Poll: FUEL CONSUMPTION

[brunoffrance]

Hi;
before buying an american pick up to tow my A/S in FRANCE, I'd like to know your fuel consumption when you're towing, in classic road conditions and gotten by this way, the real consumptions , certainly different from the car-dealers say.
[list=1][*] 8 mpg or less / 29, 4 liters for 100 km[*] 9 mpg / 26, 14 l for 100km[*] 10 mpg / 23, 52 l for 100km[*] 11 mpg / 21,38 l for 100km[*] 12 mpg / 19,6 l for 100 km[*] 13 mpg / 18,09 l for 100km[*] 14 mpg / 16,8 l for 100km[*] 15 mpg / 15,29 l for 100km[*] 16 mpg / 14,70 l for 100km[*] 18 mpg and more / 13,07 l and less for 100 km[/list=1]

[Silvertwinkie]

Bonjour et salutations brunoffrance,

I can say with a 350 (in a car body), I get about 10mpg towing which I think is about 16 kilometers per 3.79 liters. The 350 is similar to what is found in the Chevy line of pickups pre 2000.

We also had an '85 454 engine in a Chevy Suburban and that got about 9-10mpg or about 15-16 kilometers per 3.79 liters (sorry, math was not one of my strong points, and as you can see conversions might not be very good).

Any way you look at it, the km you get won't be very impressive.

Respect,

Eric

BTW, in the 350, I am pulling an '03 Bambi with the 454 we were pulling a 24ft Jayco.

[qqq]

Hi Bruno !

Unless you use LPG , I would go with a diesel engine.
I had a 6.2 Chevrolet Diesel (95) and got 15liters/100.
Now I have a 5.3 gasser Chevy & get 18/20l/100

[davthr]

With a 2003 Dodge 1 ton turbo diesel pulling a 1994 34' Exella 1000 I get a consistent 13 mpg in the Texas hill countryat speeds between 65-70 mph
without the trailer I get 20-21 mpg.

[overlander64]

Given all of the negative press that the 7400 VORTEC in C/K 2500 series GM vehicles received for fuel efficiency, I have been very well satisfied with mine. My truck was special ordered in January of 1998 and delivered in April of 1998 (K2500 Suburban, 4.10 differentials, heavy duty trailering package). In more than 103,000 miles (just returned from a 400 mile jaunt this weekend) the truck returns a consistent 15 MPG solo, and a consistent 12 MPG towing my '64 Overlander (6,000 pounds loaded for vacation). I will admit to being a very conservative driver - - solo, I set my cruise at no more than the posted maximum; or more usually 3 MPH below the posted maximum (I stay in the right lane) - - when towing, I maintain 55 MPH for my preferred maximum speed which allows me to utilize overdrive for at least 60% of my towing.

The only modification the truck has had is a special "dyno-tuning" to reflect the fact that I always use premium fuel and oils.

Kevin

[Pick]

I have posted my fuel mileage of 9.5-10.5 miles per gallon when towing my Airstream, and as high as 14.8 miles per gallon solo. I went on a trip to Michigan with my friend that bought my old truck which was identical to this truck, except it was a 350 with 3.73 gears. We got 15.3 miles per gallon, solo. Not much of a difference in my opinion.

On a different note, I cruised through the local GMC dealer lot this afternoon. I had taken a test drive in a new GMC 3500 Extended cab dually, with Dmax/Allison. That truck is still there, 30 days later, as are ALL of the Dmax pickup trucks they had on the lot at the time. Nothing seems to be moving now.

[dmac]

14 mpg towing on flat roads at 55 mph, 11 mpg through big hills of norther GA and southeastern TN, 12-13 at 60-65 mph in gentle hills most everywhere else. All with a 2002 Ford Explorer V8 pulling a 25' Safari.

[bhsl8]

Bon Jour Bruno. We have a 2001 Ford Excursion which averages around 10 mpg driving at 65-70 mph while pulling our 31' 7750 lb Sovereign.That has so far been on mostly flat or gently rolling landscape. No mountain twisties yet. Without the trailer we have had 14 mpg on the road.

Brouck

[brunoffrance]

Hi everyone:

I need more informations on your fuel consumption when you 're towing your A/S.
Just vote on the poll if you want ; If you want to tell me more on your vehicle, you can but don't forget to vote.

Thank you one more time, you're great.

Bruno.

[Silvertwinkie]

Bruno,

By the looks of your photo, I think you know well what we are getting here.

Eric

[ipso_facto]

Anywhere from 8 to 10, usually 9MPG. The key is to keep the RPMs low.

I expect some marginal improvement after installing Gear Vendors Overdrive.

[brunoffrance]

more replies please for the statistics on the poll; 26 is not enough to have the real consumtions when you're towing;

Thank you by advance.

Bruno.

[garry]

31 ft. Sovereign 1971

1996 GMC 1500 149,000 miles, purchased new

3:24 Rear end

Last trip 503 miles, mostly on interstate 65 mph or less.

best tank 12.4 mpg
worst tank 11.2

had a slight tail wind all the way.

If you are thinking about buying the two most important things.
(for me)

Size of engine
rear end ratio

every thing else revolves around comfort and price.

rear end on tow truck should be 3:73 or lower. I bought my truck before the AS and pulled a boat that wasn't that heavy.




Garry

[Silvertwinkie]

Garry,

I see you have a '96 5.7. Do you have overdrive and do you use it above when the torque converter is locked up? I did my first 150 mile tow a few months ago when I picked up the trailer. I kept it in regular "D" which is 3rd I think. My MPG was about 10mpg. I was thinking since my torque converter on my car locks between 1400 and 1600 RPM depending on engine torque output I might keep the car in overdrive "D" while over the lock RPM (1800-1900 RPM just to be safe). I think this will not only keep the trans happy, but also improve the MPG. From what I am seeing on the auto forums, as long as the torque converter is locked, it's ok to use overdrive, but you have to keep an eye on it because if you tow and the converter is not locked, damage to the trans can happen.

Eric

[garry]

I stay in OD unless on a long incline.
There is much controversy on this issue but my truck just seems to do better and run just a tad cooler in OD.
I did blow a transmision by driving to fast in OD with a 30/ 40 MPH head wind pulling a duel axel trailer. I didn't notice the temp creeping up till it was to late. The trailer was a covered utility with a sq. front.

Garry

[Silvertwinkie]

Today, I just installed a air dam to channel directly through the trans cooler. Built it myself out of roofing alum ice dam material. GM on the B-Body cars has it tucked behind the bumper so there was little to no direct shot for air to hit it.

I've noticed a drop in temp. Before I could not keep my hand on the trans cooler pipe. Now, I can hold on tight, but I do notice that when in park, not moving, engine running, that I can start to feel it heat up.

For less than $5 worth of material and an hour, looks like I found a worthwhile mod. I'll be testing it further this week.

Regards,

Eric

[brunoffrance]

is really your consumptions soo low with your great trucks towing heavy A/S ???

I'm really surprised;

My small 2 liters FORD 115 cv need 15mpg ...
I 'm afraid when I'll tow my 27' this summer... how many fuel liters ...
Is a fordE150a good choice for me ???

Thank you one more time.


Brunoffrance

[jcanavera]

Bruno,

My mileage is 10 mpg while towing in third gear. I'm pulling with a '99 Chevy passenger van with the 5.7 liter V8. According to the manual I cannot use overdrive when towing. My Safari with food and clothes comes in about 6,000 lbs.

Jack

[TBKP's Overlander]

My 2003 Ram 1500 with 4.7 gets 9-11 mpg. 12-16 not towing. Could get 18 if I wasn't in a hurry. Maybe someday.

[trumpwer]

Our 1979 GMC 3/4 ton has a 454 with a 3/4 cam. It gets 7 mpg empty, 7 with pu camper, add a 14 foot trailer, its 7. With our AS, its 7. We are effected by head winds, but out here, a 30-40 mile per hour headwind is not unusual, so that you would expect to effect a high profile vehicle.