Gas Mileage While Towing Your Boat

2002 Dodge Durango with the 5.7 Magnum and tow kit. 2005 220 Sundeck. Got 10 - 11 MPG going to the Keys a couple of months ago at 60 MPH. Pushed it up to 65 - 70 and mpg dropped to 7 - 8. I'm about 250 miles from the Keys.

Bet you can guess how fast I was driving...
 
I tow my boat (3900lbs empty), probably 6,000 total. I get 10.6 MPG driving my 2 wheel drive suburban on the highway. Speeds were 65 to 70. It took me almost 6 months to find a 2 wheel drive suburban at the auctions. Without the boat I get 17 MPG on the highway and 14 to 15 city. The suburban pretty much sits around since I keep the boat in a slip.

Suburban or a diesel excursion is the only way to travel.
 
Ford F250 SD V10 towing 10,000 lbs.

8-9 mpg

I'm surprised to see some of the diesels aren't getting better gas mileage. I wonder why?

Doug
 
2000 chevy suburban, 5.3 ltre. pulling 1989 200 bow rider i get 12mph on the super slab. I don't know what i get around town pullin the boat, but the gas gauge moves pretty quick. not pulling the boat, i get 15 around town and 18 on the super slab.
 
douglee25 said:
Ford F250 SD V10 towing 10,000 lbs.

8-9 mpg

I'm surprised to see some of the diesels aren't getting better gas mileage. I wonder why?

Doug
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My diesel towing of 12mpg was pulling through the mountains of TN on my trip to Norris Lk. I think it's better pulling to my local lake but I haven't checked it.
 
Quint4 said:
My diesel towing of 12mpg was pulling through the mountains of TN on my trip to Norris Lk. I think it's better pulling to my local lake but I haven't checked it.
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That's pretty darn good. I'm lucky if I see that unloaded.

Doug
 
Nehalennia said:
That's because you own a Ford not a Chevy....:huh: :grin:
....I'm just saying.

My next tow rig will be a Duramax
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Hey now, I had a Chevy for 11 years and sold it for more than I paid. :grin: I went to the dark side afterwards. I must say, 70's, 80's and ealy 90's Chevy trucks looked and performed great. I think late 90's and 2000's are uggggly! My Ford looks and performs soooo much better than my Chevy.

Doug
 
280 SeaRay said:
Amen sir. Great call.



Do you have the 4.10 gears in your gasser? If I remember correctly you have to have 4.10 gears in order to break 10,500 in towing capacity 2500/Gas.
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3.73 right now. Fortunately I only tow it to the marina in the spring and back home in the fall. I almost opted for the duramax but don't tow enough to justify it.
 
Nehalennia said:
That's because you own a Ford not a Chevy....:huh: :grin:
....I'm just saying.

My next tow rig will be a Duramax
Click to expand...

You Chevy girls are gonna love this one.... enjoy ladies
IMG_0128.jpg
 
MrIcemaker said:
I am lucky to get 14 mpg - with or without the boat, no difference (of course, the boat doesn't weigh very much!)

2008 F-350 4x4 - 6.4L Diesel
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If I were interested in a gas truck (speaking in regard to new trucks) I would certainly look at Ford as an option. Too bad Ford choose Navistar for their diesel supplier. Poor (IMO) diesel in a good truck. Friend of mine had a 6.0 what a nightmare (horrible gas mileage and more trips to the dealer than I can count). When I was comparing trucks for the last buy I could not drive some of the 6.4 PSD on the lot as they had not been fixed for the flaming tailpipe. Now the 7.3 PSD was a fine diesel why did they get rid of that thing.



dpvandy01 said:
You Chevy girls are gonna love this one.... enjoy ladies
IMG_0128.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes this is a familiar sight... on many of the freeways around California as well.... boat not able to be towed, a Ford, and hood up waiting for the tow truck.


Now if Ford decided to bring CAT into the picture.... I am interested.
 
I tow an 89 Sea Ray 230 Cuddy (about 4200lbs) with a 02 Ford F150 Super Crew - Pulls nice and stops nice (just re-did the brakes) - Gas mileage would be 15mpg (using the tow button on gear selector....Good news is I live 10miles from the river..
 
Ford is actually working on designing their own diesel engine, guess we will wait and see what that is like. International and Cat are trying to get together and if that happens the way they want it to Cat will only be in International. Cat is trying to get out of the truck engine business.
 
Nehalennia said:
Jeremy, did he just call us Girls?
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I actually think that he was making mention of all the lady folk who would be riding in the GM product with us. They would enjoy the comfortable upscale interior and understand that the guy driving has made a solid choice in truck.

:grin:
 
280 SeaRay said:
I actually think that he was making mention of all the lady folk who would be riding in the GM product with us. They would enjoy the comfortable upscale interior and understand that the guy driving has made a solid choice in truck.

:grin:
Click to expand...

Agreed! My truck is a 2001 GMC Sierra C3. It was only made in that one year. It's the precursor to the Denali - basically, the same truck without 4 wheel steering. The truck was designed to steal a portion of the BMW market. It was the first GMC to come with Michelin tires and 17" wheels. Everything on the truck is standard. Only options were running boards or side bars (I got the bars).

The truck is truly loaded. 6.0L - all wheel drive (full time). It has an awesome suspension so it corners like a car, but has ground clearance like a normal truck. It came with 2-tone leather, halogen headlights, real simulated wood grain interior, 6-disc cd changer, heated electric seats, electric mirrors, on-star, under-mirror lights (for walking around truck after you shut it down or use remote to unlock), auto-dimming rear mirror, trip computer... Everything - looks like a Cadillac interior.

I've owned it for 7 years (since new). I'm not looking for a replacement. I get almost 18 mpg. I trying for 18.5 on this tank. If I filled it up only 1/2 way, it would be easier. It's hard to drive that carefully for that long, and the gas mileage goes up as the fuel weight decreases - noticeably.
 
How's this? It's got big yellow under the hood. :grin:

But with that ball, I think he needs a bigger trailer!

I took this with my phone at the local Home Depot.
 

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