Curious about the expected gas mileage while towing a 20-foot travel trailer weighing about 3,100 pounds with water and propane, towing with a full-sized pickup. My truck is a 2017 GMC Sierra with the 6.2 liter V8 and a cab-high "cap" (we called them "toppers" in the old days). I will be towing at approximately 60 mph. Also interested to know if the more aerodynamic looking trailers with curved nose and rear end (Forest River R-Pod, Jayco Hummingbird, etc) are more efficient than a trailer with a curved nose and a squared-off rear end (like a Coachmen Apex Nano), regarding gas mileage. I'm not worried about gas mileage, just would like to know what mileage to expect with my pickup and a 20-foot travel trailer. All responses appreciated.

My set up will get 10 MPG with a bit of wind behind me. Average about 8 MPG, only 6 MPG with a strong headwind. My V front trailer gets about 1 MPG better than my flat front three 26' SunnyBrook trailers; and that's a significant percentage difference. All were about the same 7,800 GVWR. I typically travel faster than 60 MPH but slowing down from 70 MPH does improve the mileage. I don't find traveling with empty tanks improves MPG; it's really all about wind resistance. I have never had a high camper shell; always have had a flat fiberglass bed cover. I don't think the length will make much difference either.

With a gas pickup and a narrow trailer you can probably expect around 10-12mpg average (I've averaged 11.1mpg over ~3,000 miles but individual tanks have gone from 13 on flat land at ~60mph to 8.5 at 55 into a 30mph headwind in Florida.

Welcome to the 8-12 club big or small we all get between 8 & 12.

My trailer 245RBS Bullet weight around 5800 lbs. and pulled with a 2015 GMC 6.2 eight speed 342 gears. Always got between 11 and 12 mpg pulling in 6 or 7 gear at 60 to 65 mph

With my 5.7L Tundra towing 3000lb 15 footer I usually average about 11 mpg. That was humming along at about the same speed you intend to pull.

Gas Mileage While Towing a 20 Foot Travel Trailer

40 Replies

Terryallan
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2017
Not so much the weight, as it is the wall you have to pull thru the air
BizmarksMom
Explorer
Jul 24, 2017
I get about 9 mpg when I'm towing my 25' barn.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jul 24, 2017
RinconVTR wrote:
JCK wrote:
My trailer 245RBS Bullet weight around 5800 lbs. and pulled with a 2015 GMC 6.2 eight speed 342 gears. Always got between 11 and 12 mpg pulling in 6 or 7 gear at 60 to 65 mph

You got 11-12mpg pulling TT with the 6.2L motor? You may want to evaluate how you're calculating MPG. That's simply too high.

You might get 10mpg at 60mph, but 65mph+ pulling even an empty enclosed trailer at 65mph+, you wont see 11-12mpg.

Exactly as other have said, expect 8mpg-ish. You might see 10 here and there, but not often. And as low as 6 if you have consistent head wind.

Every one of my friends that owned a GM product tended to STRETCH the truth when it came to their mileage.. :h
RinconVTR
Explorer
Jul 24, 2017
JCK wrote:
My trailer 245RBS Bullet weight around 5800 lbs. and pulled with a 2015 GMC 6.2 eight speed 342 gears. Always got between 11 and 12 mpg pulling in 6 or 7 gear at 60 to 65 mph

You got 11-12mpg pulling TT with the 6.2L motor? You may want to evaluate how you're calculating MPG. That's simply too high.

You might get 10mpg at 60mph, but 65mph+ pulling even an empty enclosed trailer at 65mph+, you wont see 11-12mpg.

Exactly as other have said, expect 8mpg-ish. You might see 10 here and there, but not often. And as low as 6 if you have consistent head wind.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jul 24, 2017
As others mentioned, figure 8-12 MPG, that is pretty much the standard for towing a huge brick behind your vehicle..

I typically get a low of 9.8 to a high of 10.2 towing 6500 lbs with a F250 4x2 with 6.2.
QFamCA
Explorer
Jul 24, 2017
With my 5.7L Tundra towing 3000lb 15 footer I usually average about 11 mpg. That was humming along at about the same speed you intend to pull.
JCK
Explorer
Jul 24, 2017
My trailer 245RBS Bullet weight around 5800 lbs. and pulled with a 2015 GMC 6.2 eight speed 342 gears. Always got between 11 and 12 mpg pulling in 6 or 7 gear at 60 to 65 mph
dfletch
Explorer
Jul 24, 2017
Welcome to the 8-12 club big or small we all get between 8 & 12.
afidel
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2017
With a gas pickup and a narrow trailer you can probably expect around 10-12mpg average (I've averaged 11.1mpg over ~3,000 miles but individual tanks have gone from 13 on flat land at ~60mph to 8.5 at 55 into a 30mph headwind in Florida.
WayneAt63044
Explorer
Jul 24, 2017
My set up will get 10 MPG with a bit of wind behind me. Average about 8 MPG, only 6 MPG with a strong headwind. My V front trailer gets about 1 MPG better than my flat front three 26' SunnyBrook trailers; and that's a significant percentage difference. All were about the same 7,800 GVWR. I typically travel faster than 60 MPH but slowing down from 70 MPH does improve the mileage. I don't find traveling with empty tanks improves MPG; it's really all about wind resistance. I have never had a high camper shell; always have had a flat fiberglass bed cover. I don't think the length will make much difference either.

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Gas Mileage While Towing a 20 Foot Travel Trailer

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