Best mileage tow vehicle

[astro]

Since high priced gas is here to stay, what's the best mileage tow vehicle for pulling a lightweight trailer? Preferably 4X4. Driving a 4X4 van right now 14 mpg! Rather spend the money on gas for the sled than the car to get there!

 

[Weekday Warrior]

Prolly a Dodge Cummins 1st Gen

strictly speaking towing economy, one could get upwards of 24mpg towing a light trailer


Dads 4x4 1st gen gets up to 26mpg empty on a long run

 

[steveo10]

cummins

 

[NWGooser]

I have an '01 Dodge Cummins 4x4, daily driver. I consistently get 17-20 mpg and it will tow anything you can throw a hitch on. The down side, gas=$3.60 a gal, diesel= $4.60. It costs about $150 to fill up. You do save a bit over all on fuel but remember, when I go to Jiffy lube it's about $200. To do all the filters & lube myself I save about $40, so why bother. Tires are $1,200, and so on and so on.
We have 2 diesels in the driveway right now. Looking to sell my wife's 2001 Ford Superduty 4x4 extra cab. It would make a great tow rig for you

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

i got 13 in my truck on the highway empty, i was actually impressed.... but the powerstrokes i know arent gonna be your friend

really it depends what your gonna be towing/hauling, as you could get away with a smaller overall vehichle, if your not gonna be doing a 4 place enclosed or anything that big

heck, you could prolly just stick the sled in the van and leave the back open, or put in a insulated wall behind the front seats, 1 place enclosed for ya

 

[astro]

I was thinking some kind of sedan. Who needs a big truck to get to the local spot.

 

[JHG]

I have a sedan like tahoe for sale!!

 

[astro]

May as well drive a truck

 

[JHG]

Yeah i know, but you can't blame me for trying!!

 

[mb1]

'03 cummins was a really good year for economy.

I think a WRX would make a bada$$ little tow rig for a single machine but there are some obvious drawbacks..... ground clearance, limited to pulling one machine ( safely, anyways..) etc.

 

[JHG]

A Legacy or Outback would probably work

 

[stalefish_132]

duramax hands down for fuel milage

 

[astro]

unfortunately subaru doesn't make high MPG cars. Looked at them.

 

[Blu Du]

if you want to puzzy foot it, a 2000 1/2 ton small 6 cylinder will get almost 20 mpg towing a 2 place.

 

[Rixster]

I have a 2000 power stroke. I am getting 24 empty and around 16 towing a 4 place 27 foot enclosed. Most of my rideing area is NO freeway driving, its all two lane roads up the mountains.

 

[travydog]

I seen this on here last year and you guys talken about the sedans i had to dig to find it but it will work i think

 

[Shwinecat]

I pull 4 place open 1,000 miles to get to the mountains, 2,000 Round trip. I have 03 dodge Cummins. If I stay uner 70 I am in the middle 16's. If I push it around 80 she drops to 13's or less with a wind. Unlimited power, love the truck.

 

[whitefish]

I pull 4 place open 1,000 miles to get to the mountains, 2,000 Round trip. I have 03 dodge Cummins. If I stay uner 70 I am in the middle 16's. If I push it around 80 she drops to 13's or less with a wind. Unlimited power, love the truck.

Yep, '03 Cummins was a good year for mileage. Great for mods too! I can't justify getting a new truck and getting 6-8 less MPG.

 

[Wayniac]

I put a toesters.com topper on my 2 place open so I have a very light weight enclosed. Instead of pulling it with my full size gasser truck this year we are going to use my wife's V6 explorer AWD. It might slow down a little on the steep grades but with the price of fuel I can live with that. I towed our jetskis last weekend and got 21mpg according to the computer (no hills).
The 5 speed auto does pretty well towing.

 

[dmkhnr]

My 01 Powerstroke got 17 towing, and 18 running around empty.
My 05 cummins got 12-14 towing and 16 empty.
My 07 cummins gets 12- 13 towing and 16 empty.

These are real numbers, not the ones you see on the overhead computer.