OK back from the trip. My final observations are that there is plenty of power just delivered a bit differently than a 3.92. I was mostly above 65 running 72 mph for maybe 150 miles of the trip of the trip. I tended toward upper 60's on cruise on the flat most of the way back as I wasn't in as much of a hurry. I am not sure how much that impacted gas mileage, but I got 8 mpg for the whole trip including about 70 miles without the trailer. 8.2 mpg. Any mileage advantages of the 3.21 do not really exist when towing...at least for me. It was in the same ballpark as the 3.92 rear end and maybe a bit worse by a few 10ths... I ran 90/91 octane.
I was going from Helena Montana to Spokane WA about 310 towing miles one way, so 620 both ways and maybe 100 not towing. Fortunately it was downhill both ways.... Not really but there are two passes on the trip and the trailer did fine at around 60. My temps were all good but the oil was hitting 260 on the ups on the passes and around 225/230 the rest of the time. It does provide good engine braking going down in tow haul. So, hauling a 27 foot 3 inch travel trailer dry weight of 5700 lbs, around 6700 loaded in the mountains works just fine and I am feeling better about my purchase. The 2021 is a much better ride than the 2015 Outdoorsman, very quiet. I prefer KO2's for towing but you can get buy with the 20 inch Falken AT3 A's that come on the truck. I think it is preference. After towing thousands of miles on the KO2's, you get used to a certain feel and I like the hard sidewalls. The soft sidewalls on those vs the KO2's is noticable as a sort of "wallowing" effect. It adds a split second secondary action in wind, as in gust, wallow, catch by the truck and bite vs the KO2's that are just hard as a rock and don't give (wallow). It is a very smooth ride though and I'm thinking the Falkens are part of that vs KO2's that are a hard ride. The 2021 is quieter inside than the 2015, just a more comfortable ride although to be honest, the 2015 is still a nice tow with the difference being the 2015 is just a bit more "truck" like. I use a Fastway E2 hitch with a 10,000 lb weight and 1000 lb bars. It does a great job and we did have a few 30/40 mile gusts and some wind and rain on the way back. It is much better in the rain no feeling of lack of control. I'm not sure if tires are in play regarding this feeling. I bought air bags but tried it without them and it really doess't need them with a well set up WDH. I have the lane assist and tried it. On mountain interstate roads where they drop speed to 55 and 45 mph, the lane keeper isn't that great, turn it off. On long straightaways It does have a purpose but you have to find just the right setting or it is obnoxious. The 2021 keeps "center" better than the 2015 that tended to keep you on your toes as it seemed to "wander" a bit. Tires may be in play there, I am not sure.
I was going from Helena Montana to Spokane WA about 310 towing miles one way, so 620 both ways and maybe 100 not towing. Fortunately it was downhill both ways.... Not really but there are two passes on the trip and the trailer did fine at around 60. My temps were all good but the oil was hitting 260 on the ups on the passes and around 225/230 the rest of the time. It does provide good engine braking going down in tow haul. So, hauling a 27 foot 3 inch travel trailer dry weight of 5700 lbs, around 6700 loaded in the mountains works just fine and I am feeling better about my purchase. The 2021 is a much better ride than the 2015 Outdoorsman, very quiet. I prefer KO2's for towing but you can get buy with the 20 inch Falken AT3 A's that come on the truck. I think it is preference. After towing thousands of miles on the KO2's, you get used to a certain feel and I like the hard sidewalls. The soft sidewalls on those vs the KO2's is noticable as a sort of "wallowing" effect. It adds a split second secondary action in wind, as in gust, wallow, catch by the truck and bite vs the KO2's that are just hard as a rock and don't give (wallow). It is a very smooth ride though and I'm thinking the Falkens are part of that vs KO2's that are a hard ride. The 2021 is quieter inside than the 2015, just a more comfortable ride although to be honest, the 2015 is still a nice tow with the difference being the 2015 is just a bit more "truck" like. I use a Fastway E2 hitch with a 10,000 lb weight and 1000 lb bars. It does a great job and we did have a few 30/40 mile gusts and some wind and rain on the way back. It is much better in the rain no feeling of lack of control. I'm not sure if tires are in play regarding this feeling. I bought air bags but tried it without them and it really doess't need them with a well set up WDH. I have the lane assist and tried it. On mountain interstate roads where they drop speed to 55 and 45 mph, the lane keeper isn't that great, turn it off. On long straightaways It does have a purpose but you have to find just the right setting or it is obnoxious. The 2021 keeps "center" better than the 2015 that tended to keep you on your toes as it seemed to "wander" a bit. Tires may be in play there, I am not sure.
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