blessdx11
montana
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Joined: 09/11/2009
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We have decided on the TH, a 40' Sandstorm which we will have modified with a second bath & w/d hookups. We are now looking for a truck to pull it, and know that we would like a 1 ton (or +) diesel dually. We have not owned a diesel truck before, would like to buy a used one, and would like some advice on how many miles you would buy one with. DH does not care to work on vehicles, planning on FTing, and putting on lots of miles 
just don't know how many miles is too many miles when it comes to a used diesel...
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Tee Jay
Port Angeles, WA
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Joined: 11/25/2007
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A decent diesel will give you something around 20 hwy empty and 16 city, and loaded you will get about 12. Depends on how fast you drive, these are for 55 to 62. Weight of trailer and exposed frontal area also have an effect.
Look at the threads here. They indicate that recent Fords will be well short of these numbers, but older ones may be ok. Don't want a flame war, just trying to reflect reports. Cummins is an I6 with a very flat torque curve (It makes a lot at low rpms)while Ford (IH) and Chevy (Isuzu) are v8. Mfr weight ratings vary quite a bit. Hope you find the right combo.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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40' toyhauler, that means one thing to me- F450 or Dodge 4500.
05E350 6.0PSD
98Ranger
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
Callen Camper
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
LoadNGo service body
B&W TurnoverBall, Curt Magnum V
HD Springs Bilsteins, EnergySuspension
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & LockRite rear
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DutchmenSport
Between Anderson, Pendleton, & Lapel, Indiana
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Joined: 10/10/2006
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My dually (see signature block below) gets about 17-18, and under some circumstances will get 20 mpg.Towing less than 6000 pounds seems to make very little if any difference in my mileage. The thing that really drops the mileage is the air conditioner when towing. Then it drops a very noticeable 2-3 mpg.
For what it's worth, our truck is a 2005 model and have not had a single repair yet, not even light bulbs, except replace tires because I ran over a rock and split one tire. Only other thing I've done to the truck is oil changes on schedule (every 5000 miles).
It has tremendous power and unbelievable acceleration. It surpasses my car big time! I usually drive very conservatively, speed limit, stop at right turns first, ect, ect. But when someone attempts to annoy me in traffic because they think I'm big and clunky, I blow dust in their manifold! Got into a "drag race" once with another jerk on the road. We were both at a stop light. He'd been annoying me long enough, raced the engine a bit, he did too, that was the signal, the contest was on! When the light turned green, I floored it! Talk about G-force! I lost him in the rear view mirror .... and was grateful no cops were around right then! (I'm sure that moment of stupidity did nothing to improve the fuel mileage!)
And then the other extreme was towing the travel trailer in 4x4 in tow mode in the mountains of West Virginia in the middle of a blizzard! Talk about raw power!
DutchmenSport
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo
Century Truck Cap Commercial /Toolboxes
Northeast Outfitters Canoe
2006 Keystone Springdale Model 263DBL
Weight 4985, Carrying Capacity 2575, Hitch 560, Length 30'
Width 8', Height 10' 6"
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jjackflash
Hesperia,Ca.USA
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Joined: 05/31/2004
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I think the OP was asking about the miles on the vehicle,not the mileage.On a well maintained engine you should get 200,000 to 300,000 miles if not more. Diesels are very reliable.
I drove professionally and when I retired my Tractor had over 600,000 on it.
Jack
Jack and Terry
Mag and Rose
Newbies
2008 Montana 3400RL: MOC #7787 Dually Club Member #576
2007 GMC CC D/A Dually
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edatlanta
Peachtree City, GA
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DutchmenSport, I was towing an empty 3 axle aluminum boat trailer north on I75 between Atlanta and Chattanooga a few years ago and had an encounter with a kid in a Honda Accord. When I was getting back on the interstate after a fuel stop, he didn't feel I was accelerating fast enough (2006 GMC LBZ). As soon as he could, across all solid lines, he started to go around me just as I was entering the right hand lane. As he pulled up along side with his loud muffler making a lot of noise, I looked him in the eye and punched it leaving him behind in a cloud of black smoke. I was only driving at 65 and he followed me for over a hundred miles and never passed me until I got off of the interstate.
It didn't help my mileage either, but occasionally you do what you have to do and it was fun.
Ed
Ed
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 duramax/allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank
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Paul B
Daytona Beach, Florida
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Joined: 09/10/2004
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A well taken care of diesel should go to 300k to 500k with no problems. I have 130k on mine and can't tell from new. Do your maintenance as should be done and don't race it and it will serve you well. My mechanic takes care of a small fleet (5) of ford diesels. In over 3 million miles he has only changed 3 water pumps, 6 injectors and some other rather minor stuff. Did I say 3 million?? YES!!! His only problem was getting the owner to get them in for service!! The service intervals averaged about 25 to 35k miles!!!! Talk about abuse........He also services my diesel with stuff I don't want to fool with.
Just my experiences....................
Paul B
2001 Excursion-Powerstroke Diesel
2000 Honda CRV
2006 Flagstaff 31' - 7.5k lbs.
2004 Two Honda EU2000i's/parallel cables/extra fuel tank
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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Towing requirements for a 40 foot trailer may require something more than a typical 350/3500 series dual rear wheel pickup. To help you pick out the correct truck, you really need to know the gross weight of the trailer, and do not depend on the little sticker the manufacturer provides to tell you the truth. Our 43 footer actually weighed 4,000lbs more than the posted unloaded weight. A 40 footer could weigh 14,000lbs or it could weigh 20,000lbs. As the above poster recommended, you may indeed need a 450/4500 or greater capacity truck for your towing needs. Nothing wrong with a used truck. The problem comes from not always knowing how well that truck was taken care of. A shiney, purty truck sitting on the sales lot may have led a very abused life.
Capt Skup
AD-1(AW)USNRet.
Wonderful Wife,3 Daughters,2Goldens Gus&Riley
"Never get in a battle of wits with an unarmed man"
'08 F-450 Lariat 4x4
'08 Honda Odyssey EX-L
SunlineF281SR
SeaRay215EC
http://community.webshots.com/user/CaptSkup?vhost=community
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whporwil
Minnesota
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Joined: 01/10/2008
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I had been a GM fan all of my life until 2008 when I bought a new F350 swr. We have a Jayco Designer and quickly found out we needed a bigger truck because of the weight and went to a 2008 F450. The truck we bought was a Ford buy back unit. In my case a check engine light came on 3 times and under California law Ford had to buy it back. The problem was when these trucks came out no body knew how to fix them. I have now gone 8000 miles without any problems. The asking price for my truck when I first saw it was 33,000.00 with 14,000 miles on it. No matter what you decide you might want to look on cars.com, that's where I found this one and it's a quick place to see what's out there.
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coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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40 feet is a lot of trailer. 3500 dually is minimum, 4500/5500 better. I wouldn't buy one with over a 100,000 miles and would really look hard for a low mileage cream puff.
I've noticed new and used trucks at the dealer that are set up as work type trucks that would make really good toy haulers. The prices are relatively lower because they aren't fancy. Good luck.
2008 Dodge 3500 CTD LB SRW 4X4 6-Speed Auto
P3 Blue Ox Sway Pro
2007 Komfort 212
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