Hauling 2003 HO 6 speed

[MBurtch]

I saw the thread about sweet spot for an automatic. What are people finding for the sweet spot with 2003 to 2004. 5 HO, 6th speed, 373 rear end pulling 11,000 to 14,000 pounds? I get about 11 mpg going up and down in Montana pulling only 8,500 pounds. I am looking to upgrade my 5th wheel which means a big jump in weight. I usually set the cruise on 2,000 rpm which is about 67. 5 miles per hour.

 

[Midnight]

My trailer is close to 11,000lbs. I can get mid 13's to 14 by slowing down to 60 or slightly under. Anything over 60mph and the mileage starts to drop.

 

[KBennett]

I have pulled between 4-8,000 pounds and the sweet spot seems to be 70. Turning off the cruise and using my foot seems to help also.



My current trip through Montana I am getting 38 mpg running between 75 and 80 MPH but that's in the Jetta with only a couple cases of catalogs in the trunk :-laf

 

[Prairie Dog]

I agree that it likes doing 70 (good throttle response / little downshifting) but slowing down will make a big difference in mileage. My own experience has been a 2-4 mpg increase when running at 60 to 65 rather than doing 70-72 mph.



Scotty

 

[JRMora]

I saw the thread about sweet spot for an automatic. What are people finding for the sweet spot with 2003 to 2004. 5 HO, 6th speed, 373 rear end pulling 11,000 to 14,000 pounds? I get about 11 mpg going up and down in Montana pulling only 8,500 pounds. I am looking to upgrade my 5th wheel which means a big jump in weight. I usually set the cruise on 2,000 rpm which is about 67. 5 miles per hour.

We can cruise all day at 70 (3. 73's) comfortably with our set-up. We are pulling a trailer just shy of 14k. At 70, we're right around 2100 rpm.



Juan

 

[pwr2tow]

It would be nice if you guys said if your running in 6th or 5th and what rpm's at MPH posted.

 

[KBennett]

I run in 6th and try to keep it around 1900 to 2200 RPM. My truck has the NV5600 with 3. 73's.

 

[JRMora]

It would be nice if you guys said if your running in 6th or 5th and what rpm's at MPH posted.

6th.



The only time I'll go to 5th is on a long 6% grade.



As mentioned above: 2100 RPM, ~70 MPH, 3. 73's



Juan