Jump to content

Towing MPG

doctorofpain

By doctorofpain
in Engines & Drivetrain

Recommended Posts

doctorofpain New Member

doctorofpain

Posted
Posted

Hey folks I have been away from Chevy for a few years but am back with a 2018 Silverado Crew Cab 5.3 with I think a 3.42 rear end. My question is towing a single axle motorcycle trailer that weighs about 2800 lbs. with bike I am getting 13.7 mpg. Is this normal or poor mileage, I really didn't think it would drop from my avg. of 19.6 that much. 

Thanks Bob

CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

Sounds about right. Driving habits and weather/ambient temps, A/C usage all are variables with mpg.

 

I got 15-17 towing an empty 1,500lb trailer and like 11ish towing 5,500lbs.

 

It's not always about weight itself, it's the extra drag the trailer will have and the more fuel it will use to maintain the speed or get to speed. In the end it can add up to more than you think.

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted

Use tow/haul mode and slow down.  I pull a travel trailer with my V6 and find that if I adjust my driving habits when towing (less aggressive) my mpg's improve considerably.

YukonXL04 Enthusiast

YukonXL04

Posted
Posted

Yea it really does depend on your driving habits. Why not just get a ramp and stick the motorcycle in the bed?

What kinda motorcycle and single axle trailer weights 2800lbs? Unless multiple motorcycles I guess

  • 2 weeks later...
bmartinez2086 Enthusiast

bmartinez2086

Posted
Posted

I dont know if I have a say in this but, I have a 2019 Silverado 1500LD with a 3.42 rear end. I pulled 7000 pounds from Cal State Los Angeles to East Tucson, AZ. I filled up in Cudahy, CA then drove to Cal State. I arrived to Tucson with a 1/8 tank and I have a 24 gallon tank. I averaged 62MPH. Did I do something different.

16LT4 Enthusiast

16LT4

Posted
Posted

Hitch anything out back and mileage plummets.  On my '17 doing 70, my empty 700 lb flat-trailer with wire-mesh hinged flip-down ramp dropped mileage from 20 mpg to 14.  The return trip with 3-4k lbs of white oak gave me the same 14 mpg.  Unhitched, and I was back to 20.  The drag, even with a mesh, is the huge culprit... trying to swing a tennis racket through a pool...

ftwhite Enthusiast

ftwhite

Posted
Posted

6.2L 1500 on a round trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. Trip down without trailer, trip home towing 3200lbs Subaru on a 2500lbs car hauler. About 4mpg diff. 00b4ee82f42c85bd08941bfeb29edfc5.jpge3198f5848f78e6509cda32a134084c4.jpg

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Paintor Enthusiast

Paintor

Posted
Posted

Effective this month US gasoline is now 15% ethanol and you will see a reduction in MPG...versus last month.

 

Oil wasn't lasting forever..or Fort Knox's gold

2003 SSEi Enthusiast

2003 SSEi

Posted
Posted

I hauled my car in an enclosed car trailer, trailer weighs 3750, and the car weights around 4000.  From PA to Just north of Detroit MIcand back to PA

 

 

A979F225-AB11-4831-BCA3-1F19627C9D29.jpeg

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Chuck FB
      first oil change - 2026 2500HD gas

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      That is the funnel kit I bought and for being here in Canada I did get a better deal than what other sources were charging through a certain supplier in town that sources more directly and they ordered it for me. There are other items now on the market which would be perfect as well but this has worked well which was the hope when I bought it. I mentioned the Amsoil quart bottles as they have that squarish shape up top and it props nicely on the rim of the opening without falling into the funnel so I can leave them sit and drip a bit. You may have already figured out that to get the cap off the valve cover unless one is 7 + feet tall its not going to be reached without standing on a step of some sort and so when I do that I put the right adapter in and just leave the elbow on the funnel all the time anyway and open the lid and then if using quart containers for sure I can stand beside the truck and leisurely add the oil, and I can leave that funnel on when starting the engine to let it idle to fill the filter and then add the rest of the oil to top it up before removing the funnel and putting the factory cap back on. I put the cap back on the top and slide the bottom cap on as it fits onto the elbow adapter also and then store the funnel in a clean household plastic garbage bag along with the adapter so I have no reason to be washing out the inside of the funnel as I keep it completely clean between uses.    Draining the oil as per the under the truck portion, yes indeed that is slick as someone was thinking on GM's part there and admittedly I don't drop the oil screaming hot in this truck due to the exhaust being there and makes it safer as far as the oil temp if its just warmed up some instead as I don't have the truck on any ramps etc as I do it as the tires sit on the garage floor. The filter is not boiling hot then either and can drop it off into another pail after pulling the drain plug and just leave it drip out. Go back under a few hours later with new filter in hand and clean off the filter base and put the new filter on and install the drain plug. The filter is a little cramped in there as per wrapping ones hand around the filter and I am so used to using the band style filter removal tool that its no big deal and same for snugging it up. My filter wrench is many years old now but I think this is the current version and sounds like the right size, just in case my explanation was not great ( those nylon strap wrenches that one tool fits all filters are not my favorite tool to use, I much prefer this style personally )     57020 Swivel Gripper - No Slip Filter Wrench - Small | Lisle Corporation   And again about the oil draining and filter setup under these GM trucks, I've watched Ford videos of them struggling with oil flying sideways out of the oil pan on the gas 7.3 due to the sideways drain plug onto other components or cross members and guys trying to make shields out of carboard etc and other Ford pickups that Ford insisted they have sideways drain plugs. One win for GM there anyway with this engine. 
    • JimCost2014
      2027 3.0l - ordered

      By JimCost2014 · Posted

      Kind of off topic, wife drives a 2023 Yukon Denali with the 3.0, been a great rig so far, incredible fuel economy for a truck that big and heavy. Coming up on 50000 trouble free miles.
    • PunchT37
      Valvoline R&P Fuel System Cleaner

      By PunchT37 · Posted

      I`m gonna try some of this in my 2000 LM7 that has had the famous piston slap since 17,000 miles or so. I have used Mopar combustion chamber cleaner down the spark plug holes a few times in the past. Corrects the problem for a few months or so. Then returns. GM top engine cleaner has been used also. No good results from this.   This LM7 never used oil. Even running the piss out of it.   Course, I`m gonna use this in my 2025 L84 while it`s still clean. It`s got 13,000 miles. Used Chevron fuel system cleaner [2 bottles in tank] a tank or 2 ago.  
    • StingerZ16
      Navigating senior years.

      By StingerZ16 · Posted

      Or put you in a lawn chair on the curb, with a free sign. 
    • diyer2
      Gas Prices

      By diyer2 · Posted

      Still $4.50 85 oct.

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...