PDA

View Full Version : off topic, looking for tow rig ideas



redonkulousruntsracing
10-02-2012, 10:08 AM
I know this is off topic for this forum, but we all can relate, and someone prolly has some good input.
I want to talk about how we get to the track, possibly the most expensive part of a race weekend. I will tell you what I have and I am looking for ideas that might help me save some cash getting to the track, and please no brand bashing or foolishness.

I have a 08 GMC 2500HD 6.0L gasser/ 6 speed auto 4x4, and I tow an 18' enclosed trailer. First about the truck; it has stock 3.5" exhaust without a muffler, a Trifecta Performance computer tune, cold air intake, 33" tires and 3:73 gears. I get around 7-8 mpg towing, which kills me in the wallet. My trailer is an older 18' Car-Mate enclosed with a totally flat nose. I usually have a 350 gallon water tank in the bed of the truck (empty). The trailer loaded weighs 6000 lbs. I think its the big flat surface area acting as a sail that is killing my mileage, if a gust of wind kicks up, I drop 5 mph instantly.

Thing I am thinking about trying to help my MPG:
-Install long tube headers with converter deletes to help in the torque department.
-A supercharger, I know it would help with power, but dont think it would help mileage
-A cam swap, something with more torque at 2000-2500rpm
-Possible gearing swap, I am running 33" tall tires now, stock were 245/75r16 which are about 30.5" tall. Thinking about going from the stock 3:73's to 4:10's or maybe even 4:56's
-I've seen the "bubbles" on the front of flat face trailers and was wondering if they make any difference.

Any possible ideas would be helpful, I need to save some cash on my traveling, I spent triple my travel budget this year. I would love to get a new Duramax GMC, but that is a couple years off right now. Lets hear how you roll!!

nastynotchback1
10-02-2012, 10:30 AM
I tow with a 2005 gmc duramax with 35in tires,edge tuner,mbrp 5in,airaid intake,stock 3.73 gears and only get 9.5 mpg pulling a 34ft playmor flat nose trailer.The 6.0 gasser is not known for gas mileage.I would suggest maybe one of those stupid looking air deflectors for the top of your truck and i bet a move to 4.10's or 4.30's would help.Also make sure your truck has good plugs and filters.Always make sure your tire pressure is good in the truck and trailer tires.As far as gears do the calculations to get you back to stock gear ratio.the 4.56 gears will put you lower than the stock ratio was and probably not help mileage.

Ryko racing
10-02-2012, 01:23 PM
We actually sold our deisel pusher a year ago and went to a f350 deisel 4x4. we tow a 24 ft alum car hauler and have a 9 ft slide in camper in the pickup. its great for 2 or 3 people. we get about 9.5 mpg avg.

I sell gmc trucks for a living and can tell you that the 6.0 v 8 gas engine gets horrible mileage when under load. It just doesnt have enough torque and the six speed auto trans is worse as it searches. ( i cant get 5 mpg without my camper pulling my trailer with a 6.0.) Dont waste your money on all the k n intakes it wont make any difference. Our customers all complain about that powertrain. Sorry for the bad news.

redonkulousruntsracing
10-02-2012, 01:27 PM
I know all about it, when I bought it in 07 I had no intention on towing a race trailer every weekend. I bought for my 9' plow and my 1100' driveway. Now 99000 miles later I can't take it any more. There has to be a way to wake this slug up!

10-02-2012, 01:43 PM
PowerStroke diesel 7.3l turbo... Best bang for the buck!!!

Ryko racing
10-02-2012, 01:56 PM
we have a real nice 2005 f350 crew cab deisel with 91000 miles on it and brand new rubber. we may sell it if you are interested. it is not a work truck it is my 70 yr fathers truck. All he uses it for is to tow me to the races. Never had a plow or anything. Probabaly around $ 21500. He is going to order a New dually.

redonkulousruntsracing
10-02-2012, 02:03 PM
Make no mistake, I plan on keeping this truck until the 2014 remodeled HD comes out, it will be a Dirtymax fer sure!

fast shee
10-02-2012, 04:25 PM
May want to calculate the extra fuel cost for the season or even for a year and weigh out the difference of buying a diesel now. I run a 07 cummins with a 5.9 and pull a 26 ft toy hauler which is @ 10,000 lbs loaded and come in at roughly 12 mpg at worst but i drive like a old nanny. I got rid off my hemi which was at its best 14 mpg unloaded down hill with a tail wind! I will never go back to gas and conssidering the difference in cost to trade up it was worth every penny!

redonkulousruntsracing
10-02-2012, 04:48 PM
I know everyone's killing me, just about every truck I've had since 1990 has been a diesel, this was my first gas truck in a long time, I have diesel envy every time I hear one running.

fast shee
10-02-2012, 05:55 PM
YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE!!!

Rich243
10-02-2012, 06:37 PM
We towed our 20' Trailer (all gear, 2 quads, a dirt bike and a golf cart) from Atlanta to Victor, NY and back and got about 12 miles per gallon with our 2002 Diesel Excursion. (7.3 Powerstroke) We went looking for a vehicle with that engine when we went to the larger trailer. Our gas Tahoe was in the 9 mpg range pulling the 14', single axle trailer before that........

eightysix86
10-02-2012, 06:56 PM
I have a 96 dodge 5.9 desiel 12 vavle , 20 trailer loaded 14-16 miles to the gallon!! Enough said 12 vavle CUMMINGS!!!