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.

[GrandpaKip]

I've pulled 3 different campers with the same truck.
16' V-nose cargo trailer conversion @ 2400 lbs
23' flat front camper @ 4000 lbs
21' curved front camper @ 4800 lbs.
The overall mpg average for all 3 was/is 10. The only real difference I've noticed is acceleration on ramps to get up to speed on interstates.

[65Hemi]

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

Exactly. Aerodynamics has a lot greater effect than weight on fuel mileage. That's why keeping your speed at or below 60 mph is so important. Wind/air resistance increases at the square of the velocity.

[rexlion]

An angled front end helps marginally. It might give an extra 1/2 mpg, I'd guess. I towed a 16' 2700 lb TT and got 11-12 mpg. With the same tug I got 14.3 mpg on a long trip towing a rounded, molded-fiberglass "egg" trailer. The 17' 2200 lb egg was lower and narrower, with tapered edges, for reduced frontal area.

[JCK]

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.



Rincon do you even own a 6.2 GMC with a 8 speed it's common knowledge they get better millage than the current 5.3 motor when pulling a trailer

My millage over 3500 miles was 18.2 via the computer running solo Highway and City combined
My trip home from the Michigan UP to the Ohio line running again 60 to 65 mph the key is staying under 65 and I averaged 12.2 mpg over those 350 miles
I have pictures of my dash spedo and millage if you want visual proof just don't know how to post here

[wrenchbender]

I have an oil burner and can usually squeeze about 15 mpg if I stay at 65 or below 13 at 70

[_1nobby]

Gas mileage SUCKS.

[Fireballsocal]

06 Tundra with 4.7L V8 pulling a light lance 1880, 22 feet from tongue to bumper. I averaged about 12 over almost 1000 miles. The high was 12.9mpg, low was 11. I drive about 62 which seems the sweet spot for my truck.

[TomG2]

One way to get better "Bragging" mileage is to believe the truck computer. Typically, they lie about ten percent. Mine usually shows a little over 14 mpg with a F-150, 3.5 non turbo, pulling 3,600 pound travel trailer at 62 mph. Right at 16 mpg towing v-front cargo trailer.

[APT]

As mentioned, the aerodynamics are the issue, not so much weight. Budget for 8mpg for any high walled RV with a gas engine. If you get 9mpg when you budget for 8, you'll be a lot happier than if you budget for 10mpg and get 9mpg.

[colliehauler]

Curved trailers front and back that are more aerodynamic tend to help mpg as well as reducing speed. I pull a large trailer at 68 mph and don't bother to check mpg.

[mike-s]

8' wide, 10' tall, 3500 lb, vertically curved front. Nissan 4.0L 6 cyl. 19-20 without (70- mph, 6th gear), 10-12 with (65+ mph, 5th gear).

I don't think length has much to do with it - it's more weight, frontal area, and drag coefficient.

[keymastr]

As you can see, the wind resistance is more a factor than weight. My F 250 gets 9 or 11 towing 7000 pounds.

[coolmom42]

8-12 mpg, depending on headwinds, grades, and exact speed you are pulling. Over a long trip, generally averages out to 10.

[mooky_stinks]

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.

You may want to evaluate how you know what someone else gets for mileage. lol I consistently get between 10-11 mpg towing an 8000 lb TT with a 6.2 / 8 spd. You'd be amazed how mileage is increased when you're on level ground and in 7th gear and turning 1700 rpms. Not to mention when it drops to 4cyl mode anytime it goes down a slight incline. I had a 2500 6.0 / 6 speed before this, and you're right, it got between 8.5-10mpg.

[afidel]

Redwoodcamper wrote:
Just got 13.6 today towing @62-68mph in 90+ degree heat with the AC blasting. Because diesel. My 20ft trailer without any slide outs weights almost 5k fully loaded. I think k your optimistic with your weight.

Different class of trailers, rpod, hummingbird, my trailer are in the 3,600-3,800 gvwr single axle class. I couldn't get my trailer near 5k pounds because the axle would snap.