MotorTrend Tests the 1500's

NinerBikes wrote:

boocoodinkydow wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

boocoodinkydow wrote:
Longest range I've experienced was 665 when the warning light came on. Could have most likely pushed it to 700 but no need to push my luck. And yes, mich, I dare say 400 would be a good guess towing a moderate load.

How fast were you driving on that tank and how much city traffic or stop and go did it consist of?

That tank included a trip from our home in se al to vacation home in wears valley (east tn), about 420 miles. Broken down; 120m @ 60 with a dozen little Podunk towns with too many traffic lights, 100m 4 lane @ 70 and the balance of the trip was interstate @ 70-75. Roughly, the remaining 250 miles consisted of local travel in & around pigeon forge, sevierville, Townsend, maryville & knoxville, tn. This range was a bit exceptional with norm on similar driving patterns have lately been between 625 & 650 before warning light comes on. My best mileage was a leisurely site seeing trip to Orlando on some 2 & 4 lane back roads. Being unfamiliar with the area I filled up prematurely, about 1/4 tank left, & don't recall the range but mileage hand calculated @ 31.1. Pretty phenomenal for a 6000# luxury vehicle.

Do you have any pure 500 to 600 mile, nothing but interstate trips for 90% of the miles traveled type of samples, say at a constant 65 to 70 MPH. Sorry, we have low speed limits here in CA, and I comply with them... retired, I have plenty of time. I almost pulled the trigger on an Eco diesel yesterday, crew cab SLT with Big Horn package. May still do it, but it will be very hard for me to give up the Touareg TDI, since it has a 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty, and services are included in the price out to 30,000 miles, I've only used the first oil change. My DEF usage is working out to about 3.5 gallons of DEF per 10,000 miles, vehicle has a 5.5 gallon DEF tank. Uses the same oil... something 5w-30 rated like Mobil 1 European ESP that is MB 229.51 or VW 507.00 Low SAPS rated for the diesel particulate filter, so it does not fill prematurely with ash from the slight loss and burning of motor oil consumption.

1000 #'s more weight and less aerodynamic is going to make the Ecodiesel more thirsty, at least a 10% loss in mpg over my TDI Touareg. But it will do a better job towing, I suspect, my 21 foot TT that weighs 3700 dry, probably 4000 or a bit more ready to roll.

Does anyone know if they make 26 foot or 27 foot 5th wheels that are ultra lites that come in under 7000 pounds? In case I decide to trade up on the TT?