What did you decide on?

 

I haven't yet. Right now I'm trying to get the thing up to snuff reliability wise before I go messing with performance. I've beem chasing a stupid belt squeak for a few months now.

 

you guys towin and worryin about MPG need to slow the heck down. Be the cheapest and best thing you can do to save gas money.

 

Have a custom tune done by someone local with HP tuners if you can find someone and get 4.10 gearing.

 

And to OP, if the truck is an actual tow vehicle, you'd be real comfortable with a diesel... Yes you can tow with just about anything, if you saw the vehicles they tow with in Europe you'd be beside yourself. But I am a firm believer in selecting a vehicle for the purpose which it is good at. You don't turn a Taurus into a road racer unless you want an uphill challenge. Same with a gas tow rig.

 

Cptcameltoe, I don't care about mileage in the least as long as it does its job.

I'd love to have a diesel. But they don't make diesl SUVs anymore and the Excursions ride like crap and they cost nearly $20k with over 100k miles. MAYBE a DMax swap could happen someday but I don't think that would be worth the cost.

 

Where did your 8.1 get the best mileage? Because mine get better mileage at 80 than at 65.

LX - Towing with a 2500 suburban with a big block is not really using something that it wasn't intended for. Its easily as comfortable towing as a diesel. It just has to shift more. Otherwise stability wise its the same.

 

Honestly it seemed to get 6.5-7 no matter what. That's at anywhere from 60-75mph depending on road conditions. I haven't been dedicated enough to keep to a constant speed over long period of time. I'll be towing this weekend about 500 miles and plan to just keep it in 3rd and see how that does.

 

I was really asking cameltoe as his advice was to slow down.

I wouldn't leave it in third. It will only suck up more fuel. The plus side is it wont downshift but that's not really bad other than you dislike it. Letting the RPM drop while its coasting or downhill will save a little bit of gas.

Use tow haul and tow in 4th is my advice. Set the cruise and let it shift when it needs to.

 

its a general statement, not directed at anyone in particular. when I hear guys whine about gas mileage or not havin enough power when they are tryin to tow 9+k lbs at 70+ mph, I just gotta laugh. There's no way a truck is gonna get better mileage at 80 mph vs 55-60 mph. I have said it before, other then dick size, more lies been told about MPG then anything else. In other words, don't believe a lot of those mileage claims, not too mention most figures are incorrect due to bigger or smaller tires/incorrect speedo.