MPG when towing?

[Redneckintraining]

Yesterday I had to help mt friend pull a couple of rigs 50-60 miles away up steep snowy roads.One rig was a huge ford ranger (on 36" tires) on a trailer.The other was his 72 GMC 1 ton 2wd pickup after the motor siezed on a car dolly.Both rigs and towing impliments probally weighed 5-6000 lbs.Ended up making two trips.Once up with the ranger unhook and buzz down then collect the GMC and make the trip again.The roads were kinda steep and snowy,infact because of the time involved the roads were pretty slick when I was towing the GMC.I had to put the truck in 4 hi to make it up the roads and it was still slidding.Anyway after it was all said and done I had racked up 191.7 miles(I filled up and cleared the odometer before hooking up to the ranger) at the pump it took 16.28 gallons to fill the beast.By my calculations thats 11 MPG.Does that sound reasonable given the loads and hills?Heck when I was pulling the GMC in 4hi I was only going 20-25 mph up the steep hills so it wouldnt slide(Much).

truck is an 89 W250 with the 727.

[Richie O]

The only time my 89 actually did any hauling was when I took it camping. I hauled a 4k pound camper. I drove easy and it was summer. I got 13 mpg. Being your case with the snow and using 4 wheel drive that is good.

[GO OVRIT]

Thats probably average. I've gotten 13 a few times pulling 7-8k in the mountains, but that was with a 5 spd. My auto is around 12 on the same trip.

[Redneckintraining]

it just seems like its kinda low.what does a big block get when towing,just for reference?

Also how bad does winter diesel screw with MPG in general?Im only getting about 15 in town when normally its 17+

[peobryant]

A big block would be lucky to get 11 mpg on the highway, by itself.

As far as the winter fuel, it screws with mileage a lot. I've heard claims of up to 4 mpg by just switching to the winter fuel. Of course you can't believe everything you read on the internet.

[Richie O]

it just seems like its kinda low.what does a big block get when towing,just for reference?

Also how bad does winter diesel screw with MPG in general?Im only getting about 15 in town when normally its 17+

That is a normal difference between fuels.

[KTA]

My 93 w350 trailer puller with the NV4500 and 3.54's consistently turns in 10mpg grossing 23000lb and running 70-75mph. The same load pulled with a 88 Chevy K3500 454 TBI running about the same 300rwhp would turn in a nice 6mpg.

[DoWhat?]

Mine does pretty well in comparison to my '96 Powerstroke. I can't say how well though, on account of my speedo being broke

[GO OVRIT]

it just seems like its kinda low.what does a big block get when towing,just for reference?

Also how bad does winter diesel screw with MPG in general?Im only getting about 15 in town when normally its 17+

I get 4.5 in my 440 truck with no trailer. I wouldn't consider towing with it any distance, so I don't have a mpg towing #.

I don't know if there is no "winter blend" here, or if I just am oblivious, but I've never noticed any difference in any of my diesels.(mpg or power)

[SChandler]

Go Ovrit, where is here? If you are in warmer climates (i.e. the southwest or SE corners of the US) I'm not sure that they run winter blends. It is mostly a northern half of the country deal, where fuel gelling is more of an issue.

I got 15.4 mpg on a tank where I towed my dad's truck on a flat bed trailer. GCW was about 16k. 200 miles of that tank were towing the truck and trailer, the other 150 miles or so were regular, unloaded, everyday driving. I would guesstimate 13-14 mpg towing at that weight for a whole tank. I never got over 55mph or out of 4th gear on that trip because it was snowing for most of it. That and the truck barely fit on the trailer made me ok with getting passed by semi trucks on I-84.

[GO OVRIT]

Go Ovrit, where is here? If you are in warmer climates (i.e. the southwest or SE corners of the US) I'm not sure that they run winter blends. It is mostly a northern half of the country deal, where fuel gelling is more of an issue.

Virginia. I think it gets cold here, but no really any comparison to most norhtern states.

[dpuckett]

Back in 02-03, I had a 93 that consistently got 13-14 hauling hay and grossing 22-25K. Empty truck and trailer saw 18mpg; empty truck got 19.

I think the mileage you got under those conditions is about right- having the 4x4 engaged will eat a few MPGs, as will going in snow and ice.

DP

[SChandler]

Running in 4wd will eat a little mileage for sure. In December, we got enough snow that the roads were covered almost completely for a week or two and I got 17mpg in 4-Hi almost constantly vs. the 18-19 I usually see in 2wd for the same driving.

[Farmboy]

I will find out this summer how mine will do. That is why I purchaced my truck; to haul my tractor back and forth to the tractor pulls. I will be doing it on a weekly basis.

[dpuckett]

In the recent snow storm we had, I dropped 2mpg or so keeping the hubs locked in all the time, t-case in gear when I needed it.

DP