Took my annual roadtrip from Long Island up to the Adirondack Mountains for a week of outdoor fun. Towed my ancient 34 yr old camper ( 26 ft long) w/ canoe added for extra drag. I know my trip is small potatoes compared to the distances and weights regularly towed by some on the board; but I am thrilled by the results!

I used three tanks of fuel on the trip that covered 933 miles total.

1st tank = trailer + canoe w/ 1 weeks supplies .Tank was down approx 2 gal from fill at start due to trip home from station and trailer hook up and manuvering........... mpg ave from DIC 13.7 for tank

2nd tank= filled on road and included, 80 miles towing and maneuvering trailer into ( and back out of) tight parking spot.Also included unloaded roadtrip back to Albany for NY Giants training camp. Rode all around and transported canoe about 60 miles........mpg 18.1 for tank

3rd tank=trailer + canoe no supplies..smooth sailing @ 64mph w/ several rest stops.Traffic on Long Island expressway caused some stop and go but I was rolling at about 45 mph............mpg 15.2 WOW!

I am all stock w/16 k miles , running synthetic fluids everywhere except trans and used small CIPA slip on mirror extensions. I did not use tow haul mode except on downhill secondary road situations and the truck seemed not to need the higher shift points. When I left I paid $4.95 a gallon and was pleasantly surprised by a $4.69 fill up for the trip home.
Last year w/10 k miles and the canoe mounted right side up(got t-rac at last minute) ,using tow haul mode I got a steady 12.6 mpg for the same trip.
Very happy w/ my D-Max!

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii199/f4fast/DSC_0095.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii199/f4fast/DSC_0096.jpg

My old tow vehicle got between 6.5 and 8.7 mpg for the same trip.Without the canoe!http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii199/f4fast/Img20.jpg

That is nice mileage but that trailer doesn't look so great with that truck. Sorry but I just had to tell you that.

My not look that great, But I bet it's paid for...Which make it look sweet...:cool: JD

I tow with my Kayaks on the Trac Rack. I believe the canoe and kayaks help cut the air better for the travel trailers. Heck, your Dmax didn't even break a sweat! Good mileage! :D

That is nice mileage but that trailer doesn't look so great with that truck

The trailer was bought new by my old man in 1974. I know it's a turd; I put the picture in to give a face to the story.

I guess I should have put in some other thoughts I had to give some perspective. I saw many other trucks towing huge behemoth trailers on the NYS thruway.Sure they are much nicer but can you drive across the country when you retire getting 10-11 mpg in this age of $5.00 diesel with one of those? My trip had tolls of $27 up and $33 back with three $90+ fill ups. Thats to traverse one state!

I was excited by the performance of the truck because @ 15 mpg I can still see making a multiple cross country trips without breaking the bank by using a smaller lighter trailer. I have a 72 Airstream Overlander that I'm going to restore and I think that will fit the bill. Now I just have to figure a way to get a couple of motorcycles in the bed while I tow.

Another unsaid interesting point I wanted to put out there was that 15 mpg is what some guys get w/ big tires and lift kits ,without pulling anything.

Thats really good news for me.

As someone that doesent haul/tow heavy and is about to buy a DMAX LBZ, I like to hear that the truck will get decent MPGs when hauling dirt bikes and such.

Don't feel bad about the camper, mine was totaled out in a hail storm several years ago, it looks a little rough but camps just fine.

I pulled into a KOA a couple of years ago and all of the 30 amp sites were taken so they parked me in the 50 amp section. We were surrended by huge motorhomes and probably looked like poor white trash. Bet we were the only one in the row paid for!

Great mileage, if I get in the twelves pulling my 5th wheel, I'm pleased. My old gasser on an extemely good day might get in the eights.

Nice Olds , 455 ?

How accurate is your computer??mines off some.. When I check MPG I fill tank until fuel is setting in the fill tube....
also your really suppose to usetow//hual when towing especially that being a Heavy trailer....

Otherwise yes they are a great combo...the d-max and alli.....

I always fill to top of gas tank neck. It's a PIA with the foaming, but I like to be consistent.

My DIC is very close ,and I pump in very close to what it says I used.

I decided not to use tow-haul this time to see if I could improve mileage. The camper probably weighs 5500-6500 lbs which is well under what the truck can pull. I had plenty of power without the extra rpm between shifts that t-h gives you. I did use t-h on secondary roads in the mountains on downhills to utilize the auto engine braking. The only concern I had was re: line pressure in the trans under load. I wasn't sure if t-h raised the pressure so that clutches and bands had more holding power. Anyone know?

The truck was really not taxed at all during the trip, and I doubt I had to go further than half throttle at any time to climb the Throgs Neck bridge, go up long mountain grades or enter the thruway into moving traffic from a rest stop.

My Olds is a 350 (olds) th400 ,3.73 12 bolt. 650 spreadbore, performer intake, Rv cam, headers w/ 2 1/2 X-pipe exhaust, modified trans w/ pan ,cooler, valve body work, traveler converter.I rebuilt the trans my self to full B+M specs. My original idea was a vintage wagon w/ polished Airstream trailer. I may take pictures with that set-up when the Airstream is done, but I'm towing with this truck!

It was the canoe. :D

Where in the Adirondacks were you?

Where in the Adirondacks were you?

I was at a cabin in Wells, not far from you. My 18.1 mpg tankful included approx 40 miles each way towing from Amsterdam to Wells and back.

That is pretty impressive. The best I have gotten is 11.2. Mostly average around 9.5 to 10.5 pulling the camper in my garage. It is almost 12 feet tall so I am sure that hurts me a bunch. It weighs about 7500 lbs and is 30 feet long.

I was at a cabin in Wells, not far from you. My 18.1 mpg tankful included approx 40 miles each way towing from Amsterdam to Wells and back.
Nice area over there, good fishen too. I used to party over in Foxlair between Bakersmills and Wells on RT8 back in my younger/foolish days. I dated a girl from Northville for a time too, used to run those roads alot. Your getting about the same milage as i do when im not towing.

I have checked my DIC several times and it very close. It is just a few tenths under. I get 18 mpg not towing and 10 mpg towing our 12,000 fiver. It is stock only change is 265 tires replaced the 245. I paid $88 to have the DIC programed for the larger tires.
MY big complaint is paying $4.59 for fuel when gas is $3.60. I drive it very little now as it cheaper to drive the car and it get over 25 mpg everyday driving. The leaders of the House and Senate should be run out of the country!!!!!

That is nice mileage but that trailer doesn't look so great with that truck. Sorry but I just had to tell you that.

My 3rd grade teacher used to say,,, If you aint got something nice to say,, then dont say anything at all.

Notes on accuracy of the DIC. I refilled my tank this week. As always to the top of the fuel neck. My DIC said 17.4 gallons used and I pumped in 17.31 gallons but wait...............I always use 8oz of Power Service per tank full. How does that change things?

8 oz x 1 gal/ 128 oz= 8/128=.0625 gallon =8 oz

lets add that 17.31 gal + .0625 gal = 17.37 gallons used vs DIC 17.4

Doesn't 17.37 round to 17.4 when you use three digits? Whats not accurate about that? The rounding up error (.03gal) is 4oz...so my DIC is accurate to about 4 oz of fuel per tankfull. I'm happy w/ that!

The trailer was bought new by my old man in 1974. I know it's a turd; I put the picture in to give a face to the story.

I guess I should have put in some other thoughts I had to give some perspective. I saw many other trucks towing huge behemoth trailers on the NYS thruway.Sure they are much nicer but can you drive across the country when you retire getting 10-11 mpg in this age of $5.00 diesel with one of those? My trip had tolls of $27 up and $33 back with three $90+ fill ups. Thats to traverse one state!

I was excited by the performance of the truck because @ 15 mpg I can still see making a multiple cross country trips without breaking the bank by using a smaller lighter trailer. I have a 72 Airstream Overlander that I'm going to restore and I think that will fit the bill. Now I just have to figure a way to get a couple of motorcycles in the bed while I tow.

Another unsaid interesting point I wanted to put out there was that 15 mpg is what some guys get w/ big tires and lift kits ,without pulling anything.

Nice going, and for what it's worth -- I like your trailer, warts and all. I just finished a 3k roadtrip through the Rockies, pulling a 1986 25' Airstream at about 7000# plus the loaded truck (stock 06LBZ 4x4 Crew). I got about 12.5mpg avg, hand calc'd and your numbers look great to me...of course, we were rolling up and down numerous mountain passes over 10,000 feet, and the ambient temps were pushing 100*. The interesting thing for me is how easy it was to run up the EGT's past 1250* -- if you don't have a pyro I'd strongly recommend it. Next on my list is a 4" exhaust!