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Thread: What does your tow rig get for gas mileage? (Part 2)

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    Default What does your tow rig get for gas mileage? (Part 2)

    Previous thread is 4+ years old, and there's a lot more campers on Beyond now, as well as some newer trucks with better engines and transmission so I thought I'd ask. Also it's prime camping season, so more people probably have the info on hand.

    Truck: 2011 Avalanche
    Engine:5.3
    Transmission: 6-Auto
    Rear axle ratio: 3.42
    Tire size: 265/65R18 (31.6")
    weight of truck (including people and stuff in the bed): 6798 lbs (3090kg)
    total weight of trailer: 5830 lbs (2650kg)
    towing speed: 60-120 km/h
    modifications: Intake, Headers, and a tune for the trip back

    Mileage: Averaged 20.5L/100 kms for our round trip to Tofino and back. 677.7L used over 3302.5 kms.

    I unfortunately didn't get the tune prior to leaving, and had it installed on the way back. It's actually a pretty shocking difference between the numbers though. Going from Calgary TO Abbotsford without the tune, so 3500' downhill, I got 23.9L/100 kms. Coming back Abbotsford to Calgary, so 3500' elevation gain, I got 21.5L/100 km

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    That's an airstream too right? That thing slides through the wind a lot easier than the square box trailers. I'm sure that makes a noticeable difference.

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    2006 Chev 2500HD extended cab 6.5 box 4x4 LS
    6.6L Duramax LBZ
    Allison 1000 6 spd
    4.10
    LT265/75/16 E Load Range General Grabber A/TX studded 31.3”
    6900lbs empty
    Trailer weighs 5000lbs empty roughly, highest I’ve had it was about 9000lbs loaded (32’+2.5’ V Nose Car Hauler)
    Aftermarket exhaust and Edge tuner set to fuel economy tune

    Mileage varies from 18L/100km unloaded with the wind behind me at 120km/h to 24L/100km loaded at 9000lbs heading into a headwind at 110km/h. With a open deck car hauler with car (5000lbs) and 550lbs of people it will average 15L/100km at 110km/h.
    Last edited by Twin_Cam_Turbo; 07-18-2019 at 05:24 PM.

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    2010 Mercedes GLK350 towing our 3500lb (?) FULL 1972 13 ft Holidaire... about 18/19L/100km.

    Only been on one trip though lol straight paved highway from Airdrie to Standard Alberta an hour away, drive about 110ish km average..
    Last edited by 370Z; 07-18-2019 at 05:53 PM.

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    2003 GMC Sierra 1500hd, 6.0L, 4spd, 4.10 rear axle. Approximately 7000 lbs trailer. Not sure of my truck weight, but we travel pretty heavy with bikes, firewood, bbq, generators in the box of the truck. I haven't tracked long term fuel consumption, but it's not good, around 35L/100km. I usually climb Anarchist mountain East of Osoyoos when camping, it's a pretty long and steep grade, 2nd gear most of the way.

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    my 2800 km trip out to squamish and back recently I got 26 l/100km total, but that includes a maybe 300km of unhitched driving. Actual average more like 28 or 29 L/100km. Weirdly (or not) about the same as I have gotten with every v8 6-speed truck I've ever owned, and this is my fourth version of that combination. Got only a teeny tiny bit better with my ecoboost back in the day, like 25 maybe.
    What's incredible is this current truck, I get 19 L/100km even empty.

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    My neighbour recently upgraded to a Ram 2500 for pulling trailer. I was horrified to hear he was burning 20L/100km pulling their humble trailer. Sorry I don't have specs but my friend with his 3500 fully emission control deleted Ram is getting closer to 14L pulling a massive trailer.
    Maybe my neighbour drives like a douche?
    I thought gassers got BRUTAL mileage when towing and diesels barely cared but after my neighbor's report, I'm confused.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ThePenIsMightier View Post
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    My neighbour recently upgraded to a Ram 2500 for pulling trailer. I was horrified to hear he was burning 20L/100km pulling their humble trailer. Sorry I don't have specs but my friend with his 3500 fully emission control deleted Ram is getting closer to 14L pulling a massive trailer.
    Maybe my neighbour drives like a douche?
    I thought gassers got BRUTAL mileage when towing and diesels barely cared but after my neighbor's report, I'm confused.
    I think the worst I've ever seen towing anything is 13.xxl/100 km with my Cummins.
    Too loud for Aspen

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    Quote Originally Posted by ExtraSlow View Post
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    What's incredible is this current truck, I get 19 L/100km even empty.
    There's got to be something wrong with your truck. That's almost as bad as my '77 F250 with a 460, and no overdrive. Unless you're driving 150km/h everywhere, then that would explain it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tik-Tok View Post
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    There's got to be something wrong with your truck. That's almost as bad as my '77 F250 with a 460, and no overdrive. Unless you're driving 150km/h everywhere, then that would explain it.
    If he’s mostly city driving unloaded that’s pretty normal.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tik-Tok View Post
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    There's got to be something wrong with your truck. That's almost as bad as my '77 F250 with a 460, and no overdrive. Unless you're driving 150km/h everywhere, then that would explain it.
    There very well could be. I mean, yeah, that's not pure highway mileage, but I don't think I have a tank of pure highway to test on.

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    2012 Toyota Highlander with Towing Package. 3.5L V6.
    Towing our boler out to Dinosaur Park last weekend I was averaging about 14.5L/100K - but this thing is pretty light probably 1500lbs loaded.
    one of my friends has a 2014 Toyota Highlander with towing package and he was towing a 3900lbs (dry) 23 foot trailer with about 1000lbs extra in it and he was doing 24L/100K.
    I was driving at 120K most of the way and left before him (we both live near Aspen) and somehow even though he left 30 mins later he still bet me to the campsite.

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    2010 Ram 1500, 5.7L with a 5 speed tranny and tow package (3.9X gears I believe). Trailer loaded is probably 7500LB - 8000LB, routinely get 25 - 30 L / 100 KM. The wind and speed make a huge difference, when we go to Fairmont and I have to drive a lot of 90 KPH the fuel consumption improves dramatically.
    "Masked Bandit is a gateway drug for frugal spending." - Unknown303

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    Quote Originally Posted by Maxt View Post
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    I think the worst I've ever seen towing anything is 13.xxl/100 km with my Cummins.
    My Duramax is around that too when towing...13-15L/100km. Lower end when towing cars, higher end when towing the skid steer or a trailer load of logs. Long term average in the truck, including towing, is 10.6L/100km.

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    Quote Originally Posted by never View Post
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    My Duramax is around that too when towing...13-15L/100km. Lower end when towing cars, higher end when towing the skid steer or a trailer load of logs. Long term average in the truck, including towing, is 10.6L/100km.
    Wtf is wrong with my Duramax :O

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    Quote Originally Posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo View Post
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    Wtf is wrong with my Duramax :O
    I don't know...your numbers look crazy compared to what I see in mine! But my truck is 100% highway and I only tow a flat deck or a dump trailer...thought I don't think an enclosed would impose that big of a hit?

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    Quote Originally Posted by never View Post
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    I don't know...your numbers look crazy compared to what I see in mine! But my truck is 100% highway and I only tow a flat deck or a dump trailer...thought I don't think an enclosed would impose that big of a hit?
    Enclosed would definitely affect it big time. I'm always surprised how boxy they make campers these days, I know Airstream has a lockdown on the round design, but the rest of the manufacturers could at least make them sloped.

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    Quote Originally Posted by never View Post
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    I don't know...your numbers look crazy compared to what I see in mine! But my truck is 100% highway and I only tow a flat deck or a dump trailer...thought I don't think an enclosed would impose that big of a hit?
    It’s definitely a lot worse with an enclosed. The frontal area of my trailer is insane. I mildly regret not going with a smaller open deck.

    Even unloaded though my truck gets nowhere near 10.6L/100km, my best ever tank was 12.9L/100km Canmore to Kelowna with four guys in the truck and the box full (about 1100lbs of cargo and people). What gears does your truck have, is it a LLY or LBZ? What tire size are you running?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo View Post
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    It’s definitely a lot worse with an enclosed. The frontal area of my trailer is insane. I mildly regret not going with a smaller open deck.

    Even unloaded though my truck gets nowhere near 10.6L/100km, my best ever tank was 12.9L/100km Canmore to Kelowna with four guys in the truck and the box full (about 1100lbs of cargo and people). What gears does your truck have, is it a LLY or LBZ? What tire size are you running?
    Mine’s an LBZ, pretty sure it has 3.73 and same size tire as you. Intake, exhaust and a few other mods plus custom EFI Live tunes from Kory Willis at PPEI. I usually run it on the 125 tune. When towing a heavier load, I run the tow tune.

    And I used to have a different 2006 LZB with similar specs except a Diablo generic programmer...before tune/mods, I would usually see 13-14L/100km but after tune (usually ran the 150 with that truck), it was always 10-11L/100km...without a trailer.

    Your gears will be hurting a bit but not that much.

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    Interesting. All my injectors are still in spec and it has new oil, fuel and air filter too.

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