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Posted by: jaybeecon55
Truck in my sig. I keep it pretty loaded - two large tool boxes plus a ladder rack - averages an extra 1,350 pounds when I am "empty".
Around town mix of highway and back roads stays right around 10 MPG. +/- about 3/4 MPG depending on my right foot.
I have had one mostly unloaded highway only trip where I got 12 3/4 MPG. All my other highway miles have been towing the trailer in my pics - usually with 5 to 6 ATV's on board. One 2,500 mile trip averaged 8 MPG. Last year I did the same trip but removed the ladder rack and put on a bed cover - averaged 9.5 for this trip. All this at the posted speed limit, usually 60, 65 or 70 MPH.
I know several other guys with trucks rigged out like mine but they have the 6.0. They get better milage when empty but once loaded, actually get worse milage without the performance of the 8.1. BTW, mine is hooked to the Allison 5-speed tranny.
If milage is important and especially if you are going to tow a lot, I'd give serious consideration to getting a Duramax instead of the 8.1. I love my truck and the 8.1 is a great engine, but after the 900 series comes out in the HD versions I'll be trading.
Jaybee
Posted by: NTHEWND
And what was the orginal question?
I have a 2003 GMC 2500 crew cab (full 4 doors) 4x4 8 foot box. w/8.1 motor.
When the truck was new we took a trip w/o pulling anything, (the only time) avg. 12mpg.
We tow a 28 foot 5th wheel Toyhauler to Florida in the winter. We get between 7 to 8 mpg.
Hope this helps
Posted by: NTHEWND
go diesel if you are going to pull anything with a truck.
Why?
The whole thing is either gas mileage or the ability to tow? What about cost per mile?
When I bought my 2003 GMC 8.1, I paided a little over $10,000 under msrp At the campground we stay at in Florida there was a guy there from Pa. that had bought the sametruck as mine, except with diesel. He said he was lucky to get $3000.00 off msrp. The difference in net cost between the two trucks, about $12,000!!!
I drive my truck about 7,000 miles a year. 7,000 divided by 8 mpg= 875 gal per year. Times that by $3.00 per gal= $2,625 fuel cost per year. Now divide that into the $12,000 I 'saved' on the initial purchase= 4.57 years of FREE gas!
Now I'm sure you can argue the resale, ability to tow HEAVY loads, etc.
The orginal topic by bamurf80 was the question about fuel milage. It's over a month old, hay bamurf80.... please tell us what you did.????
Posted by: NTHEWND
, you must understand that no one is going to buy your truck, you have a sinking cost like with most autos. BUT a fuel hog - its worth even less in todays market and is a SUNK cost now.
I showed you that I saved enough money on the purchase price to pay for gas for nearly 5 years of the type of mileage I do. I do not plan on selling this truck any time soon, so resale is not an issue. I don't put a lot of miles on vehicles,I have a 1990 f-150 that I bought new that just turned 50,000 miles, my last 'hauling' truck, a 1 ton I had for 10 years.
the diesel will always get you more per gallon than the gasoline. why do you think, pardon the term, "18 wheelers," use exclusively diesel? they can pull 70,000lbs and still get 12+ MPG. Thats why. the diesel engine costs less to operate, has gobs of torque at low RPM, lasts longer, and gets better economy. Go diesel.
The reason that '18 wheelers' use diesel engines is too complicated to get into, but I'd like to know where you get the figure that an '18 wheeler' gets 12+ MPG. I've driven/owned 18 wheelers for the last 30 years and never got anywhere close to that MPG. I currently own a 2006 Volvo 565 HP Cummins and it will get into the 7's sometime.
Yes a diesel will last longer in a pickup, they will actually outlast the body. The company I work for has some owner opperators that use 1 ton vans. These guys run over 100,000 miles a year. You would think they would ALL run diesels right? Not so fast, most of these guys get 300,000 miles on a gas engine, a diesel will last longer, but by then the body is wore out. When you buy your diesel truck, and I'm sure you will. Do you plan on owning/driving it for the next 300,000 miles?
Did you know that a new EPA law this summer will come in effect? They are going to take more sulfur out of diesel and the price is going to take a big jump over gas. Diesel is going to continue to cost more than gas for years to come. That's my bussiness.
Posted by: twentycharacters
go diesel if you are going to pull anything with a truck. GMC duramax is the only GM product i would buy. screw 8.1 gas sucking hogs. my 5.3 z71 with 2-3 bikes on the trailer will get about 12hwy. not very good to me. gets about 16mpg avg. still not good. im looking into little suvs if all im going to be puling is a few bikes. 16mpg isnt good enough. 8mpg def will never fly with me. if i was pulling something more, though, the duramax diesel has my vote.
not trying to knock the dodge people, but every person ive known with a dodge - they stay in the shop. i want a vehicle i can reasonable depend on.
Posted by: twentycharacters
Quote
I have a 2003 GMC 2500 crew cab (full 4 doors) 4x4 8 foot box. w/8.1 motor.
When the truck was new we took a trip w/o pulling anything, (the only time) avg. 12mpg.
We tow a 28 foot 5th wheel Toyhauler to Florida in the winter. We get between 7 to 8 mpg.
umm. i almost rest my case. you answered your own question to me of, "why?" with
7-8mpg with your 8.1 liter engine, thats why. you think thats better than a diesel duramax? yes it cost more originally but his original question had a little more to do with fuel economy than the ability to tow. of course your 8.1 can tow alot, no one disputed that. while i dont really fault your logic in your calculations, you must understand that no one is going to buy your truck, you have a sinking cost like with most autos. BUT a fuel hog - its worth even less in todays market and is a SUNK cost now.
if your truck was diesel, it would sell much quicker and at a much higher price, so are you REALLY getting "free gas" or having such a bargain? You will always pay one way or the other. Wait until gas tops 4.00/gallon. you wouldnt be able to give that thing away.
i can show you a myriad of H2 hummers for sale for about 1/2 of what they paid for them and they still are not selling. the #1 thing on a persons mind right now is fuel economy when buyng a new auto. if you need to pull something consistently- like the kind of stuff you are pulling, your money is better spent in a diesel. always has been, always will be.
diesel is around 2.85 per gallon around here. if the choice is between filling up a deisel or a gasoline engine, properly equiped truck, towing the same load - the diesel will always get you more per gallon than the gasoline. why do you think, pardon the term, "18 wheelers," use exclusively diesel? they can pull 70,000lbs and still get 12+ MPG. Thats why. the diesel engine costs less to operate, has gobs of torque at low RPM, lasts longer, and gets better economy. Go diesel. I know next full size i buy will be a diesel.
original question:
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tell me what i can expect on fuel mileage towing and also around town not towing
Posted by: twentycharacters
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I'd like to know where you get the figure that an '18 wheeler' gets 12+ MPG
im not trying to take away anything from what you have experienced but we have truckers in our fam that have been truckin for generations. Owner/operators, walmart drivers, fuel tankers, grocery, misc...i hear constant stories of some much stuff about trucks, fuel mileage, routes, companies' policies, etc...i dont have enough time to type it all here (some i cant). 8-12 is what ive heard all my life. thats not bad for a big heavy truck pulling 70-80,000 pounds of stuff @ 65-70+mph. way better than a truck weighing 2.5+ tons getting 8mpg pulling way less with a big gas engine, isnt it?
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Did you know that a new EPA law this summer will come in effect?
yes i do know about it. it reduced ppm emisions dramatically. it not only will affect the pump but the OEMs had to make their engines ready for it. It was a driving force behind fords 6.0L, according to them. so even if it does make the pump price go up, diesel still allows better MPG on anything. look at a VW bug or jetta with the diesel engine - they arent terribly fast nor slow but they get into the high 40's to 50mpg easily. i would much rather have one of these than a electric hybrid crap that dealers dont really know how to fix yet and have to have special gloves to work on b/c they flow like 400Volts of juice - can kill easily...
however, i really dont think its going to soar way above gasoline prices. it may be higher but it will be on par with the price of plus/premium unleaded.
the gas companies has everyone by the b@lls right now. they are stalling b/c when hydrogen goes mainstream they know their time is coming to make hardly nothing on gasoline. all fuel prices will be fluxuating until that time. it will be up and down for th next couple years.
Posted by: mudbug04
Gas prices suck (jsut thought i should throw that in) the prices in gas helped me with gettin rid of my 454 SS towed not bad (dont laugh it was all i had) so i went and bought a 2004 dodge ram 5.7 4x4 thinkin i was gonna save some money on gas. when towin a 20 foot open car hauler with a 1994 rx7 with a 350 chevy ( dont ask hehe) and managed 500 kms to a tank i was amazed but i was at 110 km/h the whole time and acclerated really smoothly. the road was fairly flat but stil had a few hills plus my truck has 35x12.5x20 toyo open country tires with 4.56 gears. im happy with it, plus the mods make it a fun truck to drives,
oh yea my step dad owns a 2002 6l chevy and he likes it too.
Posted by: 1BAD250R
Diesel is the way to go. The truck in my pics page (my fathers truck) is a 7.3 Powerstroke and can pull anything. We've got a Diablo chip in it with a full K&N intake system and a 4 inch stainless steel exhaust system that really increases the horsepower and torque (its pushing over 700 ft-lbs). The chip increases fuel economy too, even with the monster 39' Pro Comp tires.
Posted by: buck183
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Originally posted by: Curdog
I have an 2001 GMC Crew with the 8.1 and the Allison six speed. Empty, around town I get 9.5 to 10. On the highway it gets 11.5 to 13.5 mpg depending on my right foot. Pulling my 6500# travel trailer drops mielage to 8-9 range. I put a set of dual exhaust and Magnaflow mufflers and picked up only about 1/2 mpg. However, the sound of 500 cubic inches of V-8 power singing through the Magnflows is nearly spiritual for a gearhead such as myself. More amazing is the box frame and heavy duty construction. After five years it still does not have a single rattle.
Your tranny is a 5 speed. They didn't release the six speed version until this year.
Buck
Posted by: buck183
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Originally posted by: Curdog
Buck,
I double checked, you are correct the Allison is a 5 speed. Shows how much I know.
Hey, look at the brite side. This year it is a six speed. So in a wierd sort of way you are right. BR>
I just so happen to own a truck accessory store for a living. Knowing these trucks is my life. It's almost a sickness in my wife's eyes.
BR>
Buck
Posted by: buck183
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Originally posted by: Ruttenit
I have owned 2 GMC duramax with that allison and I think that they are ok unless you plan on pulling then they are junk. I have broke several allison transmission and so has a few friends. If you want a truck to drive around town and/or pull 26K lbs and still get great power and fuel mileage get a cummins with a manual 6 speed you will love it.
I get 20-25 mpg empty and around 16-17 pulling my 38' fithwheel. I can pull my 38' fithwheel all thew colorado and never loose more that 10 mph on ANY hill out there. I have also had 3 ford powerjokes and they are a joke also. Cummines is the way to go.
Too bad not one of the three trucks is made to tow 26k.
Buck
Posted by: buck183
I'm with twentycharacters on this one. The cost per mile analogy was a pretty poor numbers break down. Big deal if you get a 10k price break for going with the big block gas engine. You also get 10k less when you sell it too. If you figure it that way you aren't money ahead.
Go Diesel. The power difference is night an day. I could care less which brand one elects to go with. Any one of the three would be better than going gas if one is towing a load that's anywhere close to a decent size.
Buck
Posted by: jayri
I've towed with big block chevys for ten years, and this past january I decided to by a new diesel....and all I can say is I should of did this ten years ago. Yeah it cost me almost 6k more but I'll get that 6k back at trade-in time and in the mean time I'll do nothing but save money on fuel. I get at least 5 more mpg at any time than I did when I drove big block chevys.
Posted by: Dearlh
have the 6.0 in my HD, Plenty of power but milage SUCKS!!! Going to go back to a 1/2 ton with a small V-8 before gas gets back to $3 gal. this summer.
Posted by: Dearlh
ated too. but traded in my '03 HD Crew Lb 6 ltr for a '04 Z-71 Ex/Sb 5.3 ltr. Really gonna miss the 8 ft. bed but hopefully a little gas savings!
Posted by: GrimJack
I have a 04 Nissan Titan...haven't had any trouble with it..other than the brake recall..which was fixed nicely..The 4X4 Titan is a BEAST offroad..plus it will tow almost anything..you made a good choice.
Posted by: bamurf80
I am thinking of buying can anyone tell me what i can expect on fuel mileage towing and also around town not towing
any info would be great
Thanks,
Bamurf80
Posted by: bamurf80
Thanks for all the replys I ended up getting a 2003 2500hd with the 6.0. Could not afford the diesel. We just got back last night from oklahoma sand dunes and overall we got 7mpg not the greatest but i will deal with it. if i would have bought the diesel i would have probably gotten better mileage but the payment would have been so much i couldnt have aforded to go have any fun with my quads
I agree with NTHEWIND its all aboutwhat you can afford
Bamurf80
Posted by: Ruttenit
I have owned 2 GMC duramax with that allison and I think that they are ok unless you plan on pulling then they are junk. I have broke several allison transmission and so has a few friends. If you want a truck to drive around town and/or pull 26K lbs and still get great power and fuel mileage get a cummins with a manual 6 speed you will love it.
I get 20-25 mpg empty and around 16-17 pulling my 38' fithwheel. I can pull my 38' fithwheel all thew colorado and never loose more that 10 mph on ANY hill out there. I have also had 3 ford powerjokes and they are a joke also. Cummines is the way to go.
Posted by: Ruttenit
My camper is 21K and yes if you talk to the dealer and look at the gvwr that 1 ton crew cab dually is suppose to be made to pull a 5th wheel. I had my cruise set at 70 going thew Kansas and my tranny went out with 1500 miles on the truck. plus I was getting 9 -10 mpg loaded and it was gutless up hills. THen I got another one and two trannys went out before 10k miles so I traded it for an 05 powerstroke mainly because I was told they had good fuel milage and they was wrong. It was about the same as the Duramax so I got a cummins and love it. It has 100 hp injectors and a 140hp edge chip and what a truck. It pulls like a dream and get awsome fuel milage.
Just can't say enough about a cummins
Posted by: Curdog
I have an 2001 GMC Crew with the 8.1 and the Allison six speed. Empty, around town I get 9.5 to 10. On the highway it gets 11.5 to 13.5 mpg depending on my right foot. Pulling my 6500# travel trailer drops mielage to 8-9 range. I put a set of dual exhaust and Magnaflow mufflers and picked up only about 1/2 mpg. However, the sound of 500 cubic inches of V-8 power singing through the Magnflows is nearly spiritual for a gearhead such as myself. More amazing is the box frame and heavy duty construction. After five years it still does not have a single rattle.
Posted by: Curdog
Buck,
I double checked, you are correct the Allison is a 5 speed. Shows how much I know.
Posted by: Curdog
Posted by: Curdog
Quote
Originally posted by: Dearlh
ated too. but traded in my '03 HD Crew Lb 6 ltr for a '04 Z-71 Ex/Sb 5.3 ltr. Really gonna miss the 8 ft. bed but hopefully a little gas savings!
I know the feeling. Traded my 01 HD 2500 8.1 yesterday for a 06 Nissan Titan SE with a 9,400 tow rating. I only pull a 6.500# trailer occasionaly and was seeking better gas mileage. Really liked the HD - Hope I like the Titan. This is my first non-GMC truck in 17 years.
