Hey Gary,
I have a '97 Dakota Sport, 5.2 liter (318), full heavy-duty towing package,
stiffer-than-stock suspension, and performance rotors, shoes and pads.
I towed a decent-weight open trailer with a Formula Ford (1000+ lbs) twice
last summer, with three tool boxes, spare gears, boxes of spare parts and
other stuff, an air tank and a small compressor, plus all manner of three
days worth of sundries in the back of my truck, and I didn't even lose 1
mpg. Both trips were a combination of Interstates and smaller roads, with
lots of hills (no mountains, alas). I didn't speed, and I went easy on the
automatic transmission, but I was thrilled with the performance of my truck.
I usually get 15 to 16 mpg on the highway (not speeding, not driving
aggressively), and I got at least 14 to 15 mpg on these two trips. But they
were shorter than your trip. One was only two hours each way. One was three
and a half hour each way.
But the 5.2 liter (318) is all about torque and a flat horsepower curve.
That might make all the difference.
I'm jealous that you got to Sturgis, though. I'm planning on it maybe next
year, maybe the year after, but not too long away!
Traci
At 06:33 PM 8/10/2005, you wrote:
>Took the 05 out to Sturgis SD last week for the Sturgis bike week and was
>just floored at how crappy my milage was while towing a trailer. I hauled
>a motorcycle trailer from IL to SD (2000 miles round trip) and only got
>11.8 mpg's. I usually get 22-23 on the highway not towing, and I figured
>my milage wouldn't be that good... but is this normal for a 4.7 or do I
>need to get this puppy checked out???
>
>Thanks
>
>Gary Hedlin
>05 4.7 SLT 2WD
>98 3.9 Sport 2WD
>http://www.garyhedlin.com
Traci Pearson
Pearson Technical Communication
Writing, Editing, Information Design • Print and Online
pearsontechcomm@comcast.net
(303) 410-9101
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