2005 Buick Rainier V8 5.3 Liter - Affects On Mpg While Towing & T

[nrich61]

So i have searched for the engine type, vehicle and everything because it looks like everyone is asking this question, but couldnt find an answer.

 

I have:

Buick Rainier 2005 V8 5.3 Liter, 30k miles on it.

 

http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/Specificat...p;Mileage=30000

 

I am considering towing a UHAUL trailer from Seattle area to Madison, WI and need to figure out how its going to affect my MPG as i am on a VERY tight budget.

 

My stuff shouldnt add alot of weight, the reason i may need the bigger one is im trying to take a couple pieces of furniture. The trailers i have to choose from weigh:

 

1800lbs

1250lbs

900lbs

850lbs

 

My understanding is that the Torque has alot to do with how much towing would affect the MPG, but have no idea other than that. I get about 15 MPG in city, i drive conservate.

 

 

 

My other question is about things i need to be concerned about while towing long distance, i dont have the option to turn over drive off, and there is not buttons or anything to turn on "towing mode" as some friends have mentioned. Considering those factors, and any others i may not be thinking of, what do i need to be careful of so i dont rip the thing up? What speed am i safe with (i dont like going to slow ).

[nrich61]

anyone have some feedback on this please?

[Cool Zr2]

You should be able to turn off overdrive by leaving the selector in 3, thats turning off overdrive. 3 is direct drive, D is overdrive. You could pull any U-Haul trailer with your ranier no problem, won't even make that motor sweat.

 

EDIT: I see your truck has 3.73 gears, bonus for towing!!!

 

You will be running highway 90 all the way to madison, at probably 70-75 mph, depending on the speed limit of the state and other various factors. You have mountians to deal with through washington, idaho, and montana untill you get to around butte, but it goes to about columbus before you get out of the sky. Wyoming and south dakota have their own back falls to, minnesota and wisconson will be the best for mileage.

 

Around 500 dollars from seattle to madison. Its about 1900 miles one way, and 15 mpg would be the worst I would think you would get on that trip. I figured it at 15 mpg using 133 gallons and costing you 475 dollars at a cost of 3.54.

 

500 bucks for a move isn't bad being its that far.

[BigJayDogg3]

Just to be on the safe side though, I would say throw in some extra money. And as for tow/haul mode, I don't think the Rainier has an option for that. Normally that is on the gear selector stalk, but the Rainier has a center mounted gear selector, so it eliminates that as an option, and I don't know where else it could go.

[Cool Zr2]

Even if you had Tow/Haul mode you wouldn't need it towing a U-Haul trailer. Just run it in 3rd and if it is towing good you could try overdrive, but pay attention to your instant mileage, just because the RPM's are lower dosen't mean your going to get better mileage than if you run in 3rd. And if your trans gets warm a message will pop up on the information center, yes, even on the trailblazer platform they have a trans temp feature.