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MPG towing?


portageman

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just downsized tow vehicle from a Dakota to an Outback... that should help. (boat is nicknamed the S.S. Bathtub to give a point of reference.... ) laugh

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  • PDOGG

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I believe it is the 5.4l? I am not 100% sure on that though. I figure with what I spent on it and the warr. I will never open the hood on it.

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It must be the 5.3 it has crossed my mind to trade the duramax off for 1 with that engine with diesel so much more than gas so it's nice to know how it pulls a boat. I think I might wait to trade I just like my truck to much.

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2007.5 GMC 2500HD, CC, SB, Duramax/Allison pulling a 2005 Lund 1800 Fisherman, 140 4stk Johnson, 9.9 4 stk Johnson, and 40gal fuel. Towing around the metro area I get 13-15mpg (no cover on, variable driving conditions). Towing from the metro to Cass Lake and back I get 17-19mpg which is roughly 1-2mpg less than I get when I'm not towing. When I'm towing the boat that includes 2 adults, 2 kids, 20 rods, and a bunch of gear. Best for mileage is to use a light right foot, keep rpm's < 2000rpm (diesel), and drive less than 70mph (60mph is just right).

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I have a 16' aluminum boat with a 25 horse that I pull with a '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.0L V6). I get 15-16 miles per gallon no matter how fast I drive or whether I'm pulling the boat or not. I'm guessing having full time 4WD has a lot to do with that.

It's bizarre, but true...

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97 Chevy extra cab, 350 auto, & 07 Lund Pro Angler w/75 Merc 4 stroke. So far this summer it has been working out to a quarter a mile for the truck, and an extra dime for the boat.

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2005 F150, 4.6 v8, 3.55 gears, 1987 17' Crestliner with a 70 horse Evinrude. 17-19 mpg non towing, 14 -16 mpg towing and I tow with OD off. That is towing between 60 and 70 mph.

I am of the opinion driving habits make a huge difference in mpg. If you are in a lot of stop and go or always off and on entrance ramps and accelerating hard all the time, your gas mileage is gonna suffer. Or if you are a lead foot you will pay too.

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14-15mpg towing 16 foot Lund 198- Mr.Pike and 50hp Evinrude, solid 13.5 towing Crestliner Muskie Edition, with 115hp Envinrude using 2004 Dodge Durango w/5.7L Hemi

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99 Tahoe towing 1775 pro v 115 yamaha at 60-65 12.5 mpg w/o boat 16mpg.

I got 14 MPG last week in my 2000 Tahoe pulling a 1750 Crestliner with a full windshield and a 115 motor to Namakan L. I had the whole family and lots of gear. I left the OD on and had the boat cover on but I didn't put gas in the boat until I was almost there to keep the weight down. I averaged between 60 and 70 MPH on the highway.

Nels

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I'd say around 12mpg with old Bessie...

94 Chev K-1500 ext cab w/5.7L @ 60 MPH, towing a 16ft Sylvan Pro Select with 90hp Merc. BTW, the truck has 200k miles on it so that probably doesn't help any.

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Not sure how accurate because it was not long tow but got 14.0 according to trip calculator while towing a loaded Lund Explorer 1675 w/ 75 hp on back. Tow vehicle is 2005 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3 liter using towing package.

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I kept a log on my last trip to Canada and my MPG was 12.92 I drive a 2003 F-250 (gas) and pulled 1750 Lund Exploer with a 115 4s on it. Most of the trip was on 2 lane roads.

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1999 GMC 2500HD 4x4 cab/half 6.0 gas 373 gears Fbglas topper towing 175 Alumacraft Navigator 70 John 4str: 13mpg no matter what drove the same pulling or not.

2001 Chev 1500 4x4 cab/half 5.3 gas 373 gears w/ topper towing same boat: 15mpg/16.5 no tow

2001 Chev 1500 2wd 4.3 auto long box topper towing 14' wide deep Crestliner w/35 2 str John: 16mpg/18 no tow.

I drive the same evrywhere...no hard braking or unnecessary acceleration. Drive as fast as possible without making a scene or getting a ticket. Usually tow at speed limit 65-70 or 61- at 55mph zone.(unless my net-man oversleeps and we need to make tracks!)

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Sorry PDOGG, haven't been on. Yes it is a 5.3 and it is a hog, even when I'm not towing.

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2002 Hyundai Santa Fe pulling a 2008 ProGuide 17-WT Tracker with 90HP motor.

I got around 16.8 mpg on my last trip.

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2008 Chevy crew cab 4x4, 5.3 v8 pulling a 618T ranger with 90hp motor and 8 hp kicker. 10 mpg @ 55-60 mph. Very dissapointed in the milage.

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2004 avalanche 5.3 litre pullin a 620t with dual axle trailer. Bemidji and back last weekend round trip average according to computer 13.2 m.p.g.. Some town driving as well as hwy 71 cruise set at 63. About 300 miles.

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2006 Chevy Silvarado 5.3 ltr pulling a 2025 Lund Pro-V with a dual axle, I get 13-13.5 mpg. I have tried to drive smarter, and it has helped because last year same truck and boat, I was getting 11.5 mpg.

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Don't trust the trip computer. The one in my '06 GM car says I get 30 on average, using the calculator I get 26.5! mad

I just got back from another trip to Mille Lacs and on my '02 Ford Supercrew 5.4L I slowed down a couple of MPH and my MPG's went from 12 to 12.5 this trip towing a 1775 Pro V.

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I get 15-16 miles per gallon no matter how fast I drive or whether I'm pulling the boat or not.

2006 Pathfinder; V6; 14-15MPG up hill, down hill, head wind, tail wind, towing, not towing. Nothing seems to make a difference.

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13 mpg on the hwy with the 2003 5.3 suburban pulling the 22'er. I dont care what it gets, I am going fishing.

IMG_0189.jpg

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16.5 mpg in a 4.7 Jeep Grand Cherokee towing a Lund Tyee 1850 with a 4.3 I/O loaded down to about 3500 lbs traveling at 60-65 mph. If I try to go 70 mph, mileage drops to 15mpg., and at 75 mileage drops to 13.5 mph

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I got 16.5 mpg over the weekend pulling a 16ft alumacraft with my 04 Silverado 5.3, 3.73 gears. The truck was full with myself and 5 passengers as well as all of the associated "luggage" that comes along with traveling up north with the family. grin

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It's all about speed and your overdrive. The slowest speed at which the overdrive gear functions steadily is the most economical speed to drive, towing or not.

If you have the patience and courage, try keeping your speed as close to your vehicle's slowest overdrive speed for a tank of driving. You'll be amazed at what you can get for mileage.

2001 v6 4runner towing 16' Alumacraft

75mph=15mpg

55mph=20mpg

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We did 16.56 with an "05 Grand Caravan pulling a 16.5 Sylvan Pro Fisherman @ 60 mph with automatic in D3 without overdrive as the manual insisted. This on our vac up to G. Rapids. Does one really have to stay out of D (w/overdrive) while towing as the book says?

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I have an '06 Dodge Charger R/T that I pull a Lund 1425 Classic with. I know I have plenty of power and torque to easily handle the rig, but I still follow the manual and keep it out of overdrive and into 1:1 direct drive (happens to be 4th gear on the Charger). You may get a little better mileage in overdrive, but you will be putting your transmission at risk over time. I suppose a large transmission oil cooler will help, but with an automatic transmission, you are still bound to have some negative slippage.

-Gregg B.

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We did 16.56 with an "05 Grand Caravan pulling a 16.5 Sylvan Pro Fisherman @ 60 mph with automatic in D3 without overdrive as the manual insisted. This on our vac up to G. Rapids. Does one really have to stay out of D (w/overdrive) while towing as the book says?

The last tranny I had to put in cost me $2,800! cry Is it really worth the risk? It's not for me anymore. 2,800 dollars still buys alot of gas.

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It depends on your book? If the manual says pull it out of OD then do so. My truck has an Allison 1000 on it and it's made to tow

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