Opinion on road trip mileage

[ScottL4619]

Assuming you don't have monster truck tires, why are some people only getting 15-17 mpg on the highway? I can understand if you're driving through the mountains or something, but that just seems really low to me. I suppose mileage on the truck plays a part, but even my old Hoe with 190k on it still got 19 or 20.

 

[redemn93]

ive noticed the harder i drive on the highway the better my mileage is. but the harder i drive in the city...oh its shity.

 

[Abn Panzer]

On my last trip I averaged about 17 - 19 mpg ( a little over 400 miles per tank)

Road conditions varied from flat plains to mountain driving (Western NC)
Trip was about 1100 miles with 1000lbs of stuff being carried. (Everything inside the vehicle - No cartop carriers etc).

Stock 2004 Tahoe (About 85K miles on it at the time of the trip) Actually had just put the CAI on but nothing else at that point...

 

[Eagle]

Assuming you don't have monster truck tires, why are some people only getting 15-17 mpg on the highway? I can understand if you're driving through the mountains or something, but that just seems really low to me. I suppose mileage on the truck plays a part, but even my old Hoe with 190k on it still got 19 or 20.

rear gearing (4.10 /3.73s /3.42), wheel diameter aka rotational inertia, weight, hilly terrain, WIND... a 15 mpg headwind vs a 15 mph tailwind would probably cost you 2 mpg, honestly.

Red, lemme know how you do since i have this WDW trip coming up.

West/rural Texas is not exactly blessed with gas stations, especially at 3am, so I try to use google maps to plan my stops ahead of time. It is no fun to exit with a couple of gallons left only to find BFE,Tex has no gas station and the next small town is exactly the 'Miles to Empty' distance away!

With all my previous vehicles I had a 500-600 mile range so I am expecting to be way off my normal stops ( top off in van horn, fill ups in weatherford and Vicksburg,MS).

I get around 350 in 'mixed' driving, so an extra 50 miles (2mpg) doesn't seem unreasonable for you to expect, and I'll be crossing Texas at night when the speed limit is only 65 and the a/c won't be cranked. I'm actually hoping for around 450 myself. I think that is though.

 

[RumorsOFsurF]

I get around 350 in 'mixed' driving, so an extra 50 miles (2mpg) doesn't seem unreasonable for you to expect, and I'll be crossing Texas at night when the speed limit is only 65 and the a/c won't be cranked. I'm actually hoping for around 450 myself. I think that is though.

This is about what I get. 3.73's, 5.3l, tires are one or two sizes larger than stock.


Redhoe: Is yours a 5.3 or 4.8? That could make a difference as well.

 

[DenaliAK]

WIND... a 15 mpg headwind vs a 15 mph tailwind would probably cost you 2 mpg, honestly.

I have never seen a 15 mpg headwind....

But seriously, wind is my biggest factor in long-distance mileage. These vehicles aren't exactly super aerodynamic to begin with...my mileage can go from 17mpg on the highway to 7-9mpg with a good headwind...it's a BIG factor.

 

[Eagle]

lol... wow, i really screwed that one up! good catch

 

[Redhoe01]

Eagle, I will definitely let you know how I did at the end of May when I take off. I drove from Dallas to LA, California and passed thru El Paso and on the way I noticed what you mean about no gas stations in the middle of the night.

Rumors, it is a 5.3

 

[Redhoe01]

Well, heading out in the morning. Just finished a tank and only got 300 out of it with mixed driving so maybe my 400 is a lot to expect.

 

[Eagle]

Best of luck, and safe travels man.