Full size pick up trucks - which one?

[Brian P]

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Ouch! My 10' tall almost 12,000lbs Sprinter gets those numbers and sometimes better.

Diesel engine makes all the difference, but no such thing in a light-duty truck, and the extra weight and cost of the 3/4 ton trucks wipe out any potential advantage.

You can get better mileage if you put it in towing mode to disable the MDS system. You have to make sure you change the maximum gear setting to 6 though. My best trip so far got 10.8l/100k on the dash readout.

Huh? What's the logic here? Are you saying it's better to stay running in 8 cylinders than to let it run on 4 when it wants to? Towing mode normally locks up the torque converter (good) and changes the shift patterns to use higher revs (generally bad) and sometimes locks out the use of top gear (bad), although I gather on yours that you can change this.

I've had one vehicle with auto tranny that I used for towing - never again. What I normally did while towing was leave it in OD but whenever it unlocked the torque converter (which was readily apparent) then I took it out of OD, it would downshift to 3rd but lock the torque converter, then leave it like that until I crested the hill, then let it go back to OD with torque converter locked. This was before anyone thought of "tow/haul" modes.

 

[rmemedic]

Diesel engine makes all the difference, but no such thing in a light-duty truck, and the extra weight and cost of the 3/4 ton trucks wipe out any potential advantage.



Huh? What's the logic here? Are you saying it's better to stay running in 8 cylinders than to let it run on 4 when it wants to? Towing mode normally locks up the torque converter (good) and changes the shift patterns to use higher revs (generally bad) and sometimes locks out the use of top gear (bad), although I gather on yours that you can change this.

I've had one vehicle with auto tranny that I used for towing - never again. What I normally did while towing was leave it in OD but whenever it unlocked the torque converter (which was readily apparent) then I took it out of OD, it would downshift to 3rd but lock the torque converter, then leave it like that until I crested the hill, then let it go back to OD with torque converter locked. This was before anyone thought of "tow/haul" modes.

With the new dodge, we have sort of a "manumatic" on the gear shift lever. I can hit it and tell it what is the highest gear I want it to use. So say I'm towing and coming to a hill, I can "downshift" it and I won't have to wait for the tranny to do it on it's own once you're already lost your momentum.

Hard getting used to the auto, especially with towing.

I use the cylinder shut down as often as I can make it do it. It helps for sure.

 

[WudzRydr]

Huh? What's the logic here? Are you saying it's better to stay running in 8 cylinders than to let it run on 4 when it wants to? Towing mode normally locks up the torque converter (good) and changes the shift patterns to use higher revs (generally bad) and sometimes locks out the use of top gear (bad), although I gather on yours that you can change this.

I'm guessing that it has to do with the torque converter staying locked.

All I know is that the best I could get out of the truck in mds mode is 11.8l/100km. All testing was done over the same 100km stretch of road driving like I had an egg under my foot. Truck is a fully loaded quad cab 4x4 with the 20" wheel option.

I can make it go into 6th in tow/haul and driveability is improved also cause the power is right there when you need it.

 

[Rocco]

I'm done trying to get good gas mileage, I have the bike for that.
I just put it in drive and go.

I'm guessing that it has to do with the torque converter staying locked.

All I know is that the best I could get out of the truck in mds mode is 11.8l/100km. All testing was done over the same 100km stretch of road driving like I had an egg under my foot. Truck is a fully loaded quad cab 4x4 with the 20" wheel option.

I can make it go into 6th in tow/haul and driveability is improved also cause the power is right there when you need it.

 

[zeniceguy]

ford v6 turbo drect injection!

 

[porky]

^ how 'good' on fuel exactly?

Just wondering because my Pathfinder with a 4L 6 is fooking terrible, I might as well be driving a full size pickup. I get 500km out of 80L if I'm lucky.

I have a very heavy foot and mixed equal city and hwy average is 13l/100k

 

[Brian P]

I'm done trying to get good gas mileage, I have the bike for that.
I just put it in drive and go.

The torque converter lock versus unlock is for more than just gas mileage. If the torque converter is unlocked, a fair-sized chunk of the engine's power output is going into torque converter slippage and that shows up as HEAT. During normal driving, the tranny cooler can deal with it, but when towing, maybe not. That's why most tow-haul modes force torque converter lockup much more aggressively.

A lot of older transmissions are retardedly designed in this regard. Torque converter lockup only in top gear and if you as much as breathe on the accelerator pedal, it unlocks. It makes no sense to go to the trouble of implementing a cylinder shutdown system and then let the transmission slip the savings away ... but it wouldn't surprise me, either. It's only recently that some transmissions have started to be programmed to only use the torque converter when starting off from a stop and then immediately lock it up from then on. Plenty of them still aren't like that.

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

I'm really surprised at all of the mileage numbers being thrown around here... as I was considering a small truck -- and now am thinking I could just go with a modern full size pickup.
I just spent a bunch of time on fuelly.com and discovered that for recent trucks, small trucks are hardly more efficient... most use around 12l/100k while a lot of the bigger boys use 14-15l/100k... 2 or 3 litres per 100k is f-all.

 

[boooya]

I'm really surprised at all of the mileage numbers being thrown around here... as I was considering a small truck -- and now am thinking I could just go with a modern full size pickup.
I just spent a bunch of time on fuelly.com and discovered that for recent trucks, small trucks are hardly more efficient... most use around 12l/100k while a lot of the bigger boys use 14-15l/100k... 2 or 3 litres per 100k is f-all.

And you could get 2 bikes in the back of a full size truck easily.

 

[unL33T]

We have GM Sierras exclusively at work. They come full of problems brand new and quickly develop more. I used to think trucks were something GM was good at but after working here a few years, I wouldn't buy one. Unless all trucks are known to fall apart and have all kinds of problems as soon as you get them.

I've been tracking the fuel economy on Fuelly as well. They get between 16 and 20 L/100 km mostly highway.

 

[Brian P]

I'm really surprised at all of the mileage numbers being thrown around here... as I was considering a small truck -- and now am thinking I could just go with a modern full size pickup.
I just spent a bunch of time on fuelly.com and discovered that for recent trucks, small trucks are hardly more efficient... most use around 12l/100k while a lot of the bigger boys use 14-15l/100k... 2 or 3 litres per 100k is f-all.

If you need a truck but not a big one, you can get decent fuel consumption out of a compact pickup by specifying 4 cylinder 5 speed 2 wheel drive, and without the gimmicky pre-runner-type suspension (makes the truck push too much air). Problem is that usually this is only available in the base contractor-special trim and if you want any goodies, they make you buy a bigger engine. Bigger engine, auto tranny, or 4x4 will all kill the fuel consumption.

 

[Kool]

Reviving a old thread here...but wtf it took me that long to get a newer truck and I was willing to buy a 20grand truck or a 20 g bike. Middle of winter you would think the HD guys would be wanting my biz...but seems like they aren't, made some inquiries sent some emails...talked to them at the show....not interested I guess. Went to dealer to buy the truck...guy was all over me...in a nice cool way...lol. Got what I was lookin for around the price I wanted to pay...so all is good.

2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXT CAB SL 39,000km black, black interior, tinted windows, lineX box. $22,500 otd.

 

[Slick_Steveo]

^^^^nice....I read through this thread...my comment is ...I own both an F150 (04 4x4) and a Chevy Silverado ('08....the Chevy has by far been the better truck, maintenance wise

 

[daught]

I'm really surprised at all of the mileage numbers being thrown around here... as I was considering a small truck -- and now am thinking I could just go with a modern full size pickup.
I just spent a bunch of time on fuelly.com and discovered that for recent trucks, small trucks are hardly more efficient... most use around 12l/100k while a lot of the bigger boys use 14-15l/100k... 2 or 3 litres per 100k is f-all.

To get real world numbers I usually found you have to add 2L/100KM on top of what people claim. Lets face it in the GTA you don't really get "highway" mileage on they highway. 5-10 to what the dealer claims

 

[Brian P]

Since this thread was originally active, if you are looking for a NEW truck, there are some new things on the market and a few more new ones coming.

2013 Ram ... with the Pentastar V6 and the new ZF 8-speed automatic. This V6 has somewhere near 300 HP ... it was not long ago that this was V8 territory. It ain't gonna get 30 mpg highway like their advertisement says ... but the 8-speed auto is supposed to be pretty good.

2014 GM trucks (aka K2XX which has been keeping everyone involved in tooling for the auto industry busy for the last few months, myself included) ... not out yet, will be available in a few months. All new engines, all with direct injection, all with cylinder shutdown at part load. Standard engine is a 4.3 V6 but it's got nothing to do with the old lump. Don't know power ratings yet but it ought to be somewhere near 300. Optional engine is a 5.3 V8 but again, it's got nothing to do with the previous engine of the same displacement. Direct injection, variable valve timing, cylinder shutdown at part load.

 

[kellen]

Reviving a old thread here...but wtf it took me that long to get a newer truck and I was willing to buy a 20grand truck or a 20 g bike. Middle of winter you would think the HD guys would be wanting my biz...but seems like they aren't, made some inquiries sent some emails...talked to them at the show....not interested I guess. Went to dealer to buy the truck...guy was all over me...in a nice cool way...lol. Got what I was lookin for around the price I wanted to pay...so all is good.

2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXT CAB SL 39,000km black, black interior, tinted windows, lineX box. $22,500 otd.

Nice. Almost bought a late.model.sierra crew after my avalanche got stolen, but walked away from the deal and got another av. Luxurious SUV interior, versatile but ugly as ****.

 

[rmemedic]

Since this thread was originally active, if you are looking for a NEW truck, there are some new things on the market and a few more new ones coming.

2013 Ram ... with the Pentastar V6 and the new ZF 8-speed automatic. This V6 has somewhere near 300 HP ... it was not long ago that this was V8 territory. It ain't gonna get 30 mpg highway like their advertisement says ... but the 8-speed auto is supposed to be pretty good.

2014 GM trucks (aka K2XX which has been keeping everyone involved in tooling for the auto industry busy for the last few months, myself included) ... not out yet, will be available in a few months. All new engines, all with direct injection, all with cylinder shutdown at part load. Standard engine is a 4.3 V6 but it's got nothing to do with the old lump. Don't know power ratings yet but it ought to be somewhere near 300. Optional engine is a 5.3 V8 but again, it's got nothing to do with the previous engine of the same displacement. Direct injection, variable valve timing, cylinder shutdown at part load.

Despite owning a new Ram, I'm a GM guy 100%... Excited to see this come out! Hopefully we get a new body style as well... Hopefully they don't make something even worse than the gen before the current one.

 

[Kool]

Nice. Almost bought a late.model.sierra crew after my avalanche got stolen, but walked away from the deal and got another av. Luxurious SUV interior, versatile but ugly as ****.

lol...you got that right.

 

[Tonto]

Ha!Those trucks are all for kids- F-350 6.4L turbo Diesel Crew Cab long box lariat 4x4 with air-bladder rear suspension upping it to a two-tonne. Will pull my 35' race trailer fully loaded at 110 on the hwy and with the cruise set will never go above 1750rpm's. Full light tan leather interior with every stupid option the guys at Ford could think of to keep us warm and cuddly on a trip down to a US track.

Downsides: oil changes cost more than a fill-up, and said fill up is $150. The truck gets 21-21 L/ 100km so basically 5 hours on a tank or 4.5 pulling- that works out to a gas bill in the $600-$700 per month range (or $300 to Bogie and back from TO) and you have to have a good sense of humour when you ask the sales guy the price of the truck.

Seriously though, NEVER get something like this unless it is to be used as 'equipment' which, owning a construction company, I can do. Never understood people buying things like this as some sort of redneck status symbol, its a lot of money for an ego-boost IMP.

 

[Brit Biker]

I have the F150 2010 Fx 2. cruzing on the hyw I can get 100km/12liters.
I have had quite a few trucks over the years but they have always been 2 wheel drive. The reason is most of my of driving 99% of the time only required a 2 wheel drive truck. (Service work carrying tools. across canada) The other 1% where it would be required I avoided the situation. I drove all around Calabogie and Renfrew over Christmas in that big snow storm which I agree was quite a challenge but I just slowed down and took a lot more care when driving in the deeper snow covered areas. I agree a 4x4 is a lot better getting things done for those who really need them but how many of us realy do.

I would be interested in hearing how many of you buy the 4x4 and really need it compared to the 2 wheel drive.

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