New2Diesel

Gents, read my SIG for a list of my MODS.

I am 1000 miles into my 2200 mile trip. I have my Mini Maxx tune on HOTDAMM and have been towing a 5000lb 18' travel trailer. My best MPG so far during the 1000 miles was 9.2 hand calculated. This is killing me, what tune do I need to load? I am at a buddy's house and can write the tune as soon as you guys help me out. Any recommendations? I will be checking this thread over the next hour or 2 and then I am back on the road?

Thanks Fellas.

megafast

9.2 towing. Whats wrong with that?

New2Diesel

9.2 is horrible, especially when only having a 5klb load.

cbrahs

the motor aint even broke in yet. my last truck (07 mega 5.9) got that around town when I first bought it (that was lifted with 37's on it). didn't get better mileage until the 10k mark, then went up again at the 20k mark then leveled out at the 35k mark. ended up with 17mpg on the freeway at 80mph and it was 8.5 feet tall.

what are your speeds when pullin this trailer? is the truck lifted? bigger tires? wind? hilly roads? lots to consider but 9.2 on a new truck pullin aint too bad.

signature600

What kind of winds have you been in? What gears? Speed?

Chris

oldsmobiledave

There is nothing that you can do on this trip that will increase mileage more than SLOWING DOWN.

Even with mods you'll be lucky to get over 11 mpg while towing with a new truck. This is just the reality.

teamroper08

i thought 9.2 was pretty good

ranchertx

I took my 2010 on a 1,000 mile round trip towing a 25' float with a load of about 5,000 on it whne my truck had less than 1000 miles. I got 10.5- 11.5

Turn your tuner down.

Stargeezer

Aside from doing a lot of towing I can't say anything very knowledgable, except - slow down, turn the tuner down, 5k rolling down the highway should almost coast at idle. You need very little HP to keep it at speed, and you never need more than 350 to pull 5k from a stop unless you want to leave the load behind. The best advice you have been given is to slow down.

ssandlin

Also remember that with a travel trailer, there is a lot of wind resistance regardless of the weight of the trailer.

Lil Dog

No joke. I've towed flat trailers with weights similar to my TT and they mileage difference and towing resistance is very noticeable.

If you have more power, you are going to use it to accelerate, and pull hills that would normally take a little more effort and time. More HP=More fuel.

ranchertx

I get 8-9 pulling my 40' Fifth wheel. It weighs a LOT.
Those high program tunes do not mix well with heavy towing.

ramafication

I think that the industry has our newer trucks programed to get less mpg as soon as we plug our trailer lights in. The truck I have does this and the last two trucks did it. Pulling a twelve foot jon boat on a light trailer I drop about 4 mpg. Thats just not right...........

klx650a2

Actually, any kind of towing a TT or box type trailer will give you poor MPG. You are towing a HUGE sail that creates a huge vacuum on the back and sides (if you have a side wind) and there is nothing that can be done to cheat the wind except slowing down. Towing my TT that weighs 6k at 62 mph gives me 11 mpg (hand calculated using summer fuel, more BTU's). Towing my dump trailer with 10,000 pounds in it at the same speed gives me 14.5, hand calculated (using winter fuel which has less BTU's). The dump trailer is low and I'm able to cheap the wind with it.

krusty 2

You'd be 5-6 MPG with a Hemi. Ask me how I know.....