What do YOU use to tow your track car?
05-01-2011, 11:09 PM
#23
Yeah I have noticed a remarkable improvement over the 6.4, but those are just some quick figures I could kind of come up with.
If I put it on cruise control at 65 to 70 on flat land I can get in the mid to high 20s. Honestly my numbers are probibly a little low. I will have to pay attention better on my next haul.
The problem is that I don't drive with the most fuel conservative mindset most of the time. My old 6.4 averaged about 14mpg with no trailer and combined highway/city driving 50/50.
If I put it on cruise control at 65 to 70 on flat land I can get in the mid to high 20s. Honestly my numbers are probibly a little low. I will have to pay attention better on my next haul.
The problem is that I don't drive with the most fuel conservative mindset most of the time. My old 6.4 averaged about 14mpg with no trailer and combined highway/city driving 50/50.
Reply
0
0
)
05-02-2011, 03:11 PM
#28
Newb
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1
Total Cats: 0
I'm using an 07 Tundra 5.7 with a 20' enclosed. Avg about 10 at 65-70 towing my spec miata.
On the ecoboost, from what I'm gathering they are great unloaded, but terrible mileage towing due to being in boost constantly.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/04...-6-part-1.html
On the ecoboost, from what I'm gathering they are great unloaded, but terrible mileage towing due to being in boost constantly.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/04...-6-part-1.html
Reply
0
0
05-02-2011, 04:45 PM
#30
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Incline Village, NV
Posts: 2,034
Total Cats: 5
1999 Ford F-250 super duty - Bone stock
20 mpg @ 70mph
14 mpg @ 70-75 mph towing my race car on a steel flatbed
Currently living in the snow, this thing is 2x4 and will trek through 6 inches of fresh snow without any issues. This next winter a snowmobile will be living in the bed of the truck.
Most importantly, I haven't gotten a speeding ticket when driving the truck. Its tough to safely go fast so it makes it really easy to just turn up your tunes and enjoy the ride. Small cars get out of your way really REALLLLY fast too.
20 mpg @ 70mph
14 mpg @ 70-75 mph towing my race car on a steel flatbed
Currently living in the snow, this thing is 2x4 and will trek through 6 inches of fresh snow without any issues. This next winter a snowmobile will be living in the bed of the truck.
Most importantly, I haven't gotten a speeding ticket when driving the truck. Its tough to safely go fast so it makes it really easy to just turn up your tunes and enjoy the ride. Small cars get out of your way really REALLLLY fast too.
Reply
0
0
05-02-2011, 05:59 PM
#32
Elite Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Anacortes, WA
Posts: 2,478
Total Cats: 144
One of the most funky cool car haulers I have seen show up at local track events.
Converted 1970’s Cadillac Eldorado. Guy bought it from Boeing surplus and grafted on a car trailer. What else would you do with a 500 cubic inch front wheel drive car.
Bob
Converted 1970’s Cadillac Eldorado. Guy bought it from Boeing surplus and grafted on a car trailer. What else would you do with a 500 cubic inch front wheel drive car.
Bob
Reply
0
0
05-02-2011, 06:29 PM
#34
Elite Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Anacortes, WA
Posts: 2,478
Total Cats: 144
Looks to me like A Sprinter Van would be cool and get good mileage but will have trouble towing much weight. Loading and unloading the back of a large 4WD truck with wheels, tires, tools, and stuff absolutely sucks. Scraping shins on the tailgate and crunching knees on the bed while crawling around positioning and accessing stuff really sucks. Id rather have a van where the sides open and you can walk in.
Bob
Reply
0
0
05-02-2011, 11:39 PM
#38
Martinez... in all seriousness, I've got an 05 V6 4Runner and if it was just across town to the track, I wouldn't mind putting a Miata on a light single-axle trailer behind it... figure 3500lbs total, as long as it had some sort of assist brakes. But for any kind of long haul, a V8 in some form simply can't be beat for safety.
And have you looked at used 4Runners... a well-kept V6 2WD with under 100k miles is going to run you $15k+.
I've got some decent experience towing across a range of vehicles. A 250/2500 series diesel isn't going to notice there's anything back there until you get up into the 6k-8klb range... they just shrug that light **** off.
Towing a Miata on a flatbed behind a V6 SUV... well, it's gonna do it, but you'll be on your toes the whole time.
I pulled an MS6+Uhaul (6300lbs) behind my 5.9litre gas Dodge 1500QC cross country at 9mpg and the whole time I know I needed a weight distribution hitch. It did the job and the needles never moved out of the green, but it made me a firm believer that COMPLETE OVERKILL when towing is the way to go.
It may never have crossed your mind, but if you've gotta place to keep it when not in use, how about something like this:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2355909596.html
And have you looked at used 4Runners... a well-kept V6 2WD with under 100k miles is going to run you $15k+.
I've got some decent experience towing across a range of vehicles. A 250/2500 series diesel isn't going to notice there's anything back there until you get up into the 6k-8klb range... they just shrug that light **** off.
Towing a Miata on a flatbed behind a V6 SUV... well, it's gonna do it, but you'll be on your toes the whole time.
I pulled an MS6+Uhaul (6300lbs) behind my 5.9litre gas Dodge 1500QC cross country at 9mpg and the whole time I know I needed a weight distribution hitch. It did the job and the needles never moved out of the green, but it made me a firm believer that COMPLETE OVERKILL when towing is the way to go.
It may never have crossed your mind, but if you've gotta place to keep it when not in use, how about something like this:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2355909596.html
Reply
0
0
05-03-2011, 12:05 AM
#39
I don't know I filled up the 98 Dodge in Willows California with $4.85 Diesel. Super unleaded was only $4.45. Got about 15 mpg staying under 65 mph. kind of has me re-thinking tow rigs.
Looks to me like A Sprinter Van would be cool and get good mileage but will have trouble towing much weight. Loading and unloading the back of a large 4WD truck with wheels, tires, tools, and stuff absolutely sucks. Scraping shins on the tailgate and crunching knees on the bed while crawling around positioning and accessing stuff really sucks. Id rather have a van where the sides open and you can walk in.
Bob
Looks to me like A Sprinter Van would be cool and get good mileage but will have trouble towing much weight. Loading and unloading the back of a large 4WD truck with wheels, tires, tools, and stuff absolutely sucks. Scraping shins on the tailgate and crunching knees on the bed while crawling around positioning and accessing stuff really sucks. Id rather have a van where the sides open and you can walk in.
Bob
Reply
0
0
05-03-2011, 12:14 AM
#40
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
Originally Posted by bbundy;722317[/quote
crunching knees on the bed while crawling around positioning and accessing stuff really sucks.
TrackDayHookey tows his Miata with a diesel Sprinter. From what I can gather, he loves it.
If you're towing a Miata like 2-3 times a year there are a lot of vehicles that will do it just fine - pretty much every V6 SUV, all the V8s, etc. The question is whether you want to do it. A V6 SUV will get **** mileage, you will struggle up hills, and forget about passing anyone. Having a V8 makes the journey that much less stressful - you aren't worried about the next set of hills. When I've just spent 2 days at the track tending to two cars, I don't want to stress about the semi rig next to me, or who else is about to blow my doors off as I struggle up a 6-7% grade at 45mph - I want to set the cruise at 70, set the A/C, crank up the tunes, and relax. With a flatbed and a Miata in tow, pretty much every half-ton pickup/SUV made in the last 15 years will allow you to relax when you're towing.
The gap from V8 to Diesel is much smaller than the gap between V6 and V8. Diesel will get better mileage and give you the ability to tow BIG **** if you ever want to. If you're only talking about a 5000lb open trailer, though, a half-ton truck will do the job very well.
Having said all of that, if you buy an enclosed trailer and tow it with a gas truck, you're a fool. I get better mileage towing 9000lbs on an open trailer than I do towing our empty 28" enclosed, which weighs half that. If you're going to the track often enough to justify the cost of an enclosed trailer, sack up.
Reply
0
0
