I am as much a buy American shopper as the next redneck. Sure do wish the American auto makers could do as well with fuel efficiency as the foreigners do.

Sure doesn't look like the hybrid does any better on gas mileage than a standard engine! What's the purpose then?

Whatever you do don't pull with a 6cyl. I have a Grand Cherokee and had to replace the transfercase and tranny last summer cause of heat trying to keep up with all of the other cars. Im planning on getting a cummins.

I've got a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 with the 3.3L 170hp, 200 ft-lb V6 with auto tranny. I put an auxiliary tranny cooler on it. It's rated for 5000 pounds stock and runs on the cheap stuff.

My bass boat is light weight (less than 3000 pounds), but my ski boat and trailer weigh in at 4500 pounds, easy. 21 foot boat. I also have electric brakes on the ski boat to slow it down (small tow vehicle plus heavier boat w/surge brakes = bad things in a quick stop situation).

I get about 12 mpg towing the ski boat at 60 to 75 mph (broad range because I can't exactly charge up the hills with this rig). I keep O/D turned off until I get up to 70 mph.

I get about 15 mpg towing the bass boat (17' aluminum v-hull with 50 horse) while going fast enough to keep up with any traffic I want.

Without the boat, I get about 16 mpg around town and 19 to 20 on the highway.

She ain't gonna win any drag races, but she gets the job done. With a V6, you just gotta know that you're going to be the turtle. With towing miles being less than 15% of total miles, I can live with that.

^^^^^^^^
What he said, My 2000 Ram/Cummins gets up to 24 on the hiway empty, pulling a 29' 5th wheel camper I get 14 or so. 90K miles now and no problems (Except when I let it run out of fuel)

I dont now about mileage but with gas prices going back up I figureing about 60 bucks to catch a fish when we go out. More if I include all tackle bait, maint on boat and registration. If I didnt love it so much, I would buy fish at HEB.

Thoughts on hybrids.

Hybrids are designed to be fuel-efficient while being driven in start and stop conditions. The idea is to store the energy use to decelerate as electrical energy in batteries, then to use that energy to accelerate back-up to speed. Works very nicely while driving in town.

Out on the highway is another matter entirely. Generally, during highway driving you're holding at a constant speed. The energy loss that you experience is due to drag, and internal engine, and drive train friction, plus the friction of the tires. This assuming that you're traveling over level ground.

The two ways to get better milage while driving at speed on the highway is to make the vehicle more aerodynamic, and the reduction of internal friction.

Best bet, Dodge Cummins. I have a 2005 4x4 and I get around 16 mpg and I only have 10,000 miles on the truck. Had a 2001 Dodge 1 ton and got 19 mpg pulling, I got rid of the truck with 90,000 miles on it, no problems. Can not beat the Cummins for anything pulling or not you will get great milage and be problem free.

my 01 TJ gets about 15mpg and when I through a canoe on top I still get 15 mpg

I buy diesel just a penny or two above regular unleaded. Just got to shop around. I like:
Dallas Gas Prices . You can shop for Gas AND Diesel prices.
My %5 higher maintenance = 5 times the longevity of a gas motor. There are LOTS of well maintained diesel trucks out there with 800k. Can't say that about gas trucks.
Noisy? I can't hear a thing with my windows rolled up at 70mph, even with my Jimmy Buffet volume down and a/c on medium.
Stinks after 50k? I don't know about the Ford Powerstroke, but a Cummins 24 valve turbo diesel aint even broke-in until about 150k. Then it really shines with towing economy and performance.

go gas, the mpg you save will not offset the cost of a deisel engine if it does its barely, if you plan on owing it for a while, but then you have to listen to the rumble and tumble of a diesel engine and find deisel pumps in town ect. 2004 ford, sucks it down pretty good and the price of diesel now days is unreal, plus anything goes wrong with a deisel its a thousand bucks to fix it. BUt i love mine!!! i personally would put a hitch on a honda hybrid/with granny low and gears and high traction tires. Maybe a big ugly fish on the side would do just fine.

I'm the buddy of hornetscpo. I have a 2005 Dodge 2500, short bed, 4x4 with a cummins.
I get around 19 to 20 mpg everyday driving and the last time I towed it to Tennessee I got 16.8 driving 65 mph.
Needless to say, I love the diesel. Plenty of power to pull my Ranger 520.
You can improve your milage somewhat by getting 2 wheel drive vs. 4 wheel. I just wanted the 4x4.

Think an s-10 could pull an 18ft kenner?

CUMMINS over gas and powerstroke

23 Mpg on highway and 18 towing is true without chip

Oh yeah, they make great daily drivers

Hi All,
Just had to add my 2. I drive a 2001 Dodge cummins, 24 valve, 4x4 with auto. no chip. Hwy. 18-19 empty, Towing 18' bassboat 16-17, towing 4 wheeler 17-18. I love the weight and power of the truck. However it does remind me alot of my X-Wife, its BIG, SMELLY, AND LOUD.

Jim