Milage for towing a light camper

I just towed a camper on a road trip and the milage was pretty terrible. What is everyone getting for milage?

What slight adjustment can I make to improve this. ???

 

I’ve seen 7-12

Easiest is to slow down

 

Disconnect trailer.

 

My worst tank was 9. That was pulling the mountain on I-8 in a monster headwind . My best was 17. Leaving the Rockies in a tailwind.

My average is 14-15.

Keep it to the back roads at 65 mph. The interstate seems to burn more gas.

 

Welcome to the forum

Yep, these trucks get dismal mileage when towing anything.
Higher speed really hurts, if you can take the roads less traveled and stay around 60 mph things are better less bad...

I have a utility trailer, 5 x 12 with the mesh tailgate/ramp at the back, it weighs 990 pounds empty. I took a highway trip with it, empty my mileage went from my normal 21-22 to around 15.

That gate really catches the wind, a travel coach is all the worse, most have a front profile like pulling an 8 x 8 wall.

I had a 1200 pound mower on it for the return trip - first time I ever worried about making it to a gas station with this truck.

 

So many 5’s in one screen

 

Pulling a 4000lb 21 foot camper I was getting between 7-9mpg

 

My ancient F-250 (6600 lbs curb) with a 460 V8 and drive on trailer with a full size truck on (around 7500 lbs) will do that - at a relaxed 70 mph.

 

I don't feel so bad. I was doing around 60 most of the time. Pulling a 3500lbs camper. Getting 9-10 mpg for the most part. Is that somewhat normal? I spend loads in gas.

 

Normal, think of it as doing your part to help the economy.

 

That’s about right.
Unloaded, this “small” truck barely gets better mileage (if any) than full sized trucks. So now you have a smaller, less towing capable, truck doing the same amount of hauling, so the result is, it must work much harder (therefore get much less mileage).
If you bought this primarily to tow, I’m sorry, you simply bought the wrong truck. Hopefully towing this is infrequent.

 

Pulling it in what kind of terrain, weather and speed?

Those variables and more all matter

 

Doing about 60mpg across Montana. Wyoming and South Dakota.

 

Wind is a huge factor too. With wind I couldnt get past 55mph and was stuck in 3rd, but once the wind was gone I could get up to 75mph in 4th. With wind 7mpg without wind 9mpg and 20mph faster.

 

Yeah, tacoma despite having a high tow rating is not fun to tow much past 3000lbs.

 

Agree!

I tow my mower trailer all over locally and for the most part it isn't much of an inconvenience.

This year I have taken 2 long trips with it coming back loaded - man, is that a lot more work driving.

All the way I was amazed people would tow a travel coach with this truck.

 

Yup, looks like mine! And that’s why I carry a spare 15 gallon tank these days…

 

2005 Tacoma V-6, 3400lb TT - 12 MPG. That's not getting over 65 and keeping it out of overdrive.

 

Yea I get lousy mileage too with this little thing - it's about 1000 pounds.
Taking it out in September I'll keep a close eye but I think 16-18 will be about all I get out of it.
Kinda surprising really I mean I can wheel this thing around by hand, but it is pretty boxy.

 

Many focus simply on weight, but Drag is definitely a large part of the equation.