Diesel MPG Towing 4-5k

[dcarver]

Wife, baby, and I just took a 300 mile trip to Fort Worth for an RV show and to enjoy the downtown area. We saw a Trailmanor trailer which claims you only lose about 1MPG per 100 miles. So over 500 miles that means in our current car we'd get 15 MPG towing the Trailmanor. Well it is a cool design but very very expensive for what you get IMO. I prefer our current set up with the two bunks and its paid for price lol.

So my question is to all you diesel aficionados: What kind of MPG do you or would you expect from towing 4-5k lbs? (Profile Pic should show the TT so you have an idea) I would prefer to buy myself a used diesel truck rather than upgrade the current TT so If I could expect to see 12+MPG at the worst then I may go for it.
Our current 5.3 Rainier got 10.7 (best so far) on the trip here and last time got 9MPG (worst so far).

[wildmandmc]

the touque from a diesel, can pull without to much loss of mpg, altho uphill/downhill does have a big effect. an the way a diesel is driven can change all, learned yrs ago from inlaw who drove 18 wheeleers, with a diesel you take off slow, build up speed an maintain it, taking off fast in diesel can blow a lot thru without burning it. i have a class a 28k lb, with a 300 cat, get abt 7.6 8mpg. 82k miles on it.

[dcarver]

Well I'm looking at half the weight of the DP so twice the MPG would be great!! lol

[jlfbatonrg]

Over 55000 miles almost all towing a Saturn Vue ~ weight 3500 lb, on the flat lands, in the Rockies and eastern mountains, in the winds of Kansas, etc. We have averaged 9.2 mpg, and enjoyed the comfort of being to use the bathroom, eat, etc. without having to stop every few hours. We also only stop for fuel every 500-600 miles. These things, for us, make the DP a better option than a TT and truck.

[jesilvas]

My truck get's 15.5-16.5 MPG average unloaded.
Loaded with 4-5k lbs I would expect 10-11 MPG, maybe 12 or so. 10k lbs is about 8MPG, and really that is rock bottom.

[NFlcamper]

I got a used diesel after towing with a 5.3 L GMC 1500. I like the more relaxed feeling I have towing with it. I have no regrets trading up only 2 years newer from a 2004 to a 2006. The 04 GMC had 178,000 miles and was take care of and was still dependable, but NOT enough truck for my Toy Hauler. The 06 Dodge diesel I found had only 74,500 miles and a great deal in my area. I'll post numbers from both trucks so you can compare them. Your Buick is lighter than the GMC and has less frontal area for better economy, but the diesel gets the same mpgs as my GFs Buick Rainier w/ the I5 motor. COMPLETELY different towing capabilities though.

GMC 1500 w/5.3, auto, 4x4 extended cab 6.5 bed, 3.73 gearing - weighed 5,500 lbs; 13 mpg solo around town, 14.5 mpg solo doing 70-75 mph on highway. Best mpg was 16.5 driving 55 and under on US1 going to Key West. About 10.5 mpg towing a 7x10 enclosed bike trailer 6' tall and 3,300 lbs. 7 mpg towing my Forrest River toy hauler @ 9,200 lbs and about 27 feet long.

Dodge 2500 w/5.9 L auto, 4x4 quad cab 6.4 bed, 3.73 gearing also - weighs 7,100 lbs; 16 mpg around town solo, 19 mpg highway doing 70 mph solo, 12.5 mpg average towing the 7x10 bike trailer to Sturgis, SD and back to Florida. I got 13.5 mpg doing 65 mph and 11.5 mpg doing over 75 mph. My friend in another truck kept our speed average higher than I wanted. Towing the Toy Hauler I can get about 11 mpg if I stay under 65 mph - which is not easy with the diesel.

Speed and wind resistance is what kills the mpgs. Keep it under 65 mph and mpgs stay up.

[hone eagle]

Originally Posted by jlfbatonrg

Over 55000 miles almost all towing a Saturn Vue ~ weight 3500 lb, on the flat lands, in the Rockies and eastern mountains, in the winds of Kansas, etc. We have averaged 9.2 mpg, and enjoyed the comfort of being to use the bathroom, eat, etc. without having to stop every few hours. We also only stop for fuel every 500-600 miles. These things, for us, make the DP a better option than a TT and truck.

My perspective mpg 9.5 ,truck has eating and washing /cleaning sleeping facilities ,only stop when we need to stretch our legs ,only stop for fuel every 2000 miles .
These things for us make truck and trailer a better option then a DP.

[dcarver]

So it seems what I'm reading is a diesel won't get much better MPGs than I do right now although the towing will be more effortless and my MPGs won't drop much at all with an increase in weight

Sound right?

[jesilvas]

On average mileage is pretty close, yes. They'll be claims high and low, but average them out and take the more reputable, honest reports and you're right.

[dcarver]

Well heck right now I'm thinking any 3/4 ton gas or diesel. Stopped at a rest stop because of 25-35 mph winds with 45mph gusts hitting us from the left front. It's pretty crappy especially when you get passed by a big 3/4 ton power stroke pulling a big 5th wheel lol. Too sketchy out there

[NFlcamper]

That's the down side of smaller tow vehicles. With the mileage you are getting, you are within your towing capacity, but the longer tt is exerting more sway than the lightweight suv can control from the wind. How is the sway control system adjusted? They do wear out.

A gas 3/4 ton will not get the mileage a diesel get. But you can find them a lot cheaper than diesels and just be prepared to add to the gas fund.

[safari1]

2011 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3l 3.73 6 speed trans. gas, I got 8.6mpg PHX to Tucson and 10.1 Tucson to PHX last week with our new Stellar toy hauler, about 6000lbs. I was hoping for better than that but I get about 12-14 towing my flatbed trailer with RZR on it, 1300lbs. I get about 15-16 around town empty.
Thinking about diesel as well but not sure the mpg difference is worth it.

[dcarver]

To be honest I'm not sure the sway control is perfect but I've never had this much sway before but I've also not towed in wind like this lol.
After searching some diesel sites it doesn't look like a diesel is for me with the type of driving I do. Lot of short commuting with turning the truck on and off which I hear is not good for a diesel.
I know the HD gas tricks will drink some fuel but I'd rather keep the family safe.
Anyone know how the 5.3 is in a 3/4 ton?
I just blew past an F250 with the 5.4 towing a smaller trailer so I'm thinking the 5.3 may be decent in a 2500 with the correct gearing and return better fuel economy than the 6.0

[onechaddude]

Originally Posted by dcarver

To be honest I'm not sure the sway control is perfect but I've never had this much sway before but I've also not towed in wind like this lol.
After searching some diesel sites it doesn't look like a diesel is for me with the type of driving I do. Lot of short commuting with turning the truck on and off which I hear is not good for a diesel.
I know the HD gas tricks will drink some fuel but I'd rather keep the family safe.
Anyone know how the 5.3 is in a 3/4 ton?
I just blew past an F250 with the 5.4 towing a smaller trailer so I'm thinking the 5.3 may be decent in a 2500 with the correct gearing and return better fuel economy than the 6.0

The 5.3 is not available in a 2500 only in s 1500. The 6.0 is the base engine. I believe the 5.3 would be a little underpowered in a 2500.
Chad