Real World MPG -- Avalanche & Bambi

[grizzy]

We just got back from a 4032 mile trip, driving through the mountains of Colorado and across the Midwest plains during the last two weeks of Sept and the first two weeks of Oct. Pulling our 01 19' Bambi with an 02 Chevy Avalanche, 5.3L we averaged 11.5 mpg across the entire 4032 miles. The average cost of regular unleaded was $2.87/gal and the fuel-only cost per mile was $0.25 -- ouch! However the trip was great and once again we are convinced its the only to travel.

[jcanavera]

It's interesting to note that smaller gas engines don't always deliver the mileage you expect when towing. Especially when you have to gear down. I used to tow a 4,800 lb. 28' SOB with a V6 premium gas Chevy Astro. It had a 4.10 axle and I towed in 3rd gear. I averaged 10 mpg towing.

Fast forward to a 1/2 ton full size Chevy van, 5.7 liter V8, 3.73 rear axle. I towed a 27' Airstream Safari 6,000 lbs. Towing again in 3rd gear I averaged 10 mpg.

Now to current. A 3/4 ton GMC van, 6.0 liter V8 4.10 rear axle. Towing a 30' Airstream Classic slideout, 8,600 lbs. Transmission allows towing in O.D. I average 10 mpg.

Jack

[Silvertwinkie]

Thats pretty interesting. Is it a new truck? I towed our '04 25' Safari SS on a 600 mile ride and got nearly 13.9 towing fully loaded at 55mph and still got over 12mpg (something like 12.4). Towing at the low 60mph range. I have the 6.0L w/4.10 gears. My MPG as strange as this sounds, though I am not talking towing here, just around town, my MPG has actually gone up now that the truck has 4700 miles on it. I would hope that towing had similar increases.

[59toaster]

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

Thats pretty interesting. Is it a new truck? I towed our '04 25' Safari SS on a 600 mile ride and got nearly 13.9 towing fully loaded at 55mph and still got over 12mpg (something like 12.4). Towing at the low 60mph range. I have the 6.0L w/4.10 gears. My MPG as strange as this sounds, though I am not talking towing here, just around town, my MPG has actually gone up now that the truck has 4700 miles on it. I would hope that towing had similar increases.

He is higher elevation and dealing with a lot more hills then MI. I would expect his MPG to be a little less due to his locations he traveled.


Old tank time.


1988 454 R20 Sub with 3.73 gears TH400= NO OVERDRIVE. It gets 10.5 Hwy all the time. It doesn't mater if its empty or has 5600lb of Truck on trailer behind it.......It gets 10.5. MPG verified via GPS.

The big killer on my truck is its only the second year for FI on the 454. It runs pig rich at start up. If driven for short tripping it gets down around 9.5 solely because of the start ups.

[grizzy]

The Avalanche isn't new, I bought it new in 02. It has about 55,000 miles on it. My mileage when not towing runs about 17-18 mpg. My speed was held pretty constant at 65. However, we did travel mostly back roads which had some stop & go stuff with small towns. I'm not unhappy with the mileage, but wouldn't mind if it was around 20mpg

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by grizzy

but wouldn't mind if it was around 20mpg

I hear that!

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by grizzy

The Avalanche isn't new, I bought it new in 02. It has about 55,000 miles on it. My mileage when not towing runs about 17-18 mpg. My speed was held pretty constant at 65. However, we did travel mostly back roads which had some stop & go stuff with small towns. I'm not unhappy with the mileage, but wouldn't mind if it was around 20mpg

We all worry about traveling costs going up due to fuel. IMHO fuel costs will percolate through the entire economy - we'll pay more for a hamburger because it costs more to butcher, freeze, transport and cook. Even the waiter who serves you will want more pay to be able to drive to work. Life is going to cost more generally.

Giving up Airstreaming to save money on gas could be a false economy - If you have to travel hotels are certainly going to cost more, air fare is going to go up, and eating out is NEVER an economical choice.

Cut down on eating out and use the savings to Airstream.

Just my 1.5 cents.

Paula

[Asgard]

We just returned from an 8 state 3,622-mile trip. Left the Oregon coast and headed east through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, then down to Colorado, and back through Utah, and Nevada. We averaged 12 MPG with our 04 Ford F-150, 5.3 liter V-8 towing the 03, 22’ International AS. That include going over an 11,000’ pass through the Eisenhower tunnel. Our average speed was 63 mph, I believe we could have increased mileage by slowing down to under 60 but we were under time constraints due to work – can’t wait to do this full time when we can travel at our leisure.

[jfowler218]

Just returned from a three month 13,000 mile trip from Southern CA to Alaska and back. The 04 Powerstroke got 13 mpg pulling our 04 25' Safari. Paid as much as $4.50 US for diesel in Canada. The tripwas worth every penny.

[Porky Pig]

We made 2 runs recently with the trailer hitched up to the truck all the time.

First run was from Brigham City, UT to Ventura, CA ... mileage was 11.36.

Second run was from Morro Bay, CA to Quartzsite, AZ ... mileage was 12.46.

When combined ... 11.93 MPG. Average speed 60 to 65 MPH.

Highest Diesel price: $3.18 in Hesperia, CA
Lowest: $2.71 in Quartzsite

[redeagle313]

Last month we did a 2400 mile round trip, pulling our 28' International, from the Hoosier state to Disneyworld. We had just gotten the new TV, which is equipped with the LBZ Duramax/6 Speed Allison , and it had 320 miles on when we left. We averaged 13.5 mpg for the entire trip, speed was always @ 65 mph. High of 14.2 mpg and a low of 13.0 mpg. Paid a high of $3.39 a gallon for diesel and a low of 2.89. On a subsequent 440 mile non-towing trip, I got 20.9 mpg.

[wahoonc]

Glad to see some "real" world numbers on towing....I have been told that my "new" TV gets 16-17mpg solo and 13mpg towing. I am assuming at around 60mph seeing how it has 4.10 gears in it. FWIW I was towing with a 4.6 V8 F150 solo is 18-20mpg towing was 10-12mpg that was on flat ground...didn't do hills with that rig.

Aaron

[startrekker2001]

We got home (Palm Bay, Florida) in October from our summer trip which included the International Rally in Springfield, Mo.

We spent the majority of the time in the Northeast US with a trip to the Region 1 rally in Tres Rivieres Que and the rally at Kent, CT.

We left on June 23rd and got back on Oct 2nd. We towed 5100 miles and put 9200 miles on the Excursion. We used 877 gallons of gas which cost $2015. Gas was a little "cheaper" in the east. The most we paid for gas was $3.18/gal in CT. We averaged 10.5mpg.

The USA has notoriously had cheap gas. If you go to Europe The price/gal in USD is around $6.00/gal. That's a rough figure, maybe some of our European members can enlighten us.

I remember paying $.25/gal in 1959 when the average income was about $80/wk. With adjustment for inflation, that amounts to around $3.00/gal.

Let's face it, the days of cheap gas are over. With China emerging as a big user of fuels and the amount of crude pumped every day at about the max, the supply/demand ratio will set the price. It's not going to get any better... ever.

[Oregono]

Damn, that was prophetic!

Originally Posted by startrekker2001

We got home (Palm Bay, Florida) in October from our summer trip which included the International Rally in Springfield, Mo.

We spent the majority of the time in the Northeast US with a trip to the Region 1 rally in Tres Rivieres Que and the rally at Kent, CT.

We left on June 23rd and got back on Oct 2nd. We towed 5100 miles and put 9200 miles on the Excursion. We used 877 gallons of gas which cost $2015. Gas was a little "cheaper" in the east. The most we paid for gas was $3.18/gal in CT. We averaged 10.5mpg.

The USA has notoriously had cheap gas. If you go to Europe The price/gal in USD is around $6.00/gal. That's a rough figure, maybe some of our European members can enlighten us.

I remember paying $.25/gal in 1959 when the average income was about $80/wk. With adjustment for inflation, that amounts to around $3.00/gal.

Let's face it, the days of cheap gas are over. With China emerging as a big user of fuels and the amount of crude pumped every day at about the max, the supply/demand ratio will set the price. It's not going to get any better... ever.