Gas mileage
Pulled boats for many years, now have a Rockwood Minilite 2014s. Pulled by Ford F150 Lariat. Gas mileage went from 16 mpg to 8mpg. Just want to see if this is about the average drop in mpg. Don't see ...
Forum Discussion
My 2008 F250 with gas 5.4 engine averages about 10mpg towing our 21' TT. That is calculated, and using the truck's trip computer average. Interesting about the truck's readout - it consistently tells me I am getting .5mpg BETTER than what I figure out using mileage and a calculator. I have no idea if that means anything.
MPG will go up a bit towing below 65mph, and will drop a bit towing above 65mph. I usually average around 68mph while towing. Above 70mph an mileage seems to take a nosedive.
A friend who has a late 2000s Chevy Duramax was getting terrible fuel mileage towing a similar trailer as me, he was around 7-8mpg. He was amazed that I would put up with driving so slow on the highway - he was a 75mph+ driver while towing. I gently pointed out that his TT tires were probably only rated for 65mph, and his mileage might take a hit at higher speeds. He insisted that something was wrong, as using a diesel would give great mpg at any speed (I left that comment alone...). He was also a leadfoot when driving around town - that turbo was probably on more than off.
After filling up once again with diesel (which around me is more expensive than regular gas), he tried slowing down just for the heck of it. He doubled his fuel mileage - 15mpg+. He is now a 65mph or less driver.
He has also learned that an easy foot while local driving dramatically increases fuel economy. Turbo gives power, but at a cost.
This was consistent with what happened back when I owned my 2000 F250 diesel with the 7.3 engine. Fuel mileage increased substantially while towing just dropping from 70mph to 65mph.
Keep trying different speeds while towing, you will find your truck's "sweet spot" for speed, power, and mpg while towing.
MPG will go up a bit towing below 65mph, and will drop a bit towing above 65mph. I usually average around 68mph while towing. Above 70mph an mileage seems to take a nosedive.
A friend who has a late 2000s Chevy Duramax was getting terrible fuel mileage towing a similar trailer as me, he was around 7-8mpg. He was amazed that I would put up with driving so slow on the highway - he was a 75mph+ driver while towing. I gently pointed out that his TT tires were probably only rated for 65mph, and his mileage might take a hit at higher speeds. He insisted that something was wrong, as using a diesel would give great mpg at any speed (I left that comment alone...). He was also a leadfoot when driving around town - that turbo was probably on more than off.
After filling up once again with diesel (which around me is more expensive than regular gas), he tried slowing down just for the heck of it. He doubled his fuel mileage - 15mpg+. He is now a 65mph or less driver.
He has also learned that an easy foot while local driving dramatically increases fuel economy. Turbo gives power, but at a cost.
This was consistent with what happened back when I owned my 2000 F250 diesel with the 7.3 engine. Fuel mileage increased substantially while towing just dropping from 70mph to 65mph.
Keep trying different speeds while towing, you will find your truck's "sweet spot" for speed, power, and mpg while towing.
