Towing and fuel economy

#1

OK, just got back from Roebling Road and had a great time.

I have a quick survey as to what your using to pull, what your pulling and how the mileage is.

Here’s what got me here. I have a 1999 Chevy Suburban 2500 and a 28’ enclosed trailer pulling one E30. The Chevy has a 7.3 (I think) V-8 and a 4.10 rear end.

Between I-95 and I-77 intersection and just north of Columbia I was pushing hard (Between 70 and 80 mph and a high average). I stopped for gas north of Columbia and was shaken to find I got 6.6 miles to the gallon. I filled up and took it easy all the way into Winston Salem and my avergae went up to 7.6 miles to the gallon.

The question is, can I get much better? Would a diesel help or would the cost of diesel just make it different but the same?

Jeff

#2

My f250 diesel 7.3 towing my open steel trailer and e30 get about 14-15 mpgs towing 75-80 mphs.

#3

Jeff - We have a 2007 Chevy Suburban 2500, 6 liter engine, 3.73 rear end. We have a 32 foot aluminum trailer, pull 2 cars, total weight about 7500# loaded. We got about 10 miles/gal average on our 12 hour pull to Mid-Ohio. My brother in law has a 2005 Chevy 2500 CrewCab Duramax Diesel. Towing lower weights he reports between 15-18 mpg.
Ed

#4

Jeff Hall wrote:

[quote]

Here’s what got me here. I have a 1999 Chevy Suburban 2500 and a 28’ enclosed trailer pulling one E30. The Chevy has a 7.3 (I think) V-8 and a 4.10 rear end.

Jeff[/quote]That 4.10 rear end is not helping you one bit.

Incidentally, the size of your motor should be in metric on the factory sticker (in small print) on the air cleaner housing.

#5

I just got back from RRR as well and it was interesting to see that the fuel economy going to Roebling South on I95 was better then coming home by 2.5 mpg. On the trip down there was a nice tail wind and coming home it was a stiff head wind. For comparison I have a 2007 Tundra with the 5.7L and I got 12.9 on the trip down and 10.5 on the trip home. I tow an open 16ft. steel trailer with tire rack tools and car comes in around 5200#.

Mike Skeen and followed each other down and he got around 8mpg in his Suburban. I’d be curious what he got on the trip home. BTW, congratulations to Mike for sweeping the weekend with wins in all 3 races, but we can save that for another thread.

#6

Ken Neuhoff wrote:

[quote]I just got back from RRR as well and it was interesting to see that the fuel economy going to Roebling South on I95 was better then coming home by 2.5 mpg. On the trip down there was a nice tail wind and coming home it was a stiff head wind. For comparison I have a 2007 Tundra with the 5.7L and I got 12.9 on the trip down and 10.5 on the trip home. I tow an open 16ft. steel trailer with tire rack tools and car comes in around 5200#.

Mike Skeen and followed each other down and he got around 8mpg in his Suburban. I’d be curious what he got on the trip home. BTW, congratulations to Mike for sweeping the weekend with wins in all 3 races, but we can save that for another thread.[/quote]

Damion held me back in the IFU. Didn’t check mpg on the way home–it’s too depressing.

#7

Oops, my bad. Sorry Damion, I didn’t mean to take the win away from you. I didn’t check the race results because my finish was so bad.

#8

GMC 2500 6 liter gas 3.73 diff sorry rearend ( 'merican iron), 18ft open steel trailer, one e30, and the usual spares.

w/o trailer 11 mpg, w/ trailer 11 mpg, hwy 11.8 mpg, city 11.2 mpg

For some reason it is stuck on its 11 mpg. I guess it could be worse.

#9

Thanks all! I am feeling like it’s the combination of three factors: 1) 4.10 rear end, 2) size of trailer, 3) Gas vs. Diesel!

Any and all input is helpful and requested!

#10

Ken Neuhoff wrote:

[quote]I just got back from RRR as well and it was interesting to see that the fuel economy going to Roebling South on I95 was better then coming home by 2.5 mpg. On the trip down there was a nice tail wind and coming home it was a stiff head wind. For comparison I have a 2007 Tundra with the 5.7L and I got 12.9 on the trip down and 10.5 on the trip home. I tow an open 16ft. steel trailer with tire rack tools and car comes in around 5200#.

Mike Skeen and followed each other down and he got around 8mpg in his Suburban. I’d be curious what he got on the trip home. BTW, congratulations to Mike for sweeping the weekend with wins in all 3 races, but we can save that for another thread.[/quote]

Ken, that is easy! Look at the map, you were going downhill! Didn’t you know your mileage is always better going downhill? (Geez, you race car guys???)

#11

2004 Chevy Z-71 Suburban with an open steel 18" trailer I get arout 11-14mpg.

14 is the best mgp I’ve gotten this year. And that was to CMP. It’s a flat tow (no hills).

#12

2006 Duramax 6speed auto, crew, short bed, 24ft enclosed trailer, about 8000lbs full loaded (trailer, car, spares, etc), I get about 12-15mpg towing.
To compare, the truck will get about 20-22mpg on the highway unloaded and 16 around town unloaded.
The fuel mileage is much better than what I used to get from my 2001 Ford F-250 crew, short, diesel, auto.
thanks,
jon

#13

Scott McMennamy wrote:

[quote]2004 Chevy Z-71 Suburban with an open steel 18" trailer I get arout 11-14mpg.

14 is the best mgp I’ve gotten this year. And that was to CMP. It’s a flat tow (no hills).[/quote]

Doggone, I’d love to get 11 to 14. I’m wondering if it’s the 4.10 or the trailer size?

#14

Both.

I’m getting about 11 to 14 MPG in my 04’ F150 SuperCrew.

5.4L w/3.73LSD Open trailer etc. . .

#15

07 F350 crew dually diesel w/ 4.10. ~15k# loaded, 2 car enclosed gooseneck. ~12mpg.

#16

Remember that fuel economy is all about how fast you are going. The diesel trucks are highly efficient when you set the cruise at 65mph, but try to tow an enclosed unit at 75mph and the economy falls off drastically.

#17

Jon McAvoy wrote:

Is that so? I figured it made some diff, but does it drop 25%? What about the hills, does the torgue of the diesel make it pull the hills better at 65?

BTW, it’s clear I’ve never had a diesel.

#18

Jeep Grand Cherokee, pulling an 18’ open steel trailer - anywhere from 5mpg to 11mpg…totally underpowered. And I thougt the transmission was gonna fall out of the poor thing on the tow back from CMP, to DC. But I was "lucky" to get T-boned last month, totalling the jeep. I’ll be shopping for something diesel next year.
-Vic

#19

Victor Hall wrote:

[quote]Jeep Grand Cherokee, pulling an 18’ open steel trailer - anywhere from 5mpg to 11mpg…totally underpowered. And I thougt the transmission was gonna fall out of the poor thing on the tow back from CMP, to DC. But I was "lucky" to get T-boned last month, totalling the jeep. I’ll be shopping for something diesel next year.
-Vic[/quote]

Could you have any more bad luck regarding other people totalling your cars this year???

Glad to hear that you are ok. Diesel time is so much fun, beware the tuning bug.

Jon

#20

Jeff Hall wrote:

[quote]Jon McAvoy wrote:

Is that so? I figured it made some diff, but does it drop 25%? What about the hills, does the torgue of the diesel make it pull the hills better at 65?

BTW, it’s clear I’ve never had a diesel.[/quote]

Diesel is all torque, it is heaven when towing, or even driving around town to be honest.
Towing up hills is a non-event when you have a good diesel and tranny to work with. The 2001 Ford I had even with 500lb-ft was not always ideal for hills (enclosed trailer we are talking about) because of the 4-speed tranny. Since buying the 2006 GMC, I think I have become a freaking GM salesman I love it so much. It has 650lb-ft from the factory and a 6-speed transmission that is truly a delight to use. The best part about it though is that it is really really quiet so after a long haul, you are not tired and do not have a headache like the old Ford would give me.

Anyway, if you have the chance ($$$), you are serious about racing, and a pick-up will fit into your lifestyle in place of that large SUV, I cannot recommend it (being going to a diesel motor) enough.