WOW MPG just checked

[emaav]

We went 65 miles. I was doing around 53mph I used just under 5 gals of gas..did I really get 13 MPG towing the 5vr? I topped off the tank to the brim before leaving and just used the 5 gal gas can and used it all filled it to the brim like before we left. I am almost speechless. I know that driving slower will get you better mileage but WOW It was some flat but also some mountain passes as well..My gas hog is being nice this trip. 🙂

[mountainsam]

6000 + mile trip from California to Michigan and points in between and back we averaged 14.1 mpg for the trip. I never tow over 1800 rpm except on grades. That's about 67 mph. Probably about 400 miles of that was without the FW.

[emaav]

HA HA I know Mr. Black

Thankfully on this trip there was no one behind me...

[Mr__Black]

52 mph?

You'll get run over by old ladies driving semi trucks around here doing that. 😉

[emaav]

I have gone longer towing the same 5vr On a full tank doing 55 I get 10. I am content to do even 52 so long as I am not holding up traffic, to get a few more mpg. Thank you for all your responses... 🙂

[Tystevens]

Speed does make a huge difference, given that the biggest factor in towing a travel trailer or 5'er is wind resistance. We track every tank meticulously. Our best ever was towing on a calm night across eastern Oregon state highways, where the speed limit is only 55. Cruise set at 55 mph, we got just under 13 for that tank. Another tank trying to meet an appointment, had us going 75+ into the wind. You couldn't tell the truck was working any harder than usual, but it showed at the pump -- 8.2 mpg for that tank!

Note -- this was on our '06 Duramax diesel.

[goducks10]

I checked mine once going down hill for 3 miles it was 35mpg. Then I checked it going up hill for about 3/4 mile and it was 6.3mpg. Never have checked it just driving on flat ground for 200 miles. Would it be different?

[rxr]

spoon059 wrote:
65 miles is not sufficient to estimate realistic mpgs. I've had 100 mile trips in my truck that averaged 22 mpg... in a truck that averages 17. When conditions are just right (wind at your back, no red lights, possibly a slight downhill grade, etc) its very easy to get skewed results.

Reality sets in when you start putting hundreds of miles towing...

Agreed. Go take a longer trip:B

[spoon059]

65 miles is not sufficient to estimate realistic mpgs. I've had 100 mile trips in my truck that averaged 22 mpg... in a truck that averages 17. When conditions are just right (wind at your back, no red lights, possibly a slight downhill grade, etc) its very easy to get skewed results.

Reality sets in when you start putting hundreds of miles towing...

[bucky]

Two possibilities here. You drove off a cliff, or your oddometer is WAY off. I've had 2 454 Vortec Chevys. Great trucks, and towed well. MPG not much.

[RCMAN46]

Careful. Years ago I managed to put a volkswagon beetle to shame with a 1970 ford galaxy 500 with a 390 engine.

The ford had a full tank of fuel and had set overnight in 20 degree weather. The volkswagon also had a full tank of fuel and set overnight in a heated garage of about 70 degrees.

We were going deer hunting in Utah. Early in the morning met at a friends service station. We topped of the fuel tanks as my friend let us have the fuel at his cost then went for breakfast.

Then we drove about 125 miles to a little town just before going up into the mountains. We had lunch then all of us topped off our tanks again. The ambient temperature was near 60 degrees. In the fall Utah can have some very large temperature swings from early morning to mid day.

The ford took about 1 gallon less fuel than the Volkswagon.

You ask why. Simple the Ford had a much larger fuel tank and the fuel expanded from the temperature rise where the Volkswagon had almost no expansion with a smaller tank.

65 miles is not a long enough trip especially if there was any temperature rise from beginning to end.

[C_Schomer]

I believe it... You're hardly pulling anything. We had a 94 SC 24xxx and I got 9.5 at 70 mph with a 1/2t gasser and I always got better mpg in the mtns because of the curves slowing me down, than on flat road. Craig

[Supercharged]

Check after 1000 miles.

[BB_TX]

Take a 200-300 mile trip recording your odometer and pump readings, get your average, then you will have a much better idea of what to expect. 65 miles will not tell much.

[emaav]

For a 7.4 liter gas I think it is great.