2500 Mile Towing Road Trip

idnative1948 · April 19, 2015

Just home about three hours now from a 2514 mile road trip down through Nevada, into Arizona, up through Utah, Nevada and back into Idaho. Our 2005HD, 6.0 never even burped towing 5300 lbs as high as 8200+ feet. Only problem was fighting winds for 3/4 of the trip so mileage was down to 8.6 overall.

Our travel trailer was another story, or we wouldn't have cut our time short by three days. So... note to self-

If you have a 14 year-old trailer with an awning that has some sun damage, be ready to have things happen in high winds (40+). Somewhere along the highway going into Great Basin in Nevada the awning fabric decided to self-destruct so here I am flying down the highway with what looked like my laundry flapping in the breeze. By the time we make it to Great Basin Park, it looked like I had a week's worth of wash beating the side of the trailer. Was just a little pizzed by then, so toured the cave there before I pulled out the duct tape, unhooked and backed the truck up to the side of it so I could duct tape the chit out of it. Was in no mood to camp by then so made it into Ely, Nevada for the night, more duct taping and home from there today. My last gas stop before home was 113 miles and I burned through 21.2 gallons. Sick, sick, of driving in the wind, but I guess you have to take what life gives you.

End of rant

austingta · April 19, 2015

5.3 mpg...ouch

[email protected] · April 19, 2015

wow thats bad mileage. I got about that with a 6.0 dually towing 15000lbs through windy hilly 2 lane highways...yikes

doverarjim · April 19, 2015

I just got 13.5 mpg in my truck coming to AZ!!!! I could not figure out what was going on until I turned North and had to put about 1/4 turn to the left to keep the truck on the road. When we stopped and got out we were looking at a constant 20-25 MPH wind gusting to 45-50 mph. Next day milage when back to 18.5 mpg, so I can see pulling a trailer getting down there because my truck is bare.