Impact of Heavy Duty Tow Package (w/ 3.73 axle ratio) on MPG gas mileage
- Thread starter SublimeHiPpOs
- Start date
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Lou Hamilton
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Hmmm... Maybe I was dreaming of traveling around Europe with my camper.
LOLBTW, corrected it.
Hahaha I figured it was a typo or you could be the product of Alabama education and don’t know right from left.Hmmm... Maybe I was dreaming of traveling around Europe with my camper.
BTW, corrected it.
bushpilot
Full Access Members
Hmmm... Maybe I was dreaming of traveling around Europe with my camper.
BTW, corrected it.
Maryland doesnt enforce that anyway....theyre focused on the more subjective "aggressive" and "speeding" drivers....they dont care what about those left lane bandits that incite aggressive driving!
Wangle
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We have the tow package, non max. Towed a 2k lb 4 Wheeler trailer 500 miles. 1st leg, slight crosswind 5mph, 40 degrees 65 mph got 19. I really bragged her up!! My ‘03 Expy never broke 14 mpg with that trailer... Trip home, 13 degrees with 30-40 mph headwind, got 9.5 mpg w/91 premium. I didn’t talk much about that. LOL
Conditions matter so much! Mild weather road trip I’ll get 23-24 at avg 68 mph. Gears are high enough for me with the 3.73 ratio. Very slight mpg loss and initial cost are the only trade off to get the higher towing capacity, low range, and locking differential. I wouldn’t have bought one without it, mostly because, well, I wanted it. Also, I tested the no cruise on a trip, and maybe got .5 MPG better than using the cruise. Only moderate hills and light traffic and w/cruise I keep the distance setting to max to mitigate braking. So, I always use the cruise. Mountain terrain may be a different story.
And I have had about the typical experience with the computer mpg versus actual, about 5% optimistic.
Conditions matter so much! Mild weather road trip I’ll get 23-24 at avg 68 mph. Gears are high enough for me with the 3.73 ratio. Very slight mpg loss and initial cost are the only trade off to get the higher towing capacity, low range, and locking differential. I wouldn’t have bought one without it, mostly because, well, I wanted it. Also, I tested the no cruise on a trip, and maybe got .5 MPG better than using the cruise. Only moderate hills and light traffic and w/cruise I keep the distance setting to max to mitigate braking. So, I always use the cruise. Mountain terrain may be a different story.
And I have had about the typical experience with the computer mpg versus actual, about 5% optimistic.
Deadman
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AKentPhoto
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@Wangle
Interesting you mentioned cruise distance...
I find that even on the longest setting its still quite close. My only other experience with adaptive cruise is on my wife's Infiniti and that was annoyingly long. Even on the shortest setting it would hit the brakes before I could change lanes. I guess it depends on your target speed and willingness to change lanes, but in my experience the shortest setting was the best at preventing automated braking. I have about 10 hours experience with this one and on the highway it is much better, but back roads it gets a little close for my liking. Maybe I just need to learn to trust it more...
As for MPG in our 11.5hr trip I never saw the north side of 17.5mpg. No trailer, but loaded up inside. My guess is a break-in tune? Truck had 33miles when we hit the road. I did make sure to vary engine speed when it was flat but that was only the first few hours.
Interesting you mentioned cruise distance...
I find that even on the longest setting its still quite close. My only other experience with adaptive cruise is on my wife's Infiniti and that was annoyingly long. Even on the shortest setting it would hit the brakes before I could change lanes. I guess it depends on your target speed and willingness to change lanes, but in my experience the shortest setting was the best at preventing automated braking. I have about 10 hours experience with this one and on the highway it is much better, but back roads it gets a little close for my liking. Maybe I just need to learn to trust it more...
As for MPG in our 11.5hr trip I never saw the north side of 17.5mpg. No trailer, but loaded up inside. My guess is a break-in tune? Truck had 33miles when we hit the road. I did make sure to vary engine speed when it was flat but that was only the first few hours.
byathread
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Towing the camper I get ~9 to 9.5 usually max of 70mph or below, of course depending on terrain/wind conditions. If the trip is predominantly uphill/into wind, closer to 9. If the trip is more downhill/with the wind, closer to 9.5. About what I expected. Tows like a champ and if I was comfortable with it/a little stupid/a lot crazy, could set cruise at like 90 with a 7000# camper and it'd maintain speed no issues. Just don't do that and rarely get out of the right lane/drive slower/conservatively with any trailer is just common sense and a more relaxing journey. Usually stays in 10th and spools turbo as opposed to downshift, sometimes will stay in 9th and spool turbos on a grade. No trailer I get between 16 and 19. I've only ever seen the computer go over 20 (meaningless to me), but, I like hearing the turbos howl/keep my foot in it. I "coast" more than the wife, who is more of an on the brake or on the gas kinda driver/brakes be damned on this ~5.8K# vehicle. YMMV! I do always run premium fuel, calculate mileage (not cause I care what it is really, more for data collection purposes) and try and use the same pump at my local Shell station, etc. All of this said, my last fill up was 13MAR and I still have just over a half a tank...
Dice Roll
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So far I’m in the same boat. I keep seeing 17.5. Can’t remember what the hand calculations were since it’s been so long with the virus that I haven’t filled up again. Just now hitting 875 miles on the clock.
wakeboarder
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@byathread @Dice Roll
My mileage was also lower during the break-in period. See my post #29 in this thread. The first two tanks were around town. The 3rd was all highway with a good portion at a speed limit of 45. I did shift gears often to vary engine speed.
My mileage was also lower during the break-in period. See my post #29 in this thread. The first two tanks were around town. The 3rd was all highway with a good portion at a speed limit of 45. I did shift gears often to vary engine speed.
AKentPhoto
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Glad to hear it, What is the break in on these things? Is it 1k? 1,500? 3k?
carymccarr
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I believe manual says 1k.
Deadman
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Mine had 300 miles on it by the time they dealer traded it from out of state.
When I got it, it would average 23-25 mpg on highway if you went easy. Thats with 3.73 max 4x4. I haven't noticed much if any change......
When I got it, it would average 23-25 mpg on highway if you went easy. Thats with 3.73 max 4x4. I haven't noticed much if any change......
Dice Roll
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Says no towing for first 1k. So that must be break in. I saw no mention of a detune.
Deadman
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My Diesel said that too. When mine had 200 Miles on it, we hooked it to a 30 foot enclosed trailer that weighed 15,000 lbs and drug it cross country at 90 Mph! lol. Broke it in quick!
My Diesel said that too. When mine had 200 Miles on it, we hooked it to a 30 foot enclosed trailer that weighed 15,000 lbs and drug it cross country at 90 Mph! lol. Broke it in quick!
I am not sure the real reason for the break in. Gear break in, brake burnishing, ring setting, not sure. But we have 90 pickup trucks at work of all makes. They go right from the dealership to towing backhoes, skidsteers, mini ex’s and they never get a mile of easy driving. Very few of the have a problems other than the emission system until we dump them at 180+K miles.
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carymccarr
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Yeah but nobody complains if a work truck is rough at idle, has a clunky tranny, burns a little oil etc etc.
I’m skeptical too of the real benefit of a break in period but I do follow them religiously and always get an oil change after it reaches the end of that period.
Deadman
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Think about it this way, IF you drive it easy for the first 1,000 miles and baby it, then they fully expect your 36K warranty to run up and your problems show up at 37K. lol. Anything to get a few less repairs is all they care about in the end.
bushpilot
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My Diesel said that too. When mine had 200 Miles on it, we hooked it to a 30 foot enclosed trailer that weighed 15,000 lbs and drug it cross country at 90 Mph! lol. Broke it in quick!
I towed myself home after I bought my last diesel truck....the forum guys heads about exploded when they learned the truck didn't have 25 miles on it....
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That’s about the most truck thing I’ve ever seen.
