hi Ron!

Once you go Suburban you never go back buddy, that's all I have to say!

warren

"Ronnie" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have been pulling my 20 foot Skeeter with a 2000 Z71 pickup. Love the
truck, handles the boat real good, gas milage not very good, got about
12 mpg on the road on my trip but I drive pretty fast, usually set the
cruise control 10 mph over the posted limit. It has 140,000 miles on it
now.

I had planned on replacing this truck with another one just like it,
keeping the old one to haul wood and do dirty work, keep the new one
for trips and pulling the boat. Sleeping in the cab of the truck and
trying to load it for a 2.5 week trip made me think about getting
something different, like a Surburban.

I pulled boats with full size vans for about 20 years and like the
truck better for backing, especially, but think I can handle most
anything. Not real worried about gas milage. Want something that will
handle the boat as well as my truck but give me more inside room.

I talked to Chris and Jim I think it was with a Surburban and a Tahoe
at the NWC and both liked their choices.

Any comments on tow vehicles?

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Chevy Avalanche. I'm on my second and the 2007 comes with a flex fuel motor
that runs on reg gas or E85Ethanol. Pulls the boat great and is Very comfy.
With the seats folded down you can close the tailgate on a full size sheet
of plywood. I'm getting 17.5mpg around town and 20.2 on interstates
(haven't checked with the Cobra in tow). Doc
================================================== ==============================

"Ronnie" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have been pulling my 20 foot Skeeter with a 2000 Z71 pickup. Love the
truck, handles the boat real good, gas milage not very good, got about
12 mpg on the road on my trip but I drive pretty fast, usually set the
cruise control 10 mph over the posted limit. It has 140,000 miles on it
now.

I had planned on replacing this truck with another one just like it,
keeping the old one to haul wood and do dirty work, keep the new one
for trips and pulling the boat. Sleeping in the cab of the truck and
trying to load it for a 2.5 week trip made me think about getting
something different, like a Surburban.

I pulled boats with full size vans for about 20 years and like the
truck better for backing, especially, but think I can handle most
anything. Not real worried about gas milage. Want something that will
handle the boat as well as my truck but give me more inside room.

I talked to Chris and Jim I think it was with a Surburban and a Tahoe
at the NWC and both liked their choices.

Any comments on tow vehicles?

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

How's the Cobra treating you Bill? Any good fish stories?

Warren

" Bill & Sue" wrote in message
...
Chevy Avalanche. I'm on my second and the 2007 comes with a flex fuel
motor that runs on reg gas or E85Ethanol. Pulls the boat great and is
Very comfy. With the seats folded down you can close the tailgate on a
full size sheet of plywood. I'm getting 17.5mpg around town and 20.2 on
interstates (haven't checked with the Cobra in tow). Doc
================================================== ==============================

"Ronnie" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have been pulling my 20 foot Skeeter with a 2000 Z71 pickup. Love the
truck, handles the boat real good, gas milage not very good, got about
12 mpg on the road on my trip but I drive pretty fast, usually set the
cruise control 10 mph over the posted limit. It has 140,000 miles on it
now.

I had planned on replacing this truck with another one just like it,
keeping the old one to haul wood and do dirty work, keep the new one
for trips and pulling the boat. Sleeping in the cab of the truck and
trying to load it for a 2.5 week trip made me think about getting
something different, like a Surburban.

I pulled boats with full size vans for about 20 years and like the
truck better for backing, especially, but think I can handle most
anything. Not real worried about gas milage. Want something that will
handle the boat as well as my truck but give me more inside room.

I talked to Chris and Jim I think it was with a Surburban and a Tahoe
at the NWC and both liked their choices.

Any comments on tow vehicles?

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

We/ve been so busy remodelling the house I haven't been for the last month!
Doc
================================================== ==================

"WARREN WOLK" wrote in message
news:OsCPg.903$GO2.450@trnddc01...
How's the Cobra treating you Bill? Any good fish stories?

Warren

" Bill & Sue" wrote in message
...
Chevy Avalanche. I'm on my second and the 2007 comes with a flex fuel
motor that runs on reg gas or E85Ethanol. Pulls the boat great and is
Very comfy. With the seats folded down you can close the tailgate on a
full size sheet of plywood. I'm getting 17.5mpg around town and 20.2 on
interstates (haven't checked with the Cobra in tow). Doc
================================================== ==============================

"Ronnie" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have been pulling my 20 foot Skeeter with a 2000 Z71 pickup. Love the
truck, handles the boat real good, gas milage not very good, got about
12 mpg on the road on my trip but I drive pretty fast, usually set the
cruise control 10 mph over the posted limit. It has 140,000 miles on it
now.

I had planned on replacing this truck with another one just like it,
keeping the old one to haul wood and do dirty work, keep the new one
for trips and pulling the boat. Sleeping in the cab of the truck and
trying to load it for a 2.5 week trip made me think about getting
something different, like a Surburban.

I pulled boats with full size vans for about 20 years and like the
truck better for backing, especially, but think I can handle most
anything. Not real worried about gas milage. Want something that will
handle the boat as well as my truck but give me more inside room.

I talked to Chris and Jim I think it was with a Surburban and a Tahoe
at the NWC and both liked their choices.

Any comments on tow vehicles?

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:35:43 -0500, "Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers"
wrote:

Have you seen the 2007 Suburban? The Suburban used to be a rompin',
stompin' 4 wheel drive vehicle that you could load the wife and kids into
and go anywhere. Not anymore. I think my wife's Oldsmobile Achieva has the
same amount of ground clearance.

Unlike most 4 wheel drive owners, I actually use my 4 wheel drive and go
off-road more than a gravel driveway. I guarantee that if I owned a new
Suburban, the thing would be torn up inside of 6 months.

I gotta agree with Steve on this one. The new Tahoes/Suburbans
are extremely disappointing IMO. It's definitely "not your father's
SUV" anymore...as it doesn't have enough clearance or toughness where
I could trust it to get to some of my fishing holes or hunting spots.

Probably why I'm still driving my 96 Tahoe...

--
Dwayne E. Cooper, Atty at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Email:
Web Page: http://www.cooperlegalservices.com
Personal Fishing Web Page: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/OnTheWater
Dog Fishing: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/onthe...fishing040.htm
1st Annual ROFB Classic Winner

didn't deisel fuel used to cost significantly less than regular?

warren

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
message ...

"Dan, danl, Redbeard uh Greybeard now" wrote in
message SNIP

Bill & all,

Regarding the diesel. I have read that the new diesel fuels required
by the EPA will reduce mileage greatly. Not sure of the debut date. I
have heard estimates up to 25%. This will get better once the
Manufactures bring out engines designed for the new fuel but it will
take 5 years or so for mileage to increase to current levels or
better. Then there is another change in fuels scheduled and the
mileage will drop again.

Not sure if it will happen like this but it is something to consider
and research.

Dan,

This is all scheduled to happen by the end of 2006 as mandated by the EPA
Clean Air Act of 2006. That's the main reason why I traded in my Duramax
diesel on basically the same truck, just with the 6.0 litre gas engine.

I figure, why pay a minimum of 10 cents a gallon more and get less
performance? Plus, while I loved the horsepower, performance and towing
capabilities of my diesel, I don't miss the diesel exhaust smell nor the
added hassle of finding diesel fuel at gas stations. There are an amazing
amount of small towns that don't have diesel fuel.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

WARREN WOLK wrote:
didn't deisel fuel used to cost significantly less than regular?

warren


When my boss put me in a deisel F250 about 2000 or 2001, gas around
here was about $1.00, and deisel was about $0.70. I think it was about
2004 that they swapped around.