Nortstar
Canada
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Joined: 09/21/2008
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Hi,Got a 05 Silverado 1500 HD LT Crew Cab short box with 6.0L. 4.10 gears. Gets 15 mpg light. 8-10 mpg towing 26' TT. I expect to pay the price while towing but hear others talk about much better mileage when not towing.
Are there other trucks out there that'll do the work and give me a break when not pulling the payload?
I like the fact that this truck has 8600 lb. gvwr. I like the truck it's self but man it costs to drive it!
Any good ideas?
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ArcticDodge
Sammamish, WA
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Joined: 05/02/2005
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Sounds like normal MPG to me. Between you and me, many lie about their MPG.
If you want better MPG, get a diesel. My old girls gets no better than 15 empty and 12 loaded. The new Cummins and Duramax diesels get better MPG.
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Rvndave
Medina, Ohio
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Joined: 01/23/2004
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Running to and from work I get 20-22 MPG, The diesel will save you fuel when running empty, as well as loaded. This is why I question those that say unless you tow a lot a diesel is not worth the upgrade cost. I feel the added MPG has paid for the diesel, and I will enjoy a much higher resale valve.
2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]
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SemperFiCop
USA
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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The 4.10 Rear Axle does not help with MPG... 
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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Sounds pretty much like normal fuel mileage.
_________________________________________________________
2008 F-250 CrewCab 5.4L,
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor
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crickeydog
Marietta, Ga.
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Joined: 01/29/2004
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Nortstar wrote: I hear others talk about much better mileage when not towing.
That's generally all it is too; just talk. Your MPG is very normal if not better than most for the same truck, engine and drivetrain. If driving your truck to work isn't financially practical anymore, park it, use it only for towing duties, and buy yourself a Hyundai to drive to work. What you'll save in weekly commuting gas by parking your truck make your Hyundai payment.
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!
* This post was
edited 09/22/08 06:13am by crickeydog *
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mooreadventures
North Carolina
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Joined: 03/22/2004
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My V10 Excursion can get > 56 mpg... going down hill with a tail wind
Generally I get 12/14 around town with mixed driving and 8/10 towing. I have gotten as high as 17 - all interstate cruising at 65 mph.
Your mpgs sound normal to me.
Mark & Tammy
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Dave H M
IL
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I can't believe you expected better than that.
I will trade you even up for my ole power stroke 
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Rvndave wrote:Running to and from work I get 20-22 MPG, The diesel will save you fuel when running empty, as well as loaded. This is why I question those that say unless you tow a lot a diesel is not worth the upgrade cost. I feel the added MPG has paid for the diesel, and I will enjoy a much higher resale valve.
You FEEL that the added MPG has paid for the diesel, but have you actually sat down to figure it out?
With $4 gas and $5 diesel, 15MPG with the gas and 20MPG with the diesel, it's only slightly better than a wash on fuel costs. It will take a loooooooong time to offset the $8000+ cost of the Duramax/Allison package on a Chevy at that rate, and if you think you're going to get $8000 more for your truck at resale time, think again. Used diesels are bigger dogs on the market than gassers right now, and as long as fuel prices stay over $3 a gallon (i.e. forever), and the EPA keeps putting in regulations that kill diesel fuel economy, they will remain that way.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Mileage sounds pretty BAD for unloaded, at 16 MPG so I'd say THAT'S the root of your problem. towing MPG is low also but not when you only start with 16 MPG. I start at 18.5 when not towing and end up about where you are when towing (between 8 and 11 MPG) with a net load of 9,000 lb. Easiest thing you can do to improve mileage is slow down and/or work on aerodynamics (like add a cab high cover).
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
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