Towing MPG

[Kip in Ga.]

Not doing something right here. I've searched various ways, but no results.

Surely the topic "Towing MPG" has been discussed many times. Is there a thread dedicated to towing mileage? Where is it?

Kip

[SherryNPaul]

You might find it faster to use the google search engine instead of the forum search button. Try a combination of key words such as: fiberglassrv.com mpg towing or fiberglass rv mileage tow vehicle and I'm sure you'll find plenty of reading material.

Sherry

[Matt in SV]

The Google search of fiberglassrv is available now as an option in the SEARCH pulldown at the top right of this page, just under where it says Welcome and Private Messages if you're logged in.

Click on that Search option and enter your query in the Google custom search box at the bottom of the list

By default, most 3 letter words, like MPG, are not indexed by the standard forum search. The admins would need to specifically add words like TOW and MPG and reindex, but the Google search should work for this.

[Kevin K]

1999 Silverado 4x2 4.8 V8 Auto 20 MPG on highway NOT towing
When towing 13' Scamp, going 60 mph, 16 MPG on highway.
About 20% less MPG when towing.

[SherryNPaul]

Originally Posted by Matt in SV

The Google search of fiberglassrv is available now as an option in the SEARCH pulldown at the top right of this page, just under where it says Welcome and Private Messages if you're logged in.

Click on that Search option and enter your query in the Google custom search box at the bottom of the list

Matt, that's a nice feature. Glad you pointed it out!
Sherry

[mcbrew]

2009 Scion xD.

Average 38 MPG not towing.

About 24 MPG towing a 13' Scamp at 60 MPH.

[Lee Senn]

Kip Over on the Casita forum they have a really good mpg survey encompassing a variety of vehicles and varying sizes of fiberglass trailers.

[Byron Kinnaman]

There are so many variables that effect MPG that it's really hard to predict. Before worrying too much about MPG you might want to calculated how much MPG is worth. Just for grins here's my calculation. At $3.00 per gallon of gas 20 MPG is going to cost you $15.00 for every 100 miles driven. At 21 MPG it will cost you $14.29 to drive that same 100 miles. Not a lot of difference.
In my case without the trailer I get close to 20MPG on the highway. With the trailer at worst is goes to 17 MPG. That an increase of $2.65 per 100 miles at worst.

[james kent]

This was posted here several years back and I had a copy on the dash next to the fuel guage.

[Kip in Ga.]

Originally Posted by Lee Senn

Kip Over on the Casita forum they have a really good mpg survey encompassing a variety of vehicles and varying sizes of fiberglass trailers.

Lee,
Thank you. Lots of info there.

Kip

[KevinWA]

not good at all here....7.25kms per liter not towing.............and i am too scared to check the kms per liter for towing. 2004 6cyl jeep wrangler TJ. but it is fun....it is not a waste of money, it is an investement in memoys!

[Mike Morrison]

2008 Tacoma pulling a 19' Escape, my mileage is between 15 and 17 mpg (Imperial gallons).

[Loren G. Hedahl]

Eighteen (+ or -) 1 or 2 MPG towing a 16 ft Scamp with a 1983 diesel Blazer K-5.

I tend to look at it like Byron K. except I use the cost per 1000 miles as my travels tend to be cross country.

Then I figure out how many cups of coffee I would need to stop and purchase if I didn't have the Scamp in tow and I almost recover the slight loss of MPG on that one item alone. Add in the meals eaten out and the motels stayed in plus the inconvenience of traveling in such a fashion and the added fuel cost of towing the Scamp is truly a bargain!

[Frederick L. Simson]

I advertise my MPG on my trailer.

[HikeSticks]

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

I advertise my MPG on my trailer.

Hi Frederick,
I like your sign. I have been tempted to do the same thing. I just returned from a trip from New Brunswick to southern Florida (with a few side trips); over 4,000 miles. If I feel I'm obstructing traffic I get out of the way, otherwise, it's 55. I average 23.5 MPG at 55 (2.0 L gas Jetta/13' Trillium) and about 18 mpg at 70. I retired young, love to travel, and the less it costs me translates to more and/or longer trips.
Enjoy!
Barrie

[Michel, Bouchard]

With my Suzuki 2006 GV I do 23.5 MPG (10L/100km) on highway (65-70 mph), when towing my 13' Boler, I do 18 MPG (13L/100km).

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Michel, Bouchard

With my Suzuki 2006 GV I do 23.5 MPG (10L/100km) on highway (65-70 mph), when towing my 13' Boler, I do 18 MPG (13L/100km).

At 65 to 70 or do you slow down to reasonable towing speed of 55-60?

[Kip in Ga.]

Responses were helpful. I did investigate all suggestions and/or links.

One that was especially helpful was this one:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scampe...portRows&tbl=3

Thanks,
Kip

[Donna D.]

Kip, one must be a member of YahooScampers to view the link. I am, thanks for posting!

However, it is what it is. It's not like I'm going to park the trailer and not go anywhere because of crappy MPG. IMHO the only time I'd be really concerned is if I was looking to purchase a new tug. Then, I'd try to make an educated decision (or is that guess?). The biggest difference in MPG is usually caused by the tool found between the seat and the gas peddle. YMMV

[cpaharley2008]

I guess I'm the gas hog here. With my old trailer-Lance 1880 weight 3800# I got 9 mpg towing. I tow with a Dodge Ram Hemi- 5.7L. Without towing I get around 18-20 mpg. It has the 4cyl fuel saver shutdown feature while cruising, which the tow mode eliminates. Towing with my new used 2007 EggCamper I get 13-15 mpg. So it is a lot better than my old set up. Weight and aerodynamics are the critical element. I read somewhere that every extra 100 lbs is a 1% decrease.