Community Forums

homeless · 04-07-2013, 05:07 AM

With concerns about gas mileage I can assume pulling a tote will cost me more money? I would assume beside wear and tare on the tote the gas millage on my rig will suffer. Has anyone taken the time to discover how different the gas millage is with and with out the tote?

luvlabs · 04-07-2013, 06:13 AM

Most of us call the car we tow a toad (from towed). The effect on your mileage will vary based on the weight of the car or truck you choose to tow. Since I always pull the car listed in my signature, I don't really have a good number for you.

Excell · 04-07-2013, 06:21 AM

The gas mileage will be a bit worse, but you should get that back when you use the toad. Especially if you stay in one place for a week or so . Not to mention the convenience when parked .

clyon51 · 04-07-2013, 06:24 AM

Not exactly. I tow a 4000lb enclosed trailer 95% of the time. The few times I didn't, the mileage was a bit better. Somewhere between 0.4 to 0.8 mpg.

Ted S. · 04-07-2013, 06:29 AM

I would think it would vary with diesel vs gas, with the advantage going to diesel.

Red James · 04-07-2013, 06:44 AM

My 35' Allegro bus (diesel) over 12000 miles averaged 9.0 miles / gallon. When I added a Honda CRV mileage dropped to 8.9 . . .using a $4.00 / gallon price for diesel this means it cost one half cent per mile to tow. This is mostly rolling terrain with one trip thru the Ozarks, so I don't have BIG mountain info. HTH!

Triker56 · 04-07-2013, 06:53 AM

My fuel mileage doesn't change from pulling my 3,300 lb toad to not pulling it.
Without it I tend to drive a little faster then when pulling. Thus the same MPG.
Pulling 55-58 MPH
Solo 62-65 MPH

I have a spreadsheet with all fuel used. Average for 10 years is 10.223 MPG

But after getting to each days destination I am much more relaxed when driving the 55-58 MPH. And arrive within a hour or less of the faster speed.

I have noticed at times, when driving a relaxed 55-58 MPH there has been some MH's that are driving 65-75 MPH. Will Pass me 2 or 3 times during the day.

CampDaven · 04-07-2013, 07:58 AM

I drive my toad more than double the miles I drive my MH. We explore a lot.
This means it pays me to toad.

tompen · 04-07-2013, 08:05 AM

Towing a Honda Fit (2100 lbs) costs less than 1 mpg. It is a little inconvenient at times, but the flexibility when camped is great.

Gary RVRoamer · 04-08-2013, 02:49 PM

It depends on the relative weight of the toad vs the coach, the terrain (hills or flat land) and your driving style (weight of your right foot). A typical report on a 4000 lb toad on a 17,000 lb gas chassis coach would be 0.5 mpg impact in moderately hilly terrain. On the other hand, a 5000 lb toad on a 30,000+ lb diesel pusher is all but unnoticeable anywhere except mountainous terrain.

Selah · 04-08-2013, 03:20 PM

Other than maybe a week end trip I don't see how you can get along without a toad so it really doesn't make a difference. It is just not practical to take your RV to the grocery store or to the local resteraunts, or up a few miles to a trail head, etc. renting a car at each location is going to cost a lot more than the mileage you lose.
Towing is much easier than you might think, there is nothing you do differently when towing than not towing except you can't back up if 4 down.

wildtoad · 04-08-2013, 03:29 PM

I actually think you're asking the wrong question. If you want a car where you go what's your option? Do you want the expense of renting a car? Does the place you're going even have a car rental agency? Taxi cab? I suspect most have made the decision that the convenience of towing far outweighs the added fuel, and of course the cost of setting up a car to be towed (no small number).

I for one have yet to tow. We've rented cars once or twice, taken a cab from time to time, ridden bikes. But that's us.

HHg · 04-08-2013, 03:36 PM

Nice and simple answer: I don't leave home without my "toad".

Hhg

Hikerdogs · 04-09-2013, 09:07 AM

We normally take our Jeep Wrangler (3700 lbs) whenever we travel. The times we left it at home the mileage increased about .8 mpg. However the cost of renting car far out weighed the difference in mileage. Add the cost of the rental, fuel for both it and the motorhome and the time it takes to pick it up and return it, and bringing along your own vehicle is certainly less expensive.

There have been times when the closest rental agency was 80 miles from our destination, and only open Monday through Friday. Other times the "reserved" car hadn't been returned when it was supposed to so we waited several additional hours. With all the hassle and unpredictability just the peace of mind knowing you have a car along is worth way more than the additional cost of fuel to take it.