Best towing vehicles for best MPGs

I do care about mpg as tank size gives you the range. I truck foes to the 6 gallon reserve after 180 miles. So I found out by mpg info.next truck I will post for mpg info right here to estimate my rough range.

Snowman9000 wrote:
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.

While I "DO CARE" a bit about "gas mileage" while towing it DOES NOT AND WILL NOT "determine" what tow vehicle, trailer or motor home I would want to buy or own.

To put your request into perspective and why some folks are a lot over optimistic about how much weight or size will "affect" mileage are all wet.. I will post a few observations I have made from towing many different combos..

I found NO difference at all towing the same route with TWO different travel trailers.. A 20ft and a 26FT TTs, 20ft empty weighed 3,600 lbs loaded we were at 5K. 26Ft TT empty is 4800 lbs and loaded we are about 6K..

worst mileage was 9 MPG mountains and best mileage has been 10.5 MPG flat lands.

Interestingly enough I was lucky to make a trip on one of my regular routes that I use with my TTs but instead of towing a TT I towed my 18ft 10,000 lb GVWR flatbed utility trailer.. One way empty and the return trip with 3,500 lb car..

Keeping in mind that my flatbed trailer EMPTY weighs 2,400 lbs.

Empty with the flatbed I managed 10 MPG as a low and 11 MPG as the high average.. 70 MPH average speed.

With a 3,500 car loaded (loaded weight plus trailer weight of 5,900 lbs) on the return trip I averaged 9.5 as a low and 10.5 as my average high.. 60 MPH average speed on the return trip.

To further qualify this it was 600 miles each way so it wasn't any short trip by any means..

For me to envision anyone getting 30 MPG towing to me would mean a pretty darn small vehicle PLUS a pretty darn small trailer and even at that I am a bit suspicious about those claims..

Over the years I have heard LOTS of big mileage stories that are pretty much impossible and defy ALL laws of physics and laws of gravity..

Yes, towing costs mileage but I refuse to let something like mileage (or lack of) stop me or prevent me from buying and owning things I WANT..

If I was worried about mileage I would be driving a Prius and stopping at Motels..

What about the baby diesels ? Anyone tow with the 3.0 Jeep ?
3.0 Jeep

Ram 3.0 ?

Ram 3.0 diesel

Chev 2.8 diesel

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.

I sure wish a small trailer meant great MPG. I have a very small trailer. But it is tall -- lots of frontal drag. Ten MPG. : (

The only way to improve MPG is to slow down -- at 50 MPH on a slow (but moving) freeway, I can often get 15 mpg. That is not practical on a long trip, though.

rexlion wrote:
If you don't mind getting a small trailer, here is a spreadsheet of vehicles used to tow molded fiberglass 'egg' trailers. It may give you some ideas. This comes from a different forum of owners, not here.
tow vehicle - small trailer combos, with MPG

Thanks. This is really helpful. A small trailer would probably fit us for sure (I like the Casitas).

I agree with Snowman9000. For some reason, some people would rather tell me how wrong I am for seeking MPG data rather than actually replying to my post.

But much thanks for those of you who are trying to help.

If you have to worry about MPG then RV'ing is not for you, cost of the setup TV/TT/5er will drive more into your budget, MPG is **** when towing with either diesel or gas however a diesel will have more torque to pull the bigger rigs A diesel will come with a hefty $7500 upgrade option.

I have a 2001 2500 HD with a 8.1 gasser and a 30ft TT @ 12k fully loaded. At 65 I get in the 8 MPG range. My friend has a 2003 2500 diesel and also tows a 32 ft 14k loaded TT he gets in the 6 MPG range.

Have fun in your search for what is right for your family.

If you don't mind getting a small trailer, here is a spreadsheet of vehicles used to tow molded fiberglass 'egg' trailers. It may give you some ideas. This comes from a different forum of owners, not here.
tow vehicle - small trailer combos, with MPG

Less Stuff wrote:
My RAM 1500 with V6, topper and eight speed transmission.


Returned 26.3 mpg on our last almost 3000 mile trip using Regular Gasoline.


Not Towing!
It's only rated to tow 4950 lbs. We are looking at 3500 to 4500 GVW, TT's.

Impressive! For a business use that would really get my attention, it is better mileage than the small cube vans and should be able to haul more weight.

Hondavalk wrote:


I get around 30mpg

This guy gets a gazillion MPG;