Towing MPG (interested in all years, 2000 - 2017)

[MidwestMike]

I am curious what people get for mpg when towing?

I had a 2002 5.3 for pulling a snowmobile trailer. The thing is not all that heavy but has a lot of wind resistance.

I could pull 80 mph plus without a problem, but the thing liked the fuel. And there was no happy medium on the tach/shifting. I would be cruising along at 2200 RPM, but every hill bumped my up to 3200 RPM or way over.

No way to run between 2400 - 3000 RPMs.

Mileage was always 15 mph highway, but was a constant 7 mpg with the trailer.

Haven't had the snow fly yet to see what my 2014 6 speed will do with the extra 35 HP, but curious what others have seen.

 

[2011SSVHOE]

Not too good, I have a 12ft enclosed trailer that I put 2 Harleys in I probably was getting 10 to 12 mpg, kinda sucks

 

[MidwestMike]

10 - 12 is 50% more than I was getting.

My smaller trailer and older sleds were only a bit over 2k pounds, that was 10 mpg. But these trailers are like pulling a sheet of plywood in the wind. I've never done it, but others report they get the same results with our without sleds, it is mostly wind resistance killing you on these trailers.

 

[intheburbs]

FYI - most trailer tires are rated to 65 MPH max.

You think your mileage is bad? What do yo think I get pulling this 8600-lb behemoth?

I also have a 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer. Get about 11-12 MPG pulling it with either truck.

 

[Flash1976]

I am curious what people get for mpg when towing?

I had a 2002 5.3 for pulling a snowmobile trailer. The thing is not all that heavy but has a lot of wind resistance.

I could pull 80 mph plus without a problem, but the thing liked the fuel. And there was no happy medium on the tach/shifting. I would be cruising along at 2200 RPM, but every hill bumped my up to 3200 RPM or way over.

No way to run between 2400 - 3000 RPMs.

Mileage was always 15 mph highway, but was a constant 7 mpg with the trailer.

Haven't had the snow fly yet to see what my 2014 6 speed will do with the extra 35 HP, but curious what others have seen.

View attachment 182939

My boat and trailer load up to about 7000 lbs. Towing with my 2000 5.3 Tahoe (4x4) I get about 8-9 mpg on the flat at 60 - 65 mph. Towing the same with my 2003 6.0 Yukon (2x4) I get about 10-11 mpg on the flat. Just shows you what the right sized motor and tranny will do. The 5.3 is working so much harder than the 6.0. Remember in towing torque is king. Toss in a good grade, like going to Lake Tahoe from Hwy 395, and the mileage will average about 8 mpg with the 6.0. I would not even try it with 5.3. However, my Tahoe has 456,000 miles on the same motor, so it has an excuse.

 

[drboyd]

Pulling a 4000# Airstream with a 2005 Tahoe. I can pretty much set my watch at 10 mpg.

 

[Teeroy78]

Hi there,

I have a 2009 Yukon XL SLT, 5.3L, 6 speed auto. My 19ft travel trailer is about 3800lbs dry, but we tend to be "everything including the kitchen sink" people when we go camping... trunk pretty loaded with firewood, tools, gear, drinking water, etc. Family of four inside. Canoe on the roof. Trailer loaded with clothes, food, bikes, and water holding tank full (one site this year didn't have potable water onsite). Level ground and no head wind, if I'm lucky we'll do 100-110km/h in 5th gear and get about 25L/100km (9.4mpg). If I'm not lucky and we end up in 4th, then I'm looking at about 35L/100km (6.7mpg). For comparison, unladen in 6th I'll get about 14L/100km (16.8mpg).

Never had a problem with power, maintaining speed in a headwind uphill, etc. It tows like a dream. It's just super thirsty, that's all.

 

[MidwestMike]

Interesting information, thanks for sharing it.

No trailer, but my first trip with my 2014 6 speed, what a difference! 20 -21 mpg on back roads, 19 mpg at 85. Basically 30% better than my 2002 4 speed. I won't get the snow to test with the trailer for a bit yet, but this trip make me optimistic.

 

[mals]

Pulling a 4000# Airstream with a 2005 Tahoe. I can pretty much set my watch at 10 mpg.

Is see the same in my 2005 Yukon with a 6.0L and our 4k travel trailer. If I go up hill it's a few tenths below, and going down it's a few tenths above.

 

[MCAT069]

I get around 7 but it's an 8.1. Passes everything but a gas pump