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Re: [Fot] MPH towing...

To: BillDentin@aol.com
Subject: Re: [Fot] MPH towing...
From: "Robert M. Lang" <lang@isis.mit.edu>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 10:37:58 -0400 (EDT)
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Hi,

My rig is a '99 Chevy Express one-ton cargo van. The motor is a 5.7 liter chevy V8 with the HD tranny (700R6, I think). My normal trailer is a 20 foot enclosed Pace American rallye. With the car and "stuff", the gross trailer weight is in the 6500 pound range.

I get between 9 and 10 MPG with the enclosed trailer.

With an open trailer, I get more like 13. I only have one data point for that setup, but it was a 3500 mile round trip tow, so it should be valid.

With the enclosed trailer, if I get a run on the big hills, I can stay above 50 MPH easily. Once in a while I get boxed in on a hill approach and then I might drop to below 50 before the hill crests, but that's only because when the tranny steps down to the lower gear, I get out of the gas so I don't try to pull a long distance in the lower gear.

This truck has about 140K miles on it, so it's not a spring chicken.

The 5.7 liter Chevy motor that was in the Express Vans from the mid-90's to the early 2000 range were rated at 225 HP and I believe that number. My older truck ('84 G10) had similar miles on it, but the motor was rated at 150-ish HP. The difference is amazing. That thing downshifted pulling out of my driveway. It was HORRIBLE. OTOH, it was close to a junkyard truck when I bought it and I put a lot of miles on it over the 5 or 6 years I had it... so, it was "tired", to say the least.

regards,
rml
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Lang              Triumph TR6!!            |  This space for rent
Former NER Solo Chair                          |
Voice:617-253-7438                             |  Cell: 339-927-4489
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