What’s your MPG?

[EdNope]

I’m towing my 23’ Coleman Lite with a 2009 F150 that has a 5.4L Triton V8 (152,500 miles). The only mod I’ve done to this truck is a 2” front end leveling kit back in ‘09. Besides regular oil changes and 2 tranny flushes and radiator flushes, this truck is all original. Original brakes, shocks, lights, everything.

When I’m not dragging my TT, I typically get 14-15mpg on any extended road trip. I’m a bit of a lead foot but I’m working on that

When I’m dragging the Coleman, I get 9mpg on the highway - and that’s ONLY if I keep my RPMs between 1900-2300 and my speed at about 62mph (between 60-65mph).

If I’m not watching these things closely, I can easily drop to 6-8mpg, even lower!

Is 9mpg while dragging a 23’ TT respectable in a stock 1/2 ton pick up or should I be shooting for better fuel mileage?

I’m planning my drive to Alaska this summer and I’m just curious if my mileage is decent. It seems a bit low to me, given the lower speeds I’m doing.

Thanks.

[stevebarbsmn]

I have a 2014 F150 3.5 ecoboosr and I get about 9 mpg towing a 7500 lb TT.

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[EdNope]

Steve,

How fast are you driving? What’s your typical RPM when you get that mileage?

Have you tried improving that mpg?

Thanks for the input.

[Badlands Bob]

I have a 2015 F-150 with the 5.0. I routinely get 19 mpg just running around locally. When towing on a long trip, I get about 11 mpg. If I'm in the mountains, I get about 8 mpg. I'm towing 6,200 lbs.

[1bigmess]

The best I ever got was 15. The worst was just under 10. I average around 12. I'm almost religious about using the cruise control.

Gearing, speed, aerodynamics, start/stop traffic, terrain, tire inflation, engine state of tune and condition, total weight, ad nauseum. So may factors more important than trailer length. You're on to the one you can really control though, your right foot.

[lynnmor]

Your mileage is typical, just drive slower. The wind resistance will increase at the square of the speed. For example; 60 mph will have four times the resistance of 30 mph, not twice like you might think.

[stevebarbsmn]

I tow about 58-60 mph and live in Ca with a lot of ups and downs.

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[stevebarbsmn]

Also I have a weight distribution hitch I tow with.

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[Matfam1]

2014 Ram 1/2 ton. 9 mpg while towing.

[bfisher003]

I have a 2013 F150 Platinum Screw 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost with Max Tow (3.73 EL rear end) and tow a ~6,500 lb, 31’ overall TT. Around town ~15 mpg, highway and not towing ~18 mpg, towing anywhere from 8 in the mountains or into a fairly strong headwind to 10 mpg on the flats at 62-63 mph. BTW, you’re going to LOVE that Alaska trip!! We went last summer and had an awesome time!! Watch carefully and slow way down for the frost heaves north of Destruction Bay, YT!! I broke a spring hanger on our TT. Decent repair shop called Willard’s RV Repair in Tok, AK. LOL. And don’t forget to eat at Fast Eddy’s in Tok; great food!

[60sumtin]

I only checked it once. 12 Imperial MPG @ 62 MPH, 3.55 rear, 4th gear, tow/haul mode engaged, variable wind over 330 miles. You'll have to do the math for US MPG.

To be honest I don't really care what it is. I knew going into it wouldn't be good. It is what it is.

[keymastr]

Lots of mileage threads here. They always turn out the same whether it is a long heavy trailer or a shorter light one and whether a half ton or one ton. Gas gets 7 to 9 MPG depending on the wind and diesel gets 10 to 13.

As for your 5.4, from experience I will recommend you have the timing chain and all related guides and tensioners replaced before your trip. They were faulty from the factory and should have been recalled. The new replacements are much better. When the tensioners go the chain flops around and starts wearing the aluminum sending it through the motor. Replace before you notice a problem. Other than that it is a great engine. Let it rev, it likes 3500 to 4500 RPM for pulling hills.

[Superslif]

My past tow vehicle (2005 Toyota 4Runner 4.7 L V-8) towing a 2005 24' Aerolite hybrid at 9' 6" tall and 3700 (dry) 4700 lbs (wet / loaded). I got non-towing mileage of 23 mpg at 62-65 mph. Towing I got 12.25 mpg at 58-62.

Next combination was the same tow vehicle but a slightly larger trailer (2013 25' Aerolite hybrid 10' tall and 4400 (dry) 5500-5700 lbs (wet) Because of the slightly heavier and 6" taller trailer the MPG dropped to 11.25 mpg. Usually can keep it in over-drive at 1750 rpm's.

Next combination was the same 2013 Aerolite trailer and a new 2014 5.7 L Tundra double cab. Non towing I can get 20-21 mpg (highway if kept under 62-65 mpg) Kept the same 11.25 mpg. This setup was taken on a Alaska trip in 2016 over 14k miles. Didn't really keep track of my mileage to Alaska, just more concerned I only have a 225-250 mile range with the Tundra's 26 gallon gas tank. I did keep my fresh water tank 1/2 to full most of the trip. (tank holds 53 gallons)

Current setup, Same 2014 Tundra with a new 2018 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge (28.5', 6600 (dry) 7500-8000 (wet ?) but 11' 6" tall. Drove it back from OR. after purchase to Ohio only being about half loaded up. Averaged at best a hair under 10 mpg. with no head winds, 8-9.5 with head winds. Averaged about 62 mph. If no real headwinds and a semi-flat road I can keep it in over-drive at 1750 rpm's. The next RPM range is 2200-2300.

So I originally went from a 9' 6" tall trailer to a 11' 6" tall trailer. From a 3700 dry trailer to a 6600 dry trailer. So I gained 2 feet in trailer height and 3000 in dry weight. Wind ( headwinds) are more of a issue now...So I went from a average of 12.25 mpg down to between 9-10 mpg. I'm OK with that, knowing I'm dragging a much bigger box down the road now. I do have to say, with the MorRyde 3000 suspension on the new trailer, it just floats down the freeway.

[tuffr2]

I would get 10.5mph on a 2011 F-150 with the 5.0 litre engine towing a 5,500 lb. trailer. One time I got 11.5 mpg with a meduim tailwind.

Solo driving was about 20mpg.