Best towing vehicles for best MPGs
What are some of the best current and past trucks/suv that allow for maximum MPGs when towing (for either smaller or larger TTs)?
Forum Discussion
64 Replies
OBSPowerstroke wrote:
How's this for a comparison of diesel vs gas:
My friend's '12 6.2 V8 Ford Raptor towing a Lance 1575 trailer between La Grande and Mount Hood at 70 MPH through a horrendous headwind returned a spectacular 7.5 MPG. My '16 6.7 Powerstroke returned 16.5 MPG on the same stretch.
Disclaimer: I wasn't towing since I had to abandon my trailer in Boise due to a broken leaf spring that I get to go back and fix next weekend. If I was towing, I probably would have been able to eek out about 9 MPG, but keep in mind my trailer is twice the weight, taller, a foot wider, and double axle.
Seems like conditions are just as important as the vehicle. If you can keep it flat, slow with no stop and go and avoid the headwinds your mileage will be ok.
I left Portland with a 5.9 Cummins and 10,000# trailer and arrived at my campsite in Yellowstone averaging 11.5 mpg. Unhooked the trailer, saw the park, and my mileage average increased to 12.5. Kept the 12.5 all the way to the Columbia River Gorge and a headwind. By the time I got home my average for the entire trip was 9.8 mpg. I was ready to be home so I most likely pushed it pretty hard. I did not tow at 80 in Idaho!Snowman9000 wrote:
You asked about small AND large TTs. While you can gain some MPGs by going smaller, there will be little difference in MPGs for a given weight and frontal area.
To expand on my previous post:
I can afford 5 MPG, or worse. Even at twice the price of today. That doesn't mean I find it acceptable. I use MPG to help me decide on an RV. I don't think I'm the only one. Everything isn't about money. Sometimes it's just personal preference.
I can see the freedom that comes from not caring about MPG. But when someone else cares, it's not necessarily about the cost.
It takes the same amount of energy to move a load no matter what is providing the locomotion.
Consider that towing the TT is the smallest percentage of the experience. Most of your time will be living in it. So towing a teardrop will give you great MPGs, but the living in it part leaves a lot to be desired.
I have owned 3 TTs now, each one larger than the one before it. They all looked the same in the mirror when I was towing them.. But the biggest one that I now have is the best when I arrive at camp.
Whenever someone says, it is not about the cost....That is exactly what it is about- I've noticed that our mileage has worsened since the TT was lifted after an axel flip.
- Regardless of what you hear, your mpg is going to vary on every trip.
On my last trip out west, from IN to MO we hit nasty head winds and got 7.5 mpg. One day across OK we picked up a stout tail wind and got 12.5 mpg. Neither was a pleasant driving experience.
If you figure an average of 10 mpg for a gasser and 11 mpg for a diesel you will not be too far off the mark.
There are many other issues to address; such as power, cost and maintenance to consider before fretting over a mile or so more per gallon. - Sometimes moving up to a much heavier TT and TV improves mpg quite a bit when towing.
Our old 2000 F150 with a V6 (non-turbo) & 3.55 gears (left in photo) had terrible mileage. Towed a 20' 5K lb TT and got around 6-8 mpg and as low as 5.7 mpg in hilly/mountainous areas. It was always running at high RPMs to make enough power. Could only make 30-35 mph on hills and would have to drive on the right shoulders with semis on steep hills. The F150 was rated to tow 5100 lbs so was maxed out on tow capacity. It really sucked - literally. :( Around-town mpg was fairly decent tho.
Now we tow a 29' 7K lb TT with an F250 with V10 and 4.10 gears and get around 8-9 mpg. Truck is longer, taller and much heavier (now has a canopy) and is just over 50 percent of the tow rating. It never lacks for power and has great acceleration. MPG around town however is not good.
Conclusion - towing with a TV that is close to the max. tow capacity may not perform well.
- How's this for a comparison of diesel vs gas:
My friend's '12 6.2 V8 Ford Raptor towing a Lance 1575 trailer between La Grande and Mount Hood at 70 MPH through a horrendous headwind returned a spectacular 7.5 MPG. My '16 6.7 Powerstroke returned 16.5 MPG on the same stretch.
Disclaimer: I wasn't towing since I had to abandon my trailer in Boise due to a broken leaf spring that I get to go back and fix next weekend. If I was towing, I probably would have been able to eek out about 9 MPG, but keep in mind my trailer is twice the weight, taller, a foot wider, and double axle. NinerBikes wrote:
2013 VW Touareg Common Rail Diesel TDI Sport AWD full time, with 8 speed Aisin Transmission.
33-36 MPG highway interstate at 65-70 mph
16.5 to 19.5 MPG towing about 4400# wet of 21 foot Palomino Gazelle G210 Travel trailer at 55-58 MPH. MPG's are consistent in summer time, towing from Southern California to Yellowstone, or Montana on the Madison river. 4 years running.
Before you question my numbers, call me a liar, or say I am full of bullcr*p, here's a Log of every mile and every fillup.
I won't say you are any of that, but I will say you are a a significant road hazard if you are truly only towing at a max of 58 MPH on any freeway, especially outside of California.
I just got back from a trip to Moab and I tried to keep it around 70 because of the 65 MPH max limit on my trailer tires, and I was getting passed by every vehicle known to man in rural Idaho and Utah. I had semis with oversized loads blowing past me through Salt Lake when I still had the cruise set at 70. When the speed limit for everyone, including semis, is 80 MPH and you're traveling at 55 MPH, you're creating a dangerous situation for yourself and those around you.
If speed limits stay at 75 to 80 in the rural parts of the US, I can foresee minimum speeds being set to 65, and I'd fully support it.- I get 9.9 @ MTOW. (Maximum Takeoff WT)or MGCW of 20,000 lb on a Chevy HD Duramax 6spd Allison and a 31 ft Arctic Fox. That's a load of *%$#*^ for the Colorado. They test them downhill down wind and have them rolling when they start the test. That's like saying a Duramax will get 100 MPG. Who the hell is going to buy a VW with their lies. Our mileage is measured from N Va to Co, Tx, Ok, Fl, NY, Oh and Pa on different trips totaling about 13,000 miles a year. I've heard claims of 15 to 17 but no one will hook on my trailer and prove it to me.
- I get 9.9 @ MTOW. (Maximum Takeoff WT)or MGCW of 20,000 lb on a Chevy HD Duramax 6spd Allison and a 31 ft Arctic Fox. That's a load of *%$#*^ for the Colorado. They test them downhill down wind and have them rolling when they start the test. That's liek saying a Duramax will get 100 MPG. Who the hell is going to buy a VW with their lies. Our mileage is measured from N Va to Co, Tx, Ok, Fl, NY, Oh and Pa on different trips totaling about 13,000 miles a year. I've heard claims of 15 to 17 but no one will hook on my trailer and prove it to me.
- Been towing since 1988. Got 10 mpg with 1965 Chevy Van (292 inline 6) up and down. Got 7-8 with '88 454 Suburban, and today gets 9-10 with '04 Envoy 4.2 inline 6. Finally learned to never look at the numbers on the gas pump. Miles per gallon, gallons per mile, if you want to enjoy RV'ing, it don't matter.
