Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-03-2016, 04:13 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Oscoda
Posts: 80
Contemplating New Tug

Have a JayFllight 22FB, weighing around 5500# loaded.

Just completed a 6200 mile, 10 week trip through the South (FL, LA, MS, etc).

My current TV is a 2001 Silverado with the 4.8L and the 3.42 rear end. Have the Equalizer 4pt hitch. 135,000 miles. We had zero problems, but I sense we are a bit underpowered in winds and grades. Mileage in tow mode averaged 8.7 MPG.

Plan on doing this southward trip for years ahead and not terribly afraid of keeping the current TV for a couple years. But, seriously contemplating purchasing a used TV with a bit more power, better towing rear end, etc.

I cannot afford new (just bought a new daily driver SUV). TV is rarely driven unless towing or hauling something.

Also, not sure I can justify the premium for a diesel unit. Not too likely we will move to a bigger TT, but would like additional tow capacity than I currently have (6400#) just in case we move up.

So, thoughts on good used TV pickups, years and models to avoid, etc. I am terribly confused with the plethora of options out there. Need help narrowing down to two or three good possible vehicles.

Thanks.......
frjeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2016, 04:31 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Asheville
Posts: 138
find a Chevy 2500 with the 8,1 and the Allison tranny...01-02' MY's...IF you can find one in good condition..MPG isn't very good, but it won't be your daily driver and you DEFINITELY won't feel under powered by a long shot, and the bonus is you get the Allison tranny..It put the 6.0 in that time frame to shame....Just a suggestion.
__________________
Jim & Kathy
2016 Ram 3500 DRW/crew cab/long bed/4X4/Cummins/Aisin/4.10/rear air assist. Pearl White
2016 Jayco Seismic 4112, WD/Trav'ler Direct tv SWM satellite, slide covers
B&W RVK 3600 hitch
USAF Viet Nam Vet
NC Hauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2016, 05:01 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Oscoda
Posts: 80
Help

Quote:
Originally Posted by NC Hauler View Post
find a Chevy 2500 with the 8,1 and the Allison tranny...01-02' MY's...IF you can find one in good condition..MPG isn't very good, but it won't be your daily driver and you DEFINITELY won't feel under powered by a long shot, and the bonus is you get the Allison tranny..It put the 6.0 in that time frame to shame....Just a suggestion.

What is meant by the 8,1 in your helpful post?
Model years 01-02?

Thanks.
frjeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2016, 05:07 PM   #4
Site Team
 
Crabman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
Quote:
Originally Posted by frjeff View Post
What is meant by the 8,1 in your helpful post?
Model years 01-02?

Thanks.
Its the big block 8.1l (454 cubic inch?) V8 engine. But they are hard to find as mentioned as only a relatively small number were produced.. When I was searching for a used 2500 in 2012 I only saw a couple of them listed online out of the hundreds of other 2500`s available which have the 6.0l or Duramax engines.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
Crabman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2016, 06:42 PM   #5
Site Team
 
norty1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,771
I looked in to the Chevy 8.1 gas engine also. I have a buddy with one. He loves it and said it is a gas hog but the only gasser comparable to a diesel. He said they quit making them in 2006 or 07. He swears if his ever blows he will buy a new engine. I think he is close to 225,000 miles on it.
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
norty1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2016, 06:46 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New Paris
Posts: 18
The 8.1 is 502 cubic inch 7.4 is 454 both good engines but thirsty.
1320tech is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 08:17 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,430
The big truck guys will hate me saying this, but you don't need a 2500 for that trailer, especially if you are using the PU as a daily driver. As gas goes back up a 1500 is cheaper to drive. Look for a 2007-2013 1500 with 5.3 and 3.73 gears. I get 17 in the city and 21 on the hwy at 60 mph.

Mine has a 7500# towing capacity and a 1600# payload. My trailer is just under 5000# and it tows like a dream. I feel it could easily pull 6000# without struggling. We took it to TN last summer and had no trouble with the hills.
__________________
Chuck
2013 Jayco Jayfeather X20 E (sold)
2016 Chevy Silverado LTZ 2 Z71 Crew Cab (sold, and dearly missed)
DocBrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 02:35 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,588
Are you die hard set on square fender wells? If not, the F-150 equipped with the EcoBoost engine or the 5.0L would pull that trailer very nicely, with the EcoBoost giving you diesel-like performance with lots of low end torque. I would highly suggest 3.73 gears and the Max Tow package if you can find it as this will up your payload and give you better cooling, etc.

I would suggest 2013 and up if going the EcoBoost route, as the '11 and '12 years had the odd bug to sort out like most new concepts freshly released. Mine has been flawless, for what it's worth.

Most of the newer half tons (last 3 years or so) have much higher capabilities than their predecessors, so with that trailer you should be able to find a good match pretty easily in any brand. A big help is the number of gears the transmission has - most have 6 or more these days and that makes a huge difference in towing performance.

As always with any half ton, WATCH YOUR PAYLOAD! That little yellow sticker on the inside of the driver's door has caused a lot of grief for uninformed truck owners that learn about it too late!
__________________
2013 F-150 EcoBoost MaxTow, Roush tuned (415hp 506tq), lifted on 33s, R.A.S.
2013 Jay Flight 28BHS Elite (Equalizer 10K hitch)
SkyBound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 03:12 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MD
Posts: 3,856
Since you don't plan to go to a bigger camper, get a newer GMC/Chevy 1500 with the 5.3 and 6 speed trans. Might even consider a 2500 with the 6.0 gasser motor. Not saying that you need that but the prices are going to be close. You said this wont be your daily driver so the little you'll loose in MPGs with the 2500 6.0 gasser wont matter so much and it would be a better tow rig if you ever did decide to go bigger.
__________________
2017 JayFlight 28BHBE
2014 JayFlight Swift 264BH (Sold)
2007 GMC 2500 Sierra Classic Crew Cab LBZ Duramax / 6spd Allison
SouthCo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 03:39 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 885
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyBound View Post
Are you die hard set on square fender wells? If not, the F-150 equipped with the EcoBoost engine or the 5.0L would pull that trailer very nicely, with the EcoBoost giving you diesel-like performance with lots of low end torque. I would highly suggest 3.73 gears and the Max Tow package if you can find it as this will up your payload and give you better cooling, etc.

I would suggest 2013 and up if going the EcoBoost route, as the '11 and '12 years had the odd bug to sort out like most new concepts freshly released. Mine has been flawless, for what it's worth.

Most of the newer half tons (last 3 years or so) have much higher capabilities than their predecessors, so with that trailer you should be able to find a good match pretty easily in any brand. A big help is the number of gears the transmission has - most have 6 or more these days and that makes a huge difference in towing performance.

As always with any half ton, WATCH YOUR PAYLOAD! That little yellow sticker on the inside of the driver's door has caused a lot of grief for uninformed truck owners that learn about it too late!
+1 This is what I was going to recommend as well. Ecoboost that is. I had the 5.0 in our old half ton and it did respectably as well pulling 7000lbs.

Get a half ton with as high a payload as you can find and you will be set. 1600+ lbs payload would give you good headroom with that trailer.
__________________
2014 Jayco Swift 281BHS, 300W Solar!
2015 F250 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab, Short box, 6.2 gas
Subaru297 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 04:08 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Asheville
Posts: 138
Quote:
Originally Posted by frjeff View Post
What is meant by the 8,1 in your helpful post?
Model years 01-02?

Thanks.

I owned an 01..don't know how long GM used the 8.1 ( they stopped using it because it wasn't MPG friendly).., which was a 496 cubic inch gasser, which was, originally, a 454, but had been revamped and ended up as a 496 CID Vortex V-8, i.e., 8.1 liter engine/with 4.10 gearing and the Allison transmission..It was the only gasser hooked to the Allison, other then the Duramax.

So if was build through 05?, 06?..I'm not sure, I Owned for D/A's after that.

Jim
__________________
Jim & Kathy
2016 Ram 3500 DRW/crew cab/long bed/4X4/Cummins/Aisin/4.10/rear air assist. Pearl White
2016 Jayco Seismic 4112, WD/Trav'ler Direct tv SWM satellite, slide covers
B&W RVK 3600 hitch
USAF Viet Nam Vet
NC Hauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 04:12 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Asheville
Posts: 138
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1320tech View Post
The 8.1 is 502 cubic inch 7.4 is 454 both good engines but thirsty.

according to GM, it was beefed up from a 454 to a 496 cubic inch displacement engine...Marine model may be 502 CID, but one I'm talking about, the 8.1 was 496...never met a filling station it didn't like..but it was a towing beast, and strapped to the Allison just made it amazing...

The engine started out as a 454, but bored out, bigger components boosted it to 496.

One liter = 61 cubic inches; thus 8.1 liters = 494.1 cu in, but it's a "tad" bigger than 8.1 liter...8.1 sounded better...no matter how you say it, it's a BIG BLOCK engine(:
__________________
Jim & Kathy
2016 Ram 3500 DRW/crew cab/long bed/4X4/Cummins/Aisin/4.10/rear air assist. Pearl White
2016 Jayco Seismic 4112, WD/Trav'ler Direct tv SWM satellite, slide covers
B&W RVK 3600 hitch
USAF Viet Nam Vet
NC Hauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 05:05 PM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Oscoda
Posts: 80
Not set on Anything

Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyBound View Post
Are you die hard set on square fender wells? If not, the F-150 equipped with the EcoBoost engine or the 5.0L would pull that trailer very nicely, with the EcoBoost giving you diesel-like performance with lots of low end torque. I would highly suggest 3.73 gears and the Max Tow package if you can find it as this will up your payload and give you better cooling, etc.

I would suggest 2013 and up if going the EcoBoost route, as the '11 and '12 years had the odd bug to sort out like most new concepts freshly released. Mine has been flawless, for what it's worth.

Most of the newer half tons (last 3 years or so) have much higher capabilities than their predecessors, so with that trailer you should be able to find a good match pretty easily in any brand. A big help is the number of gears the transmission has - most have 6 or more these days and that makes a huge difference in towing performance.

As always with any half ton, WATCH YOUR PAYLOAD! That little yellow sticker on the inside of the driver's door has caused a lot of grief for uninformed truck owners that learn about it too late!
Not set on anything except appropriate tow capacity and payload.

Looked at a 2012 RAM 1500 Tradesman today. 5.7L HEMI and 3.92 rear end.
42K miles, very clean and easily in the budget. Much less than diesel and still will tug 10000#. So, will be comparing this to the 3.5L Ecoboost.

Believe I have narrowed it down some. Thanks for all the input and help.
frjeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 05:16 PM   #14
Site Team
 
Crabman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
Quote:
Originally Posted by frjeff View Post
Not set on anything except appropriate tow capacity and payload.

Looked at a 2012 RAM 1500 Tradesman today. 5.7L HEMI and 3.92 rear end.
42K miles, very clean and easily in the budget. Much less than diesel and still will tug 10000#. So, will be comparing this to the 3.5L Ecoboost.

Believe I have narrowed it down some. Thanks for all the input and help.
As mentioned before watch the payload on the Ram 1500, it can be somewhat low on some models. We are not talking about the tow rating, but rather the payload which is how much weight the truck will bear on the hitch and cargo in the truck including passengers.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
Crabman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 05:32 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Oscoda
Posts: 80
Payload

Crabman - thanks for the payload reminder!
frjeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2016, 06:16 PM   #16
Site Team
 
Crabman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
OK, you are now ready to shop! Good luck and have fun!
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
Crabman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2016, 12:15 PM   #17
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Oscoda
Posts: 80
Sure are not too many MaxTow pkg EB on the market within 250 miles of me. Most are off-lease units with the 3.55 axle.
Have the word out with a couple of Ford dealers and watching Craigslist.
Time will tell..........
frjeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2016, 08:04 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,588
The 2011-2014 EcoBoost MaxTow came with 3.73 gears, and the 2011-2014 Heavy Duty Payload Package (different than MaxTow) was available with 4.10 gears.

In 2015 when they went to the aluminum body MaxTow came with 3.55 but I'm pretty sure 3.73 was also available.

Just because they went to aluminum and advertised better payload numbers in 2015, that doesn't mean any aluminum bodied truck is boasting great payloads. I was at the dealership the other day getting my truck serviced and I saw a '16 Limited with 1500lbs payload (200lbs less than my '13 XTR).
__________________
2013 F-150 EcoBoost MaxTow, Roush tuned (415hp 506tq), lifted on 33s, R.A.S.
2013 Jay Flight 28BHS Elite (Equalizer 10K hitch)
SkyBound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2016, 02:42 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
klpoppe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Hamilton/Cincinnati
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyBound View Post
The 2011-2014 EcoBoost MaxTow came with 3.73 gears, and the 2011-2014 Heavy Duty Payload Package (different than MaxTow) was available with 4.10 gears.

In 2015 when they went to the aluminum body MaxTow came with 3.55 but I'm pretty sure 3.73 was also available.

Just because they went to aluminum and advertised better payload numbers in 2015, that doesn't mean any aluminum bodied truck is boasting great payloads. I was at the dealership the other day getting my truck serviced and I saw a '16 Limited with 1500lbs payload (200lbs less than my '13 XTR).
FWIW.. I bought a 2015 F150 XLT super crew w/ EB and max tow... payload sticker shows 1798 lbs.

The V-8's I looked at had significantly less payload.
__________________
2014 Jayflight Swift 264BH
2015 Ford F150 XLT 4x4 SCrew 3.5 EcoBoost Max Tow
Equalizer 10K
klpoppe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2016, 02:38 PM   #20
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Oscoda
Posts: 80
3.55 Rear Axle Question

I have not been able to find one EB 3.73 rear end Max Tow used or new in nearly non-stop searching, calling and lot pounding.
Do find a fair number of EB 3.55 with Max Tow.

One such Super crew EB 3.55 with Max Tow and 7000# GVWR here that is of interest.Am I correct that this config has a payload of 2060# and a tow rating of somewhere between 10,600# to 11,500# (depending on GCWR)?

Thanks....
frjeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.