Gas Mileage While Towing a 20 Foot Travel Trailer

[65Hemi]

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.

[colliehauler]

Poor mileage for a truck, great mileage for a house.

[ssthrd]

The joy of travel is getting to the next attraction down the road and having fun when you get there. To me, the fuel mileage is secondary to having a good time. Having said that, our last trip covered 20,000 miles pulling a 7000 lb TT. Average for the entire trip was 10.2 mpg (US) travelling 55-60 mph.

[Allamakee1]

I have towed the same trailer 28' just under 6000 with two trucks now. The 05 silverado with 5.3 3.42 4-speed and got 8-9.5 depending on conditions and terrain. My new ram ecodiesel 3.55 8-speed gets 13-14.5 same trailer in similar conditions.

[CavemanCharlie]

I didn't read this whole thread. I did a 300 mile pull (one way) this spring. I have a trailer just like the OP's and a 2011 F-150 with the 5.0. I got 11.2 MPG both ways.

[Hannibal]

My diesels gave 19~ empty highway and 10.5~ towing 65mph. My '05 Hemi powered 2500HD and 5.4L F250 both give 17~ empty highway and 8.5~ towing 65~mph. Weight and length didn't make much difference but wind and terrain did.

[1stgenfarmboy]

1320Fastback wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
Not so much the weight, as it is the wall you have to pull thru the air

Ive always described the aerodynamics of my old mustang as like a parachute. Suppose these RVs are the same. Lol

I would have bought a V-nose if they would have had one with the floor plan we wanted, but they were just a bit to long, but in my mind it makes sense.

[steve-n-vicki]

[1320Fastback]

Terryallan wrote:
Not so much the weight, as it is the wall you have to pull thru the air

Ive always described the aerodynamics of my old mustang as like a parachute. Suppose these RVs are the same. Lol

[bobndot]

Terryallan wrote:
Not so much the weight, as it is the wall you have to pull thru the air

x2 its frontal area and speed with TT's . Weight might come into play when you get into a 45 ft bus towing a 6000# dingy but i don't know the formula.

[jarata1]

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.

Always one that questions in the crowd

[ricks99]

I religiously track my mileage and average 10.6 MPG towing my 3500# HTT (with a Ram 1500) for the past 6 months. As others have said, I've found that it is the wind resistance -- not the weight -- that kills you.

[EstorilM]

Just got back from an 1100 mile round trip with my first TT, and as others have said - it's almost entirely drag-related.

2470 Springdale (just under 30') @ 6000lbs, somehow averaged around 10-10.7MPG with a 2006 land rover LR3 (4.4l / 6 speed). BUT I had to go through the WV mountains / I-64 the entire way (VA to KY!)

The second a tractor trailer would pass me and get in front my MPG would leap to ~16+

I think we all see similar numbers due to drag (increases exponentially with speed) - after a certain point it's just all going to average out similar.

[01tundra]

We typically average around 14.5 MPG pulling our 3,750 lb. Hummingbird with our 2500HD Duramax at 65 MPH.

Pulling the same TT with our FJ Cruiser we averaged about 10 MPG.

[JCK]

Two photos one is solo millage the other one was a short run but still shows what was possible granted the short run was all under 60 mph but it also shows over 13 mpg.
My computer pulling a load is very accurate Runing solo you can take of 1/2 mpg from what computer says

2015 GMC 6.2 eight speed
2014 Keystone Bullet in my signature