A question came up recently regarding gas mileage. As prices rise, I think this is an item of interest to us all; particularly those who are contemplating buying a new tow vehicle.
I think it would be of interest if we posted what our tow vehicle is: Year, make and model; it's engine size; fuel; transmission (if there's an option); whether it's 2WD or 4WD; the rear-end gear ratio; and the approximate weight of the towed load. Then, if you have it, the average highway mileage you get, your average combined city/highway mileage, and your average mileage towing.
Hopefully this will give us a pretty good picture, real-world, of what to expect from the various engine/tranmission/rear-end/towed weight combinations. The caveat here, of course, is that YOUR mileage may vary!
Roger
My 2000 Ford Excursion V10 gas, 4spd auto, 4x4, 3.73 gets 16.5 mpg+ freeway with five passengers and luggage; 13.5 mpg combined city/highway; and a solid 10.5 mpg towing the 34' tri-axle at approximately 8500 lbs.
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AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ towed by a 2001 Born Free 23RK moho
2001 Ford F-250 7.3L diesel crew cab long bed 4x4 with fiberglass top:
- 19-21 highway not towing
- 12-14 city not towing
- 15-16 towing 24' Tradewind (approx. 3800 lbs loaded) + 2 adults and 3 large dogs
- 14-15 towing 31' Sovereign (approx. 6000 lbs loaded) + 2 adults and 3 large dogs
In 50K miles, much of it towing, our overall average mileage has been 15.9 according to the on-board computer.
We love our truck, but I know my father's Duramax got much better mileage not towing (though it was an extended cab shortbed and much smaller) and similar mileage towing. However, we'd sure like to try the new 6.0 Powerstroke...
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Ben & Molly (but Ben never types, so it's always Molly )
2003 Honda Pilot LX
240 hp V6, gas
AWD (FWD most of the time)
20-22 not towing
10-12 mpg towing 17' Caravel (2800 lbs loaded) + 2 adults & 1 child, at 60 MPH
9-10 mpg towing same load at 65 MPH
We bought the Pilot because we needed a roomy car that we could live with as a daily driver. So good non-towing gas mileage was a higher consideration than towing mileage.
I think what I'm seeing here is that:
(a) diesels have a huge advantage in mileage -- no surprise
(b) the length and weight of the trailer have a relatively low impact on mileage except in mountains. Aerodynamic drag is the bigger factor and that's primarily determined by the trailer's frontal area and in Airstreams they're all pretty similar.
2002 Dodge Dually Cummins Diesel.
10,000 miles not even broken in yet
4x4 4:10 gears Auto trans.
best highway milage not towing 15
best towing milage 13
worst towing milage 9.8
currently towing 30 foot classic slide out.
was towing 25 foot safari and worst milage was with it.
pulls 30 foot like it's no heavier than safari, that and longevity are the diesel advantages, I think diesels don't really get better mpg than any gas engine.
Had 2001 dodge 2500 3:54 gears 2wd
best towing safari 14
best not towing 17
I do tend to drive with a heavy right foot
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2004 30ft Slide Out with Hensley Arrow hitch. Pulled By 2002 Dodge Diesel 4x4 Dually
The 6.0 litre is powerful and smooth. My only regret is I should have waited until this engine had been in production for 6 months or 1 year. I believe all my issues have been resolved, injector revision & eprom updates, just hate being the guinna-pig.
I have never owned a diesel except for a 81 Buick Rivera and that won't count! I don't know how it compairs to the 7.3 Power Stroke. Most owners, I've met, consistantly remarks how quick, quiet, smooth and efficient the 6.0 litre is. I've noticed that most owners of the 7.3 generally add chips, blower and other performance parts. The only item I would consider would be a Banks exhaust but really, I am satisfied with the stock set-up. I just turned 20k miles and it continues to get better mileage both by itself or towing.
I have only made one 700 mile road trip solo at 8000 miles, 18 mpg. (now that it has a few miles, I'd expect to see a solid 19-20.
Towing lately has been 11-14, a bit less in high winds or slight assending long grades. We tow a tri-axle 1999 34' Classic Limited @ 10,000 lbs.
It is a great tow vehicle and look forward to many miles of satisfaction.
Tow vehicle:
2000 Ford E350 V-10
3.73 limited slip rear end
4-speed auto tranny
Non-towing highway mileage: 12.5 at indicated 75 mph
Towing highway mileage: 9-11 at indicated 62 mph
City mileage: 10
My next tow vehicle will have a diesel engine. I bought a 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D six months ago to use as my daily driver. It gets 24 mpg at 75 mph. Haven't tried towing with it.
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"He's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith/Spread your wings and hold your breath/And always trust your cape" Guy Clark
My 1995 Dodge Dakota
5.2 Liter (318)
518 Automatic transmission
Extended cab, 2wd
3.70 rear
14 MPG empty, freeway
9 MPG towing, freeway, my Argosy, 3700 pounds
11 MPG empty, city
This thing weighs almost the same as the full-size trucks, if I was doing it over, I would get a full-size pickup, and have more of a reason to get the poor mileage.
Terry
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Terry Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
AIR#2611
mileage solo on highway: Just under 15 mpg at 65 mph and have gone over 15 barely twice. At 70 mph mileage runs around 14.65 give or take .2 mpg.
mileage towing: 9.6-12.5 mpg depending on whether I run 70 or 64, hills or flat interstate.
__________________ Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
2002 Ford F-250 7.3L PSD/auto/4WD super cab long bed with soft tonneau cover:
20 mpg highway not towing
14 mpg commuting on city streets
17 mpg mixed
Haven't done a long enough haul with the 34 Limited to use enough of the 38 gallon tank for an accurate measure, but it looks like it's going to be about 12 mpg.
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