Towing fuel economy

[SKR]

I know that at least when empty, tow/haul mode in the Allison transmission is light years ahead of the 6L90 that comes with the gassers.

And cost aside, your sanity has to count for something. A truck that can sail along at 1800rpm all day is so much better than one that has to drop 2 gears and spin at 5000rpm every time it has to climb a hill.

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by SKR
I know that at least when empty, tow/haul mode in the Allison transmission is light years ahead of the 6L90 that comes with the gassers.

And cost aside, your sanity has to count for something. A truck that can sail along at 1800rpm all day is so much better than one that has to drop 2 gears and spin at 5000rpm every time it has to climb a hill.

can it do 1800 up a hill? Sometimes mine downshifts 3 gears if its really steep, from 5th to 2nd

[SKR]

I guess it depends on the load. My truck without the lift could pull hills at 1800 rpm at 120km/hr, as long as the trailer was light enough that it didn't have to drop a gear. If has to shift to 5th the rpms would go up to 2050. 4th would be 2900. If the trailer was that heavy, you'd never see anything less than 3-4000rpm in a gasser anyway.

[ExtraSlow]

Really depends on your attitude, My truck has to drop to 2nd on those steep mountain roads, and it's running 4500 rpm, and I don't really find that stressful at all.
Some people get very worried any time a truck goes over 2000 rpm, for those people, they should just drive a diesel.

Switching back and forth between the two types of engines will make you appreciate the diesel, but if you do any calculations, unless you tow commercially, you will save money on a gas motor, and these days, the gas motors are so good, they will tow nearly any legal load.

[SJW]

My 6.0L 2500HD is absolutely perfect. I hesitate to buy a diesel just because of the increase in costs. That's not to say I don't want one just because I feel I can upgrade my trailer at any time
without caring about all of this towing talk. Oh and towing the boat behind my trailer.

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by SJW
My 6.0L 2500HD is absolutely perfect. I hesitate to buy a diesel just because of the increase in costs. That's not to say I don't want one just because I feel I can upgrade my trailer at any time
without caring about all of this towing talk. Oh and towing the boat behind my trailer.

yeah I don't understand how people are getting such horrible mileage. When we pulled the 5th wheel and boat behind it with the 5.3 Sierra we got 22L/100km to slave lake and back , about 1400 km

[hedge]

I love my diesels, they are definately more expensive to maintain and to buy but if you ever towed with one you'd understand.

The best I've seen empty is 14L/100 and towing the 5th wheel or with the camper on it gets 19L/100.

[legendboy]

I average 13.5 city and 22.5-24.5 towing 8000lb 32' bumper pull travel trailer

[spikerS]

Hey, if you get a Diesel, you can do this too!

[Boosted131]

Originally posted by spikers
Hey, if you get a Diesel, you can do this too!

Don't think I would need a diesel to move that little car

[ExtraSlow]

Originally posted by spikers
Hey, if you get a Diesel, you can do this too!

You mean only diesel guys could wear a beard or shirt like that?
There go all my fashion hopes and dreams.

[Cos]

.

[Unknown303]

I towed my trailer just under 2000km this last week and averaged 14.5L/100km

[Boosted131]

Those Chevy 5.3s are good. We get even better than that towing just the boat.

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by Boosted131
Those Chevy 5.3s are good. We get even better than that towing just the boat.

This is a Ram 1500 with the 5.7 Hemi.

[Cos]

.

[AndyL]

From north of calgary to crowsnest. (Via 22) with a strong westerly we were sitting around 18 by the fuel stop in crowsnest, now showing 16.3L/100 - even with a low profile 5'er (19'6 long its not even 7' wide and 9' tall, single axle) '12 ram with 4.7L.

Course we're also loaded to the roof with gear and kids...

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by Unknown303
I towed my trailer just under 2000km this last week and averaged 14.5L/100km

What's the trailer?

[Unknown303]

Tent trailer. Around 3600 pounds according to the sticker in it, if I remember correctly.

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by Unknown303
Tent trailer. Around 3600 pounds according to the sticker in it, if I remember correctly.

Well that explains it. Lighter weight and no wind resistance. As soon as you go to a regular travel trailer and start pulling that block around, the wind resistance hurts fuel consumption a lot. Throw an 8000 lb brick behind it and see what happens...lol.