Tips for pulling with a diesel:

ICBC Drivers License Classifications with towing vehicle weights

Tow Vehicles:

On finishing putting my 5th wheel RV to bed for the winter and while cleaning it out I ran across a copy of your RV Times that I had picked up while traveling in BC, which I do about every other year. I read a letter from John & Barbara Hunt to where they were wanting some input on what type of tow vehicle to get to pull their 27 foot 5th wheel.

For about ten years I pulled my 29 ft 5th wheel with a 3/4 ton Chev. It had a 350 engine with a three speed automatic trans. and a 4:10 rear end. It was a 1989 model. Then in 1996 while the wife and I were going across the US, the trans. went out and instead of getting it repaired, we traded it for a one ton dual pickup with a diesel engine.

Yes, I like the diesel pickup very much and it does have a few drawbacks from a gas power pickup. I notice that in climbing the mountains, the gas goes up a little faster than my diesel one. My gas engines that I have had over the years all had 350 engines and I know with the larger ones that you have more power. I had over 170,000 miles when the trans. went out and never had any problem with the engine.

I do not see where they would need a four wheel drive pickup to pull their RV. I have seen people with units as long as 36 foot being pulled by two wheel drive gas and diesel units. I have always used a two wheel drive pickup in pulling my RV all over the US and Canada.

When people ask me about getting an RV, I always tell them to go to an RV Show where they can compare one unit against another and see which unit they like best.

I enjoyed reading your magazine and will look for another issue when I am in BC.
Ejnar B. Middendorf
President Special Military Active-Retired
Travel Club, Midway USA Chapter
Mulvane KS

Proud of my diesel:

Re Issue 65, pg. 10 & 12 regarding the articles bashing diesel trucks, written by people who don't want their peace disturbed, I offer the following.

I'm the owner of a 1997 Ford F250 power stroke diesel and I'm proud to say it meets and exceeds California emission standards. It will and does out pull and perform anything on the road in its class. Fuel economy has far exceeded my wildest dreams and it has a towing capacity in excess of 13,000 lbs. On a recent trip down Baja, we averaged in excess of 17 miles/Canadian gal. to a maximum of 20 miles/gal. on the Magdelena Flats and it's improving with time. That's not with one, but two of us traveling with similar units. The only unit we couldn't catch on a hill was a V10 Dodge, average 7-9 m.p.g., as catalogued by its owner. I've previously owned a 3/4 ton Ford F250 gas 460 cu. in. with 4/10 gears, 1989 model being the latest, and diesel outperforms by a wide margin.

As for the noise, inside the unit it is quiet on the highway and quieter when warm. In camps people with barking dogs, folks yelling at their children, coupled with boats, motorcycles, little wagons, teenagers with rap music and boom boxes, power saws, generators and campfire parties, I hardly notice the few seconds it takes for a diesel to drive by my camp. To my ears, it means getting there. We travel extensively in remote areas on logging roads and steep terrain 11, 12, 13 and 17% grades, Deadman’s Canyon for one and we have enough re-track in the engine and transmission to hold back our 28 ft. fifth wheel approximately 8,000 lbs. and the truck 4,600 lbs. and we never or rarely touch the brakes, thus increasing the safety factor of never boiling the brake fluid, hence no runaways.

Now dear diesel bashers, this is all on a truck equipped direct from the factory with no add-ons, c/w 4x4 automatic transmission and turbo charger, 4-10 rear axle, posi-track and off road package. As for 4x4's not having a towing advantage on very steep grades, 4x4 low range will bring you down a very steep hill at 5 m/p/h with no brakes at all. If it snows and you gotto go, if you ski, if you frequent forest service sites, if you get caught on a wet muddy wash out in Mexico, etc. etc., I'll have a 4x4 thanks. What about the volatility of gas? Maybe a fuel leak driving through Salmon Arm last summer? Boom!!!

So folks, if you want to make your decision to holiday, buy the equipment that takes you where you want to go, instead of going only where your equipment will take you. As for people who don't like diesel, where have you been? How many gas jobs are pulling 53 ft. vans down I-5? Sorry again folks, but diesel is here to stay. Just get the one you like, Ford, Chev, Dodge etc. and check around. Mercedes, Volkswagon, Izuzu and Nissan have been making diesel cars and light trucks for some time.

So in summary, diesel truck operators have better emission control, use less fossil fuel, pollute the environment less, are safer on the road, saving lives and insurance costs and causing less congestion of the hills. The extra maintenance, keeping oil, air and fuel clean is worth it. THE DEFENSE RESTS!!!

William E. (Bill) George
Surrey BC

What Am I Going To Do?

Me thinks I've made a mistake! Mr. Jackson thinks my truck is a myth. Mr. Lesyk doesn't like it's odours and noise. And Mr. Reid figures it just won't hack it. WELL!

We purchased a '91 Dodge/Cum. a year ago. We pull a 29 ft. Terry T.T. We've done Sun Valley and back, down south for about 8,700 miles, and we just did 8,200 miles up to Alaska and return, with nary a complaint! And we've hauled up some pretty good hills, 11.5 miles out of Skagway, all uphill. Not as speedy as Mr. Reid, but we also made the top.

Mr. Jackson forgot to tell Mr. Lesyk that his truck is rated at 12,000 lbs., not 17,500! It's like hitchin on another 25+ ft. trailer. I was really flabbergasted at Murray's story. I thought he would have known there's not much you can do to a horse to make it go faster, but to take off some weight. And me thinks he really got carried away - to no avail. The newer turbo's at 200+ hp will do better than the 160 hp (as Murray stated earlier).

Mr. Lesyk feels my truck has "disturbing effects" and wants more emphasis placed on them. Why would anyone want to emphasize something that is disturbing? RV parks don't allow generators because they have power. C'mon Wait, you gotta get real! These "things" are here forever! And the noise and smell produced are no worse than the din and stink in downtown Vernon!
Mr. Reid should really slow down and "smell the roses". Perhaps you "beat" your friend to the tops of the hills because he was breaking in his new truck. Or perhaps he was just enjoying the scenery. If you "outpulled" your friend by 25 minutes, I suggest they stopped for coffee. And as another complainer of "noisier and smellier", I refer you to above.

Anyway, to each his own, and you'all have a good trip!
Oh yes, our Alaska trip averaged 16.9 MPG, a lot of miles on Campbell, Dempster (the best road in the north!) and Dalton gravel. A lot of paved road up north is in bad shape and rough to ride on, including the Alaska. The scenery makes it worthwhile. The best – up the Dempster, again.

Jack Greenwood
South Surrey BC

Diesel Pickups:

It was refreshing to read the article by Murray Jackson regarding his views on diesel pickups (Jul./Aug.). Bravo to Mr. Jackson for sharing his honest experiences of these units. For pulling larger sized units, the performance is not all it’s cracked up to be. And when you consider the initial surcharge, plus all the add-on charges to improve the performance, where is the economy?

And further, not enough emphasis is placed on the disturbing effects of these units. I, for one, object to my peace and quiet shattered by these noisy things. Interestingly, much was made of the issue of the operation of generators, and many RV parks placed restrictions on their use, but allow far more noisier diesels to operate. Is there anyone else out there that is getting fed up with these noisy, smelly, smoky, clacking things and would like to see them banned from RV parks?

Personally, I run a big block gas engine with a 32ft 5th. I may pay the penalty at the pumps but at least I don’t disturb or wake up all the neighbors.

Walt Lesyk
Vernon BC
wlesyk@bc.sympatico.ca

Gas vs diesel:

Re the letter from John & Barbara Hunt, Sechelt, page 6 Issue 64.
We went through the same problem in 1991 when we decided to become full time RV’ers and sold our home and purchased a new 33 ft Penthouse model Security.

Then came the problem of a tow vehicle. After much research we settled on a Ford F250 extended cab with a 460 gas engine and a 4.1 to 1 ratio rear end. With the additional options we wanted, it had to be ordered from the factory in Kansas City and took 2 1/2 months to get delivery. We have been very satisfied with it and now spend our winters in Arizona and our summers in BC.

We have found out it will out pull any of the equivalent Ford, Chev or Dodge diesels.

• For example, in 1996 a friend purchased a used Security 33 ft Penthouse identical to ours and added a brand new Dodge Ram with a turbo diesel. He followed us from Langley to Yuma and on every hill I’d have to wait at the top for him to catch up.
• For example, at the top of the long haul on Highway 58 from Bakersfield to Mojave over the Tahachapi, I had to wait 25 minutes for him to catch up.

Using diesel his overall fuel costs were lower but his unit is noisier and smellier.
We will stick to our gas engine!

Mamie & Larry Reid
reid@travelin.com

Diesel vs gas:
This regards the letter in your Jul/Aug 98 issue by John and Barbara Hunt (page 6) re their need for “HELP” in deciding on what to get in a 5th wheel/truck combo. As a person who has traveled quite extensively since 1992, I would like to offer some advice.

By all means decide on a fiver no smaller than 25' and preferably 27-29' feet, and one with a slide is definitely recommended – both for comfort when you use it and for value when you sell it!

You will not need a 4x4 unless you plan to do extensive off road travel – they cost more and can be expensive to repair and there is no advantage to normal towing.

By all means get a 3/4 ton with the largest engine (i.e. gas 460/454) as smaller engines will cost as much to operate (or more). Most 3/4 tons with large engines are operating at close to peak loads as is – any vehicle of smaller size will be labouring on the hills, putting more strain on engine and tranny.

I cannot speak for diesel engines as I do not care for them. I’m sure many will write to extol their virtues. Many acquaintances of mine swear by them – others swear at them! The Dodge/Cummins combo is very popular by many. Perhaps the reason there are not many trade-ins is the fact people are happy with their vehicle?

I would recommend you visit truck dealers to obtain the technical information and do extensive research on trailers. Through magazines and personal interviews – most RVers I have met are very honest in describing the good and the bad qualities of their unit.

John Baker
Chilliwack BC