Pulling a utv

I took my 16 off road to the ranch this weekend for opening weekend of rifle season. I have a 4010 Trans 4x4 mule that I tow on a 16x6.5 tandem axle trailer.i was very impressed at how the taco pulled the trailer. The down side is that my mpg went down around 9-10. I was considering downsizing trailers to a 12x6 single axle for towing my mule. Anybody have any experience with this? Kind of curious of the lighter trailer will make much of a difference in the mpg.
Thanks

 

Bump

 

Trucks are too new for those questions so far.... give it time.

BTW, what's up with your garage roof shingles? Roofers used a different shade of color in areas?

 

Lol Had to go look at it in person must be something in the picture, cause it doesn't look like it in person.

 

What's the weight difference? But I doubt there will be a significant increase in milage to justify the cost.

However, if you needed to add another person or more gear and the lighter trailer will let you do that, it may be worth it and any extra milage gained will just be an added benefit.

 

I don't know the weight of my tandem. I know the single axles I can pick up the tongue and move them all over the place. Can't do that at all with the tandem. The mule itself is less than 1500 pounds

 

Do you have the tow package?

 

Yes I figured out today using the ect is a noticeable difference

 

The false colors in the roofing shingles is a phenomenon called "moire" and is common with digital cameras when they photograph anything with a repeating pattern, like a brick wall, or roof shingles. Basically, a digital camera has a grid of light sensitive sensors inside (measured in mega-pixels) and repeating patters of a certain size can cause false colors and other phenomena in the image. Just refocusing, or changing the angle or distance to the subject can reduce or eliminate it.

 

But did you get the tow package for your truck?

Without it you your truck is rated at 3500 lbs.
With it your truck it rated for 6500 for 4x4 and 6800 for 4x2.

 

Yes I bought one with the tow package

 

I would figure out the weight of your trailer. A few hundred pounds will probably not change much.

What speed were you going?

 

65 tops trying to find my trailer title now to see if it shows the gross empty weight

 

Looks like my trailer weights 1600. If I got with a 12x6.5 single axle it will weight 1100. A 12x5 will be around 950. So looks like it will save me pulling 500-600 pounds pull weight. Wonder if that will equate to much fuel savings?

 

I'd almost bet it wouldn't make over 1 mpg difference. Speed will be your biggest factor.

Tow in 4 (not D, keeps it out of overdrive and eliminates "hunting" between 4th and 5th) and keep speed between 50-55 and you may pick up 3-4 mpg tops. The UTV itself (and the trailer tailgate when it's unloaded) act almost like a sail. You will see a HUGE difference in fuel usage if you can keep revs to 2000 and under versus running normal highway speed.

I pull my 4500 lb John Deere 5300 tractor and bush hog on an 18' utility (2 3500lb axles) trailer and it's all my '15 TRD OR wants. I usually get 12 MPG pulling it to camp and back but it's pretty hilly country.

 

If you want to get the weight down, think about an aluminum trailer. I have a 16 foot car hauler, 2000 pounds, my 10 foot aluminum Alumna single axle weights 550 pounds. I haul a diesel 855 gator as well as my cannon on it, it has a 3000 pound axle under it.

 

That's for all.of the info. I was considering going an aluminum trailer

 

Mileage will be about the same as taking 2 adult men out of your truck. Not much of a difference.

 

I honestly wouldn't go buy a smaller trailer for the weight savings. Aerodynamics is probably a bigger issue. Do you drive with the ramp gate on it? Even though they are mesh they catch a ton of wind.

I am surprised at your mileage though. If you go to a single axle you don't get the stability of side to side sway like a tandem. maybe something to consider

 

I thought about the same thing with the stability. Instead if buying another trailer I found a buddy who's gonna let me borrow his 6x12. I'll tow it 400 miles total to and from the ranch. I'll report back with the mpg.