What can I expect from my truck?

[Cummins Corvette]

Ok here's the deal. The only time that I have towed anything with my truck was before I had any mods. I towed a 21' TT from Salt Lake to Joe's Valley with three dirt bikes in the bed. The truck did a great job but sucked down the fuel at a rate of 9. 5 to 10 mpg. For the most part I was going about 65mph, slower on the hills of course- about 50 to 55 up some ~5-6% grades at full throttle. When I was up in BC getting the trans and engine bombed Bill K. said that if I use all the power I have when towing I would break stuff so I know that is a no no. I am hoping to get better mileage now, but I don't know if that will happen. I will need to watch the EGTs and be careful with the go pedal. Does anyone have a similar truck that could tell me what to expect? Thanks a bunch.

 

[BarryG]

Can't be of any help at all on your real question but I saw you went to Joes Valley. Love that place. Family has a cabin on the Olsen Ranch and have spent many a day up there. I have never met anybody outside of the immediate area that knows anything about the place.

 

[SlyBones]

CAnderson,



You and I are still similar in equipment. You have a bigger plate than I, and I have a PDR turbo. The wife and I tow a 26' TT with slide, the canopy loaded, etc.



Stock was like you described. 65 on the freeway, little slower on the inclines. 50 - 55 on the grades. Got 12. 5 average.



Now it does 65 on the freeway, and the inclines. Driving along on the freeway for most little stuff it barely runs 2-4# extra boost, slightly more throttle and maybe 100* more EGT that when I am empty. Can pull a 4-5% grades at 1/3 throttle, in OD, at 70MPH, at 950-1000* like it was nothing.



Have not get hit a large 7%+ grade, in OD, where I held it to the floor in OD and see what it does. Generally this is bad on the TC and high on the EGT's.



On one nice grade in the mountains I was following at PowerStroke towing a boat. Prolly 1/2 the weight of my TT. Just before the passing lane I pushed the OD lockout and got into 3rd locked. When we hit the passing lane he went right lane, I went left and the throttles went down. Gotta love the governor spring kit. truck accelerated to 3000+ RPMs up the grade with the TT, blew right past the PS, musta been going 80 ( 3rd locked ) when I backed out near the top and was at 1250*. Averaged 14. 1 for the trip.

 

[BCFAST]

Sly is right on!

You should expect a MUCH more relaxed drive! You'll feel better when you get to your destination, than you would have pre-bombing... less stress and less pedal to do the same work... and all while getting around 2-3mpg more! Prices may vary.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

I can NEVER get mileage that good towing. 14. 1???? You also said that 12. 5 is what you got stock though. That is about 3 mpg more than I could get, or 30% better, depending on how you look at it. Everyone, and I mean everyone gets better mileage than I do when pulling. Whatever. Perhaps now I can expect around 11 or 12 at 65? That would be nice.

BTW Joes Valley used to be nice, before the pine beetles killed all the trees. Now it is just a forest fire waiting to happen. I need to find a new place to ride in the mountains that has green trees. Skyline Drive was beautiful. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. Most good things in life don't last long so really enjoy what you have while you have it.

 

[SlyBones]

14. 1 is what I averaged for that one trip. 12. 5 is the towing average over 6-8 trips when stock, last summer. Only towed the trailer once since I got the PDR turbo, injectors, and stuff this summer. So my 14. 1 may not be representative of what I will really get.