towing fuel milage

68ltd wrote:
I just returned from the first long trip with my new truck and was disappointed in only getting 10 mpg.

The truck in a 2014 Chevy Silverado double cab with the 4.3 v6.
My trailer is only 17ft and has an empty weight of 2300 lbs. I was the only passenger and was loaded very lightly (empty water tank etc.)

For 3 years I pulled it with a 4 cylinder Chevy Colorado and it got 13 to 15 mpg depending on speed. Even though my truck has a v6 it never lacked for power even in the rocky mountains. I started rving with my parents in 1971 so I know towing mpg is never good, but I expected better than this. It didn't change whether I drove 60 or 68.

Any thoughts?

I think 10 mpg sounds about right for a full size V6 truck towing a full height 17 ft trailer. As others have said, wind resistance is a huge factor. The old 4 cyl 5 speed stick Colorado got better mileage when towing and when not towing, so that also makes sense. That 4.3 V6 is a great engine. I remember reading at the time of the new GM pickup introductions 2 yrs ago that the new 4.3 V6 is all new, sharing only the same displacement as the old 4.3 V6 which was based on the old 350 V8. Either way, I think your numbers are about right, except I cannot understand the comment about getting the same mileage at 60 and at 68 mph.