Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

[mimmik02420]

I recently traveled to the Keys, with the boat in tow, and was disappointed in the gas mileage.

Tow Vehicle - 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Diesel 4dr 2wd 33' BFG's
Boat - Sailfish 216 CC T-top single axle trailer approx. 3500lbs

I always tow at 62-65 mph with the tires at max psi (65) for truck and trailer. I tow a friends fifth wheel to Disney every year and it's a 12,500lb windscreen. I should be getting a little worse mileage with the fifth wheel because of the larger wind drag and weight. Hand calculated I got 12.4 mpg with the boat and 11.8 with the camper going to Disney. There is about the same amount of stop and go with each but I was expecting 15-16 since I get about 22 unloaded highway. Has anyone had a similar experience? I guess I just get a certain mpg range whenever in tow no matter what the size or shape? I do have the Edge chip, 4" exhaust, Intake, and boost valve just FYI. Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

[ghamby]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

I hate to say it, because I like to roll too, it's the speed.

 

[sasto]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

Escalade with 406 hp gas on highway, 18 mpg.... towing 5000 lbs on highway, 9 mpg, both at 65 mph. Trailering with tow package to allow quicker shift and eliminated overdrive. You seem to be within the limit for diesel, as that was beter than a friend got on same trip in Florida with simular truck.

 

[xeddog]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

I have a 1999 Ford F-250 SD standard cab with the 7.3 Powerstroke turbo Diesel and manual 6-speed trans. If I could get 22 on the highway I would be ECSTATIC!!, but even unladen I only get about 17. When Towing my boat which is a total weight of approximately 4500 lbs I get about 13 on the road.

Wayne

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

02 F250 V8
Best I ever got was 16.5 unloaded at 72 with the cruise on.
Pulling the boat @ 4300lbs at 70 is right at 8.4, checked last week.
Pulling the racecar trl @ 11,000lbs. Um, none.
Normal driving around town is 9 ish.

 

[mimmik02420]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

I rarely broke 20 mpg with the stock tires until I did the mods listed in the first post. I was getting 23-24 but the 33's kicked it down a few. What I didn't mention was that mpg is at 70 mph. I go 80-85 no problem but I'll drop to the 17 mpg range. I usually take the family on road trips and can't justify doing over 70 with the wife and kids. Working for Fire Rescue makes me a little more cautious. The turbo psi readout is a good indicator of how hard she's working to keep speed as it's 6-8 cruising but about 15psi at 85 mph.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

The bigger tires took you out of the sweet spot for RPM's. When you go faster to get back in the same RPM range, now your pushing more air and causing more drag.

For me, I drive what I want and pay the price.
I do wish I had the diesel tho.

 

[jeepnsam]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

> Tow Vehicle - 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Diesel 4dr 2wd 33' BFG's

Did you regear the rear end and add the Super Chip?
If not, I would suggest a regear and adding the super chip to put you back into your stock power range.

1 axles is way cheaper than 2

Sam

 

[mimmik02420]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

While it's nice having the diesel it's not necessary. Unlike most diesel owners I don't rant about how they are far superior to gas. My wife's yukon pulls the boat just as well as my diesel does. I will say her tranny cooler is a joke though and that's probably why we're on tranny #2. My take on it is if you tow A LOT for distance than diesel is the way to go. It's nice being on the highway and not downshifting for overpasses (hated being in the Yukon and dropping to 2nd gear at 70) but the diesel noise while under heavy load leaves something to be desired. The only reason I went diesel was for the Allison trans. I've had 4 trouble free years with 70k miles. Still on the same trans and I can't say that for any other vehicle I've owned except for the Ford F-series.

 

[mimmik02420]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

> Tow Vehicle - 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Diesel 4dr 2wd 33' BFG's

Did you regear the rear end and add the Super Chip?
If not, I would suggest a regear and adding the super chip to put you back into your stock power range.

1 axles is way cheaper than 2

Sam

The Duramax/Allison comes stock with 3.73's from the factory. My buddy has the newer six speed auto Allison in his and we turn within 100 rpm's of eachother. He runs at 1700rpm while I'm at 1800rpm at 62 mph. He can't get better than 9mpg's with that new DPF though.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

My father in law has an 2007 3500HD crew cab 8ft bed, dually, with the lmm duramax he gets 14mpg unloaded and 8-10 at best pulling any kind of trailer doesn't matter how heavy. Now my buddy has a 2004 2500HD ext cab 6ft bed he was pulling a gooseneck trailer loaded weighed in at 10k he got 16 avg. he also pulled the same trailer at 6k through the hills of west virgina and got 14. Ive heard of guys dumping the dpf on the 07 with a programmer to eliminate codes for the dpf and regen and getting 19mpg pulling 8k and 25 unloaded. good luck guys

 

[98Shabah]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

Tow Vehicle - 2005 Ford Crown Vic LX Sport 3.23 gears, magnaflow exhaust, transmission valve body shift kit

Boat - 18' I/O bowrider single axle trailer, approx 3200lbs total

No towing highway, 21-22, mix of city highway 20. Towing the boat 65-70mph 15-17mpg.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

I guess my mileage isn't too bad after all.
'96 K2500 Suburban, 454, 4.10 gears, F.A.S.T. programmer with towing program loaded for engine and trans.
'86 Wellcraft Nova II, 26', twin 350's, approx 7500lbs with fuel and gear.

Non-towing I get about 12.5-13mpg (has a K&N, factory drop-in type, and a Tornado), towing I get 9-9.5mpg.

I've thought about an Excursion diesel, but have so little invested in the 'burban I think I'll stick with it. Picked it up for $3600, and it has a full interior conversion package with the sweet FlexSteel captains chairs too.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

Lose the Tornado, JT. It restricts your intake.

 

[109jb]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

I have a 2003 GMC Duramax with the Allison 6 speed and slightly upsized tires 285's instead of the 245's that it came with. I just towed a 3600 pound four place fully enclosed snowmobile trailer home at 60 to 65 mph. I specifically wanted to check what kind of mileage I could get and filled up at both ends of the trip. I went 187.3 miles between fuel ups and used 13.1 gallons of fuel for 14.3 mpg.

Oh yeah. The speedometer/odometer has been re-programmed for the larger size tires.

Edit: Forgot to mention, my truck is a short bed crew cab 4x4 SLT with a cap and the engine and trans programming are stock. I have a buddy with the exact same truck and he has a programmer (forget what kind) and he claims that one of the modes bumps his economy by 3 mpg pretty much across the board.

 

[mimmik02420]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

My father in law has an 2007 3500HD crew cab 8ft bed, dually, with the lmm duramax he gets 14mpg unloaded and 8-10 at best pulling any kind of trailer doesn't matter how heavy. Now my buddy has a 2004 2500HD ext cab 6ft bed he was pulling a gooseneck trailer loaded weighed in at 10k he got 16 avg. he also pulled the same trailer at 6k through the hills of west virgina and got 14. Ive heard of guys dumping the dpf on the 07 with a programmer to eliminate codes for the dpf and regen and getting 19mpg pulling 8k and 25 unloaded. good luck guys

I don't mean to offend you but whoever claims that kinda mpg while towing is lying to you. People love to lie about those numbers and I can't figure out why. It's no big deal it's just mileage but whatever. Those kind of claims are what made me leave the chevy diesel owners forum. On that forum they also tell you that you're a jacktard for towing with anything but a diesel. I don't get it.

 

[ledbetter]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

Nissan Pickup 2.4L 4cyl manual trans pulling a 15 ft starcraft aluminum - about 1500 lbs. 21 MPG highway from N Florida to the keys @ 55-60 MPH. I was a little nervous at first but it did the job without any trouble. Have since made other long trips and surprisingly I am still on the first transmission and motor at 145,000 mi.

 

[dave11]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

I have an F250 Super Duty Fore with the V-10 engine.

Just over 15MPG hwy not towing
Just under 12MPG towing a 2500# boat hwy

 

[Josh P]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

I don't mean to offend you but whoever claims that kinda mpg while towing is lying to you. People love to lie about those numbers and I can't figure out why. It's no big deal it's just mileage but whatever. Those kind of claims are what made me leave the chevy diesel owners forum. On that forum they also tell you that you're a jacktard for towing with anything but a diesel. I don't get it.

I witnessed my buddies truck with my own eyes hes not lying. 14-16 was done on country roads hauling scrap to the scrap yard (not a boat but just wanted to put some input in) so it would be 45mph to 55 mph it was not highway. now the guys pulling the dpf i dont really believe. and ya your right they are diesel this diesel that they are better than gas etc, back to what you wanted to know. I just bought a 2004 Ram 1500 extended cab 6ft bed with the hemi i get 14-17 avg and about 12 pulling my 20ft boat. only pulled it once tho im in the middle of a restore at the moment. (just pulled it this weekend) (was mostly moving it in the city) Ill let you know about my father in laws truck we are gonna dump his dpf and get him a tuner and intake ill let you know the results if your interested. Which duramax you got? LB7?

 

[bekosh]

Re: Tow Vehicle, Boat type, Gas Mileage comparison

94 Ford F250 Extended Cab 8ft Bed 2WD with a gas 7.5l/automatic.
12-13mpg empty.

When towing my 21ft Wellcraft Eclipse cuddy, about 4800lbs.
6-7mpg at 70mph on the highway.