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haha! We are getting the 20FBS in a few weeks. 3570 unloaded and the slide with the couch and no need for more beds and a simple table is perfect for us as we will be with our puppies. Eventually it will be a road trip only camper and wheeling will be something larger with a flat bed and camper and a big trailer for the GXes.19BH. I didn't want a slide just to keep things simple. I rethink that decision every time I have to suck in my belly to slide past my wife or kids in the dinette.
Kids necessitated the bunk requirement, if you are without...the FBS would be my choice too. Don't know what your requirements are for power but we have managed on a 100w panel up top with a BB 100AH Lithium and have fared well. We bring along a <50 lbs generator for backup but rarely use it. Small changes in industry like the movement from propane refrigeration to 12V make a big difference in battery capacity requirements. Stuff will loosen up over travel, so have a small tool kit handy and know (more important than electricity) your plumbing and that your B/G tank indicators will often or always lie. Just some things to consider. You should have some fun with it. I've done some mods to mine, PM if interested in further discussion and good luck!
Our pup has been gone for a few years and I'm waiting until our youngest killer is more steady on her feet before introducing a canine companion. Miss her terribly. One pic about eight years ago (and three before she left).
I just towed a 4000 lb boat from Michigan to Minnesota. It towed really easy I thought, even spent a fair amount of time in 6th gear, and went 70 the whole way. Got around 10 mpg though 
Of course with my current setup I wouldn't get much more than 16 mpg without the trailer anyway.
A few caveats though, I have an Ironman FCP suspension that handled the tongue weight nicely, and I am about 10% overgeared with 35s and 4.88s, so not exactly apples to apples. And a boat is more aerodynamic than a camper.
Of course with my current setup I wouldn't get much more than 16 mpg without the trailer anyway.A few caveats though, I have an Ironman FCP suspension that handled the tongue weight nicely, and I am about 10% overgeared with 35s and 4.88s, so not exactly apples to apples. And a boat is more aerodynamic than a camper.
FCPs do great for towing, I definitely love mine when loaded up. FWIW, with our low-profile camper (and my smaller rig), 13-14 mpg is easily obtainable if I'm tooling down backroads at 55-60 mph (and many of the roads to our local campground are all backroads). Going 70 mph on the interstate drops it to more like 11 mpg.
All of these camping pics are making me lament the fact that ours is winterized and covered for another 2 months or so. Can't wait to get back out.
All of these camping pics are making me lament the fact that ours is winterized and covered for another 2 months or so. Can't wait to get back out.
True story. Anything as long or longer than your tow vehicle that has vertical sides will act like a sail and choose its own path without a proper hitch. Boats are sometimes more forgiving but I use the WDH even then.I just towed a 4000 lb boat from Michigan to Minnesota. It towed really easy I thought, even spent a fair amount of time in 6th gear, and went 70 the whole way. Got around 10 mpg though
A few caveats though, I have an Ironman FCP suspension that handled the tongue weight nicely, and I am about 10% overgeared with 35s and 4.88s, so not exactly apples to apples. And a boat is more aerodynamic than a camper.
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I've had enough of the wait. I'm bringing mine back into service next week. We may get another cold spell here but not enough for me to keep in a winterized state.
Guess I should add
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Good point about fuel economy. I get between 11-13 towing our camper (~60mph) vs. 17-20 on its own (mixed, mostly city). Consumers must realize that if they are towing something long distances.
Towing our current trailer I get 10-13 in my 03 with 37s and 4.88s and I generally stick at 65ish. I get 13-15 not towing. The big game changer was the valve body upgrade, torque lockout upgrade, the gears, and the extra cooling. Oh, and the aux tank. I can run with 55 gallons of gas full up and at 10mpg I still get 500 miles before I need fuel. Awesome!
Sorry for the pupper loss
. We are upgrading to 400Ah Renogy self warming LiPo and 400w of solar. Adding wifi therm and other controls as well as soft start on the AC. The rest will be my mods. Starlink mobile and some other networked/wifi goodies will follow along with storage solutions and gadgets for the campgrounds.Pretty amazing MPG with those gears. I'm still planning a 4.56 upgrade at some point (I already have the trans upgrades). I want to be able to tow at 65 mph with the cruise on without having constant 4th/3rd downshifts on minor grades. Not using cruise kind of sucks when we put big days in with the camper. 3.73s just don't allow that, even with only 32" tires.
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oh I suspect the new trailer is going to slow me down and suck a lot more go juice. Trust me haha
And you dont have mountains to climb back there either. I like your GX build!I just towed a 4000 lb boat from Michigan to Minnesota. It towed really easy I thought, even spent a fair amount of time in 6th gear, and went 70 the whole way. Got around 10 mpg though
A few caveats though, I have an Ironman FCP suspension that handled the tongue weight nicely, and I am about 10% overgeared with 35s and 4.88s, so not exactly apples to apples. And a boat is more aerodynamic than a camper.
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