Forum Discussion

richardtc17's avatar
richardtc17
Explorer
Feb 04, 2017

MPG with and without TT

I just got back from a down and back trip to pick up our new TT, a 2016 Riverside Retro 177SE (2,980# unloaded). My previous experience was pulling a 1,600# popup with a Subaru Forester. In the Forester I would get a highway average of about 25MPG with no load and about 18MPG with the popup.

My tow vehicle this time is a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe with a 5,000# towing capacity. My trip to pick up the Retro was 650 miles each way from Indianapolis to Columbus, GA - first half flat to rolling hills, second half fairly hilly but not near extreme. During my trip down (no load) I averaged about 26MPG in the first half and 24MPG second half. On the return trip with the load I got about 11MPG on the hills and a little better during the second half.

Given my Subaru experience I was surprised to get less than half the no-load MPG in the Hyundai. Is this typical? My Hyundai is in great shape so the only variable that I can think of is extra drag from the TT. Could that be electric brakes? I had a brake controller professionally installed and adjusted. Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Tow Vehicles
  • bikendan's avatar
    bikendan
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2017
    Simple, difference of frontal area air resistance between a low profile popup and a high profile TT.
  • RPreeb's avatar
    RPreeb
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2017
    I haven't towed my new TT enough yet to have a feel for what I'll get, but it will probably be pretty similar to what I see posted usually 8-10 mpg for an F-150 EB.

    For daily driving, I get 18-19, on the highway alone it goes 19-20. It's sort of ironic - back in 1967 I bought a '63 Impala 4d HT with 300 hp 327 and it got around 18 mpg. In 1982 I bought a 1980 Toyota 4x4 std cab pickup - it got 17 mpg out of a 4 banger. Now my shiny new 2016 F-150 3.5L EB 4x4 gets mileage in the same general range, but.....


    ....the f-150 it gets that mileage in much better style with more usable power than anything I've ever owned. The Toyota was scads of fun for 4-wheeling, but bogged down on a lot of hills to as low as 40 mph on the highway. Now I can keep my normal speed on those same hills even when towing. :C
  • 1320Fastback's avatar
    1320Fastback
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2017
    Smaller tow vehicles sometimes will have a Sail Area limit listed in the owners manual. Wind resistance is such a huge load on the drivetrain they limit the front sail area of the trailer you are rated to tow to prevent damage to the transmission, axles and engine.

    In general though towing is not easy on mpg and at speed above 50 or so it requires exponentially more and more fuel. A example that is a little extreme is the Bugatti Veyron. It needs just 270 Horse Power to go 155MPH, but requires a further 750 Horse Power just to gain another 100MPH to get to it's top speed of 255mph. Nearly all of it is because of wind resistance.
  • Sandia_Man's avatar
    Sandia_Man
    Explorer II
    Feb 04, 2017
    Your results are typical, anything else would have been an anomaly.
  • Oasisbob's avatar
    Oasisbob
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2017
    With rig listed in signiture we get 25 car only and 12-14 with trailer tiping scales at 3,490. Weight & wind resistance are the two factors.
  • Atlee's avatar
    Atlee
    Explorer II
    Feb 04, 2017
    With my 3.5L Ecoboost, long bed 4x4, XLT I get about 19mpg running at 65mph. Long stretches at 55 mph and I can touch 20.

    Around home driving, I get 15-16 mph.

    Once I hook up the trailer, my mileage falls to 8 to 10.5 mph. It just depends on speed, and terrain.
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Feb 04, 2017
    colliehauler wrote:
    Stand in the wind holding a piece of 4x8 plywood and you will understand. Your pop-up was aerodynamic the retro catches more wind. The only way to get better mileage is to slow down.

    What you're experiencing is typical.

    It's not so much the weight as it is the wind resistance.


    X2 ^^. Going from a pop-up to a travel trailer, it's all about wind resistance once you get the thing rolling. As mentioned, the only way to improve fuel economy is to slow down.

    Rob
  • rwbradley's avatar
    rwbradley
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2017
    I have the exact same car (but 2013) and tow a 21'Kodiak Hybrid 3500lbs dry with WD, sway and tranny cooler. I get around 29mpg not towing but am a fairly conservative driver, usually going around 70 (depending on speed limit) at about 2000 rpm in 6th. When I tow, I usually drive around 60 and my mpg is about 14 running around 2500rpm in 4th. However speed and wind make a huge difference for me due to the trailer being a big square wall. If I have a head wind my mpg can go down to 8 or with a tail wind up 21. Also my mpg goes down very rapidly after 60mph, probably due to wind resistance or the fact that the tranny does not often shift above 4th when in tow so at 70 I am at about 3000rpm in 4th. Driving above 70 can lower my mpg below 7. My sweets spot for the SantaFe/Kodiak combo seems to be 60mph. It sounds like your numbers and experience are roughly in line with what I am seeing.

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