VINTAGE AUTO RACING ASSOCIATION

kirchner56 · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 11

I'm thinking about getting rid of my big truck and toyhauler trailer in exchange for a motorhome and smaller carhauler. My current truck (8.1L GMC 4x4 w/ 4.11 gears) gets as little as 6mpg towing the toyhauler. It's probably 7000lb loaded, and is a high aero load.

I've been looking at small (30 ft) 94-98 diesel motorhomes mostly, but was wondering what the experiences other VARA members have using a Class A or Class C to tow an enclosed trailer. Especially interested in MPG and uphill performance.

I've seen mostly 6.5L GMs and Cummins powered units. With the FC and tools, I figure the trailer would go just under 5000 lb.

Mitch Schwartzburg · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 48 Location: Mission Viejo, CA

Well, the diesel engine will give you the pulling torque to go over the hills easy. The price of diesel fuel is very high so figure on that. MPG is like asking the price of a exotic car - if your concerned about it then it's not for you. Probably will get better then 6 mpg but I would imagine around 10-12 mpg is a good average.
The big issue is you are giving up the capabilities of the pickup bed when you are not in the towing mode. The truck has many puposes that can be used all the time. An RV sits most of the time and is usage specific. Also what is your storage situation? Are you currently storing the toy hauler along side your house or are you paying for storage (I assume the truck is out on the street or in the driveway? If you get the RV and car trailer are you going to be able to store both at the house or are you now going to be paying double storage? Just some things to think about.

Mitch
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Mitch
HP #33 Fiat 850 Spider

Mark Scott · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject: Motorhome

I have a 2005 31Ft. Class C Motorhome. Based on the Ford E-450 chasis. I tow a 20Ft Enclosed trailer. I get about 11-13 Miles per gallon... ABout the same as what my Ford Expedition got when I was towing the same trailer. The class C tows great. About 45-50MPH Over the Grapevine no Problem.
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Mark Scott
#267 Porsche 911 "LEGAL" CP-GT
With Legal Motor from the 60's (like it should be)

rickclemente · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 45 Location: Corrales, NM

I bought a very old ('93) 36' Beaver Patriot on e-Bay for a relative song... this thing had low milage and it was a top of the line unit in it's day. It is pre-slides, which makes it dramatically cheaper than the later ones w/slides. I redid the interior and exterior, put on all new tires and still have less in it than the cost of a new F 350 with all the bells and whistles! 8.3 l cummins with a Banks upgrade makes o ton of torque and HP... still only 35~40 over the grapevine. Towing is 8.6 mpg. Hot shower at the track is priceless.
Retirement communities are the place to shop for a good used one... often with VERY low milage but needing all new rubber bits and tires due to sitting. I traded in my 9-mpg excursion for a 30 mpg Mini when I got the motor home. Happy towing.
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Rick Clemente
Old Master
ALFA ROMEO #33 B/S

kirchner56 · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 11

Mark - I take it your class C has the V-10? I barely get 12 MPG unloaded at 55mph. I can, however, tow over the Tehachapi grade at 70mph!

Rick - I've been looking at Beavers too (now that sounds funny!). Beavers and Safaris seem to be the most reasonably priced upscale Class A's out there. I'm kind of suprised the milage isn't better, but I guess the weight goes up a lot with the truck frame.

Daryl DeArman · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 65

We also considered Safaris. Great small diesel pushers. We didn't bite because all the floorplans we found were set up for two people with a pull down bed over the drivers' compartment. Gives you more living space for the size of the motorhome, but only sleeps 2.

I have had a Class C (24' with FI 460 on a E350 chassis) I got about 12 MPG and he had no problem with any of the grades. Even Baker grade on the way to Vegas was a 50 mph climb....however the long overhang on the short wheelbase meant I was limited to towing with an open trailer.

I now have a 34' Class A with the V10 on a F550 chassis (most are on a F53 chassis or Workhorse w/Chevy). This motorhome has dual slides which are hydraulic and large as well as huge tanks. It is much heavier and tows/climbs accordingly. I am about 45mph up Cajon or Grapevine towing 4000# (enclosed w/FV or FF), mileage is around 7.

I towed to Reno up 395 (high altitude and some monster grades) slowed to about 25-30 mph on two occassions. I was caravaning with a 2006 GMC3500 Diesel towing a 32' Tripple slide 5th wheel and he wasn't waiting on me. So unless you throw down the coin for a DP with a 400+HP motor you aren't going to get anywhere in a hurry OR you aren't going to be able to tow much--choose one.

Mileage? Take your one ton truck of choice, put 12,000# on its' back and another 5000# behind it...what kind of mileage and performance are you going to get? You already have the truck and nice trailer for convenience at the track, not sure what net gain the motorhome will give you.

Bruce Hayes · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 11

The small desiel pushers often have the cumins 5.9. basically the same as the Dodge pickup. Before about year 2000 the motors had mutch lower peformance across the board compared to today. I drive a 38 footter pulling a 20 foot enclosed (about 5000lbs) and get a minimun of 7.5 gallons a mile. Hard to calculate because the diesel generator is so quiet that you don't mind running it a lot. I have the Cummins 350 in a Dutchstar. 55 up the Baker grade or better. Remember that once you get held up on a grade in any big boy it takes a while to get back your momentum. The GM diesel sucks, the Duramax is great (in a GM).

kirchner56 · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 11

Well, besides the really bad milage - ran out of gas 16 miles from the nearest station on the west side of Death Valley last year. We like to take long vacations across the west, but the Toyhauler has lost favor with the girls. They really don't like going on vacation with it any more.

It's a great race trailer for staying a couple of days, which is exactly what it was designed for. BUT, the couches aren't particularly comfortable as couches, less so as beds. There's not any basement storage, so everything has to go inside on the floor. Put up the tables, and they're in the way. The back is as dark as a tomb. If you are in it for 10 days straight, the compromises get really noticable.

I've considered building a bunk (I had the rear bed deleted when I bought it - DOH!), adding lights, I've set up lawn furniture inside, but it's still a big compromise.

So, I figured I could probably do no worse milage wise, with a small Class A and a smaller say 18 ft enclosed trailer.

I've even thought of replacing front and rear R&P's (to 3.73's) and installing electric fans (when the engine fan kicks on I lose 1.5MPG!).