Fuel mileage and 03 with 40,000 miles

[DPKetchum]

have a neighbor with a 03 3500 srw 4 dr H. O. 6 speed 4x4. Met him for breakfeast yesterday. He's pulling a average of 9,000 lbs of trailer and horses monthly from Ga. through the mid west. Commented he just turned 40k with his. He states fuel mileage towing has averaged 14. 1 to 14. 9 figured by hand and almost the same by trip computer. States that he drives around 65 mph. says anything over 70 mph it drops off 2 to 3 mpg easily. Has had 0 problems and hasn'nt had time to do any tsb's yet. Check gages warning does chime every now and then. does comment wished it had manual front hubs and DOES have a unusual noise at moderate/lower speeds. States the engine noise or drone at times sounds like exhaust is free flowing /loud then next time started or on accel its real quiet. Not a fan clutch noise. More like its real throaty then real quiet. Anyhow thought I would pass this along. States fuel mileage not towing around 20 to 21. BUT says anything over 70 is big difference.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Good info! Now you take good care of that 93 ok? (I miss mine)

 

[91W350]

I just returned from pulling two cars 220 miles at 73 mph, first opportunity to check towing mileage after installing the Edge EZ. I thought it came in respectably at 15. 7. Went to the Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend, empty at 73 mph and got 18. 7. It sure does a lot better if you can stand 65 mph!

 

[91W350]

I have noted the same, you pay severly to go over 70 in fuel. 55 seems to be optimal in mine, shortly after the converter locks up. 65 is still great, tapers off rapidly after that. The Edge EZ really does seem to help. Glen

 

[BrandonJ]

Have to agree as well. I can get 22-24 mpg at 65 mph but at 70 mph it drops to about 20-21 mpg and at 75 mph it drops to about 18-19 mpg.

I love the milage at 65 but it sure is hard to drive 65.

Maybe I'll have to look into the Edge EZ or another box.

 

[91W350]

Brandon, I would have to agree, I tried a Quadzilla box and it seemed to work equally as well. This one was just 200 dollars cheaper. You are getting better mileage than mine does anyway. All things are not equal I guess. I have no complaints about power though, what a horse! Yours must be an S. O, I wonder if they naturally are better on fuel. I know that the go pedal sure is fun these days! Glen

 

[BrandonJ]

Glen,



The mileages I posted were taken while using the cruise control on a pretty flat highway (I drive 90 miles each way to work:{ ). Of course if I get a strong head wind it drops a little. You're right, I have the SO with 16000 miles on it now so the engine's pretty well broke in. I'll be checking on the Edge EZ when I get some more play money. Gauges are coming first. Jeff

 

[91W350]

The wind kicks mine in the butt! Hard to believewith all that power under the hood it would make that much difference, but then it has all the aerodynamics of a cardboard box. I guess thats the price I pay for looking cool! I did get 28 at 75 with a tail wind once! Unfortunately it is always a cross wind it seems.

 

[Parshal]

Originally posted by ggsoldan

The wind kicks mine in the butt!

Speaking of headwinds, a buddy of mine with an '02 2500 SO and I were driving a six hour drive home with another friend in an F-150 behind us. After we got home he was talking about bucking the heavy headwind and my buddy and I looked at each other wondering what wind he was talking about. Even though mileage suffered a bit we never noticed the wind at all.

 

[91W350]

I never had trouble with mine maintaining any speed I wanted to drive. I agree, if it was not for a little wind noise, my truck does super on the power scale. Just set the cruise and let it go to work. Even pulling a car, it never even acts like it is working hard. I can see why the guys pulling real loads love them! I just pay for it at the pump. I drove 70 in a 40 mph cross wind and really got zapped. Still better than my 70 Chevy with the big block ever saw though, at any speed or wind.