Author: StephenH
Subject: What kind of vehicle do you tow your Rpod with?
Posted: 13 Apr 2017 at 8:54am
We started towing our RP-179 with a 2016 Ford Escape SE with 2L Ecoboost engine. That was until December when we had an accident which put the Escape out of commission for an extended period. To continue our trip and get home, we purchased a 2010 Nissan Frontier. The Frontier has a 6100 lb tow rating compared to the 3500 lb tow rating for the Escape. At higher elevations, the Escape did better because of the turbocharger which the Frontier lacks.
If I were shopping now, I would want to wait until this fall when the 2018 Ford F150 is expected to get a 3L Diesel. If I understand correctly, Nissan will be putting a Diesel in the Frontier for the 2018 model year also. Either one would be a good choice. If you don't want to wait, the Ford Ecoboost engines are pretty amazing. The turbocharger makes a huge difference when towing at any significant altitude. The downside is that it usually requires premium fuel when towing. On our last trip, Diesel was significantly less expensive then premium. That difference can add up to significant savings on long trips. Enough long trips can help pay the difference in the cost of the Diesel engine.
SUV vs. Pickup? There are advantages to each one. I like the SUV for handling and interior storage as mentioned by Vann & Laura. I like the pickup since things like a generator, spare propane tank, and gasoline for the generator can go in the bed of the pickup along with other things one might wish to carry. We have a hard tonneau cover on ours which keeps things in the bed dry. If it had not come with that, I would be looking for a cap for additional height plus the waterproof storage.
Subject: What kind of vehicle do you tow your Rpod with?
Posted: 13 Apr 2017 at 8:54am
We started towing our RP-179 with a 2016 Ford Escape SE with 2L Ecoboost engine. That was until December when we had an accident which put the Escape out of commission for an extended period. To continue our trip and get home, we purchased a 2010 Nissan Frontier. The Frontier has a 6100 lb tow rating compared to the 3500 lb tow rating for the Escape. At higher elevations, the Escape did better because of the turbocharger which the Frontier lacks.
If I were shopping now, I would want to wait until this fall when the 2018 Ford F150 is expected to get a 3L Diesel. If I understand correctly, Nissan will be putting a Diesel in the Frontier for the 2018 model year also. Either one would be a good choice. If you don't want to wait, the Ford Ecoboost engines are pretty amazing. The turbocharger makes a huge difference when towing at any significant altitude. The downside is that it usually requires premium fuel when towing. On our last trip, Diesel was significantly less expensive then premium. That difference can add up to significant savings on long trips. Enough long trips can help pay the difference in the cost of the Diesel engine.
SUV vs. Pickup? There are advantages to each one. I like the SUV for handling and interior storage as mentioned by Vann & Laura. I like the pickup since things like a generator, spare propane tank, and gasoline for the generator can go in the bed of the pickup along with other things one might wish to carry. We have a hard tonneau cover on ours which keeps things in the bed dry. If it had not come with that, I would be looking for a cap for additional height plus the waterproof storage.