I love road trips, and enjoy trailering a new find home. I've even slept in the seat of a '72 Chevy truck on one such trip. But hotels with beds and showers are increasingly important as my beard grows grayer.
My COE fantasy is a truck for just this kind of trip. One I can sleep in if need be, but probably while someone else drives, not instead of a real bed.
Knowing what a COE sitting on the trailer does to my fuel mileage I wonder if I would take a road trip with one of these rigs. I just did the initial planning for a trip to Modesto, CA and back, assuming $3.60/gallon and 12 mpg pulling the trailer and was shocked at the price. It would not be the first time I'd put more in the fuel tank than I paid for what went on the trailer. And this time its someone else's truck and gas money.
I'll probably get over it, I always have, but as gas nears $4.00/gallon my COE project has changed a little in my mind. It may end up with less long-trip comfort, a bigger motor, and never do more than a short haul anywhere. 500 Cadillac motor and no overdrive based on pieces I own today.
The more practical long haul trailer puller may end up being a lowered 1-ton just to enjoy the better aerodynamics. I've even found myself thinking I'd buy a Vortec 6.0 and 4l80e instead of running the 454 I've got on hand for this project.
I probably need to rerun the analysis, I can burn a lot of fuel for the money a new power train will cost, and more money saved for retirement means more time to play and starting that phase sooner!
