thinking out loud...

[gcbailey]

OK, so a few other threads on here have me thinking about putting a ramp or something on one of our trucks. I'm down to me and my two full time guys for the fall, college has started back in full swing, so we can go a little lighter. I've got 2 trucks, identical but one is the 6.0L and the other is the 6.6L duramax.

The duramax gets about 13 mpg no matter if it's empty or has 8k behind it.

The vortec is a different story, loaded up (6.5x16 tandem hauling/54" lazer Z, 48" TT, couple push mowers, trimmers....) it's probably 5k pulling. With the trailer I'm getting about 10, 11mpg.... without and just say a 48" TT and 21" I can get upward of 16.5mpg! Great in my book for a 1 ton.

I am thinking about some kind of ramp, gate, lift, something, but where it's got the higher flat bed standard 8' ramps are out of the question.

Anyone thinks it would be worth it to try to find some type of a gate or long ramp for the increased mpg? If so, any ideas of where to start?

[gcbailey]

oh ya... size of the bed is 7.5x9.5

[TeamYardsale4]

I don't know about the lift gate or ramp but only 13mpg with the duramax! Time to get you foot out of the floor! I'm interested to see the thoughts on the ramp though!

[gcbailey]

It's an 04 Duramax and we are pretty easy on it...just tons of hills around here
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[gcbailey]

Originally Posted by TeamYardsale4

I don't know about the lift gate or ramp but only 13mpg with the duramax! Time to get you foot out of the floor! I'm interested to see the thoughts on the ramp though!

don't guess you need to get too interested.... must not be any thoughts on the ramp, haha!

[ReddensLawnCare]

I have a 2011 2500 6.0 and I am getting 8.5 constantly. It's going in the shop next week. I'm easy on the throttle to.
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[gcbailey]

Originally Posted by ReddensLawnCare

I have a 2011 2500 6.0 and I am getting 8.5 constantly. It's going in the shop next week. I'm easy on the throttle to.
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I somewhat know what the tow/haul mode button does, but it seems like it's a big part of the problem with killing the mpg, like the truck is constantly running 300 rpms higher, even at idle.

I had a guy mention getting a small utility hoist, but I haven't found anything that wouldn't make it look like a service truck yet.

[White Gardens]

Originally Posted by TeamYardsale4

I don't know about the lift gate or ramp but only 13mpg with the duramax! Time to get you foot out of the floor! I'm interested to see the thoughts on the ramp though!

It's a one ton also, the rear end gearing is probably lower than your standard PU truck, along with being heavier.

That's why I went with a gasser in my 1.5 ton truck. The fuel consumption was going to be too close to see any cost savings in a diesel.


.....

[gcbailey]

Both trucks are 1 ton and 4:10 rear ends...the ddiesel has the Allison transmission where the gas doesn't
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[DEPENDABLE LANDSCAPING]

Go with a lift gate.
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