Towing MPG Question

[Superslif]

My driving habits have stayed the same on all three RV trailers I have owned. 62-64 mph tops on the freeway.

Three RV trailers include:

~ 24' tt 3700 dry, 4700 wet 9'6" tall 12.25 mpg ( able to stay in over-drive at 1750 rpm's 90% of the time)

~ 26' tt 4400 dry, 5500 wet 10' tall 11.25 mpg ( stayed in over-drive 75% of the time)

~ (limited data) 28' tt 6400 dry 7400 wet? 11'6" tall 9.5 mpg (stayed in over-drive 1750 rpm's less than 30% or of the time).

Last two towed with a 5.7L Tundra.

As the height of the trailer increased, the more "wind" has factored into MPG. And ones driving habits.

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by danny285

All you can do to help MPG is to Slow down. It is what it is. Stop worrying and Enjoy the trip

True. My gas mileage goes way up when I get off the interstates and slow down.

Roger

[Mekanic]

I think there is nothing wrong with your truck.

Years ago a 460 had about the same torque and about 2/3s the HP as that 2.7 ecobost engine.
and in a much lighter truck back then you be getting a whole 8MPG.

Fact is it takes a lot more fuel to make towing power and torque.

[tuffr2]

Let us know what MPG you get on the return trip. Having MPG drop by 50% while towing is kinda normal.

I had a car that got 24 solo and 15 towing a boat. I had a Honda Ridgeline that got 17 solo and 9.5 towing. I had a F-150 that got 19 solo and 10.2 towing and now a dually diesel that gets 16 solo and 10.5 towing.

Your little trailer and truck getting 10mpg is on the low side of normal. Again, let us know what MPG you get on the return trip. Thanks

[Phil Perrin]

Thanks for all the advice!
We’re still traveling, but I have noticed one thing. Thursday when we got to our overnight destination, I dropped the trailer and we went to dinner. I didn’t reset the MPG computer on the display and that’s when it dropped to 10MPG.
Today, we left Texarkana and went up to the western side of Arkansas. I had done the reset over the weekend, and it only dropped down to an average of 13-14 MPG.
I dropped the trailer and we saw some friends for lunch (we had to go places out in the boonies where I really wasn’t comfortable towing the TT). I also did the reset while it was dropped.
However, traveling on I40 to Little Rock, I noticed that it got down to 11-12 MPG. But, it was fairly hilly coming here.
BTW, i checked out the trip menu that I reset when we left. We’ve gone almost 1300 miles and are averaging 11.7 MPG.
So, I’m pretty sure that I’m not gonna get great mileage while towing our TT and that I’ll just have to deal with it.
Thanks again for all your input!

[1bigmess]

Folks told me "Hey, if you get a diesel, you'll get better fuel mileage towing!"

Diesel has about 13% more energy than the volume equivalent gasoline.

If you're getting 10, and I can drive the exact same way as you are, I'm getting 11.

Total weight and how we use the throttle (how fast we accelerate, our cruising speed, how fast we climb hills, etc.) are the only factors that we are really in control of when towing, all other things being equal.

[Arch Hoagland]

Phil....You're breaking my heart......On a GOOD day I get about 7.5 mpg.

It's too bad there isn't a FPG chart. Fun Per Gallon.

I don't care what my mileage is, I'm enjoying the heck out of it.

[Phil Perrin]

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Phil....You're breaking my heart......On a GOOD day I get about 7.5 mpg.

It's too bad there isn't a FPG chart. Fun Per Gallon.

I don't care what my mileage is, I'm enjoying the heck out of it.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a good trip so far. Just the mileage freaked me out just a little bit when it got down that far.
But now I know what to expect the next time we go out.

[W5CI]

If you are really concerned about mileage towing you need to give up RVing and buy a Prius. we own two of them along with my RAM 3500 Diesel for towing

[Mekanic]

Originally Posted by Phil Perrin

Thanks for all the advice!
We’re still traveling, but I have noticed one thing. Thursday when we got to our overnight destination, I dropped the trailer and we went to dinner. I didn’t reset the MPG computer on the display and that’s when it dropped to 10MPG.
Today, we left Texarkana and went up to the western side of Arkansas. I had done the reset over the weekend, and it only dropped down to an average of 13-14 MPG.
I dropped the trailer and we saw some friends for lunch (we had to go places out in the boonies where I really wasn’t comfortable towing the TT). I also did the reset while it was dropped.
However, traveling on I40 to Little Rock, I noticed that it got down to 11-12 MPG. But, it was fairly hilly coming here.
BTW, i checked out the trip menu that I reset when we left. We’ve gone almost 1300 miles and are averaging 11.7 MPG.
.......

remember to calculate the Average MPG number The computer looks to the last (The PAST) 5 resets or something like that.

[RichieRichB]

99 GMA Savana.3/4 ton.4.5 axle
. 5.7l 350. 6.5mpg all day towing my 9k lb toyhauler... I'm looking for a good used diesel.

[runamuck]

pulling my 52-5500# TT at 68-70 on mostly flat roads with few hills I get 10-11 with my 2017 sierra 1500 5.3 4x4 with 3.4 ccsb truck with 3.42 gears. I use tow/haul mode

[JIMNLIN]

remember to calculate the Average MPG number The computer looks to the last (The PAST) 5 resets or something like that.

The computer mpgs is the last thing I look at...if at all.

The OP needs to ignore the dic mileage (if thats where his mpg reports are from) and use simple math for several tanks. Then a average from those tanks will be close to actual mpg numbers. A single tank can be high number or a low number depending on a a short tank fill vs a full tank fill.

[lcboy]

I have a 2015 chevy with 5.3 and 6 speed transmission and 342 gears and tow a 32 ft camper 6500 lbs dry around 62-65 and get around 11 mpg with cruise set and tow haul.