Poor towing MPG
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 465
Likes: 53
From: Connecticut
Everyone can post their mpg but unless they’re also listing their: gearing, elevation, weight towed, towing configurations, truck design, engine/transmission modifications etc none of it is an apple to apple comparison. It gives you an idea of possibilities but you shouldn’t have the same expectations.
We're here to address the OP's concerns that getting 11mpg when towing a 26-foot travel trailer at 55-65 mph is unexpected.
It's not. It's pretty much around what one should expect, plus/minus a bit.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,807
Likes: 125
From: Colorado Springs
Everyone can post their mpg but unless they’re also listing their: gearing, elevation, weight towed, towing configurations, truck design, engine/transmission modifications etc none of it is an apple to apple comparison. It gives you an idea of possibilities but you shouldn’t have the same expectations..
Irrelevant. We're not here to compare swingin' sizes. I think there's already a thread for that.
We're here to address the OP's concerns that getting 11mpg when towing a 26-foot travel trailer at 55-65 mph is unexpected.
It's not. It's pretty much around what one should expect, plus/minus a bit.
We're here to address the OP's concerns that getting 11mpg when towing a 26-foot travel trailer at 55-65 mph is unexpected.
It's not. It's pretty much around what one should expect, plus/minus a bit.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,951
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I tow at 65 MPH on interstate at 1800 - 2000 RPM. I have towed nearly the entire country... from the south of Florida to Seattle Washington, from Arizona to Delaware, from below sea level to 12,000 feet.
Hope this helps you with your concerns.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 116
Likes: 3
Average about 11.5 mpg with my 9,000# Airstream, have gotten 13 doing 55-60 mph on the flats.
Was surprised to see 9.5 my last trip out.. turned out it was just a rookie error- completely overlooked the air filter. They were filthy.
Was surprised to see 9.5 my last trip out.. turned out it was just a rookie error- completely overlooked the air filter. They were filthy.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
SES light blink on a grade - sounds like a chip to me... maybe a DP?
Arizona to WA... I just did this trip on the east side of the mountains, and the roads gobble economy there.
We know nothing about the truck. Tires? Mods? Lift?
I see the OP hasn't been here in a week... I wonder if he'll come back.
Arizona to WA... I just did this trip on the east side of the mountains, and the roads gobble economy there.
We know nothing about the truck. Tires? Mods? Lift?
I see the OP hasn't been here in a week... I wonder if he'll come back.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 343
Likes: 7
From: Arizona
Sorry about the delay getting back...
The truck is a 2000 F-350 SRW, 4x4, extended cab, 3.73 gears, 33" tires, auto trans. Engine has a K&N air filter but no other mods.
The old IDI non-turbo was almost exactly the same configuration, except it was an F-250 with 4.1 gears. And I had stock size tires for a while but didn't like them and switched back to 33's (seemed like the smaller tires just raised the rpm too high and didn't gain any noticeable torque). I used it to pull a trailer around Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. I was pulling a slightly shorter trailer then, but I also had a 500-lb motorcycle in the back of the truck which I no longer have.
Honestly, the Powerstroke doesn't really seem all that much more powerful compared to the IDI... though I'll admit I could be mis-remembering since I sold the IDI about 10 yrs ago. I do remember that getting 11 mpg with the IDI made me disgusted because that was below my usual, even in mountains in the aforementioned states.
The truck is a 2000 F-350 SRW, 4x4, extended cab, 3.73 gears, 33" tires, auto trans. Engine has a K&N air filter but no other mods.
The old IDI non-turbo was almost exactly the same configuration, except it was an F-250 with 4.1 gears. And I had stock size tires for a while but didn't like them and switched back to 33's (seemed like the smaller tires just raised the rpm too high and didn't gain any noticeable torque). I used it to pull a trailer around Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. I was pulling a slightly shorter trailer then, but I also had a 500-lb motorcycle in the back of the truck which I no longer have.
Honestly, the Powerstroke doesn't really seem all that much more powerful compared to the IDI... though I'll admit I could be mis-remembering since I sold the IDI about 10 yrs ago. I do remember that getting 11 mpg with the IDI made me disgusted because that was below my usual, even in mountains in the aforementioned states.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,278
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
Obviously theres is something wrong going on with your truck if you feel that your IDI could hang with a Powerstroke towing. I would start data logging the perdels and also transmission health specially with the TC, something is robbing you of power.
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