V-10 Towing MPG

Cobalt 222 · 08-29-2009, 12:00 PM

I am thinking of buying an Excursion to pull my boat. I am interested to see what kind of MPG everyone gets with the V-10 engine. There are some good deals on used ones. My boat is about 6000lbs. This would be more than enough vehicle to get the job done, plus I'd have plenty of room for the family and all of our stuff. I've heard towing with the V-10 only returns about 5-6 MPG. Thanks in advance for any responses.

ghostriderr6 · 08-29-2009, 01:39 PM

I own an 05 X with a V10, 3.73 gears and 35 inch tires and I get 8-9 when I tow my 11,000# toyhauler to the dunes, mostly flat roads. When I tow it up north on the steep mountain roads i get 6-7. So with your 6000# load and stock tires you'll probly stay in the double digits, barely.

Hoowasat · 09-05-2009, 08:02 AM

My '01 4WD LTD V10 with 3.73s and OEM tires got 11.3 MPG towing 5,600# of open car trailer from southeast VA to central PA and back. How far do you have to tow your boat? Around here, it seems nobody has to go more than 25 miles or so ... and usually less than 10 miles to their favorite boat ramp.

Wolf Alaska · 09-18-2009, 11:34 AM

Cobalt 222, my experience with towing boats is that they are less of a drag than a real trailer. I believe the typical deep V boat splits the wind very well. Side winds have much less effect on the boat than on a box trailer like a travel trailer or cargo trailer. So, your air drag burden will be much less and all you have to deal with is the actual weight. Raising weight demands horsepower and hp demands fuel. About 1/2 pound per hour per horse power. So, 12 hp for an hour burns 1 gallon of gasoline or diesel. Remember, horse power is based on raising a quantity of weight a specific height in 1 minute. (33,000 pounds 1 foot in 1 minute)

More HP gets you and your load up the hill faster. Once you start towing, most of the trucks/SueVees/cars will all get about the same mpg.

Get what you want if it will do the job.

Let's Roll !

Wolf

theoldwizard · 09-19-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf Alaska

Once you start towing, most of the trucks/SueVees/cars will all get about the same mpg.

Diesel folks will challenge that statement !

Fuel economy drops off big time on the V10 when towing a big load versus running empty. Not so true on a diesel.

FYI. All new "big block" V8 engine replacing the V10 in 2011MY. More power, better fuel economy !