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Old 04-18-2011, 02:39 PM   #1
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Please help with tow vehicle MPG advice.

We have a Tacoma V6. It worked well for our pop-up, and does a fine job with our new X17Z. Except for MPG. Climbing out of the Ohio Valley we got 7.7 MPG. After leveling out before Indianapolis we got 9.7 MPG, but couldn't get that much if we did more than 60 MPH.

We are not at the 3500 max weight, probably closer to 3250. Does anyone have experience with this type of tow pertaining to MPG? I'm ready to trade vehicles and would appreaciate anyone's thoughts and ideas about what would be a better one for improved MPG. I realize 3250 is not a problem tow.

I would like to be able to go a little faster, and get a few more MPG.

Thanks.
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Old 04-18-2011, 02:48 PM   #2
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I think a half ton, i.e. F-150 or 1500 would give you a better all around towing experience, and should give you 10+ mpg in all around towing. I get 10 towing a 6500 lb trailer. Good gas mileage is hard to achieve even with some of the lighter trailers due to the frontal surface of the trailer and wind drag.
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Old 04-18-2011, 02:53 PM   #3
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Good gas mileage is hard to achieve even with some of the lighter trailers due to the frontal surface of the trailer and wind drag.
Agreed - I get 10 towing 6000lbs and 11 towing a ten foot single axle scout trailer with a big flat front. Seems to be more induced by the wind resistance than the towing weight.



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Old 04-18-2011, 03:10 PM   #4
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Well I get 12 to 14 towing my 25RKS its 6500 empty not sure how much loaded but that is between 55 to 60 if I get to 65 milage goes down hill from there. and I have a 2004 Dogge 2500 CTD. but that is a lot of weight to stop at 65 or over so I try to keep it at 60 or under. but I wouldnt want to pull my trailer with a 1/2 ton truck I think that it would be working to hard on the hills we have.
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Old 04-18-2011, 03:17 PM   #5
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I was pulling at 2010 Jayflight G2 23FB, dry weight of about 4600# with a 2006 Tacoma Dbl. Cab 4X4 with the 4.0 liter V6. That is about right as far as gas milage that I got. Just upgraded to a F150 with a 5.0 V8. I don't expect better gas milage but do expect it will pull hills MUCH better and not get blown around by the big rigs as I was.
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Old 04-18-2011, 04:01 PM   #6
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Better M.P.G. = Sell trailer
Drag increases the square of speed so the faster you go you are exponentially increasing your drag.
Get a 3/4 ton diesel truck. Should be good for your next upgrade in campers and if MPG is what you are really after a diesel will do much better than a gas burner.
Happy trails!
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Old 04-18-2011, 04:08 PM   #7
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I am in the same spot. I have a ford freestar and pick up 17z. I will be towing close to home for next summer or two but would like to upgrade. The problem I have is a truck doesn't work since the dog needs to have a spot in the vehicle plus two kids. Secondly, saving money towing is great but it is usually at the expense of MPG on regular driving. I need something that is relatively efficient all the time.
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Old 04-18-2011, 06:58 PM   #8
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We have a 2010 f150 with a 5.4 and tow a 19bh , when towing we get 10.5 mpgs , guess I should have waited and bought a Skylark .
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Old 04-18-2011, 07:07 PM   #9
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Good luck

Buy what you like,,,

You can go crazy debating what to get for towing. Get something you like for interior space as well. We went with the Toyota Tundra Crew Max. For the towing capabilities and the massive space inside for our family.

Diesel trucks are cool too, but prices of diesel off set the MPG you save vs gas.

A simple K&N air filter will help a little as well. I use them in all vehicles even the wifes...
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Old 04-18-2011, 10:00 PM   #10
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I wouldn't expect much more than 9 or 10 mpg pulling a tt. With a small engine your foot is close to the carpet all the time.
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Old 04-19-2011, 07:37 AM   #11
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I got 8 MPG pulling our new rig home from the dealer. On the highway at 65MPH.
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Old 04-19-2011, 07:58 AM   #12
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Not sure how two kids and a dog keeps you from having a truck? How big is the dog? Our 40lb mutt rides between two car seats in the back seat of the truck.
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Old 04-19-2011, 08:09 AM   #13
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Sorry Texas, you are absolutely correct except our mutt gets car sick so must be in his crate. I looked into it because some of the new trucks have designs where they work on less cylinders to save gas when the power is not needed. It would have been a great solution.
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Old 04-19-2011, 08:31 AM   #14
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.

During my years of towing, I've learned that PUs (tent trailer) and utility trailers are nicely tucked behind the Tow Vehicle. Thus, they have near zero wind drag. With a TT or HTT and its higher construction "above" the TV's roof height, it will drag (stress) the TV pulling it. Up hills and/or against a strong wind, a much higher trailer often feels like towing something 500 to 1,500 lbs heavier - then its non-moving scale weight. When I towed a 19ft TT behind a Safari van, there were a few times I purposely took the back roads (re: Down HWY 2 instead of wind tunnel 401 ) because certain regions on the 401 hwy are known for bad wind tunnels. But on calm wind days, I took the normal hwy. When traveling "at the weight limits" of the Tow Vehicle, do pick the better road routes. Your smaller sized tow vehicle will thank you.

If wondering, dramatic lower in MPGs is because the Tow Vehicle is struggling too much. re: One presses harder on the gas peddle to keep the same ground speed - which sucks even more fuel. When Towing, a larger size engine often struggles less and math wise, it gets better MPG (when compared to a "too small" of engine that's being over stressed).

Hope this helps in your research....

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Old 04-19-2011, 09:20 AM   #15
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No doubt, it takes horsepower to pull a TT with large wind area to it, as Spike99 says. This being the case, those new trucks with the fuel saving "run-on-4cylinders" will never switch to that mode when towing the TT. That feature may help a bit though, for times you run the truck around town for day-to-day errands.
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Old 04-19-2011, 02:03 PM   #16
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I drove from just south of Birmingham, AL to Panama City Beach, FL last Tuesday. The truck and 5er are in my signature. I always drive very conservatively and set the cruise at 55. My hand calculated fuel economy for this trip was 12.8. I always use tow/haul until I am at 55 when I turn it off. This allows an rpm drop of a couple of hundred. I turn tow/haul back on if the transmission starts to downshift on a hill.
I'm sure one reason for my good economy is the 55 haul speed. I'm in no hurry so why burn more fuel?
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Old 04-19-2011, 04:50 PM   #17
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I get 10 mpg towing our 19bh with our 4.6 v8 Mountaineer.
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Old 04-19-2011, 11:06 PM   #18
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People will often leave the transmission in to high of a gear and the engine is lugging and working hard to mantain speed even on level ground. Mileage sometimes will improve by running a gear lower and letting the engine run at more RPM's. Your foot is not pressing the go pedal as far down. Nothing hurts fuel mileage more than the foot to the floor and the vehicle not gaining speed.
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Old 04-20-2011, 08:20 AM   #19
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waiting to see my new 2011 F250 with the 6.7 gets towing my 9000lb TT.....should be around 11 or 12...I get 21 -23 with anything back there now..which I am happy with...
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Old 04-20-2011, 08:46 AM   #20
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We have the 2011 Skylark & pull it with the 2011 Honda Ridgeline RTL, our best is 11.8 MPG...I thought we would get better mileage. Honda Ridgeline is only rated to get 15 city and 20 hwy.

We love our Skylark & Ridgeline!
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