Extremely Disappointed!!

Lil Timmy · 12-24-2007, 08:29 AM

A little background. I bought my 05 Titan nearly 3 months ago. I was a little disappointed in the 18mpg I got on the highway, but let it pass since it's a Big Tow Package. Last week I made a trip from my home (Tyler, TX) to my vacation home in South Fork, CO (around 900 miles one way). On this trip I pulled my 16' car hauler with 2 four wheelers, around 3000lbs total. I was excited to see what the Titan would be able to do pulling a fairly light load through Texas and over the passes in Colorado. I've read alot of good things about the Titan's towing abilities especially with the added features of the BT package. My average speed was 65-70mph, I do most of my long trips at night (less traffic and cooler temps). I was shocked when my average mpg dropped to 11mpg!! I was expecting to get around 15mpg with such a light load.
To contrast this, I had an 05 Chevy Crew Cab (flipped it a couple years ago) that I made this same trip with pulling the same trailer, but with a lifted Jeep Cherokee (around 6000lbs total). I averaged 70-75 mph during the summer with the A/C on and was able to get 15mpg.
Is this what I should expect from this truck, this is terrible!?! My Chevy got 22mpg Hwy and as mention above 15mpg towing. Did I expect too much from the Titan? I'm extremely disappointed and will put all of my extra cash into paying this truck down and getting into another Chevrolet or GMC.

Warrior071 · 12-24-2007, 08:36 AM

I don't feel bad for ya LOL I get 10-11 no matter how I drive. With or without load. It's hard to say what you will get with your truck. I think that what you did get is pretty standard.

I think mine is just a thirsty brute.

**Blackbeauty** · 12-24-2007, 08:43 AM

Welcome to the club. Hey, it's a big truck with a powerful engine. It isn't a Scion Xa...... Those numbers are about right from what I've seen on here. If you want mileage you need to drive with an egg under your right foot. Those mods you have there pretty much rule that out for very long.... Get used to it, or get used to a different vehicle...

helomech · 12-24-2007, 08:49 AM

I've never seen a chevy crew cab get 22 mpg. Everyone I know that has one only gets about 15 on the hwy, even in magazines I have never seen above 16 hwy.

Lil Timmy · 12-24-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty

Welcome to the club. Hey, it's a big truck with a powerful engine. It isn't a Scion Xa...... Those numbers are about right from what I've seen on here. If you want mileage you need to drive with an egg under your right foot. Those mods you have there pretty much rule that out for very long.... Get used to it, or get used to a different vehicle...

I understand it's a big truck and it's never going to get 30mpg, but I'm astounded that a larger Chevrolet with a smaller motor (5.3L) and less HP (think the 05 was rated at 305) pulling a larger load did better mpg wise and as far as I could tell performance wise.

RckyMtnTitan · 12-24-2007, 08:54 AM

Thats about right. I drive the pass to South Park almost every weekend. In the summer I pull a 10' moto trailer loaded with 5 bikes and gear. The passes will kill ya. With the grades here, you are either going 40mph at 2000rpm or 70 at 3100rpm, not much wiggle room. I get about 10 to 11mpg. Thats just what you get with this kind of power from the Titan. Personally, I think its worth it! Best of luck with whichever direction you go.

Lil Timmy · 12-24-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helomech

I've never seen a chevy crew cab get 22 mpg. Everyone I know that has one only gets about 15 on the hwy, even in magazines I have never seen above 16 hwy.

I averaged 22 mpg hwy driving 75mph. My uncle has an Z71 crew cab and still gets over 20 Hwy.

Nissanloyalist · 12-24-2007, 08:57 AM

I get around 9-10mpg towing a 8000# 5er. This is pretty typical especially in the winter when they change fuel compounds for emissions. During the winter I only average about 12.5 mpg city and I don't drive hard even w/ the mods. I usually see a couple mpg drop in the winter because of the fuel changes.

helomech · 12-24-2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Timmy

I averaged 22 mpg hwy driving 75mph. My uncle has an Z71 crew cab and still gets over 20 Hwy.

I don't know what to say other than the only chevy trucks that I have seen hit 20mpg where the deisels. Even all the trucking magazines never listed the chevy anywhere near 20 mpg.

**bbomar** · 12-24-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Timmy

I averaged 22 mpg hwy driving 75mph. My uncle has an Z71 crew cab and still gets over 20 Hwy.

Funny, I had Silverado Extended Cab. It only averaged 13 - 16 in the city, maybe 18-19 on the highway.

Get over your issues with MPG or just get rid of your truck!!

Lil Timmy · 12-24-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbomar

Funny, I had Silverado Extended Cab. It only averaged 13 - 16 in the city, maybe 18-19 on the highway.

Get over your issues with MPG or just get rid of your truck!!

I intend on getting rid of the truck, I just wanted to vent my frustration

**matthews** · 12-24-2007, 09:21 AM

You're really splitting hairs when you start comparing 11mpg vs. 15mpg and 18mpg vs. 22mpg. If you can afford the 15/22, you can afford the 11/18. It's not that much gain/loss between the two

**Arachnid** · 12-24-2007, 09:23 AM

We are all aware of the Titan gas mileage becuase we did our research before we bought it.

As far as your old chevy goes, I owned a Silverado for many years and the best it ever delivered was between 17-18 mpg on the freeway without a load.

Lil Timmy · 12-24-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helomech

I don't know what to say other than the only chevy trucks that I have seen hit 20mpg where the deisels. Even all the trucking magazines never listed the chevy anywhere near 20 mpg.

trucks.about.com/od/2006chevytrucks/a/silverado_epa.htm (can't post urls yet)

Chevy 2wd 8 cyl, 5.3 L, 4-speed automatic
16 city / 20 highway

I had Airaid open filter, TB spacer, and Flowmaster Exhaust.

Lil Timmy · 12-24-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthews

You're really splitting hairs when you start comparing 11mpg vs. 15mpg and 18mpg vs. 22mpg. If you can afford the 15/22, you can afford the 11/18. It's not that much gain/loss between the two

I can afford the gas, that's not the problem, the problem is that 4mpg is another 100 miles on a tank of gas. That makes a big difference when driving 900 miles one way.