You guys with Diesels chime in!

[kevfran99]

I'm thinking about buying an older diesel next summer to use strickly as my tow vehicle. They have gotten really cheap as of lately. I was thinking of a 00-02 Silverado 2500 duramax. What kinda of gas mileage should I expect out of this thing when towing SAN? I use my Denali now which is great for in the close tow, but not so great for the highway! Plus my mileage drops to 7mpgs(you read it right, not typo 7mpgs!) with the SAN back there! Do I really need to buy a 4X4 or will the 2 wheel drive be just fine? Thanks!

[NaughtyNautique]

I have a 02 Chevy 2500hd 4x4 with the Duramax Diesel. I have a Hypertech stage 3 chip and 285/75/16 BFG all terrians. Over the summer I towed my Pro Air Nautique 700 miles and got 14.5mpg.

[Chris4x4Gill2]

I tow with a 05 Superduty 6.0 turbo. with the 2001 back there I get 16 mpg, I never even know its there. I like 4wd on all of my trucks, especially the diesel since its so heavy in the front and light in the back but most places a 2wd is fine.

[01skinautiqueGT40]

02 7.3 F-350 non dually short bed crew cab. 01 SN 196. truck mods are a 8 inch lift on 20" KMC rockstars with 37 NITTO TERRA GRAPPLERS. bully dog triple dog power pup. 14.5 MPG pulling 300 miles. not bad

[WakeSlayer]

2002 F350 dual RW, Super Crew 4x4 7.3L Turbo diesel. 12.7 avg. You do not know there is anything back there.
Hey man, do you think you can tow a............ Yes, I can.

[ABEL]

2000 F 250 7.3 all stock except an cold air and we programmed it with the edge tuner, at the mid setting i was amazed when commuting to work i was gettin 33 mpg, we run biodiesel only though and i think that helps. COuldnt beleive how quick those full sizes can be with a tuner, with that thing turned all the way up it straight cooks.

[ABEL]

then again i just read that the stock MPG gauge in those trucks were inaccurate so more likey less then 33MPG

[WakeSlayer]

I don't care what you do to it, you are not getting anywhere near 33, bud. I think you have your computer display set to metric. kpg.

[01skinautiqueGT40]

2002 F350 dual RW, Super Crew 4x4 7.3L Turbo diesel. 12.7 avg. You do not know there is anything back there.
Hey man, do you think you can tow a............ Yes, I can.

haha thats my answer to everything, i tow a 48 FT Haulmark DAILY and people say, hey how does that thing do it? ITS A FORD POWERSTROKE, IT WILL PULL ANYTHING

[01skinautiqueGT40]

then again i just read that the stock MPG gauge in those trucks were inaccurate so more likey less then 33MPG

back in 00" they didnt even have MPG gauges, mines a 02 lariat and i dont have it

[wake_fun]

You should expect 14-18 towing in your Dmax, it depends A LOT on how fast you drive. This summer I LOADED my long bed up and hooked up the boat on a camping trip. I went to the CAT scales to weigh the rig/boat and it was 15,500 lbs. Driving 65mph I got 12mpg with my PPE tuner on level 2. This is a lifted truck on 35's. Pic is in photo album. Go here if you want to learn more: www.dieselplace.com

[SkiTower]

you guys are depressing me on the mileage numbers. I have a 5.4 Ford engine and get 11.5-12 pulling the boat. I really thought if I got a diesel I'd be pulling 16-18 mpg. My buddy has a tacoma and pulls his 196 at about 14 mpg.

[kevfran99]

Maybe my mileage is so bad because I'm usually at 75-80mph on the highway! If the traffic is light I don't have the patience to do 65! I feel like a snail. Seems like Fords are dominating here........which doesn't suprise me because they build more than any other manufacturer........how many miles do you guys have no your truck? Do they really last that much longer than a regular gas engine? oh, and my plans are NOT to lift anything I buy......it looks good, but it's just not me!

[swooddc]

99 Dodge 2500 4x4. automatic, 65hp injectors, with slightly larger than stock rubber. at 80mph I am turning 2100 rpms getting 16mpg towing my 196. I get 18 around town, 20 on the interstate if I keep it below 80. I have gotten 22mpg empty running 65. 182000 miles on it. speed has everything to do with fuel mileage, I know if I drove 60-65 i would be getting 18 towing.

[todda]

'05 Dodge 2500 4x4 quad cab, short bed. When I am towing my 196, I am getting 16-18 mpg, even with towing over a pretty decent pass (sea level to 4200'). Around town, I usually am getting 18 mgg, and 22.5 highway if under 75 mph. I have been very happy, even with deisel being outrageously priced these days.

ONE thing that I would mention for the sake of all the deisel owners out there: with the low sulfur deisel they are producing, it has been my understanding that it has been reaking havoc on the fuel systems overall. So, recommendation of the maintenence people, they have said to add a cetane booster to the fuel, as well as a lubricant (like Marvel Mystery Oil). I have done this for the last 6 months or so (about 4-6 oz of ea. per tank) and I have noticed a jump in my fuel economy by about 1-2 mi/gal without any change in my driving. Just food for thought and cheap way to avoid some costly repairs overall.