Hello all, Eric and Deb here! We are somewhat new to this life style, so I've enjoyed reading all of the good advice here on this forum. I did quite a bit of camping as a kid, so I have some idea of the fun to be had! My wife and I were very avid boaters and have spent the last 10+ years on the water. We sold the boat last year and have decided to see the country by land. We have on order a 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3800 and can not wait to take delivery. We also recently traded in the 05 f-250 on a new Chevy 3500 drw. We look forward to traveling and meeting some great people and experiencing all that this lifestyle has to offer.

Eric and Deb Porter

Congrats Eric and Deb, wishing you a lot of fun times in that new rig! Looking forward to seeing you guys out on the road one day....

Les

Eric:

The “percentage meter” on the Chevy doesn’t start the countdown until 30% is left.  Which, even towing is good for well over 1,000 miles before the EPA mandated “speed limitation” starts.  From the 30% number it will count down in percentage and also, from time to time give you an estimate of the miles left.  Above 30% it will just indicated “OK.” 

FWIW, this DEF thing in my 2012 has been a total non-event.  I put DEF in when the “percent” countdown begins and have been using the after-market DEF fluid which complies with the standard.  No issues whatsoever.  I recommend not carrying DEF with you for months.  It does have a life span which is reduced based on temperature. The colder the longer it lasts.  It is readily available now – even at Wal-Mart – whom I notice puts a date on the container when it was shipped to the store.  So pick the latest date.  This date thing is only true, at least from my experience, at Wal-Mart.  There is a code to determine when the fluid was produced but so far I haven’t found the info to decipher that manufactured date.

Regardless, enjoy the truck.  Mine just works and I am still, after 20,000 miles, impressed with the torque and Allison / Turbo Brake implementation.

Bill

KellyVA wrote:

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What exactly is DEF fluid?

Thanks much...

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DEF fluid is Diesel Exhaust Fluid which is required now in all on-road, and some off-road, diesel engines; including semis, etc.  It basically gets rid of more pollution and is now required for all new trucks, even Dodge, to meet the EPA emission rules.  It is injected in the exhaust stream.  Basically it is 2/3 water and 1/3 industrial cow urine – sometimes referred to as urea.  No, I am not kidding.  Look it up.

You truck will never need it due to its age.  Ford and Chevy started using it in 2011 and Dodge is now using it since that the EPA no longer accepted them just paying a fine, as I understand it, during the last 2 odd years or so.  Also once Dodge went up in horse power they couldn’t meet the new EPA standards without it.  (Again, simple version)

You will see DEF pumps at trucks stops for the semis.  But for pickups you can purchase it in 1 and 2-1/2 gallon containers in many auto stores, including Wal-Mart or naturally dealers sell it for about twice the truck stop 2-1/2 gallon price.

Per EPA rules, if you run out of DEF, the truck will slow to a crawl.  A bit more to this requirement, but that’s the short version.  There are warning systems to “fill it up” in all trucks way before you get to that “limp mode.”

Hope that helps.

Bill

Mark Serley wrote:

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Bill, where is your aux gas tank? in the bed or did it come already attached or ordered? i've thought about doing it with the aux tank in the bed with the pump system directly hooked up, but i don't really want all that extra baggage in my bed, just a little anal i guess! just wondering, thanks mark

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My tank is in the bed. For this truck there is no factory up-grade option in most cases for the trucks we purchase.  This is the second in-bed tank I’ve done and there are no issues with it.  Not clear on why this would be a problem for you.  However, there is another option, less bang for the buck, but still an option.

Transfer Flow makes a replacement for the OEM tank giving you 61 total gallons.  But you basically pay $1,155 for 25 more odd gallons, plus installation.  But it is not in the bed; and it is legal in 50 states.  Not all tanks are legal even though big name stores sell them.

http://www.transferflow.com/shop/product/0800115319?p=1&c=10&s=p-

I have an ATA in-bed tank in my 2012 because the Transfer Flow wouldn’t fit in the RV-Hauler up-fit.  It has worked without issue as well.  But I had a 50 gallon Transfer Flow in my 2006 3500DRW and it performed perfectly for 6 years. This would be my choice for your 2011 truck.  It is a very clean installation and with the Trax II system is totally automatic.  ATA is a bit less expensive so that is an in-bed option as well.

If you want more info or I can be of further help, please feel free to PM me.

Bill

Mark Serley wrote:

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bill, i have a tool box i like to carry our golf clubs in and also don't want any overspill of diesel in my bed . just wondering how big your factory tank holds, mine is 32 gal. i get around 11.5 pulling our mountaineer, total weight around 11,600 lbs. talked to a '07 owner this weekend in boloxi and he has chip but still doesn't get as good as mileage,how about you. of course i'll never forget while i was a learning mechanic repairs and pumping gas, i asked a guy with a motor home what his mileage was and he said " i don't know,if you have to worry about gas mileage, you shouldn't own one!" KellyVA, DEF is diesel emmision fluid, that i believe is required usage on all diesel engines built after '09 or '10. my tail pipe is virtually factory clean, after almost 27,000 miles, primarily pulling our 5er. mark

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My OEM tank is 36 gallons.  Now, about this MPG thing: “How big a fish did you catch?”

Anyway, on our trip from NC down to Florida last month we got 11.4 going down and, believe it or not, 12 coming back.  I averaged, according the GPS, 59MPH.  That’s what the truck computer said FWIW.  The trailer is a big 5'er so it is much heavier than your trailer.  But frontal area costs you more than just pure weight as to MPG in most cases.  Now in the mountains or with a 20 MPH headwind, it will go down into the 10 range, or less, “depending.”  But I've been pretty pleased with the towing MPG considering what's being moved.