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Miles per gallon towing

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tsunami View Drop Down
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    Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 2:35pm
I just returned from a 1,000 mile trip towing with a full sized Chevy pickup with 6 speed auto trans and 'tow haul' option.  I wasn't convinced about using the tow-haul until this trip.  There were a lot of small hills and valleys to cross.  The tow-haul cut shifting up & down considerably and when using cruise control, the TV would downshift automatically to keep downhill speed constant.  I never had to worry about using the brakes to keep from over-speeding down the hills. Even on the flats...if I came to a sudden slow speed limit sign...a quick tap on the brakes downshifted to slow the vehicle without over-revving the engine.  The engine/transmission is large enough that it never felt like it was over-working will in tow-haul.
At one point I forgot to set the tow-haul and my mpg went down by about 1/2 mpg from 12 to 11 1/2 mpg.
I would like to mention that I encountered 'real-non-ethanol'/10% ethanol/85% ethanol fuel on the trip (my Chevy has a 'flex-fuel' engine).  My mileage jumped up about 1.5 to 2 mpg using the non-ethanol and dropped to about 10 mpg using the 85%.  The prices were so varied from state to state...that there was no real savings at the 85% pump. My Chevy booklet and dealer convinced me not to waste money using higher octane fuel...with a new vehicle, knocking is a thing of the past.  The real difference in mileage is the amount of available energy per gallon and 85% ethanol is really low compared to 10% or non-ethanol!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HerbL Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 12:49pm
We just finished a 600 mile trip from Connecticut to Maine and back. We averaged about 11.8 mpg (this includes some driving around without the Pod). I am beginning to think that the newer Pods with the spoiler do get higher mpg. I hope some of those in Canada, who have had the spoiler added through the recall will report on any mpg increases they experience.
We generally drive at about 60 mph and leave the transmission in 6th gear, unless we run into steep hills/mountains.
We have been very pleased with our new Silverado for towing. If needed, we can accelerate up hills or keep up with fast moving traffic in congested areas.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tpierce220 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 11:09am
With my Outlander the lowest I got was about 10 mpg when driving in a headwind.  Normally, though, I've been seeing anywhere from 12-14 mpg.  Thankfully most of the driving is pretty flat, so it does fine.  It can struggle going up some steep hills--there are a few in northern Illinois--so I just keep it as steady as possible to keep the strain off the transmission.


Adventures with ¡Podtástic!--Life in a Forest River RPod 182G with Tim and Louis and our two cats, Desi and Lucy. Check our website at http://podtastic.info for information on our journeys.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HuronSailor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 9:05am
Originally posted by Larry Larry wrote:

Should you use over-drive when towing? 


In our case, since we're all pulling the same trailer, I think it depends very much on your tow vehicle. I have a "tow mode" button that I use when the OD starts to kick out a lot. According to the owner's manual the pod doesn't weigh enough for me to use tow mode, but I do anyway. 


.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: "arrrr"Pod 172 :: My Albums :: OurPod Blog ::
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HuronSailor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 8:58am
Originally posted by thrasharound thrasharound wrote:

I personally think cruise control uses more fuel

I seem to be seeing the same thing. I never used cruise in hilly terrain, but now I hardly ever use it at all when towing the pod.
.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: "arrrr"Pod 172 :: My Albums :: OurPod Blog ::
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote unlblkrubi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 8:16am
9.5 to 14 MPG duing a 4500 mile trip out west and back. OD sucks in a Jeep JK.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gmandual Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2011 at 10:34pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote podsible dream Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2011 at 8:58pm
We just got back from long weekend in Maine. 330 miles one way from central NJ, Hills, no mountains, lots of long gentle grades. Did 60-62 mph at 2500-2600 rpm with the OD off, got 10 mpg. If the OD was on, the slightest grade would slow us down and the transmission would down shift to keep the rpm's up. It would shift down to the next lower gear, but never dropped below third at 4000 rpm or 48 to 50 mph.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ratdog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2011 at 8:07pm
Originally posted by Larry Larry wrote:

Should you use over-drive when towing? I had a mechanic tell me once that you should not use OD when towing; I’ve got to research this, and how does OD effect gas mileage? I guess cruise control might also effect gas mileage?

 
Larry - When your transmission starts to "hunt" for gears, shifting in and out of OD, turn it off. That usually happens in hilly terrain. On the flats, I believe it's OK to leave OD on. That's what I used to do when we owned a big TT. The TV we use with the rpod has a transmission that doesn't shift gears so it's not an issue.
 
With cruise control, I think you will get better gas mileage with it off unless, again, you're on the flats where your TV isn't doing a bunch of speeding up and slowing down. We just leave ours on pretty much all of the time except in the mountains.
 
-- Steve

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote thrasharound Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2011 at 8:04pm
I personally think cruise control uses more fuel because it can not look ahead to see an upcoming gradual incline so it just mashes the pedal to maintain a constant speed. Without it on you see the hill and just settle in for maybe a little slower climb.  I don't know if it is right or not but I tend to watch the rpm's, a lot of the time by dropping 2 miles an hour you can settle in to 2300 rpm vs 3000.  Just a thought.

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