Tow vehicle mileage, real world #s

I have a 2009 Chevy Dura max diesel. I get up to 22 mpg empty running along the coastal plain. Towing our boat close to 3 tons (6000 pounds) anywhere in between 17 mpg and 11 mpg. I'm sure the 17 mpg figure was with a strong tail wind the 11mph is towing at 75 mph. Even towing the boat to me our truck feels like a hot rod. Sometimes we have to pass slow moving vehicles on two lane roads its a real treat to be able to get aound them quickly inspite of towing a boat. I had electric over hydraulic brakes installed and we are very happy with our towing package. We are thinking about towing to Skagway, Alaska (3700 miles each way) in 2013 if I live that long. This truck is my most favorite vehicle of all that have owned; it tows effortlessly.
When I bought our truck new they had a seven year no interest deal. I left my cash in the bank and just set up an auto pay deal with our bank. I only have put about 22000 miles on the truck so far. I use a Honda Civic as my daily ride which gets about 40 mpg on the highway on longer trips. I'm another one who does not care to buy used vehicles. I hate surprises. Roger we may even be related however distant.
D.D.
 
An interesting and usefull thread. We have a 2001 f150 4x4 with the 5.4l engine and get about 18mpg on the freeway when loafing along and about 9-10mpg towing.
It helps to keep the weight down when towing so we always try to tow with the boat tanks empty & fill up when we get where we're going and stock only lite beer when towing.

Roger, how does that Tundra handle the tomcat?
 
We recently towed our Tomcat (10,500 lbs) from So Cal to Annecortes WA. 2007 Chevy Diesel averaged 10-11 mpg. We get 20 mpg when empty. Best part of towing with this truck besides the power is the Allison transmission. We seldomly have to use the brakes while descending grades. After 6 weeks on the water (2 mpg) the round trip gas & diesel bill came in a little under $4K. Canada gas @ $5.50 gallon.

Dave
 
I recently towed Carpy to Nashville TN and returned without the boat/trailer, about 275 miles. I got 11.3 mpg with boat, 17.1 mpg without.
So towing the rig costs about 6 mpg.

Bruce Cassal
 
Kerri On is just back now from an 8500 mile tour. Truck is 07 F150 Lariet with 5.4 V8 and 3.73 axle and automatic. Zero troubles and averaged 12.5 mpg down to lake Powell out route 50 from Reno with all those mountains and wind and came back up from the Sedona Az area via hwy 40 and I5 and did 13.3 mpg. I'm happy with those numbers as a lot of variables in a long tow.
 
Incredible mileage numbers. You must be living right. All my V8 gas trucks, chevy, ford, and dodge over the years were 8 mpg towing almost anything, including 4000 lb boats. Your truck must have been perfectly built and you must be a perfect driver. Congratulations.

My diesel does about 14 to 15 at 65 mph towing the 22CD. So I've got something to learn from the way you drive.
 
potter water":1hce1tki said:
... All my V8 gas trucks, chevy, ford, and dodge over the years were 8 mpg towing almost anything, including 4000 lb boats...
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Do you run tires with aggressive tread designs?
 
One thing I do is accelerate smoothly and try to not do abrupt stops and starts. I bought my truck used and the fuel use on the computer shocked me. It was city driving and showed 25 liters per 100 kilometers, This is about ( to 10 miles per gallon city. I was some worried but right away my numbers started to improve and it does well. I put a soft tonneau cover on the box and try to keep the truck clean and tires at proper pressures. I try to think of the throttle pedal as a bank account. The harder I push the faster it drains! I found for many hundreds of miles on I5 I'd be at 58 mph and 1500 rpm.
 
ghone":1c71svwh said:
I found for many hundreds of miles on I5 I'd be at 58 mph and 1500 rpm.
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And there's no doubt in my mind about that being the main reason your milage is so good. No secret about how to get the best milage, just do as You decribed. Driving as you suggested I average 14.5 mpg with our 2006 Duramax-Allison one ton crew cab duelly with camper shell towing the CD 22 between Cokeville, WY & Skagway, Alaska. With the big truck camper included in the combination on the same trip milage drops to 12. The great thing about the diesel is when & if speed is desired or needed it delivers just know it will cost more $.

Jay
 
Hi Jay... ( your my idol)... gas mileage is just something that should not matter... I get 4.5mpg with SEA3PO and I sure would not like to run out of fuel....but who cares what the ole truck get... just pour it in...and be happy yer moving.. if I had a pull vehicle that got 3 mph I would still go... heck, I would work at McDonalds fer the gas money if that was all that was keeping me from being on the water...heck sell the kids...write some bad checks...float a loan..what ever it takes...go


I wanted to go down to the freeway offramp with a clarinet but Sue would not let me... ( I have no clue know how to play).. with a Retired Teacher sign..... would love to go back to Florida for the winter

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Four different rigs with honest fuel mileages.....

1984 GMC 2500 6.2 diesel get 15 mpg towing the CD22 at around 60 mph. Don't tow with it much any more as I use it to plow my rental properties. It was gutless as hell towing anyway....When not towing, this truck consistantly gets 20-22 mpg.

1978 F-250 with 521 big block (stroked 460) gets 8-9 towing the CD22. I refurbished this truck from the ground up and it is my toy......

2000 F-350 with 7.3 diesel got 14 or so going 60 with the boat in tow. With the 11.5 foot camper on the back it would go down to 11 or so with the boat in tow. Empty, it typically got 17 or so going the same speed. I expected more to be honest. We replaced this truck with a motorhome in 2009.

2009 24 foot motorhome with CD 22 in tow gets 8 mpg. Empty it gets 10-11 mpg.
 
I use an Android app called "FUELAGE". It's showing real world average fuel consumption of 14 mpg for our 2005 F-250 Super Duty 4X4, crew cab w/ a 6.0 liter turbo-diesel. This averages all driving I've done for the past yr, which includes towing, freeway & city.
 
We have a 2010 Ford F 250 Super Duty Twin Turbo Diesel truck.

Highway mileage without the boat is 14 MPG. Towing SSV at mainly highway speeds drops the mileage to a consistent 11 MPG.

The truck has plenty of torque and power, so you're usually not aware that SSV is behind, even in hilly terrain.

We bought it to tow SSV, and it performs that task very well. I wouldn't want to drive it to work every day, though, without getting a second job!

Bob
 
2010 Toyota Tundra, double cab, 5.8 V8, @ 60 mph. This year I actually checked the mileage on
a couple of my 365 mile runs from Fairbanks to Valdez

Towing 22 CD (full tanks) & gear = 12.2 mpg,

Truck only = 20.93 mpg (have roll top tonneau cover on truck bed)

Must have had an exceptional day on the 20.93. On another long run to Anchorage I got 19.4 mpg
 
1999 Dodge diesel, 6 speed manual transmission and jake brake.
17.2 mpg towing at 60mph, 15 at 65mph.
Empty on freeway 22mpg at 60mph 18mpg at 70mph.
I bought the truck new just to pull the boats and pack a 9' camper.
With the camper and the 22' C- dory 14 to 15 mpg at 60 mph.
I drop about 1 mile per gallon towing the Boston Whaler. It's just damn heavy.
 
My 06 F250 tows the TomCat nicely (but it doesn't like to!) 10 MPG towing to Pt. McNeill and back. 20 MPG when not towing. That's the reason I opted for the 06 used in late 2007 rather than get the new 2008 twin turbo model. I heard stories about the drop to 14 MPG hiway.Guess they were true.
 
onthewater":bo9a20r6 said:
I wouldn't want to drive it to work every day, though, without getting a second job!

Bob
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I don't really want to drive to work, or even really be at work, on most days when there is something better to do. Which, by the way, is most days.....
 
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