First tow w/ 2025 Lariat

[capetomb]

I finally got a chance to take my teardrop camper out this weekend for a first real towing test of the 2025 Lariat 2.7 I bought in November. It was about 140 miles each way, over an even split of New England highway and back roads. Rolling hills much of the way but no significant climbs. My camper is light (I think 1100 lbs dry) but I had the water tank full and some weight in the bed. I averaged 15.4 mpg for the full 280 mile round trip. I kept the truck in tow mode for the full experience and was really pleased with how it drove. It had plenty of power whenever I needed it, and I always felt like I was in the right gear with the tow mode. Nothing worse than a truck that always seems to be in the wrong gear. The mpg doesn’t blow me away or anything, but I drive pretty heavy footed on the highway, which doesn’t help. 87 octane. Headed to Oklahoma next month (from Cape Cod), so I’m now feeling more comfortable going into that trip. Now if I can just manage to fit all my crap into that tiny bed…

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[B1rdflu]

Nice! Thanks for the report, I'm considering a similar trip this summer with a small trailer so the info is great. I towed a small snowcat (also about 1,000 lbs w/trailer) last fall and it did great. That was with a significant hill up to and down from a cabin too. Love your color too, it was a toss up for me and I ended up with Marsh Grey : )

 

[capetomb]

Nice! Thanks for the report, I'm considering a similar trip this summer with a small trailer so the info is great. I towed a small snowcat (also about 1,000 lbs w/trailer) last fall and it did great. That was with a significant hill up to and down from a cabin too. Love your color too, it was a toss up for me and I ended up with Marsh Grey : )

Glad the report is helpful! I found myself wondering what others’ experiences had been, so wanted to share mine. Marsh Grey is a great color! There are so many good colors with these 6Gs.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

Love the small NuCamp.

We have the T@B 400 and I try to keep it right around 68 mph and average around 11.4-12.2mpgs. Weight is around 3500lbs loaded and the 2.3L still has no issues towing it, even through the steep grades in Tennessee.

If I could make the choice again, I'd rather have chosen the smaller model like you have. The bigger model sure is nice, but adds way more crap that can go wrong. Plus it's a much bigger hit to the mpgs on our truck that already has a pretty small gas tank.

 

[capetomb]

Love the small NuCamp.

We have the T@B 400 and I try to keep it right around 68 mph and average around 11.4-12.2mpgs. Weight is around 3500lbs loaded and the 2.3L still has no issues towing it, even through the steep grades in Tennessee.

If I could make the choice again, I'd rather have chosen the smaller model like you have. The bigger model sure is nice, but adds way more crap that can go wrong. Plus it's a much bigger hit to the mpgs on our truck that already has a pretty small gas tank.

I really like those 400s and love the new 360s. But I can appreciate the “more crap that can go wrong” sentiment. Every time I dream of getting a T@B, I read some Alde stories, or hear about water leaks in the shower, etc. and it makes me really appreciate my very simple T@G. Plus it was $13K brand new when I bought it in 2019. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth.

That 2.3L impresses me more and more with each report I read about it. I couldn’t help myself in getting the 2.7L but sounds like it really wasn’t necessary.

 

[jomacmusic]

great setup! I’ll have to check ‘em out.
When I pinched zoomed on the pic at the beach I swear I could smell the ocean, many fond memories on the Cape when I was growing up in the 70’s.
BTW, did your Ranger come with that “step” built into the bed? Mine is a ‘25, same color, no step. Enjoy!

 

[capetomb]

great setup! I’ll have to check ‘em out.
When I pinched zoomed on the pic at the beach I swear I could smell the ocean, many fond memories on the Cape when I was growing up in the 70’s.
BTW, did your Ranger come with that “step” built into the bed? Mine is a ‘25, same color, no step. Enjoy!

NuCamp makes some really slick rigs. They’re pricey (like everything these days) but really high quality. Built (and I think owned?) by Amish. I might have that wrong. I love mine.

The cape is a magical place! It’s changed a lot since the 70s but still a great place to live or visit. That pic is from Old Silver Beach in Falmouth, just a few miles from me.

Yep, the bed step was a factory option. I’m on the shorter side, so I really wanted that step. I’ve seen some posts (I think on here) where someone has added it after the fact, but I think I remember it being a little tricky and a lot expensive to piecemeal the parts together.

 

[capetomb]

Incidentally, I’m headed to Oklahoma in a few weeks, with the truck and trailer. Hope you all made out okay with the storms. And for my sake, I hope there aren’t anymore for a bit!

 

[superj]

We could use more rain south of san antonio. Our water reservior is at 7% and they want to limit houses to 5200 gallons a month or you get a 500 dollar fine

Most houses use 9-11k gallons a month

 

[jomacmusic]

Incidentally, I’m headed to Oklahoma in a few weeks, with the truck and trailer. Hope you all made out okay with the storms. And for my sake, I hope there aren’t anymore for a bit!

The town of Enid was flattened recently by a tornado, a lot of unsettled weather but should taper off mid May. I think you’ll be ok.

 

[jomacmusic]

We could uae more rain south of san antonio. Our water reservoor is at 7% and they wsnt to limit houses to 5200 gallons a month or you get a 500 dollar fine

Most houses use 9-11k gallons a month

Wow, 5200 gallons a month is dang near camping rules. Hope you get a dousing!

 

[superj]

Wow, 5200 gallons a month is dang near camping rules. Hope you get a dousing!

Me too. Its about to get rough at the house. We already can't water grass or wash cars and now they basically want you to only shower every 3 days and rewear clothes

 

[jomacmusic]

Me too. Its about to get rough at the house. We already can't water grass or wash cars and now they basically want you to only shower every 3 days and rewear clothes

yikes, hope things change for you soon!

 

[purdyd]

We could use more rain south of san antonio. Our water reservior is at 7% and they want to limit houses to 5200 gallons a month or you get a 500 dollar fine

Most houses use 9-11k gallons a month

I had no idea. I hope it rains.

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/0... champion of business,hopes to revive in June.

"If Corpus Christi becomes the first modern American city to run out of water, it would take most surrounding communities with it. Up the coast of Corpus Christi Bay, the cities of Ingleside and Aransas Pass, with a combined 19,000 residents, issued disaster declarations on April 22."

 

[Black Shadow]

I really like those 400s and love the new 360s. But I can appreciate the “more crap that can go wrong” sentiment. Every time I dream of getting a T@B, I read some Alde stories, or hear about water leaks in the shower, etc. and it makes me really appreciate my very simple T@G. Plus it was $13K brand new when I bought it in 2019. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth.

That 2.3L impresses me more and more with each report I read about it. I couldn’t help myself in getting the 2.7L but sounds like it really wasn’t necessary.

I’m second guessing getting the 2.7L was th these gas prices. $5gal for premium 🫣

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