Again, I am having the "sell and buy newer" dilemma. Today, while pulling my 28 foot enclosed trailer (empty without the racecar) (bumper pull, flat front with no aerodynamics), my 98.5 was running 10 lbs of boost on the flat highway in 5th (at 70mph, egts were around 900, 2100 on the tach). Without the trailer, I am running 5 lbs of boost on the same highway stretch (700 were the egts empty).

My gas mileage is terrible with the trailer (10mpg overall with a best of 11 once I think). I get around 15-17 in mixed driving without the trailer.

Just for fun, I test drove a newer 03 6 speed today - I'm going to hook up the trailer and try it later in the week.

My rationale is that the 3.55s are not towing gears and that there is nothing I can do to this truck to make it a decent, quiet and more economical towing vehicle. Based on that, would a newer truck (with 3.73s) fit my needs better with a 6 speed also for more relaxed towing on the highway?

Thanks for the continued tips as I ponder my truck future.

 

I think this boils down to how bad you want to spend a bunch of money upgrading to a newer truck. Looking at your sig you have a pretty good amount of upgrades to the 98.5 and I would say you would need to do all the same to the 03. So, you have a bunch of aftermarket stuff to buy again as well as the cost of the 03. In my opinion I don't think 10mpg towing is that bad. Since you have a 2wd it wouldn't cost that much to swap to a different rear gear ratio or you could add a gear vendor unit that would mix the ratio's up a bit. If you really want the newer truck, go for it but, I don't think you have much to gain for the amount of money you would be spending. Eric

 

I only hit 11mpg towing into a Strong head wind in CA. I couldnt pull it in OD had to run in 3rd. I've towed 24K gross (33' bumperpull, flat front as well) with my truck, before the Smarty and it towed fine. Max egts were 1250. I dont think the 3.73 would helpa whole lot. A bigger jump to maybe the 4.10's would help but you lose cruising speed. The only way I would get a new truck is if 4x4 is needed. My does fine as it is. Actually I have a 74 Power wagon needing a 12V, so my 4x4 requirement is actually taken care of. But if your looking for "quite" well then I cant help ya. How heavy are you towing. Also I just got a GB tranny and am going to get a EB soon. HTH but prolly not much.....

 

the 03 with 373 gears will be the same rpm as your 98.5 with 355s because the 03 has 17 in tires

 

I have a 98.5 with 355 rearends , 5 speed , terminator 2 power chip,
towing my 5th wheel total gvw is 15000lbs and pulling it at 70mph I never get less than 13mpg and can get as good as 17mpg if I drove the speed limit. iget about 19-21 mpg empty.