I'm sure this question has been asked many times but I did a search and didn't find much. Looking at small TT the weight difference between 18-19 ft TT's and 21-22 ft TT's is about 800 lbs. 2600 vs 3400 lbs dry weight. How much will the 800 lb difference affect gas mileage assuming I add the same 7-900 lbs of cargo to each? I will be towing with a 1/2 ton Suburban, pick up or Expedition as I am not going to buy a TV until I find the TT so I know they are compatible. I'm assuming about half of the weight difference is that most of the 18-19 ft are single axle and the 21-22 ft are tandem axle. I know SA vs TA is a whole discussion in it's self.

I doubt you will even notice any difference in FE - maybe .5 mpg.The big killer is the large frontal area you have to pull against the wind.

Forget about "mileage" and RV'ing. If you are going to lug around your house behind you, you are going to use a lot of fuel and basically get terrible mileage.When I stopped worrying about mileage, I started to relax and have a lot more fun RVing and camping.But, to answer your question...speed and wind resistance will affect your mileage much more than weight.

I don't know what you're planning to towing with, but look at it this way. If you have a five passenger vehicle, what's the mileage difference between having just yourself or five people in it? (Four extra people X 200# each = 800# more.) Do you really notice any difference in your mileage?Bill

downtheroad wrote:When I stopped worrying about mileage, I started to relax and have a lot more fun RVing and camping.This would be my answer as well.... enjoy being outdoors damn the cost.

For several years I towed a 24' KZ Spree with an '06 Chevy Silverado and later with an '05 Avalanche - same engine, same 3.42 axle ratio, same wide ratio 4 speed transmission in both ... the Spree typically averaged ~ 5500 lbs loaded and ready to camp, gas mileage towing with either vehicle was the same, ~ 10.5 miles to the US gallon, occasionally on flat terrain with little wind I'd sometimes see low to mid 11s. With that same Avalanche I now tow a 19' Freedom Express is ~ 1000 lbs lighter, ~ 4500 lbs loaded and ready to camp ... mileage on average is slightly better as I frequently see 11.5 mpg, occasionally up into the low to mid 12s under ideal conditions. Bottom line - any difference isn't worth worrying about, buy the camper that best suits your needs and when towing any trailer travel consider anything you may achieve beyond 10 miles to the US gallon as a bonus.

Weight vs gas mileage? | Good Sam Community

38 Replies

chevor
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
Get down to single digit MPG and slight increases can make a huge difference hundred of dollars in fuel.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 31, 2015
AngryBert-63 wrote:
I agree with a lot of people here when they say "once you hook up the RV you should forget about mileage..."

Sometimes we do well (flat with a tailwind going downhill)...

Sometimes we do poorly (headwind for 8 hours).

All the time we don't care. It is what it is...

YUP! If it's a problem you should not be doing this!
Winnebago_Bob
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
I agree with a lot of people here when they say "once you hook up the RV you should forget about mileage..."

Sometimes we do well (flat with a tailwind going downhill)...

Sometimes we do poorly (headwind for 8 hours).

All the time we don't care. It is what it is...
chevor
Explorer
Mar 31, 2015
Both GM diesel. Only available with 3.73 rear end & Allision trans. Both four wheel drive.
marquette
Explorer
Mar 30, 2015
Are the axle ratios the same on the 2500 and 3500?
chevor
Explorer
Mar 30, 2015
My 2500 compared to my 3500 dually. 2500 is 8000 pounds, 3500 is 11,000 pounds.
The 2500 does about 3 mpg better not pulling and about 1.5 mpg better pulling.
mileshuff
Explorer
Mar 23, 2015
Weight won't make much difference. Frontal area wind drag is what matters.
My first TT weighed 5,000lbs loaded. I averaged 12mpg over many years.
My current 5'er weighs 10,000lbs loaded. Double the weight. I average 11mpg.

Same truck towing both.

My old TT had a flat frontal area. 5'er has a curved front cap. Much less wind drag.
kellertx5er
Explorer
Mar 20, 2015
Lspangler wrote:
My ram gets just over 9 towing my 8000 pound camper and 12 towing my 2000 pound enclosed snowmobile trailer. The snowmobile trailer is only 7' wide and 6' tall

It's all about moving air
Linc

That is still a 33% improvement in mpg. Nothing to sneer at.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 20, 2015
kellertx5er wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Towing 75 MPH 40 plus head wind on I-40 Texas Panhandle 5 MPG.

I would be praying that the tires hold up at 75 mph, if ST type.

Tires are rated for 75mph. GY "H" rated.
kellertx5er
Explorer
Mar 19, 2015
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Towing 75 MPH 40 plus head wind on I-40 Texas Panhandle 5 MPG.

I would be praying that the tires hold up at 75 mph, if ST type.

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Weight vs gas mileage?

38 Replies

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