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Considering a Suburban Tow Rig

campfire said:
Are you planning on DDing the new rig? I was thinking you would only be using it sporadically. If you really are planning on putting 20k miles on it every year, the math changes.

And once you start calculating fuel costs for a rig you drive regularly, common sense takes over and you wind up with a Saturn and a 6.2 truck. :pimp: :haha: :thumb:
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I put 9000 miles on the beetle in July and August. Every weekend I drive 400 miles. They add up quick.

Even sporadic trips can be 800-1000 miles at a time.
 
I know our power company fleet guy. He had said their diesels have cost them more in the fleet lifetime than gassers too.
But I also know how much those trucks get abused lol so that might be a moot point.
 
Richcz28 said:
I put 9000 miles on the beetle in July and August. Every weekend I drive 400 miles. They add up quick.

Even sporadic trips can be 800-1000 miles at a time.
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Yeah, 400-mile weekend trips add up quick, that's exactly what caused me to buy my little car. But I didn't realize you planned to use the tow rig for those trips, I thought that you'd just leave the trail truck up North and that you'd only be towing during the summertime cross-country trips.

If you're towing every weekend, efficiency is probably king.
 
rjfguitar said:
I still don't get it when people post up this reason. A fuel filter for my Cummins Dodges is under $15, I think the fuel filter for my 7.3 PSD trucks is even cheaper than that.

IIRC, the LS and big blocks hold 6 quarts. My diesels hold 12. I go nearly twice the mileage in my diesels as I do with the gas stuff. Yes, a diesel's oil filter does cost a few dollars more, it's bigger. Factory air boxes are nearly identical between gas and diesel in the same chassis so the air filter is a wash.

If someone utilizes proper mileage out of their diesel's oil change instead of dumping good oil at 3-4K, there is little extra cost on the diesel side. At least a small enough difference it's not even worth a consideration when purchasing a vehicle.
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I run Baldwin or delco filters. The Baldwin is the cheapest I'll go at 35-40 depending on where you get it. Delcos are almost twice that. Been screwed with a cheap filter before.

I run rotella t6 and a Baldwin filter for oil. The 2.5 gal jug is 75 bucks on sale, and the filter is another 15-20.

I used to change the oil every 5-6k, and fuel filter every other oil change. Now since I only put 1500 miles a year, I just change it once a year. That will always cost more than its gasser equivalent, just by volume alone.
 
campfire said:
Yeah, 400-mile weekend trips add up quick, that's exactly what caused me to buy my little car. But I didn't realize you planned to use the tow rig for those trips, I thought that you'd just leave the trail truck up North and that you'd only be towing during the summertime cross-country trips.

If you're towing every weekend, efficiency is probably king.
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I have the Jetta to split miles into now like I always have. 20k was a nice round number for mileage. Realistically, I may be closer to 15k. The potential for a few 10k mile Summers while towing is very real. I know I'll be hitting Blazer Bash. The Rubicon will probably happen at some point. The Michigan boys have mentioned Glamis. I want a tow rig that is ready to go so I'm only fixing the blazer constantly.
 
I really like the duramax Quigley from a few pages back with only 15k on it.
 
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