Tow Vehicle Observation

Wandering Sagebrush

Wandering Sagebrush

Free Range Human
I recently had to take my F250 (2000, with 7.4L diesel) to Tillamook and back, also pulling my Gregor lake/bay boat. The trip came up just shy of 300 miles, took just under 16 gallons to fill up afterwards.

This last weekend, I took my Expedition over. Just over 300 miles, and took 18.2 gallons to fill. No boat.

I suspect each vehicle could have taken a bit more, but the pumps at the local station are programmed to shut off at $75, and that is what they did for both fill ups. It looks like I got about 2 mpg more out of the F250, even though pulling the boat. My guess is that i would have dropped a MPG or 2 with the Expedition if I would have used it for the tow vehicle.

So after all the rambling discussion, it appears that even with the vast difference between diesel prices and regular unleaded, it is at least a break even or maybe better with the diesel. Has anyone else noticed similar results?

Steve
 
Steve,
If the fuel pumps shut off at $75.00 then how do you know that the tanks were full? Unless you start with a full tank and refill at the end of the trip I don't see how you could compute or compare mileage. My experience has been in general that diesel engines get about 20% better mileage and right now diesel sells for about 20% more than regular gasoline-close to a wash. In your case your diesel pickup probably weighs more than the SUV and would take a little more energy to propel down the road.
 
Ken,

It was a BGBG (best guess by golly) based on the trip computers in the vehicles. I suspect that each might have been able to squeeze in a couple more pints, but my guess is not much more than that. My belief is that even with the extra vehicle weight of the F250, plus pulling the small boat, I came out about even.

What ever happened to the days when diesel was less than regular?????????
 
With my slightly modified 2005 Chev. Duramax 3/4 ton crew cab short bed , I get at 60 mph [straightline ,no stopping or city stuff] 21.7 MPG without towing . It just goes down according to what I am towing . Pretty hard to beat with gas . I still like the room and safety. about 17-18 if I am real gentle around town . There are no appreciable hills in Fl.
Marc
 
Your f250 oiler is going to beat a gasser any day in mpg. With one exception: extreme cold weather in town driving as it will never get a chance to warm up as the gasser will.
 
To Wefings: "no appreciable hills in Florida"

Understatement of the year award, there. What's the highest point in the state? 300 ft I think. Flat, flat, flat. :smile

Just kidding around. No harm intended. I would have said "no noticeable hills in Florida"

We have speed bumps here that are probably tougher to get over than your hills.... I know my driveway is. I use 4 LO to back up the hill. No kidding.

Jeff
 
Jeff
Try east Mallory ST (down to Bayou Texar) in Pensacola, Fla. Many a skinned knee on skates in the 30-40s. Barely able to climb on a bicycle.
Zelpha
 
Here in the mtns of NC...I made a huge tow vehicle mistake. My 2002 F150 w/5.4 gas had plenty of power, towed our 22 Angler like it wasn't there, especially with the overdrive off on the 4 speed auto.
My 2008 F250 with the same engine and rear end, but with the 5spd auto doesn't tow worth a crap! The tow/haul mode on the tranny doesn't keep it out of 5th gear, it simply changes the shift points and uses the tranny to help break. The tranny also has a useless 3rd gear only that is just that...it stays in 3rd...and doesn't downshift...I can't think of anything that this would be usefull for!
2002 f150 5.4...
17mpg
15mpg towing

2008 f250 5.4
12.2mpg
11.8mpg towing
 
I, too, hate the shut-off at $75 on most of today's pumps. Coming back from the Chesapeake CBGT I faced those twice and re-inserted my card and pumped another 5 gallons or so each time.

RE: trip computers. The one in my Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel consistently shows mileage that is 2-3 mpg on the optimistic side.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Nick,

The MPG portion of the trip computer on my F250 is exactly the opposite of your Dodge. It gives the average over time. As I often have a 3300 lb camper on the back, my average mileage is 15.1 over the 53,000 miles on the beast. Depending on terrain, I get 13 to 14 mpg with camper and big boat behind and close to 20 with no load. Most of my trips are from near sea level with at least a 2000ish foot climb, often to 4000 feet if going to the east and over the cascades.

Regards,

Steve
 
That's a real question...... I have a Chev gas pick-up that towing gets about 15 on flat ground..... 11 in the mountains.... My son has a nice 1997 F350 extra cab with a Diesel that he claims will give me 20 mpg towing and he claims that it will do it with my C-Dory behind it.... Maybe I should trade trucks with him..... ??????

Joel
SEA3PO
 
SEA3PO":sg4o95uo said:
That's a real question...... I have a Chev gas pick-up that towing gets about 15 on flat ground..... 11 in the mountains.... My son has a nice 1997 F350 extra cab with a Diesel that he claims will give me 20 mpg towing and he claims that it will do it with my C-Dory behind it.... Maybe I should trade trucks with him..... ??????

Joel
SEA3PO
Click to expand...

Joel? Trade him trucks. I drove an F-350 with the International 7.3 engine for 5 years and traded it last sumer. I was able to tow my C-Dory back & forth from PA to NC and get 20 mpg (no speeding).

Last summer I traded the Ford on a 2007 Dodge because I wanted to try the Cummins engine (drove Ford diesels since 1986).

I love the power of the Cummins, but starting in 2007 diesel engines have pollution control on them. Fuel mileage has dropped accordingly.

My Dodge has a 6-speed manual transmission, an engine brake and I added the high-speed idle option. It's almost the perfect tow vehicle (for me)! I drove tractor-trailer (pulled doubles) for many years, so my Dodge feels like "home" to me.

I can tow my C-Dory from NC to PA and not downshift at all. Just set the cruise at 70 and enjoy the ride. The engine brake holds back so much that I am forced to give it fuel going down hill.

As for mileage? I would guess around 16 - 17 while towing the C-Dory. I will be towing the boat back to PA next week and will post the mileage.

If I could change one thing I would have bought the Dodge in 2006, before the pollution control stuff was added.
 
I too love my 7.3 PS. It has no pollution controls, good power, and what I would call excellent economy for such a vehicle. I honestly get 11-13 (55-65 most of the time) with a 5-6 thousand pound 12 foot camper on the back of my dually f350 crew cab 4x4 while pulling my CD 22 from Wasilla to Seward and it is not an easy drive. Empty - you can count around 16-20 depending on how fast you go. I can't complain, it is paid for and holding up very well.
 
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