shorter vs longer on a long trip

[tomkaren13]

Does a lighter shorter TT make a great difference in milage and/or any other differences?

We currently have a 30' TT that the build weight is 5500 lb. Planning on a trip from here FL to around NY state. Trip will be at least a month long. Thinking of possibly getting a small 22' trailer that has a build weight of 3372 lb, just for this trip. Should be able to sell it for what we can buy it. Out TV is fine with either one.

[grampscamper]

I would agree with others here. I don't have experience with a TT but when we went to a much larger 5th wheel we saw about 10% increase in fuel consumption. In my opinion not enough to worry about.

[LewBob]

Mr. Bo and others are correct. We had a 32-foot TT with a relatively aerodynamic front end and now have a 24-foot less streamlined rig. The weight and other factors are about the same. Mileage with the 32-footer was about 1 mpg better (10.5 vs. 9.5).

[naturist]

I agree with the others: the main reason for your mileage is wind resistance, and nearly all of that is the frontal area of the trailer. You will get nothing worthwhile going shorter in length. But you could get a lot by going shorter in height.

Something like a TrailManor or Hi-Lo would be worthwhile.

I've had occasion to tow a car on a dolly at just about the same weight and only a very little shorter overall than my TT. I got 18+ mpg dragging the car and average 14 dragging the full-height/full-width TT. That's almost 29% improvement in mpg for the better wind resistance.

[korbe]

You asked about any other differences. We had a family get together at a beautiful campground along a lake. My brother's 34 foot trailer had a very hard time maneuvering and getting into his space. The rest of us had rigs in the 20 to 25 foot range, and had little problems getting around.

[Dick_B]

That's a lot of `ifs' being able to sell a rig for what you paid for it. I'd rather camp in something I am familiar with and forget about the mileage.

[haste_maker]

I have a 32' trailer that weights 10,000 lbs & I get between 10 to 11 mpg...I don't think the length of the trailer will matter.

[rbpru]

If you are in the 9.5 to 10.5 mpg range that is what most people are getting.

Frontal area is a huge factor over weight, I recently got 7.8 mpg into a very stout head wind and 11 plus coming home with a tail wind. Same roads four days later. I am sure others have similar tales to tell.

Since I live in the flat area of the country I cannot say how the weight figure into gas mileage in the mountains.

[rfryer]

The length isn’t going to make much difference in mileage, as said air resistance is the culprit. The weight comes into play when starting from a dead stop and especially if you’re climbing mountains, then you will notice the difference. I like small because they’re much more maneuverable and the ease of driving scenic roads and finding camp sites. And I don’t like reservations or planning which gas station, parking lot, etc. I can get into. So if I had the option of reselling the shorter TT for the same money I’d choose it. But then I pull a 16’ TT so I'm bias.

[Dog_Folks]

Mr Bojangles wrote:
Unfortunately you will find that it is the "WIND RESISTANCE" surface of TT that is more responsible for MPG while towing.

I mean that a 3200lb trailer will eat as much gas as A 5500LB trailer in general. That is with everything the same. Even one axle Vs two axles, if everything else the same. Thirty feet Vs. Twenty-two will not noticeably effect MPG in my humble (out of ignorance of math) opinion.

There are experts on this forum who may step in here now and give formula's if one persist in debating.

X2 Wind resistance is the main determining factor. You are towing a relatively large flat area through the the wind, the size of that surface is more important than the weight.

[downtheroad]

Go comfortable and forget about the very few dollars you might save by going a few feet shorter.

[Mr_Bojangles]

Unfortunately you will find that it is the "WIND RESISTANCE" surface of TT that is more responsible for MPG while towing.

I mean that a 3200lb trailer will eat as much gas as A 5500LB trailer in general. That is with everything the same. Even one axle Vs two axles, if everything else the same. Thirty feet Vs. Twenty-two will not noticeably effect MPG in my humble (out of ignorance of math) opinion.

There are experts on this forum who may step in here now and give formula's if one persist in debating.