[MetroMPG]

Took 2 days to visit friends at a cottage Monday & Tuesday about 130 km (80 mi.) away. I borrowed my brother's minivan to tow/deliver a small 16 ft sailboat that my friends had just bought near where I live.

The trailer sailboat combo was probably 350-450 lbs, and a bit narrower than the width of the van. The van itself was in an unknown state of tune, but probably not very good knowing my brother! Still has its snow tires on (lousy RR, likely).

New EPA for the van is 17 / 24 mpg with the 4 speed automatic (which I think I had, but not sure - there was also apparently a 3 speed automatic sold. Shame on them).

Quick mods: outside mirrors folded on the highway, roof rack cross bars removed.

On wet/damp roads the SG reported 26 mpg (US) on the trip there, secondary roads, through several small towns & 1 small city, little to no wind. This was almost exclusively DWL (driving with load) with a few EOC at low speeds (lights/stops).

Return trip quick mods: Added temporary full upper grille block.

Return trip: 29 mpg without the trailer. Drove slightly faster on this leg (45 mph avg. / max. 58). Same techniques. 15 mph crosswind from about 8 o'clock position.

Has anyone else driven one of these vans? I thought I noticed an unusual behavior: when cruising in top gear at around 45-50 mph and accelerating lightly-moderately, the RPM actually dropped a couple hundred. Ease up, and it rises again. Very odd.