Towing MPG (interested in all years, 2000 - 2017)

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rzabel

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Mine's too big for a single axle too, but that's how they did it back in '48. I have a 7500 lb axle on this one. My 2003 Yukon XL 2500 with the 8.1 and 4.10 gears gets about 8-9 mpg towing. Not much better without the trailer, but that's what I got it for anyway. It sure pulls nice! IMG_6355.JPG
 
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PG01

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I am curious what people get for mpg when towing?

I had a 2002 5.3 for pulling a snowmobile trailer. The thing is not all that heavy but has a lot of wind resistance.

I could pull 80 mph plus without a problem, but the thing liked the fuel. And there was no happy medium on the tach/shifting. I would be cruising along at 2200 RPM, but every hill bumped my up to 3200 RPM or way over.

No way to run between 2400 - 3000 RPMs.

Mileage was always 15 mph highway, but was a constant 7 mpg with the trailer.

Haven't had the snow fly yet to see what my 2014 6 speed will do with the extra 35 HP, but curious what others have seen.

View attachment 182939
Looks like a matchbox
 

bldn10

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My '02 5.3 gets about the same towing as it does around town - 12ish. Pulling a 2900# car on an aluminum open trailer.
 

thompsoj22

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Just realized our 08 yukon denali xl 6.2 6 spd is going to get 7-9 mpg towing our 4k lb travel trailer. thats about 55 cents per mile! we are definitley at a crossroads decision with RV'ing. Our trip was 164 miles and the fuel was $104 dollars at $4.59 per gallon I am a ca native but straight up FU ca gas prices!
 

97audia4

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Mine's too big for a single axle too, but that's how they did it back in '48. I have a 7500 lb axle on this one. My 2003 Yukon XL 2500 with the 8.1 and 4.10 gears gets about 8-9 mpg towing. Not much better without the trailer, but that's what I got it for anyway. It sure pulls nice! View attachment 190479

If I could find one not rotted out in PA I would trade my 09 Denali in and get one just to pull my trailer and find a weekend car.
 

norcalboon

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2012 Denali XL 6.2 Just did a 300 mile trip up the CA coast with 6500# TT and averaged 8-9MPG , towed great, much better than my previous 2005 XL with the 5.3 - that was similar MPG but it worked really hard, esp. on any grades.
 

swathdiver

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Just realized our 08 yukon denali xl 6.2 6 spd is going to get 7-9 mpg towing our 4k lb travel trailer. thats about 55 cents per mile! we are definitley at a crossroads decision with RV'ing. Our trip was 164 miles and the fuel was $104 dollars at $4.59 per gallon I am a ca native but straight up FU ca gas prices!

Can you get E30 over there? Should be less than 87 and will be as good as 92-93.
 

thompsoj22

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2012 Denali XL 6.2 Just did a 300 mile trip up the CA coast with 6500# TT and averaged 8-9MPG , towed great, much better than my previous 2005 XL with the 5.3 - that was similar MPG but it worked really hard, esp. on any grades.


we also like the towing capabilities of the 6.2xl. Our TT is maybe 4500 lbs loaded, It really isnt the weight of our trailer, I think it is just the reality of pulling a square box into a headwind? we live in ridgecrest and normally travel north on hwy 395 so we climb "constantly" all the way to mammoth lakes. I should try hwy 101/pch for a beach trip as there would be fewer hill's at sea level and maybe i could see better results in mpg.
 
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