MPG and RPM Question for Chevy truck-New RVers

[Shawfamily6]

We just bought a 31 foot grey wolf travel trailer (7725 gvw) We previously had a small pop up. We were just wondering if the gas mileage we are experiencing is normal. We have a ½ ton 2015 Chevy Silverado pick up. We are getting on average 6 mpg. This seems pretty low to us, and the rpm is running about 2800-3000. Hoping someone can please tell us if this is normal. Any help would be appreciated!

[Shawfamily6]

It was pretty windy and raining that day. The next day we got closer to 7.5. I have seen a few of you mention different gears. Should we be pulling in something other than automatic? I think I might be confused. I know you can take it out of automatic, is that what we should do and put it in a different gear? If so, what gear do you recommend? Sorry if that is a silly question! Thanks for all the help!

[Ride_S40T]

owenssailor wrote:
In flat no high headwind conditions I get around 10 MPG (US) towing our 30 foot trailer that weighs 6800 loaded.

RPM is 2100 in 7th gear. Towhaul mode is engaged.

Truck is 2017 Silverado 5.3 8 spd 3:42 axle.

RPM can go up to 3000 on grades, occasionally higher on 6% or more with headwind.

^^^ Identical on the 2018 1500 Sierra w/5.3 and 3.42 we had.

Buddy has a 2017 Silverado (same setup) and similar weight trailer. Also gets 10 mpg.

[jamesu]

I towed my old 32’ Trailer Bay for 10 years with my ‘03 1/2 ton Ford F-150...8.5 - 9.5mph. Never exceeded 55-60mph.

5 years ago I switched to the 3/4 ton diesel in my signature and it’s like night and day as far as towing. No comparison. Lots safer and more fun. I normally get 10.5 - 11.5 mpg towing. I don’t exceed 60 mph. Other towing guys sailing by at 70 mph...what’s the point?......that’s a lot of weight and mass behind the cab if things go south.

[Lynnmor]

If you are towing, that is what the button is for. Keep the speed down, I drive 63 maximum when towing. Driving habits are a big factor in fuel consumption, for example there are those that think they need to increase speed considerably when passing. Anticipating downhills, traffic lights or any reason to slow, back off the gas well ahead of time.

Yes, you do have overdrive, it is the highest gear in Drive but not marked as such.

[TKW]

Something's not right here.
I tow a 8,300# GVW TT with a Chevy 1500hd, 6.0l, 4 sp 3.73 axle. I kept a milage log on my 3,400 mile round trip to SoCal from BC last fall and avg 9.5 MPG. The MPG between fill up were mostly above 9 MPG towing and close to 13 MPG solo. There was one leg which was exceptionally low at 7.7 MPG but that was running up Siskiyou Summit on a long stretch of 6% grade with engine reving over 4k. Another low one was at a construction zone on I5 where we had to idle for more than an hour.
The GM 6.0l is known to be a gas hog. I tow between 60-65 MPH in tow haul mode when possible and at 55 MPH in Calif which is the speed limit for TT. Somehow a newer version of of the same engine with a 4.10 axle, I believe it is better for towing, only gets 6 MPG towing puzzle me.

[Grit_dog]

6.0s will drink gas like any other truck. I do t see how you can get 6mpg going 63-65mph though. Unless maybe it's a massive head wind uphill.
Did the truck feel like it was struggling? I'd expect 8mpg maybe 9.

[owenssailor]

I used tow haul on all 3 of my Chevs when towing a travel trailer.

They were a 4 spd a 6 spd and now an 8 spd.

[Shawfamily6]

Thanks for all of your responses! My husband has informed me that we have a 2500 HD, not a ½ ton ??. We have a vortex 6.0L V8 gas engine, 6 speed with a 410 rear axle. We have 20 inch wheels with a GVW of 9500lbs. It doesn’t have OD, but has a tow haul button. Do most people use this when pulling their TT on the highway? I know my husband uses it when pulling his enclosed trailer in town. We have been driving about 63-65 MPH, so maybe we need to keep it around 60. I really appreciate all of your help! We plan on traveling quite a bit this summer, and with 4 kids we want to save where we can. So if we need to drive 60, that’s what we will do!

[rbpru]

I had a 2002 F-150 with a four speed transmission. It also has a 200 hp. motor. We rented a 25 ft. TT for a week in the Ozarks.

You had to adjust the gas pedal constantly to keep the rpms down. This gave a top speed of 60 mph on the flat and 50 to 55 mph on anything resembling a hill. Gas mileage was very poor.

we traded up to an F-150 e-boost engine with 356 hp. and a 6 speed transmission, with the same size TT we get 10 mpg.

Wind can play havoc with mileage. When we buck head winds 8 to 9 mpg is what we expect, the few times we had a tail wing we got about 11 mpg.

On the average trip we expect 9.5 to 10.0 mpg

[afidel]

I get 11-12 with the 5.3, 3.42, 6 speed driving with cruise at 68 most of the time. I've seen a low tank of 8mpg when I ran into a 40mph headwind for 4+ hours. But I've got a narrow trailer so I get a bit better mpg than most, it's really all about the exposed area outside the footprint of the truck and the speed, going 72 will drop me down to 9.5-10 mpg, definitely not worth the few extra mph.

[CincyGus]

Shawfamily6 wrote:
We just bought a 31 foot grey wolf travel trailer (7725 gvw) We previously had a small pop up. We were just wondering if the gas mileage we are experiencing is normal. We have a ½ ton 2015 Chevy Silverado pick up. We are getting on average 6 mpg. This seems pretty low to us, and the rpm is running about 2800-3000. Hoping someone can please tell us if this is normal. Any help would be appreciated!

I'm taking a guess here you have the small V8 and 3.55 Rear gears.
Great mileage when your not towing but it revs like a beast any time your going up a decent length hill because overdrive can't maintain speed so it downshifts and your RPM screams much higher than the 3000 mark.

Am I close?

[1320Fastback]

60-65mph is the sweet spot for mpg towing or not, gas or diesel. Aerodynamic Drag increases 4x with the doubling of speed and above 60mph is where you will really start to notice it. Just a few more miles per hour can cost you 16-20% more gas.

6 seems very low unless your climbing up a mountain. Most 1/2 ton owners report 7-12mph while towing.

[owenssailor]

In flat no high headwind conditions I get around 10 MPG (US) towing our 30 foot trailer that weighs 6800 loaded.

RPM is 2100 in 7th gear. Towhaul mode is engaged.

Truck is 2017 Silverado 5.3 8 spd 3:42 axle.

RPM can go up to 3000 on grades, occasionally higher on 6% or more with headwind.

[KD4UPL]

I would think 6 is a bit low. I would have expected maybe 8 or 9 from that combo.
Your RPM doesn't seem too out of line. I'll assume you were on flat ground since you are in IL. Depending on gearing, speed, etc. you should be able to cruise on level ground at a lower RPM I would think.
I used to drive a 2015 Chevy 3500 with th3 6.0 that would get about 8 MPG towing a 24' flatbed trailer with various equipment and supplies on it.
My 2009 Chevy Suburban with 6.0 gets about 10 MPG towing my 7,000 pound boat.

[MitchF150]

I get around 10 mpg on average, but I keep it basically at 60 mph towing.. No need really go faster... I stay in the right lane unless I come up on someone going slower than ME, and that happens more often then you would think!

Even when I push the truck to 70 mph not towing ANYTHING, my mpgs drop like a stone..

Towing, if I go much over 65 the mpgs drop like a stone.

So, just keep it around 60 mph and I get around 10 mpgs..

Good luck!

Mitch