Mileage while towing...

[DragRacer]

I have a 2000 DRW 2wd crew cab with a manual transmission. The truck is stone stock...

I recently towed a 24ft trailer loaded with my race car 1800 miles from Virginia to Memphis and back averaging 10 mpg. The truck tows great and pulled the long hills without any problems. I kept my cruise control set at 65mph and was turning ~2200 rpm.

I didn't buy my truck for fuel mileage but when I did my expenses for the trip the fuel costs were a little over 50% of the total.

Are there any cost effective mods that I can do that would improve the mileage while towing?

I really know very little about diesels so any suggestions you all can make would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance...

[JER-1]

Take the 4.10 gears out of the rear end and put in 3.73--or 3.55 that will lower your rpm's and will increase your fuel mileage.
I'm gonna change mine hopefully next year 4x4 I'll have to change the front and rears . loose a little towing power but not much for what your pulling probably under 8,000 lbs.
JER-1

[DragRacer]

JER-1...

I have thought about changing the gears. It may be something I consider down the road...

What about a chip or plug in tuner? Will those help with mileage?

Is it out the question to get 15 mpg towing such a trailer?

[tubular031]

my truck seems to get 9-10 pulling my 12k 5th wheel, 11 pulling my little 12 foot enclosed trailer at about 7k and 12 pulling my little enclosed trailer empty at about 3k. I get 15 to 17 empty. mine is a 4wd auto with 3.73

my buddy has a 2002 2wd auto with 3.73 srw and gets 19 empty and 10 pulling his trailer at about 6k

[tubular031]

Originally Posted by DragRacer

JER-1...

I have thought about changing the gears. It may be something I consider down the road...

What about a chip or plug in tuner? Will those help with mileage?

Is it out the question to get 15 mpg towing such a trailer?

All I have learned is a tuner adds power and keeps my mpgs the same or a tad lower. But ill take power and the same MPG any day

15 pulling is pretty much out of the question. Anyone that claims to get that much pulling 6k+ is probably listening to the over head computer and that lies! with my edge mine was saying I was getting 28 mpg! now with my chip it seems to be about 10% high vs what I caculate

[jesilvas]

I get about 11 pulling an 8k fifth wheel with just an intake and exhaust. Chip might that up a TAD. Like one or less. Best thing to do is put a really nice intake on it and let the exhaust flow out really fast.

[DragRacer]

Thank all for the responses...

I knew when I got the truck it was not for fuel mileage but rather the stability towing and not having to worry about having enough power to pull hills, etc... It definately does a fantastic job towing.

Maybe over the winter I will look at an exhaust and cold air intake.

Thanks again!!!

[tubular031]

get a walker BTM. cut off the factory muffler and clamp it in place. I think mine was about $70 including the clamps. Most say weld but I dont have a welder. There is no need for a 4 inch exhaust. The restriction is the muffler not the pipes.

Then do the DIY intake for about $40. Your truck will like you more!

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by tubular031

get a walker BTM. cut off the factory muffler and clamp it in place. I think mine was about $70 including the clamps. Most say weld but I dont have a welder. There is no need for a 4 inch exhaust. The restriction is the muffler not the pipes.

Then do the DIY intake for about $40. Your truck will like you more!

That's exactly what I did. Got if for about 65 and welded in for 60 by Meineke. They kinda freaked out when they say it but did a really good job. With those two things I went from about 14 mpg highway empty to 15 or 15.5. And from down around 8 towing that trailer to about 11. IT NEEDS AIR

[DragRacer]

Originally Posted by tubular031

get a walker BTM. cut off the factory muffler and clamp it in place. I think mine was about $70 including the clamps. Most say weld but I dont have a welder. There is no need for a 4 inch exhaust. The restriction is the muffler not the pipes.

Then do the DIY intake for about $40. Your truck will like you more!

tubular031...

Thanks for the advice!!! 10-4 on the Walker BTM!!!

Are there any links for the DIY intake procedure?

Thanks again!!!