Gas mileage when pulling with a van

It is not necessarily how much weight you are towing that changes the mpg tow vs non-tow mpg, it is the percentage of total weight increase . On my 2500HD I get low mpg ( about 12-15 mpg) without the TM and the same low mpg with the TM.

Ok, let's compare mileage when we are not towing...which is easily 90% of my total miles driven. (i'm sad to say until I retire) My Ody gets upwards of 20 mpg city driving and upwards of 25 mpg highway. For now that is where my real savings are generated, especially over the longer term.

[scrubjaysnest]

Originally Posted by moaboy

Ok, let's compare mileage when we are not towing...which is easily 90% of my total miles driven. (i'm sad to say until I retire) My Ody gets upwards of 20 mpg city driving and upwards of 25 mpg highway. For now that is where my real savings are generated, especially over the longer term.

My Dodge gets 16 and your Ody can't get into/out of the road to my house

Originally Posted by moaboy

Ok, let's compare mileage when we are not towing...which is easily 90% of my total miles driven. (i'm sad to say until I retire) My Ody gets upwards of 20 mpg city driving and upwards of 25 mpg highway. For now that is where my real savings are generated, especially over the longer term.

I keep thinking about that.

We have three vehicles:

1. Lexus SUV. 20 mpg. My wife's daily driver. 20 miles round trip to work
2. Chevy 1500HD Crew Cab truck. 13.5 mpg. My daily driver. 20 miles round trip to work.
3. GMC 2500HD Crew Cab Truck. 13.5 mpg. Our spare vehicle and used for camping.

We use both trucks for camping, so I do not want to sell them. My wife, due to her bad knees, needs a car with the seat height above the rad similar to what she has. The trucks are too high. Most cars are too low. So the Lexus is a keeper.

I have considered buying a fourth vehicle, so I would get better gas mileage to work. Even with gas above $4.00 I can not cost justify adding another car. It makes no financial sense.

However, it is beginning to look like motorcycle time. My Yamaha gets around 70 mpg. That's about six bucks a week to commute to work. But I won't ride it if the roads are wet.

[rvcycleguy]

rode my M/C to work everyday this week in the HOV (commuter lane) . 30 miles round trip. 150 miles for less than $13.00.

Scrub jay,
The issue isn't the virtues and vices of each vehicle, for the most part they each have them and I assume that is why we buy the ones we do.
We were discussing mpg / costs. As Edmunds and most auto authorities point out, while far from being sexy, minivans are one of the most flexible and low cost vehicles to operate when one factors in their size and people hauling ability.

Hi,
2417 with Cassette Toilet/Wet Bath option has a weight of 2300 lb. Do you think our minivan (Odyssey-3500lb limit) can SAFELY pull it with 3 kids and 5 bikes on long distances? I dont want to upgrade my towing vehicle but I dont want to damage its transmission either.
I suspect total weight will be around 3400 lb. It's within limits but not sure it's good for thousands of kms.

Thanks,

Burhan