RE: [A/S] Digest Number 2063 (Tow vehicles for 32ft. & 34ft)

["Jim O'Keefe" <jokeefe@xxxxxxxx>]

Nancy,

We have an older, skinnier, lighter '85.  When our ship comes in we'll
upgrade to a newer, fatter, heavier slide-out version.

We chose the Chevrolet Avalanche 2500 (a Suburban, modified to
incorporate a truck bed).  We love it.  The best features (besides
distinctive good looks) are the commodious passenger dimensions with a
full-size back seat, and the huge, weather-protected truck box
(lockable), plus neat side storage compartments (lockable) for tools,
hitch pins, and other gizmos needed for coupling the trailer.  We had a
"real" truck before, and the box was always sliding to an inconvenient
corner.

The truck has a wonderfully powerful (though thirsty) 8.1 V8 which
climbs mountains without slowing down or heating up, even at 100
degrees.  Flat towing is smooth and quiet.  Downsides are 15 mpg solo
and 11 towing, and you climb really high to get in.

Our trailer has a weight of 6500 pounds.  The one we want to trade up to
will be more like 8500.  We might slow a bit on hills, but we'll still
pass the diesels.  They will pass us while we are buying gas, but we
rarely go more than 250 miles in a day, and there is a gas station on
every corner.  

I've had a diesel Mercedes, great on the interstate, you can always find
fuel, but back roads can be a bit iffy.  And the diesel pumps are often
filthy!

You also won't wake the neighbors 2 rows away when you come home late in
your gas vehicle (new Dodges promise quiet, remains to be heard).

We use a Reese dual-cam hitch.  It's not the most expensive, but it's
quite easy to use.


Nancy, there is lots of great equipment, no one perfect setup.  No
matter what you pick, you'll see others with cool stuff that also works
great.  Enjoy the trip.


Jim, JR, and Jezebel (the standard poodle)

'85 Limited 32'
'03 Avalanche 2500