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Towing MPG

Discussion in 'Towing' started by ahlerscurtis, May 19, 2020.

  1. May 19, 2020 at 3:13 PM
    #1
    ahlerscurtis

    ahlerscurtis [OP] Active Member

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    what type of MPG do you get towing?

    I have 19 TRD OR DCLB. we recently moved and I rented a uhaul 6X12 box trailer. Uhaul claims it had an empty weight of 1920. I drove only hwy miles in St. Louis, MO. It was hilly but Missouri hills. Driving at 55mph I only got 14mpg. Loaded, I would guess it was around 2500 pounds. I had the pwr ect on. I was pretty shocked at how much the truck struggled with the trailer. is there any chance the uhaul trailer could have just sucked and thats the reason for the extra mpg?

    Wife and I are looking at camper trailers. Most trailer we are looking at would be around the same wright, are people getting that type of MPG towing campers?
     
  2. May 19, 2020 at 3:25 PM
    #2
    EricOutside

    EricOutside Well-Known Member

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    NW Washington
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    Home-built roof rack for spotting platform and/or kayaks & bikes & stuff. Home built bed drawers Firestone Ride-Rite airbags on the rear for level camp trailer towing
    Mine's a 2014 DCLB. We tow a 3500# camp trailer and, yeah, 14mpg is about right. Have pulled up to a 5500# camper* and it was down to 12~13mpg on that trip. I don't agree that it "struggles" tho - seems to pull just fine. Up and over Snoqualmie Pass Washington we might drop to 55 in places but otherwise have no trouble maintaining 60~65.

    * My truck is rated to 6500# but I don't ever want to tow anything over 4500# again unless I upgrade the brakes first.
     
    verynearlypure likes this.
  3. May 19, 2020 at 4:29 PM
    #3
    Jimiller5

    Jimiller5 Well-Known Member

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    East TN
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    Tonneau cover running boards Lance 1475
    I pull a Casita 17SD (3300 lbs loaded) with my 2015 TRD Sport. I get right at 15 mpg + or -.
     
  4. May 19, 2020 at 4:59 PM
    #4
    ahlerscurtis

    ahlerscurtis [OP] Active Member

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    Ok, cool so it sounds like 14 is where I should be at.
     
  5. May 19, 2020 at 10:58 PM
    #5
    brtnstrns

    brtnstrns Well-Known Member

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    I pull my 2900lb empty NoBo 16.5, probably something like 3500 lbs loaded, and get closer to 10 mpg but I also am not afraid to maintain speed at 65mph and don't fret much about getting into the 70s to pass if need be.
     
  6. May 19, 2020 at 11:02 PM
    #6
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco Moja_Przygoda

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    PRO Tip! just draft the wind behind a semi! :D

    JK I rather be ahead of them!
     
  7. May 20, 2020 at 8:31 AM
    #7
    Aquatic Tacoma

    Aquatic Tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Both are Stock - built correct from the start.
    upload_2020-5-20_11-27-13.jpg

    Thousands of miles. Best mpg 16, in Florida. Worst mpg 13, in Smokey Mountains.
    About 26-2800 lbs loaded. 2200lbs dry.
     
  8. May 26, 2020 at 12:35 PM
    #8
    wiljayhi

    wiljayhi 1. I don’t know … 2. I don’t care

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    Murky Water, MB, eh?
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    3200-3500 loaded. Avg around 13mpg. All flat land towing so far.

    6A1F5CCB-34FB-44DB-9FDF-A57235D761F0.jpg
     
    verynearlypure likes this.
  9. May 28, 2020 at 5:56 AM
    #9
    Jimiller5

    Jimiller5 Well-Known Member

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    East TN
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    Tonneau cover running boards Lance 1475
    Lance 1475, 3100 lbs dry. Right at 13 mpg @ 65 mph.
    D0D3C108-0A1B-48FA-9603-0C290A9A4F55.jpg
     
  10. Jun 1, 2020 at 6:46 AM
    #10
    ahlerscurtis

    ahlerscurtis [OP] Active Member

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    Cool, thanks for all the replies! That's really helpful as we look for our second home(camper:D)
     
  11. Jun 1, 2020 at 11:01 PM
    #11
    mrkabc

    mrkabc Mall Crawler with a Locker

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    Morimoto XB LED Head & Fog Lights, Cali Raised Stealth Light bar, OEM Roof Rack, Homelink Compass Mirror, Power Tailgate Lock, LED bed lights, MESO mirrors, gashole, switch panel & Stage 2 tails, PRO grille. Where's the mall?
    How are you all getting 14/15 mpg? I have a Jayco SLX7 195RB (about 3700 lbs fully loaded) and I get around 11.5 mpg. Can't seem to get any better than that! Maybe it's the garhage CA gas?

    Like @brtnstrns I run about 60-65 or so (55 mph is speed limit here in CA) and usually level ground.
     
  12. Jun 2, 2020 at 3:53 AM
    #12
    Jimiller5

    Jimiller5 Well-Known Member

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    I feather the gas when starting out, no jackrabbit starts. I try to maintain a constant speed, especially when merging into traffic, and let the truck slow down gradually when stopping. The less pedal to get the job done works for me.
     
    Boghog1, Scott4032 and varmintshooter like this.
  13. Jun 2, 2020 at 3:59 AM
    #13
    Gearheadesw

    Gearheadesw must modify

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    Those are all good numbers. I’m jealous.
     
  14. Jun 2, 2020 at 7:22 AM
    #14
    Aquatic Tacoma

    Aquatic Tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Both are Stock - built correct from the start.

    I pickup up 2 mpg after installing my ARE Mx high rise topper. Better aerodynamics.
     
  15. Jun 2, 2020 at 9:56 AM
    #15
    EricOutside

    EricOutside Well-Known Member

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    NW Washington
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    Home-built roof rack for spotting platform and/or kayaks & bikes & stuff. Home built bed drawers Firestone Ride-Rite airbags on the rear for level camp trailer towing
    I think this *best* milage we've ever seen while towing is 14, though tbh, I don't always record it so I don't have a complete record. I generally try to keep it under 65mph but when there's a tail wind will push above that.

    Here's our setup: (Tried to copy-paste the pic, but didn't actually seem to work)

    IMG_2168.jpg
     
  16. Jun 2, 2020 at 10:03 AM
    #16
    brtnstrns

    brtnstrns Well-Known Member

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    Oh yeah, hell no. I generally get 10 mpg when I'm towing. We've typically stayed within 4 hours of home and with hills and such and I'll happily pass people doing 70 mph if they're doing the typical "Washington State 5mph below speed limit" thing. I'm kind of in the "fuck it" mindset in regards to MPG when towing. It is what it is and I'd rather get to my destination within the quickest time frame safely possible. Most of the time we get to our destination with about half a tank of gas. I'm good with that.

    I only do 70mph in very small stints though. As soon as I get 1mph over that, you can tell it wants to get squirrely. I'm sure my WDH with anti-sway provides a slight amount more of confidence as well...
     
  17. Jun 2, 2020 at 10:14 AM
    #17
    EricOutside

    EricOutside Well-Known Member

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    Home-built roof rack for spotting platform and/or kayaks & bikes & stuff. Home built bed drawers Firestone Ride-Rite airbags on the rear for level camp trailer towing
    One more thing: Ever driven with a strong headwind? THAT will have an effect on mileage.

    I wonder if the biggest factors are rolling resistance and air resistance? Unless climbing hills, of course, but on the level once rolling it's all about pushing air. I *think* I noticed slightly better mileage with a single axle trailer - two tires instead of 4. Is that possible? Or, is it overshadowed by the single axle trailer being a different aerodynamic design than the 2 axle trailers I'd pulled before. Did some googling on it, but my foo is weak and I didn't turn up anything definitive...
     
  18. Jun 2, 2020 at 2:14 PM
    #18
    Jimiller5

    Jimiller5 Well-Known Member

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    Tonneau cover running boards Lance 1475
    I have a tonneau cover which definitely helps. Also the aerodynamics of the camper has an effect. I got 15 with a Casita and l’m down to 13 with the Lance. Headwind has a large effect as well. Heading west to Death Valley on 1-40 with the Casita was around 13. Coming back with a tailwind was up to 18.
     
  19. Jun 3, 2020 at 6:42 AM
    #19
    skeighter

    skeighter Well-Known Member

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    We tow a taller 18 foot hybrid camper, definitely higher profile than most campers but gives me headroom inside. Avg. mpg is between 10 and 11. Funny that there's nowhere to camp around here when gas prices are low. Burned around $600 worth of gas last summer on a 1800 mile jaunt. We're planning on sticking local going forward. Beach camping on the coast no more than 100 miles from home.
     
  20. Jun 4, 2020 at 4:48 AM
    #20
    varmintshooter

    varmintshooter Member

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    First post here. MPG is relative in my opinion. Two people with the same vehicle, mpg will vary greatly depending on how they drive. Those that get good mpg when not towing will also get better mpg when towing, why not post non towing mpg also, that way we can compare apples to apples so to speak.
     

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