How many MPG

[Kevin K]

What kind of mileage do you get with your tow rig, when towing your fiberglass trailer?

List
Your Trailer size

Tow rig
Make
Model
Eng size
Stick or Auto
2 wheel drive
4 wheel drive
How fast you drive
MPG when towing

My Trailer size -------13' Scamp
Tow rig
Make ------------------Chevrolet
Model------------------Silverado-1999
Eng size ---------------4.8
Stick or Auto ----------auto
2 wheel drive-----------2WD
4 wheel drive
How fast i drive---------60 MPH
MPG when towing------16.5 MPG

[ronsmith100]

List
Your Trailer size

Tow rig
Make
Model
Eng size
Stick or Auto
2 wheel drive
4 wheel drive
How fast you drive
MPG when towing

My Trailer size -------17'Casita
Tow rig
Make ------------------Ford
Model------------------Ranger 2001
Eng size ---------------4.0
Stick or Auto ----------auto
2 wheel drive-----------4WD
4 wheel drive
How fast i drove---------48 MPH
MPG when towing------19.5 MPG

There was one stretch last year on the way to Alaska that I used that fuel consumption computer thing to extreme. Tires were over inflated a bit. It was only about 140 miles. I told everyone I got 20... what makes me DO that? sheesh.. MPG stories are like fish stories.

But I still don't drive fast as a rule and I stay off the interstates so driving at my 60mph I get a pretty routine 16mpg

[Larry C Hanson]

My Trailer size -------13' Trillium 1300 (~1400/1500 lbs. loaded?)
Tow rig
Make ------------------Dodge
Model------------------D150
Eng size ---------------5.2L
Stick or Auto ----------4 Speed Manual with Granny 1st and no OD
2 wheel drive-----------2WD
How fast i drive---------60-65 MPH
MPG when towing------15+ MPG

Pickup gets 18+ at 65-70 MPH without trailer in tow.
Would do a bit better if it had a 5th OD gear.

Old 1991 Dodge is getting tired with 140K miles. Looking
for a late model Ranger 4.0 Manual shift to replace the Dodge.
Nice to have a mileage report on that vehicle. Thank you Ron.

Larry H

[Michael Pupeza]

My Trailer size -------17' Bigfoot 1993 (about 3400 lbs loaded)
Tow rig
Make ------------------2003 Honda
Model------------------Odyssey
Eng size ---------------3.5L
Stick or Auto ----------5 speed automatic incl. OD
2 wheel drive-----------2WD
How fast i drive---------60-65 MPH MAX!
MPG when towing------9.5 - 13

It's VERY dependant on wind and terrain, as I am at the top end of the load capacity of the vehicle,
and the front of the Bigfoot has big windage!
However, I've put 5K + miles on it in the 2 years that I've had it and it's been fine!
Normally, (not towing) I get 23 MPG Highway!
Mike .....>

[paulw]

My Trailer size -------16' Scamp side bath (~23000 lbs. loaded)
Tow rig
Make ------------------Chev
Model------------------Trailblazer
Eng size ---------------4.2L - 3.42 rear end
Stick or Auto ----------4 Speed Auto
2 wheel drive-----------2WD
How fast i drive---------Up to 65 MPH
MPG when towing------15.2 MPG

The 15.2 was measured on our 1100 mile trip to the Oregon Gathering last year. I get 19+ mixed daily driving without trailer in tow.

[Larry&Carrie]

Trailer size-- 13 Scamp or 13 Compact JR (both are right at 1600# loaded for the road)

Tow Vehicle- 65 El Camino
engine size - healthy 305 cubic inch
transmission- 5 speed manual (5th overdrive)
2 WD
How fast I drive-- 60-70 mph
MPG towing - about 15-- sometimes as low as 13 if I am pushing it on the mountain passes
(get 19 mpg when not towing)

But it's fun..... and life is too short not to enjoy..... Larry

[Adam S.]

This is fun

My Trailer size -------13' Casita (weighs ~ 1500)

Tow rig
Make ------------------Subaru
Model------------------Forester 2004
Eng size ---------------2.5 (boxer)
Stick or Auto ----------Auto
2 wheel drive-----------no
4 wheel drive------------no
All wheel drive------------yes
How fast i drove--------- around 55mph on flats or interstats, but much of my driving is on windy mountain passes at 35mph or less
MPG when towing------ 18-22mpg, phoenix to flagstaff pushing 70mph on constant 6% grade was more like 10mpg

[Yvon Chayer]

Your Trailer size: scamp 16 side bathroom

Tow rig
Make Chevrolet
Model s10
Eng size 4.3 l
Stick or Auto auto
2 wheel drive 2wheel
4 wheel drive
How fast you drive 55 to 60 mph
MPG when towing 16,4 mpg

The 16.4 was mesured on 7,800 kilometers trip from Montreal to Louisiana with full luggage for a one month trip last month

Yvon Chayer

[SherryNPaul]

I'd have to agree with Ron, mpg reports can be somewhat of a fishing tale.... There are so many variables, beginning with the accuracy of records used to determine the mpg. I keep a very detailed log book. You'd be bored looking at 18,000 miles of records.

Here goes"
Trailer: 17 ft Oliver

Tow vehicle (most of the time now)
2008 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 crew cab with the big hemi
Automatic
We drive with the traffic, and/or with the tach. Average, on interstate, 65 to 70. On back roads (which we prefer, for the scenery), mileage often suffers due to start and stop traffic thru towns, at least a little, even with the 4/8 feature of the Dodge. Headwinds and sidewinds can also make a dent in mpg.

Best mileage towing, around 14.5. Worst, around 11. Worst, when using 10% ethanol fuel, which cuts our mpg by a good 10% or better. Mountains make little difference, the truck really doesn't feel the difference. Rough roads make more of an impact. Overall average, around 12.75 to 13. Carrying the ATV in the bed ( extra weight, and also, no bed cover) cuts mileage by .5 to 1 mile per gallon, but this is included in our numbers. (Most of the time, it's worth it.)

One might wonder, why not buy a big vehicle to tow a little trailer if there is so little difference in towing mpg? Many people use their tow vehicle every day as a commuter vehicle (as do we, no designated tow vehicle, three hitches and brake controller harnesses). We bought the 4x4 for a specific need, and we use it. However, it's not only the quietest, most comfortable tow vehicle we own, but averages the same as or better than the smaller two when towing.

For most of us, the best tow vehicle is one we already own.

Just my two cents. Good thread. Thanks.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Your Trailer size = 16' Fiber Stream

Tow rig
Make = Honda
Model = Odyssey LX (2003)
Eng size = 3.47 Liter V-6
Stick or Auto = Automatic
2 wheel drive = yes
4 wheel drive = no
How fast you drive = 55 mph on cruise control (Yes, even on I-20 across Texas)
MPG when towing = [b]average 15.9

phoenix to flagstaff pushing 70mph on constant 6% grade was more like 10mpg

When I took it up to 75 mph once I recorded 10.2 mpg

[Alf S.]

Hi: All...
trailer size 19 1/2 Ft. Fifth Wh.
tug...GMC Sierra 1/2 ton w/ HD susp. GCVW 8900 lbs. ready to camp
V6 4.3 ltr.
trans 4spd automatic w/OD. & Tow Haul+ Tr. Cooler
2 wh. dr.
Tow spd. 60 mph. avg.
18 - 20 mpg. ( Canadian gal.= 4.54 ltrs.) (U.S. gal.= 3.9 ltrs.)
12 - 15 mpg. ( V6 suffers in hilly terrain)
This is all about "The one that got away" and YMMV.
I try to be reasonable and drive safely and as I have stated before "I don't think the words Gas Mileage and Trailer Towing should be used in the same sentence" IMHO.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Bigfoot Mike]

Trailer
My Trailer size -------25' Bigfoot - 25B25RQ

Tow rig
Make ------------------2007 Dodge
Model------------------3500, 1 Ton w/Utility Bed
Eng size ---------------5.9 Diesel
Stick or Auto ----------Auto
2 wheel drive-----------
4 wheel drive-----------4 X 4
How fast I drive---------60+ MPH
MPG when towing------17.5 MPG (flat, no wind)
MPG when empty-------21.5 MPG

[Bruce H]

Over the course of four years I pulled my 21' Bigfoot a lot of miles with three different trucks. Same trailer, same driver, same relative speeds, three tow vehicles. All three vehicles were new (to start with). All three had a 370 ratio limited slip rear axle. The trailer weighed 5500 lbs loaded. I usually carried a 610 lb ATV plus at least another 90 lbs of stuff in the bed of the truck. Much of my towing was from the Midwest to the West Coast.

Wind speed and direction had a dramatic effect on the fuel mileage of all three vehicles. That trailer caught a lot of wind. If I was faced with a head wind and had to go that day I would reduce my speed by 10 mph. Even with that, plowing into a 25 to 35 mph head wind would reduce the mileage of all three vehicles by as much as four miles per gallon. The next variable (in the gasoline vehicles) after wind is whether or not the fuel contained ethanol.

The first and by far the best tow vehicle setup was a 2003 Ford F-250 4WD Superduty crew cab short bed King Ranch truck, 6.0 diesel engine, 3.70 axle and the big Ford automatic transmission with overdrive and trailer tow mode. This truck would easily carry the trailer in overdrive at 70 to 72 mph (faster if I wanted). Increasing the speed from 67 to 72 mph would reduce the mileage from 14 mpg to 12 mpg. I tended to average 68 mph on open interstate highways with this vehicle. The fuel mileage ranged from 11 to 15 mpg depending on the wind speed and my speed. The truck running with out a trailer would get 20 mpg at 70 mph. One night running empty on a curvy road with no wind I drove 45 to 50 mph for several hours and got 27 mpg.

Next was a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 4WD K-1500 regular cab short bed truck equipped with a trailer tow package and a 5.7 liter gasoline V-8 engine, 3.70 axle and the standard four speed automatic transmission with overdrive and trailer tow mode. The little Chevrolet was a dandy little truck but it was over loaded when pulling that trailer. It was rated to tow 8800 lbs but the wheel base was too short and the suspension was too light for the stability I like to have. Keep in mind the trailer weighed 5500 lbs. The combination was not safe on wet or slippery roads. The engine had plenty of power but the transmission could not handle it. It could not hold overdrive and had to be run in 3rd gear. An application of more than 20% throttle would result in a downshift of the transmission and a corresponding violent revving of the engine some times to over 5000 rpm. I tended to average 64 mph on open interstate highways. It got from 8 to 11 mpg when towing and as much as 16 mpg running 68 mph without the trailer.


Last was a 2007 Ford F-350 4WD Superduty regular cab long bed truck with a 5.4 liter gasoline V-8 engine, 3.70 axle and six speed manual overdrive transmission. It was a one ton truck but it did not have dual rear wheels. The truck itself out weighed the Chevy by about 2000 lbs. The manual transmission worked really well pulling that trailer. The engine was a little short on torque in overdrive. A slight wind or upgrade would pull it down. I ran much of the time in 5th gear. It would run 65 to 66 mph at 2600 to 2700 rpm and the engine was not straining or over speeding. At those speeds I got from 9 to 11 mpg. That truck running without a trailer would get as much as 17 mpg at any speed up to 75 mph. Slowing down to 65 mph did not increase the fuel mileage.

If at all possible avoid the use of ethanol blend gasoline. Both my Chevrolet and my Ford truck got 15% poorer fuel mileage when using the 10% ethanol blend. That was whether I was towing or not. Ethanol also reduces the torque the engine produces and you need that torque when pulling a trailer. I always fill the tank completely and get a receipt when I fuel and I always write my odometer reading on that receipt. I then always calculate the mpg from the last fill up. I started to notice inconsistencies in my fuel mileage results. I later discovered that the poorer results always came when I fueled at stations that sold ethanol. I discovered this before I found out that many others have had similar experiences. Mixing 10% ethanol in fuel causes a vehicle to burn 15% more fuel. No savings is gained. That is my personal experience. You can check for yourself.

[Bigfoot Mike]

[b]
Attachment 20892

Trailer
My Trailer size -------25' Bigfoot - 25B25RQ

[b]Tow rig
Make ------------------2007 Dodge
Model------------------3500, 1 Ton w/Utility Bed
Eng size ---------------5.9 Diesel
Stick or Auto ----------Auto
2 wheel drive-----------
4 wheel drive-----------4 X 4
How fast I drive---------60+ MPH
MPG when towing------17.5 MPG (flat, no wind)
MPG when empty-------21.5 MPG

Boy, I don’t know what happened this weekend, but my mileage was way down. I only got 14-15 mpg driving just under 500 miles.

[Roger C H]

Your Trailer size - 13'
Tow rig - Subaru
Make - Legacy
Model - Outback
Eng size - 2.2 Liter
Stick or Auto - Stick
2 wheel drive
4 wheel drive - AWD
How fast you drive - 50-55
MPG when towing - 21-22

[Gilles D]

Boy, I don't know what happened this weekend, but my mileage was way down. I only got 14-15 mpg driving just under 500 miles.

From the easy one to the worse...Fuel filter/dirty EGR sensor/Plug intake

You probebly got a contaminate refuel or your EGR sensor is maybe dirty, just refuel from place with intensive traffic (Truck stop) check for water in your fuel filter, check your air filter and if this not help then clean the EGR sensor or find someone to do it for you. You got a hell of a truck! The new 6.7L are less reliable so far...And they get lower MPG

[Dan Meyer]

Your Trailer size
Scamp 16 Side Dinette/Bath/roof air conditioning

Tow rig
Make - GMC
Model - Envoy
Eng size - 5.3 liter V-8
Stick or Auto - 4 Speed Automatic
2 wheel drive
4 wheel drive - 4 wheel drive / running in 2 wheel drive
How fast you drive - 75 mph
MPG when towing - 12 MPG

I've noticed that for every 5 MPH change in speed, I see a 1 MPG change in fuel economy.

-- Dan Meyer

[Mike Magee]

My Trailer size -------17' Burro
Tow rig
Make ------------------2008 Toyota
Model------------------Highlander
Eng size ---------------3.5L
Stick or Auto ----------auto
wheel drive-----------4WD
How fast i drive---------60
MPG when towing------14, maybe 14.5

Mike G.

[peterh]

Something worth noting on gas mileage: use the right gas.

Our 3.0L V6 Ford Ranger runs just fine on "regular" gas when we're not towing, and filling up with "plus" gas doesn't really change its MPG figures much. Not so when we're towing.

When we tow a trailer and the Ranger has "regular" gas in the tank the engine "pings," or makes a subtle clicking, almost crackling sound when we accelerate or climb up hills. The engine makes that noise because the gas is burning faster than the speed of sound, literally exploding inside the cylinder, instead of burning in a smooth, easy fashion that radiates outward from the spark plug.

Pinging is not good. It leads to incomplete combustion, increased wear on the piston rings and valve seats, deposits on the valves and exhaust manifold that rob the engine of power, increases the vehicles emissions, and delivers less power from each cylinder stroke, reducing gas mileage. All bad things.

When I tow I gas up with "plus" fuel, and the pinging goes away. So my engine is happy, and my gas mileage goes from 15-16 mpg (sometimes worse) to 16-17 mpg (occasionally better).


My Trailer size -------19' Scamp 5er
Tow rig
Make ------------------2000 Ford
Model------------------Ranger
Eng size ---------------3.0L
Stick or Auto ----------auto
wheel drive-----------2WD
How fast i drive---------60
MPG when towing------16-17.5 mpg

[Dick & Joanne]

My Trailer size -------17'Casita
Tow rig
Make ------------------Dodge
Model------------------Grand Caravan 2007
Eng size ---------------3.8
Stick or Auto ----------auto
2 wheel drive-----------2WD
4 wheel drive
How fast i drove---------55 MPH
MPG when towing------15.9 MPG

Day 1 and 2 of trip. Funny thing is--I am getting the exact same mileage city driving w/o towing. Wonder what i would get with?