realistic MPG expectations
after some searching, I'm wondering what kind of mileage people are getting when towing. I know the frontal area of the trailer is a big factor, as far as wind resistance, even more so than weight. ...
Forum Discussion
Were the square box versus aero fuel burn comparisons based on travel speed, climate, terrain and use of cruise control? Was the comparable solo figure given?
Anyone here AVERAGING 14-16 mpg pulling 28-35' trailers? Have found over a dozen towing all aluminum aero trailers in the South Central U.S. using early HPCR Dodge turbo-diesels towing 58-65 mph. Long term numbers not a few tanks. This is my experience, CPM in sig per current diesel prices.
And is anyone here in the twenties with a 24' or shorter? Again, dig deeper for a survey. This trailer type is towed by everything from a TD VW Jetta to high BMW and Mercedes.
Or about 26-solo and 20-mpg pulling a 6000-lb GVWR 26' TT with an Eco diesel? That might drop with more miles, but its an initial average.
But these are absolute numbers. It's the spread from solo to towing expressed as a percentage that counts.
Airstream says about a 20% savings in HP demand. I find that a thirty percent fuel burn penalty is common, with some worse. Usually there are factors at play (such as high speeds like 70+ mph and/or lack of CC use; or almost purely mountainous terrain) which are explanatory. Then it gets closer to forty percent.
Look to comparable solo and towing numbers under otherwise same conditions (above). It's much easier to maintain a lower fuel penalty towing an aero trailer. And for a motivated driver to keep the solo/towing spread UNDER thirty percent.
And some just don't care. They've no more real idea of average mph than they do of combined rig weight, same as here. No set of default numbers for the WDH settings or of tracking fuel burn.
Anyone here AVERAGING 14-16 mpg pulling 28-35' trailers? Have found over a dozen towing all aluminum aero trailers in the South Central U.S. using early HPCR Dodge turbo-diesels towing 58-65 mph. Long term numbers not a few tanks. This is my experience, CPM in sig per current diesel prices.
And is anyone here in the twenties with a 24' or shorter? Again, dig deeper for a survey. This trailer type is towed by everything from a TD VW Jetta to high BMW and Mercedes.
Or about 26-solo and 20-mpg pulling a 6000-lb GVWR 26' TT with an Eco diesel? That might drop with more miles, but its an initial average.
But these are absolute numbers. It's the spread from solo to towing expressed as a percentage that counts.
Airstream says about a 20% savings in HP demand. I find that a thirty percent fuel burn penalty is common, with some worse. Usually there are factors at play (such as high speeds like 70+ mph and/or lack of CC use; or almost purely mountainous terrain) which are explanatory. Then it gets closer to forty percent.
Look to comparable solo and towing numbers under otherwise same conditions (above). It's much easier to maintain a lower fuel penalty towing an aero trailer. And for a motivated driver to keep the solo/towing spread UNDER thirty percent.
And some just don't care. They've no more real idea of average mph than they do of combined rig weight, same as here. No set of default numbers for the WDH settings or of tracking fuel burn.
