Fuel Ecomony - Towing
Currently I am towing a 28ft travel trailer with a 2014 Silverado 1500, 6.2 liter gas and 3.42:1 rear end. The trailer weighs about 7,500 lb. Loaded for shorter trips, the trailer axles and rear truc...
Forum Discussion
To 289457,
valhalla360 gave some excellent detail, I agree with all of it. I will add a few extra things.
You have figured out already you are weight strapped with the smaller payload of your 1500 Chevy. Next comes pulling power and fuel mileage.
You did not mention if you are asking about a new truck or a good used truck and how old the truck is.
Newer trucks come with more transmission speeds and the engine upgrades in power. The more speeds, they can drop the engine RPM's getting better towing mileage. A 4 or 5-speed versus a 10-speed is a big difference.
I'll give you a reference point on an older gas truck, the one in my sig—2005 F350, 3 valve V10 gasser, five-speed, 4.10 rear axle on stock 18" tires.
The truck fuel mileage towing a travel trailer, 8 ft wide, 10 ft over the AC cover, a non-slide camper with a loaded weight between 5,500# to 7,000# loaded is about 8 to 8.5 mpg towing 60 mph.
The truck fuel mileage towing a travel trailer 8 ft wide, 10' 7" tall over the AC cover, with a slide, loaded trailer weight 8,000# to 10,000# loaded is about 7 to 8 mpg towing 60 mph.
Empty on the highway, the best I can get is 14- 15 MPG.
In my case, wind resistance eats more fuel than the weight in the class campers I listed. My 5-speed will drop into 5th gear due to pulling resistance in tow haul mode. I can be doing 50 mph in 5th gear or 60 mpg in 5th gear, my V10 has a flatter torque curve up in the area where I tow at and it works with the transmission to drop it down into high gear if I am on a more level area.
The Ford toque shift is not the same setup as my older 2003 GM 2500 Suburban with a 4-speed that with hold speed and gear. On the Burb, I could tell the speed by looking at the RPM's, but not so on the Ford torque shift.
The new 10 speeds of GM and Ford (not sure about Dodge, I'm not a Dodge guy) and the newer engines have crept up the mileage.
Bottom line, if you are getting around 10 mph now on your 1500, pending the year, engine, transmission speeds, tires, and rear axle, your towing mileage may be the same or lower on a gas engine. But the towing experience is a lot better, the large truck is not working as hard and the entire rig is more stable.
Good luck
John
valhalla360 gave some excellent detail, I agree with all of it. I will add a few extra things.
You have figured out already you are weight strapped with the smaller payload of your 1500 Chevy. Next comes pulling power and fuel mileage.
You did not mention if you are asking about a new truck or a good used truck and how old the truck is.
Newer trucks come with more transmission speeds and the engine upgrades in power. The more speeds, they can drop the engine RPM's getting better towing mileage. A 4 or 5-speed versus a 10-speed is a big difference.
I'll give you a reference point on an older gas truck, the one in my sig—2005 F350, 3 valve V10 gasser, five-speed, 4.10 rear axle on stock 18" tires.
The truck fuel mileage towing a travel trailer, 8 ft wide, 10 ft over the AC cover, a non-slide camper with a loaded weight between 5,500# to 7,000# loaded is about 8 to 8.5 mpg towing 60 mph.
The truck fuel mileage towing a travel trailer 8 ft wide, 10' 7" tall over the AC cover, with a slide, loaded trailer weight 8,000# to 10,000# loaded is about 7 to 8 mpg towing 60 mph.
Empty on the highway, the best I can get is 14- 15 MPG.
In my case, wind resistance eats more fuel than the weight in the class campers I listed. My 5-speed will drop into 5th gear due to pulling resistance in tow haul mode. I can be doing 50 mph in 5th gear or 60 mpg in 5th gear, my V10 has a flatter torque curve up in the area where I tow at and it works with the transmission to drop it down into high gear if I am on a more level area.
The Ford toque shift is not the same setup as my older 2003 GM 2500 Suburban with a 4-speed that with hold speed and gear. On the Burb, I could tell the speed by looking at the RPM's, but not so on the Ford torque shift.
The new 10 speeds of GM and Ford (not sure about Dodge, I'm not a Dodge guy) and the newer engines have crept up the mileage.
Bottom line, if you are getting around 10 mph now on your 1500, pending the year, engine, transmission speeds, tires, and rear axle, your towing mileage may be the same or lower on a gas engine. But the towing experience is a lot better, the large truck is not working as hard and the entire rig is more stable.
Good luck
John
