Tow Rig Questions and Opinion

[IDBoating]

2wd/4wd? Manual/auto? 22mpg in a dually is ridiculous.

His is a 4WD manual (NV5600 six speed) long bed dually. I'm sure this isn't while he's offroading or towing, just mixed-mode driving like I generally do. He does have a BIG travel trailer that he takes to Alaska but I don't know what his mileage figures are when towing it.

[IDBoating]

Yah in a AUTO. Yah the NV5600 is a cast case the G56 is a aluminum case and a bit stronger.

The G56 was one of the other reasons I tipped over and bought the truck I did, when I did. MB designed the G56 to be a medium duty truck tranny. Installing it in a light duty truck was huge overkill on their part, but for me it means I'll never stress the transmission anywhere close to its design parameters. Low stress = long life and low maintenance.

(Another good reason was that I was able to negotiate a KILLER price. I called the dealer on 01 January 2006, which a little research ahead of time revealed to be the last day of the dealer's fiscal year. They were REALLY motivated. Worked great!)

[carter]

How is the gas mileage in the 6.0 Av vs the 5.3? I had an '03 Avalanche and only got about 6 mpg towing my RZ2 but I live at altitude. The 5.3 could only pull the RZ2 in 4th gear when it was basically flat, any hills and it needed to downshift into 3rd and it run at a higher rpm.

I got about 8-9 with the 5.3 4speed and 10-11 with the 6.0 6speed. I equate this to a bigger engine having to work less and the 6 speed tranny. With less gaps and a more effective tow/haul mode, it would find the sweet spot better.

[lohe]

To the OP. I would look for excursion I searched for some time and found a clean low mile that had the 7.3L powerstroke etc. I get around 15-16ish towing going 80-85 pulling some step mountain gardes passing others. If I want to take all day and go 65 I get 20-21 range. You will hate towing going from a diesel to a gasser. My 93 dodge 5.9L dually (2wd stick) did get better mileage but also had to tow slower due to gearing ( really needed a six speed)

[dom w. forte]

Another tid bit of info that you dont see mentioned alot is tail gate open or closed or tail gate grille bar, I got to see data on the wind tunnel testing and tail gate closed netted better fuel economy then open or grille, you can accually see in the testing a bubble build up in the bed and then the air smoothly flows across the roof and bubble and kills drag, with the tail gate down or grille a pressure drop occurs under the bed and puts a drag on the truck.

[Timmy!]

I got about 8-9 with the 5.3 4speed and 10-11 with the 6.0 6speed. I equate this to a bigger engine having to work less and the 6 speed tranny. With less gaps and a more effective tow/haul mode, it would find the sweet spot better.

Thanks for the info! I really miss my Avalanche I love the power of the diesel but it's hard to beat that cushy ride and versatility that the Av gives you.

[Wickedcummins]

Thanks for the info! I really miss my Avalanche I love the power of the diesel but it's hard to beat that cushy ride and versatility that the Av gives you.

Have you rode in a 2010 or newer dodge diesel? oooo soo smooth like butter

[Timmy!]

No, not the newer ones. I couldn't stand the seats in the 2008 model so it was ruled out before I even drove it which sucks because it was at least $5k cheaper than Chevy or Ford at the time. Avalanche has coils in the back instead of leaf's since it is built on the Suburban chasis.

[Wickedcummins]

You must stop by and see one now then. All changed dodge truck is as comfy as a lexus. Seats are heated and Air conditioned hole new dash seats and sound systems.. And they ride killer.

[IDBoating]

you can accually see in the testing a bubble build up in the bed and then the air smoothly flows across the roof and bubble and kills drag, with the tail gate down or grille a pressure drop occurs under the bed and puts a drag on the truck.

100% agree. That's why the first thing I purchased for my new truck was an Undercover bed cover. In addition to giving me covered and locking storage, it streamlines the rear end and eliminates the drag you describe. I take it off when carrying tall loads, and my mileage decreases about 2 MPG when it's removed.

Obviously this would work on gasoline powered trucks too.

[Timmy!]

Mythbusters did a whole thing on that.

For the original myth they did a driving test and a water vortex test, both of which showed that you save more gas with the tailgate up. Their viewers suggested that they test three new conditions:

Hardroof cover over pickup bed
Mesh tailgate
Remove the entire tailgate
They had a much simpler test setup this time. They had an electronic flowmeter hooked into fuel line of Jamie's pickup. Adam: "For anyone out there that wants to e-mail telling me that we screwed up this test, we have already calibrated this thing, to this car. So it's going to be perfect!" They drove the pickup truck up and down the stretch of 101 around Candlestick and the Cow Palace.

Tailgate down: 5.2 gallons/hr @ 55mph. 1.2 gallons/hr @ 25.
Tailgate up: 5.0 gallons/hr @ 55mph. No reading for 25mph given, but tailgate up was once again confirmed as more efficient.
Hardcover over pickup bed: 5.0 gallons/hr @ 55mph. 1.2 gallons/hr @25mph
Tailgate mesh: 5% more efficient
Tailgate removed: about the same as tailgate up and hardcover
Mesh was most efficient by 5%

[Timmy!]

You must stop by and see one now then. All changed dodge truck is as comfy as a lexus. Seats are heated and Air conditioned hole new dash seats and sound systems.. And they ride killer.

New trucks cost too much now. They got really proud of trucks and the stickers are $4k-$5k more now than they were when I bought mine. I paid $38k for mine and could have gotten a comparable Dodge for about $33k and I doubt that I could touch a new truck for less than $45k. I'll just drive this one for a few hundred thousand and see about a new one later.

[Wickedcummins]

What are you driving ?

[Timmy!]

2007.5 Duramax