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So what are folks average MPG when towing

Can_t_Wait_Now
Explorer
Explorer
Well I am towing a 2800lb base weight figure 3600 actual with full propane tanks Battery and gear, Towing with a 2011 Nissan pathfinder V6 Pa is hilly so in 4th gear allot is automatic but to limit beating the tranny I run it manual, Well I am getting 8.7 mpg. Not thrilled but oh well having fun anyway. We have a 600 mile trip to Myrtle beach planned so hoping no more than 4 fill ups one way.
99 REPLIES 99

4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Explorer II
brulaz wrote:
Not a lot of data yet for the new Ram CTD 2500, but after ~1000 miles am getting 11.2 mpgUS with upto 8500# sail/trailer. That's mostly rural hilly roads, max 65 mph. Expect it to improve as the engine loosens up, and we spend more time on the highways.

The old EcoBoost averaged ~10.0 mpgUS towing the same trailer, same speeds, on Reg gas, and ~10.4 mpgUS on Premium, over 24K miles.


I too have a 2016 Ram Cummins TD. I am now getting between 13 and 15 towing my 33 foot trailer all loaded. and about 22-25MPG not towing.

Now it wasnt this good until it hit about 5000 miles on the odo. Then it took a noticeable leap up. This is to be expected with a diesel.

Note: I bought my new truck on the road in Oregon while on the way to Alaska. It has been towing from day one. And this is what the Cummins likes to do...work. (and what the owners manual suggests for break-in.

drmopar
Explorer
Explorer
Here is my numbers with my 1999 Dodge 4X4 24 valve Cummins. All stock, no chip. First I have a hard Tonneau cover on my 8ft bed, wash/wax truck, tires at full pressure. Normal mileage at 55mph with 410 gears in overdrive, 24mpg. One trip from SF bay area to Meridian Yacht plant in Washington state to pickup a Teak Deck kit for my 580 Meridian. Pulling my Pace enclosed car trailer empty to Washington I averaged 21mpg. Slightly loaded on return trip, (in the rain), 19mpg. Last week towing my 34' Stealth Toy Hauler to Corning Ca for the car show, 16.1 with 25mph headwinds. Towing back from Corning, (Rolling Hills Casino), 17.3 with very little wind. When driving I5 for example, I see guys towing 65-70 in left lane just blowing through their fuel. When I tow, I just relax in the right lane. Very little wear and tear if you drive easy. Don't settle for low fuel mileage. An open pickup bed with tailgate will slow you down a lot. Waxing your truck will help a lot as well. Tire pressures should be at max rated load capacity. The trailer should also be clean and waxed, tire pressures max for the weight. Oh, and the big thing for better mileage, leave the lead foot at home!

filrupmark
Explorer
Explorer
When we had smaller gas rigs 7-9 mpg. Our current rig gets 9 - 11.8 depending on conditions.
2004 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.0 Diesel, Bilstein 4600 Shocks, 16K B&W Patriot, Michelin M&S
2014 Augusta Flex AF34RS Trailair Tri Glide pinbox,
JT Strong Arms , Bridgestone R250'S, KYB Monotube Gas shocks
Finally a smooth ride !!!

brulaz
Explorer
Explorer
Not a lot of data yet for the new Ram CTD 2500, but after ~1000 miles am getting 11.2 mpgUS with upto 8500# sail/trailer. That's mostly rural hilly roads, max 65 mph. Expect it to improve as the engine loosens up, and we spend more time on the highways.

The old EcoBoost averaged ~10.0 mpgUS towing the same trailer, same speeds, on Reg gas, and ~10.4 mpgUS on Premium, over 24K miles.
2014 ORV Timber Ridge 240RKS,8500#,1250# tongue,44K miles
690W Rooftop + 340W Portable Solar,4 GC2s,215Ah@24V
2016 Ram 2500 4x4 RgCab CTD,2507# payload,10.8 mpgUS tow

krobbe
Explorer
Explorer
My 8.1L big block gasser averaged 9.4 mpg over the entire 5100 miles from Mich to the Pacific Northwest and back towing my 7200# Bullet. A small percentage is non-towing. My towing speed is 60 to 65 mph but exceeding that when passing slower vehicles.
Me'62, DW'67, DS'04, DD'07
'03 Chevy Suburban 2500LT 4WD Vortec8.1L 4L85-E 3.73 CurtClassV
'09 BulletPremier295BHS 33'4" 7200#Loaded 1100#Tongue Equal-i-zerHitch Tires:Kumho857
Pics

Len_in_PHoenix
Explorer
Explorer
12.5 mpg with the rig below. Truck gets 15 mpg in city traffic empty, 18 on the highway.
2006 Pioneer 180CK, dragged by a 1997 F250 Powersmoke

Campfire_Time
Explorer
Explorer
Current combo in sig, 9.5-10 mpg.

Previous combo, same trailer in my sig towed by Chevy Trailblazer I6 3:42 gears, 8 mpg

Before that we towed a 3500# hybrid with the Trailblazer and got 11-12 mpg.

coolmom42 wrote:


Your mileage sounds reasonable, but if you want to improve it, the best thing you can do is slow down. 55-60 in the right lane of an interstate is a good place to be.


X2!
Chuck D.
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
2013 Jayco X20E Hybrid
2016 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z71 LTZ2
2008 GMC Sierra SLE1 Crew Cab Z71 (traded)

allen8106
Explorer
Explorer
So I see a lot of posts regarding fuel mileage. Many of which are difficult to believe, such as "I get the same mileage towing my 20,000 lb. fifth wheel as I do not towing it". Personally I don't believe this and if you do I have some ocean front property in western Kansas I'd like to sell you. My "real" data is below.

I drive mostly 55+ mph to and from work each day, 62 miles round trip.
Each way = 4 miles at 30 mph on gravel roads, 12 miles at 65 mph, 15 miles at 70 mph.

I drive 65 or under while towing my 5ver.

2013 GMC 2500HD, long bed, regular cab, 4X4, 6.6L Diesel, purchased new.
2010 Jayco 31.5 RLDS, weighed 10,500 at grain truck scale a year ago coming home from the lake.

8,475 miles mostly towing - 11.48 mpg (75% or more towing)
3,376 miles some towing - 14.85 mpg (less than 25% towing)
38,634 miles no towing - 17.0 mpg

These numbers are based on actual numbers from 112 tanks of fuel between 10/19/13 and 5/22/16.

I don't have the exact numbers but in May 2012 my 2009 gas engine GMC averaged about 7-9 mpg towing to California and back, 3000 miles round trip, and averaged about 15-16 mpg when not towing.
2010 Eagle Super Lite 315RLDS
2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Duramax

2010 Nights 45
2011 Nights 70
2012 Nights 144
2013 Nights 46
2014 Nights 49
2015 Nights 57
2016 Nights 73
2017 Nights 40
2018 Nights 56
2019 Nights 76
2020 Nights 68

restlesswind
Explorer
Explorer
korbe wrote:
We average between 10 and 12 mpg depending on terrain and wind.


X2
I have gotten as high as 16 a couple of times, How much wind resistance your trailer has, has a lot to do with mpg, so 2 of the same trucks pulling different trailers may well have very different mpg. That right foot action plays a big part also. I usually get better mpg when I drive than when my DW drives.
I used to hand calc mpg with every fill up, gave it up as nothing would change our driving habits, and as long as we can afford the next tank of fuel, that's all we care about.
'04 33.5 CKQG Hitchhiker Discover America
04.5 Dodge 3500 CTD SRW
Pac Brake,Max Brake
Fulltimers since '06

korbe
Explorer
Explorer
We average between 10 and 12 mpg depending on terrain and wind.
.

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Explorer
Last 2 trip from Washington st to Az we got 11 mpg hand calculated, Pretty much this is what we have gotten on every trip including Branson, Wisconsin and Texas and then towards Az. I guess the trip back north would not be that good because the horse wants to get back to the barn. Not that we have a barn but I drive different maybe. 22,920 lbs combined.

chevman
chevman
2019 rockwood 34 ft fifth wheel sold
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy



KSH 55 inbed fuel tank

scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
TST tire monitors
FMCA # F479110

hawkeye-08
Explorer III
Explorer III
If I recall, 7.2-7.5 mpg when towing ~63-65mph, 8.2-8.5 when towing ~58-60mph.

SouthpawHD
Explorer
Explorer
Overall speed really impacts my MPGs. Towing at 55MPH I was around 10MPG. Towing at 65MPH dropped that to 8MPG.
Palomino SolAire 307QBDSK
2016 Chevrolet 2500, CC, 6.0L, 4.10

Sprink-Fitter
Explorer
Explorer
Have never checked the mpg, same thing when we rode the Goldwing pulling a camper, people would ask what kind of mileage I get, told him I didn't have a clue because I don't check the mileage.
2006 Coachman Adrenaline 228FB

2012 Can Am Commander XT 1000

mabynack
Explorer II
Explorer II
W5CI wrote:
It Is what it is, If I was worried about it I would have never bought the 5er, all you can do is Slow down. IMHO


x2.

The biggest factor in fuel economy while towing is wind resistance. The faster you go, the more the wind resistance plays into the equation.