MPG towing and not towing (if not in right section please move )

[ftwflh]

What is the avg mpg for not towing?My 2012 Tahoe is getting 14-15 not towing and 7-8 towing a 15ft toy hauler/camper with 2 bikes and generator in it.
What is everyone else getting and is there any way to get better?
I am going to try a Range AFM delete module.Is that a good route?

 

[Big Mama]

Does your rig have a tow package and are you using it when towing? I tend to get a little better mpg not using it but my area is mostly flat.

 

[ftwflh]

Does your rig have a tow package and are you using it when towing? I tend to get a little better mpg not using it but my area is mostly flat.

Yes it has tow package.Last time I towed with it I was mostly in 5th in hills.tried it in D on the flat roads towards home and it SEEMED to do better.Just really like to see comparisons and if D is better than say 5th or 4th for pulling

 

[kbuskill]

It's really hard to give an estimate on MPG when there are so many different options available on these rigs.

For example...

'07-'08 Tahoes came with the 4 speed trans.
'09+ Tahoes came with the 6 speed trans.
(I gathered from your other post that you have an '09+ with the 6 speed)

5.3 VS 6.2

5.3 is obviously the most common but 6.2 Tahoes are out there.

Also the gear ratios will make a big difference in MPG as well.

3:08s would give you better MPG on the highway but would be a dog driving around town and even worse trying to get up to speed while towing.

3:42s are pretty common/standard.

3:73s (which is what my Burb has) are geared more for towing so you lose a little bit of MPG on the interstate but they accelerate faster and pull better.

4:10s pull the best but you will turn a lot more RPMs on the interstate... reducing MPG even more.

Then there is RWD VS 4WD which also affects MPG.

What I'm saying is if you want to get a more accurate answer from others to compare yours to, you need to be more specific and give more details on your particular rig.

 

[BG1988]

Also the gear ratios will make a big difference in MPG as well.

3:08s would give you better MPG on the highway but would be a dog driving around town and even worse trying to get up to speed while towing.

3:42s are pretty common/standard.

3:73s (which is what my Burb has) are geared more for towing so you lose a little bit of MPG on the interstate but they accelerate faster and pull better.

4:10s pull the best but you will turn a lot more RPMs on the interstate... reducing MPG even more.

Then there is RWD VS 4WD which also affects MPG.

What I'm saying is if you want to get a more accurate answer from others to compare yours to, you need to be more specific and give more details on your particular rig.

3.08 is fine if you have the torque to back it up

 

[ftwflh]

It's really hard to give an estimate on MPG when there are so many different options available on these rigs.

For example...

'07-'08 Tahoes came with the 4 speed trans.
'09+ Tahoes came with the 6 speed trans.
(I gathered from your other post that you have an '09+ with the 6 speed)

5.3 VS 6.2

5.3 is obviously the most common but 6.2 Tahoes are out there.

Also the gear ratios will make a big difference in MPG as well.

3:08s would give you better MPG on the highway but would be a dog driving around town and even worse trying to get up to speed while towing.

3:42s are pretty common/standard.

3:73s (which is what my Burb has) are geared more for towing so you lose a little bit of MPG on the interstate but they accelerate faster and pull better.

4:10s pull the best but you will turn a lot more RPMs on the interstate... reducing MPG even more.

Then there is RWD VS 4WD which also affects MPG.

What I'm saying is if you want to get a more accurate answer from others to compare yours to, you need to be more specific and give more details on your particular rig.

It is a basic 2012 5.3 with tow package,3.42 gearing with 4wd,HD trans pak.I was pulling in 2wd.I do understand gearing very well.Just figured 3.42 would be decent since my Silverado only has 3.08 and it is a dog pulling and uses gas like crazy.(15 mpg and it is 4.3 6cyl)

 

[swathdiver]

7-9 MPG on E85 towing a 14' extra height, V-nose trailer in the city while moving, idling the whole time. Tow/Haul used on heavier runs when weight was 5,000-6,000 pounds. Most runs were 4,000-5,000 pounds.

A few months later we used the same trailer to pick up a bedroom set about 40 miles away, towed at 55 mph like it wasn't even there. Once loaded up she would not come out of 4th on the highway at 60 or even 70 mph. Maybe we hit a headwind? Was still burning E85 and that tank delivered 7.88 mpg

This truck averages 11.4 MPG burning E85 and about 15 MPG combined averaged burning 93 octane gasoline through E30.

On that pull home in the picture, I think we were getting 5-6 mpg on E85 in 4th @ 65 mph. Burning gasoline or low amounts of ethanol she'll deliver 20 mpg at 65 mph.

 

[Bigkevschopshop]

11 roughly with 18-22 ft car hauler loaded 13 unloaded. 12 burb with the dog 3.08 6 speed helps. 3.73 is where I want to be ultimately. 3.42 should do you fine. I think the 4wd and maybe tires and pressures are hurting yours. Rolling resistance and pressures can kill mpg.

References
Had a 6.2 silverado that averaged 18 unloaded and 16 heavy loaded with 3.42 but was 2wd. Had a viper truck that averaged 12 no matter with or without a trailer.

 

[thompsoj22]

8 to 10 towing a 5k lb. TT, hilly terrain. west coast so there just arent any flats to just relax and drive. 12 city, 17 to 19 hwy not towing. 2008 yukon xl1500 6.2 6spd. AC on constantly in summer.

 

[gpmcdowell]

2019 Suburban Premier Plus: with 2 ton tow load at 70 mph averaged 12.5 mpg. No tow load got 22.5 mpg @ 70 mph. No tow load @80 mph got 18.2. Average mpg for trip of 4100 miles half with load and half without was 15.6 mpg.

 

[97audia4]

Interesting about e85, I thought about it before last weekend but the area of NY I was going to is remote and it was even hard to find 93oct up there.

I used manual mode last time instead of tow haul due to it up and down shifting more often than I liked.

7-9 MPG on E85 towing a 14' extra height, V-nose trailer in the city while moving, idling the whole time. Tow/Haul used on heavier runs when weight was 5,000-6,000 pounds. Most runs were 4,000-5,000 pounds.

A few months later we used the same trailer to pick up a bedroom set about 40 miles away, towed at 55 mph like it wasn't even there. Once loaded up she would not come out of 4th on the highway at 60 or even 70 mph. Maybe we hit a headwind? Was still burning E85 and that tank delivered 7.88 mpg

View attachment 226116

This truck averages 11.4 MPG burning E85 and about 15 MPG combined averaged burning 93 octane gasoline through E30.

On that pull home in the picture, I think we were getting 5-6 mpg on E85 in 4th @ 65 mph. Burning gasoline or low amounts of ethanol she'll deliver 20 mpg at 65 mph.

 

[Doubeleive]

2012 denali xl awd 6.2l 6spd 3.42, i'm sitting on 8mpg for a while now not towing anything, occasionally I get 8.1 im kinda bewildered because I was getting 10-10.4, trucks runs good no issue's I can find at all. and I'm running 92 octane consistently.

 

[swathdiver]

2012 denali xl awd 6.2l 6spd 3.42, i'm sitting on 8mpg for a while now not towing anything, occasionally I get 8.1 im kinda bewildered because I was getting 10-10.4, trucks runs good no issue's I can find at all. and I'm running 92 octane consistently.

Time for new cats?

 

[Doubeleive]

Time for new cats?

I don't know it's only got 120k (roughly), would the cat temps tells me anything?

 

[PG01]

I don't know it's only got 120k (roughly), would the cat temps tells me anything?

How hot they are..........

Lmfao

 

[swathdiver]

I don't know it's only got 120k (roughly), would the cat temps tells me anything?

Not sure about the temps but the downstream sensor movement can tell you. If they move around too much, the cats are not doing their job. Should throw codes but maybe you're right before that point.

Oh, mine were replaced at 123K.

 

[gpracer1]

IR temp gun, the cats should be hotter than the rest of the exhaust system if working.

 

[avalonandl]

Too many variables. 14-15 not towing seems normal. How fast are you towing? A toyhauler is an aero brick. So towing at 70 you would get 7-8.

Slow to 60 and it should get better.

 

[thompsoj22]

Too many variables. 14-15 not towing seems normal. How fast are you towing? A toyhauler is an aero brick. So towing at 70 you would get 7-8.

Slow to 60 and it should get better.

Been reading some articles in RV'ing mag's and the whole aerodynamic thing is basically a scam. other than airstream trailer design, The slanted nose, V nose travel trailers do little to nothing in regard to aerodynamic effeciency. Basically you have to go slower to create less drag/wind resistance and attain better mpg, The faster you go the more drag you create and the worse mileage you get. The wind force on the front of a travel trailer at 55 is multiplyed by four times at 70? The weight of the tow load on level ground is less of an effect than the wind resistance.

 

[Foggy]

The poor MGP while NOT towing....
Well, could be plugs, wires, air filter, poor fuel quality,
worn out upstream Oxygen Sensors, dirty MAF, dirty throttle body,
poor condition trans & differential fluids, wrong/bad engine oil..
Lots of factors... All of these are items that should have been
replaced at least once already by 123 K and 8 years old