MPG loss when towing????
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
MPG loss when towing????
I towed a camper for a buddy today and just for pure curiosity I reset the lieometer.... I was getting 10 to 13 mpg. I was appalled. The trailer was a travel trailer / bumper pull / and weighed about 5,000 lbs.
Prior to picking it up, i was reading about 18 to 19 MPG.
That just seems like too big of a drop. Plus, it seemed like I had a severe loss in power. I would step on the pedal to accelerate up say a slight incline... and the nedle wouldnt move unless I forced it downshift by mashing the pedal. That doesnt seem right....
What do you think???
Prior to picking it up, i was reading about 18 to 19 MPG.
That just seems like too big of a drop. Plus, it seemed like I had a severe loss in power. I would step on the pedal to accelerate up say a slight incline... and the nedle wouldnt move unless I forced it downshift by mashing the pedal. That doesnt seem right....
What do you think???
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
From: Davis, Ca.
I pull a 7k empty trailer, bumper pull, loaded probably 8.5k. I get about 10.5 mpg on average, up hills, straight and flat, all combined. I tow with a DP Tuner in 60 hp tow mode. This is almost two mpg better than I got with no mods. Your lieometer is probably correct.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 7
From: Montana
i wouldnt go by the lie-o-meter at all, just figure it out manually! There is a reason we call it the lie-o-meter. I do not know why people go by that Piece of Crap.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
Thanks for the input...
No. I dont have a chip. I am running stock everything.
I guess I was just expecting more out of my "Diesel Truck".
At some times the engine seemed to just come alive and I had more power than I was asking for. At other times it seemed like the power loss was too much.
I cant hear the turbo hissing all the time either. (could my wastegate be spilling all my boost? What about the ebpv?)
Final note... the final MPG reading after a long flat streach for about 70 miles came out to 13.1 mpg. (towing) this is very contradictory to my dads truck which is also a 2002 7.3L diesel cuz his got about 18.6 mpg when i borrowed it about 2 yrs ago to go and get my horse. That was pulling about 5K the whole way back to Va. from Canada. He says he thinks he has a chip/intake/exhaust.
How does this compare to a gasser?
I guess I was just expecting more out of my "Diesel Truck".
At some times the engine seemed to just come alive and I had more power than I was asking for. At other times it seemed like the power loss was too much.
I cant hear the turbo hissing all the time either. (could my wastegate be spilling all my boost? What about the ebpv?)
Final note... the final MPG reading after a long flat streach for about 70 miles came out to 13.1 mpg. (towing) this is very contradictory to my dads truck which is also a 2002 7.3L diesel cuz his got about 18.6 mpg when i borrowed it about 2 yrs ago to go and get my horse. That was pulling about 5K the whole way back to Va. from Canada. He says he thinks he has a chip/intake/exhaust.
How does this compare to a gasser?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 7
From: Montana
13 MPG isnt all that bad. And were u going by the lie-o-meter with your dads truck? I would suggest, and im not trying to be an a$$ here, is calculate the mileage by calculator or simple math rather than those lie-o-meters. 18mpg towing is the best i have ever heard of anyone getting. I always hand calculate my mileage and i average 15-16 mpg empty with my truck. Gearing and tires have a lot to do with a mileage in these trucks. Do u know what the gears are and what size tires?
And what exactly were u "expecting" out of your Diesel Truck?
And what exactly were u "expecting" out of your Diesel Truck?
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
18.6MPG towing 5k??? WOW!! Many people would love to get that EMPTY!!
I have a 26' V-nose trailer. I pulled it from CO to MD, total weight near 7000lbs. It's a bumper pull, 7' wide, 6' tall (inside) so it's short & narrow. I got 13.8mpg on that trip. Empty with my new (heavier) tires I ca get 18MPG+ on the highway.
Stock, these trucks are slow, but they WILL pull your load... it'll just take a while. Some mods will wake her up, make her more fun to drive, & *MAY* help with mileage if you remember it's a 4TON truck, not a flyweight race car.
I have a 26' V-nose trailer. I pulled it from CO to MD, total weight near 7000lbs. It's a bumper pull, 7' wide, 6' tall (inside) so it's short & narrow. I got 13.8mpg on that trip. Empty with my new (heavier) tires I ca get 18MPG+ on the highway.
Stock, these trucks are slow, but they WILL pull your load... it'll just take a while. Some mods will wake her up, make her more fun to drive, & *MAY* help with mileage if you remember it's a 4TON truck, not a flyweight race car.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
When I pull my 30ft camper, cant barely notice a difference.
From my house to edmonton 120$ back to full.
Same trip with camper 145$.
Its a short camper, and low to the ground. Its old, but ever since I installed a new sound system and air conditioner, we love it, and its handy if you have to work away from home.
It takes a bit to gather up speed, but cruises down the highway under 5lbs of boost running. (@100km/h or 60mph)
From my house to edmonton 120$ back to full.
Same trip with camper 145$.
Its a short camper, and low to the ground. Its old, but ever since I installed a new sound system and air conditioner, we love it, and its handy if you have to work away from home.
It takes a bit to gather up speed, but cruises down the highway under 5lbs of boost running. (@100km/h or 60mph)