Towing with a small block

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by THI

My 1996 K2500 Suburban with the 454 Vortec/4L80E/3.73 would get 15 MPH empty and 13 MPG towing 6,000#. Bump that up to 10,000# towing and it would get 11 MPG (and you knew you had 10,000# on the hitch!

I have a 1999 K2500 Suburban with the Vortec 7.4l 454(4.10 gears). It has upgraded 5.0 Motorsports injectors, Black Bear tuned ECU, and the exhaust has been opened up. On HT tires, I've never gotten close to 15mpg empty at actual highway speeds. I managed 14mpg on one trip @ 68mph, filled up at the same pump at the same station in the morning and that night when I got home, hand calculated mileage.

Towing is usually 11mpg or less.

Would I trade the big block for a small block...never. I didn't buy a 3/4t Suburban for mileage, I bought it for comfort, capability, and for the bulletproof parts it came with.