19 replies to this topic

[Aquadoc]

I have a 16Duramax 2500. With my 30’ FR I get about 10pm loaded. With my Palomino SS1200 8.5’ Popup, I was getting 9mpg ish. With my 8.5’ CO I’m getting about 12mpg. My typical drive with the campers was OLY-SEA. So typically 50-65MPH maybe 1000’ of elevation change during the route. With the tow behind it could be over 5k’ passes and loaded for camping with 4 people.

[Lighthawk]

We just returned from Benton with a 500 mile round trip at 12.6mpg.  I've seen 14mpg when I stay at 65mph or less.

3500 6.4l gasser with Hawk and two bikes on the back.

Edited by Lighthawk, 27 November 2022 - 02:32 PM.

[Starbrightsteve]

Well just before Thanksgiving I found an Alaskan in Arizona. It was a 2020, 8.5’ and the owner said it had every option that Alaskan offered. I asked how much it weighed and the owner sent me a photo of the ID plate and it listed the weight at 2021 pounds. My truck payload is 1990. I am planning to get a truck with more payload but thought I could haul it home with my existing truck. I thought Alaskan weighed campers and had no idea that the weight listed on the ID plate was not even close. Lucky for me the owner didn’t want to wait for me to drive out to Arizona. I was disappointed but as I learned more about camper weights I was glad the sale fell through. I’ve ordered a Hallmark Guanella and now have  a truck with a 2700  pound payload and an 8’ bed. I’ll be fine although everyone thinks I need a one ton truck. 

[hugho]

This is my first post. I now have an Escape fifth wheel pulled by an F-150 with the little 2.7 liter engine. On long trips, 3000 to 5000 miles I get 14.5 to 15 miles per gallon. I’m looking to get an Alaskan. I know I need a heavier duty truck, but all the F-250/350’s have big V-8’s that get 15 mpg empty. I was hoping I could get 15 loaded with the truck camper. Any suggestions from you experienced Alaskan haulers?

We have a early 2000 Alaskan on a  97 3/4 Ton Cummins with a Dana 80 1 ton differential. At 55-60  emptywe get 21-22. With the Alaskan we get 14.5-16 if we keep it under 65. No half ton can  carry the  over one ton of a heavy Alaskan  camper. Overloading PU trucks makes them unsafe at any speed. heavy springs or air bags can take care of the sag but you risk killing the tranny, differentials, transfercase , rear bearings shocks etc.

[Starbrightsteve]

Steve, welcome to Wander the West!   We have great members, and it’s a great place to hang out on the web, 
 

We have a 2014 F350 with the 6.7L diesel, carrying a Northern Lite 10.2.  Our mileage varies between 11 and 14+ MPG, depending on terrain, weather and speed.   The camper weighs approximately 3,300 pounds, and is nearly 12 tall on the truck.  Without the camper, we see mileage in the 16 to 19 MPG range.  IMO, you should see better results with an Alaskan on a similar truck.   
 

The downside is the initial expense of the diesel.  If doing it again, I would look seriously at another F350, but with the 7.3L gas engine, it’s about $8,000 less expensive than the diesel, and has good torque and horsepower ratings.

 

I have visited the Alaskan factory twice, and my opinion is that it’s well made by a good crew, and perhaps the most comfortable camper I’ve ever been in.  For us, it was a toss up between the Alaskan and the Northern Lite.  Because of the wood construction (just like any other camper with lots of wood), I would not store it outside for long periods of time.
 

[Starbrightsteve]

Well I paid attention to some things that I read and ended up loading a new Hallmark Guanella on an F150 with the heavy payload package and used a set of stabiloads on the rear springs. The folks at Hallmark thought it worked great and so did I for the next 5000 . miles. When I got home I got on some scales an found I was traveling at 800-900 pounds over the gross for the truck. So we traded in a 2023 truck with 9000 miles for a used F350 with 38,000 miles and took somewhat of a beating. We did get 15 mpg with the camper loaded on the F150 but now 13 is the best with the F350 at 60mph. That’s ok . I prefer to drive slower and now with 4000 ponds of payload I don’t have to be constantly concerned about weight.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I’m surprised your mileage is that low, do you have a gas F350?  Pulling our travel trailer about 3000+ miles with the New 6.7 diesel, our average was over 15, and at times was at 18.

[Vic Harder]

We just did 14,000km on a SW USA road trip.  Puma/Grandby on a 2015 Chev one ton with the 6.6 Duramax.  I do not drive slow.  Our average with this rig is 15.09 mpg (us gallons).  And that includes our worst ever tank of fuel, driving at 80 mph in Montana with high winds and hills, we only got 12 mpg.  Best ever was just over 20 mpg, 70 mph cruising day.

[Starbrightsteve]

Yep, I have a gasser, the 7.3

[JaSAn]

I’m surprised your mileage is that low, do you have a gas F350? . . .

That correlates with my experience; Ram 2500 4X4, Grandby:  12.5 mpg on level road with no wind (60 mph).  I get about 14.0 with an empty truck.  Traveling across the Dakota's I get 10 - 18 mpg depending on wind.

Edited by JaSAn, 17 April 2024 - 10:53 PM.