Need info, Gas mileage when towing - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

The Big Green · 07-27-2008, 10:18 AM

Just wondering what some people get, and with (at all possible) my setup. I have a 400t, 4.11's, and a stock 350, with 600 carb, 882 heads, and 270/455 RV cam. I'll be pulling, at most, a 2001 dakota cc, 4500lbs (I think) and a medium duty trailer my uncle pulls his tractors with, and it has electric brakes. I was just wanting a idea of what I may get when pulling.

Longhorn Man · 07-27-2008, 12:04 PM

5 to 8 MPG

mrein3 · 07-27-2008, 12:34 PM

I have a fresh 383 and th350. 373 gears. 28 inch tall tires - stock height. The 383 has an Edelbrock 2101 intake and 1406 carb.

I pull a Triton TR19 that when on the trailer, fully dressed for a tournament comes in right around 3000 pounds.

I get 9.5 mpg towing. 13 on a REALLY good day when not towing.

Before I swapped in the th350 I'd get 10 mpg towing. That was with a standard, 3-on-the-tree manual.

Gray Ghost · 07-27-2008, 01:12 PM

I get around 8mpg but that's the max. My motor is a 355 with 10k on the clock and a new TH350/3.07 behind that.

The Big Green · 07-27-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

I get around 8mpg but that's the max. My motor is a 355 with 10k on the clock and a new TH350/3.07 behind that.

Gosh dang...lol...3.07's, I can see 8mpg max.

I had a 425hp 350 and got 10mpg and a 1000hp dakota with spray getting 13. I drive like a grandpa, maybe thats why my 67 gets 16

Gray Ghost · 07-27-2008, 11:27 PM

I get 11-12 normally. Course I never drive like grandpa...drive like that around these parts and you'll be dead in a day.

I'd sure like to ride along sometime and do the math on some of you guys talking about 14+ mpg on a truck that has 3.73 or 4.11 gears.

whitesswj · 07-28-2008, 12:07 AM

id say about Half of what your normal mileage is.

**special-K** · 07-28-2008, 06:10 AM

Think of it as powering two vehicles with one motor.I don`t even consider milage when I`m working my truck like that.I`m just glad I can do it.I`ve never towed the same load through a whole tank of fuel to figure it out,if I wanted to know.

haysonj · 07-28-2008, 06:59 AM

I get between 10 and 12 towing the 4500 lb boat with my truck. Has 4.09 gears, 35 inch tires, T400 with gear vendors OD, and a fuel injected 350. I try not to go over 55 MPH. Hope to do a little better when I get my 383 back.

**special-K** · 07-28-2008, 07:33 AM

Now,to get a shot like that with the lake in the background.Nice combo!

The Big Green · 07-28-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Think of it as powering two vehicles with one motor.I don`t even consider milage when I`m working my truck like that.I`m just glad I can do it.I`ve never towed the same load through a whole tank of fuel to figure it out,if I wanted to know.

I understand the pulling and everything. It is pulling 2 vehicles, but its also going down hill, and the back ones pushing...lol. You can get bad mileage pulling up hill, but better down hill. I don't care about gas prices, my new Jeep JK gets like 13 on a really good day...lol. Its my everyday driver, and I'm a FireFighter, so I can't drive my '06 SI that gets 35mpg. My wife drives the car, and I get the 13mpg gas hog. The way I see it, let gas go up, and I'll still do the career I love. I see you point, about if the truck can do it, and not really considering gas mileage. I started the tread because my gauge doesn't work, I need to fix it, but can't before the show thats coming up, so I'm just getting a idea of what to expect.

Gray Ghost
You welcome to ride with me anytime. I don't know how it does it, but I check by filling up, and driveing to a gas station and topping it off. That way I know how much gas it uses, and know how far it is to the station. You posted about how you can tell, and then changed it I guess.

The Big Green · 07-28-2008, 11:04 AM

Oh GRAY GHOST, think about how high your gears are, and you may not notice it struggling from a stop, when you take off. You may not nessasarily notice it, but if you truck had nuts, it would be using both right and left nuts, to take off

. When I went from 3.08 to 4.11, night and day difference, and I kept them because I want to tow with my truck, and I want to leave the nuts alone, and free of being used.

**steelhorse** · 07-28-2008, 12:32 PM

2001 Dodge Ram off road 7mpg when towing and its fuel injected.If you want mpg towing deisel is the only way

The Big Green · 07-28-2008, 12:48 PM

NO DODGES HERE...

. J/k, I had a 2001 with a 4.7 that towed my 67. I still have the 2001 dakota cc, but it now has a 1000hp stroker in it, so my 67 is having to take over on the towing. My mom had a 99 ram cc, 360, until a Tyson semi ran off the road one morning and over corrected, BAM, end of Dodge, they hold up great. I was the first one on scene(FireFighter) and the truck was Totaled beyond belief, but mom was ok, under the circumstances. I love a good Dodge, and would love a good cummins, but the trucks are not cheap, and neither is diesel.

07-27-2008, 10:18 AM	#1
The Big Green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Smith,AR Posts: 1,304	Need info, Gas mileage when towing Just wondering what some people get, and with (at all possible) my setup. I have a 400t, 4.11's, and a stock 350, with 600 carb, 882 heads, and 270/455 RV cam. I'll be pulling, at most, a 2001 dakota cc, 4500lbs (I think) and a medium duty trailer my uncle pulls his tractors with, and it has electric brakes. I was just wanting a idea of what I may get when pulling.

07-27-2008, 12:04 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing 5 to 8 MPG

07-27-2008, 12:34 PM	#3
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing I have a fresh 383 and th350. 373 gears. 28 inch tall tires - stock height. The 383 has an Edelbrock 2101 intake and 1406 carb. I pull a Triton TR19 that when on the trailer, fully dressed for a tournament comes in right around 3000 pounds. I get 9.5 mpg towing. 13 on a REALLY good day when not towing. Before I swapped in the th350 I'd get 10 mpg towing. That was with a standard, 3-on-the-tree manual. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

07-27-2008, 01:12 PM	#4
Gray Ghost Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Terrell, TX Posts: 1,967	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing I get around 8mpg but that's the max. My motor is a 355 with 10k on the clock and a new TH350/3.07 behind that. __________________ Kelly '05 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 Bone stock except for new bed rail caps.

07-27-2008, 11:27 PM	#6
Gray Ghost Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Terrell, TX Posts: 1,967	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing I get 11-12 normally. Course I never drive like grandpa...drive like that around these parts and you'll be dead in a day. I'd sure like to ride along sometime and do the math on some of you guys talking about 14+ mpg on a truck that has 3.73 or 4.11 gears. __________________ Kelly '05 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 Bone stock except for new bed rail caps. Last edited by Gray Ghost; 07-27-2008 at 11:36 PM.

07-28-2008, 12:07 AM	#7
whitesswj Embrace the Redneck Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cabot, AR Posts: 1,334	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing id say about Half of what your normal mileage is. __________________ '01 Camaro *Son, you just can't get there from here...*

07-28-2008, 06:10 AM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing Think of it as powering two vehicles with one motor.I don`t even consider milage when I`m working my truck like that.I`m just glad I can do it.I`ve never towed the same load through a whole tank of fuel to figure it out,if I wanted to know. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

07-28-2008, 06:59 AM	#9
haysonj Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Santa Maria, Ca. Posts: 1,423	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing I get between 10 and 12 towing the 4500 lb boat with my truck. Has 4.09 gears, 35 inch tires, T400 with gear vendors OD, and a fuel injected 350. I try not to go over 55 MPH. Hope to do a little better when I get my 383 back. Attached Images __________________ 69 Chevy 4x4 383 Power

07-28-2008, 07:33 AM	#10
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing Now,to get a shot like that with the lake in the background.Nice combo! __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

07-28-2008, 11:04 AM	#12
The Big Green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Smith,AR Posts: 1,304	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing Oh GRAY GHOST, think about how high your gears are, and you may not notice it struggling from a stop, when you take off. You may not nessasarily notice it, but if you truck had nuts, it would be using both right and left nuts, to take off. When I went from 3.08 to 4.11, night and day difference, and I kept them because I want to tow with my truck, and I want to leave the nuts alone, and free of being used.

07-28-2008, 12:32 PM	#13
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Franklinton NC Posts: 1,309	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing 2001 Dodge Ram off road 7mpg when towing and its fuel injected.If you want mpg towing deisel is the only way

07-28-2008, 12:48 PM	#14
The Big Green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Smith,AR Posts: 1,304	Re: Need info, Gas mileage when towing NO DODGES HERE.... J/k, I had a 2001 with a 4.7 that towed my 67. I still have the 2001 dakota cc, but it now has a 1000hp stroker in it, so my 67 is having to take over on the towing. My mom had a 99 ram cc, 360, until a Tyson semi ran off the road one morning and over corrected, BAM, end of Dodge, they hold up great. I was the first one on scene(FireFighter) and the truck was Totaled beyond belief, but mom was ok, under the circumstances. I love a good Dodge, and would love a good cummins, but the trucks are not cheap, and neither is diesel.



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