MPG While Towing

[Magnolia Tom]

Our last trip out yielded only 8.1 mpg. But, that was with a significant headwind of at least 25-30 mph.
On the way back home, we got 10.2. Both ways were towing the trailer at 65-70mph

[Quantum]

With my last ecoboost (2016) if I towed in 6th I would average 8-9MPG. If I towed in 5th gear, I would get 9-11MPG. Keeping the ecoboost out of boost was the way to go. I really enjoyed that truck, so I just got a 2019, but now with the 10sp I will have to figure out what gear I need to use to keep it out of boost. At least now the truck has a boost gauge.

[BAC]

Originally Posted by Quantum

With my last ecoboost (2016) if I towed in 6th I would average 8-9MPG. If I towed in 5th gear, I would get 9-11MPG. Keeping the ecoboost out of boost was the way to go. I really enjoyed that truck, so I just got a 2019, but now with the 10sp I will have to figure out what gear I need to use to keep it out of boost. At least now the truck has a boost gauge.

Did you get the 3.5 or the 2.7?
I just traded in my 2005 Titan 5.6 on a 2018 F150 XLT with the 2.7.
I only tow a X17a so it should be enough.

~BAC

[jlechmanik]

Originally Posted by PMC

....

I got my worst MPG across South Dakota which is pretty normal as it rolls non stop and it's always windy and rarely blows in the right direction. Best was driving the Columbia River gorge on the way across Oregon which is a little slower and more sheltered from wind.

...

This made me laugh. Thanks. The Columbia Gorge is a world destination for wind sports. During the summer winds blow west to east frequently averaging 30 mph and gusting to 50. In the winter they switch and blow east to west with a measured speed one time of 100 mph. I wouldn't call that "sheltered". 🤣🤣

I think you were lucky. I moved to Hood River 9 years ago for wind sports. 😎

[tslarson]

I have towed twice with my new to me truck so far. 2013 F150 CC with the 6.2, 3.73 gears. Pretty amazing to be able to hold 6th gear on the flats and even on some mild inclines. Gas mileage? about 8.3 mpg average so far. Seems comparable to most others, better than my 2009 F150 CC 5.4, 3.73 gears which averaged about 7.6. I'm towing a Starcraft 299BHU 7900 lbs, 32'.

It's interesting to note there seems to be two camps of gas mileage with gas engines. Those getting around 8 mpg and those getting 11-12 mpg. Is it 2wd vs 4wd?
How about using cruise, I usually use cruise and let the transmission do its thing if not to hilly. I have tried not using it and have seen some mpg gains, but after a while I tire of playing the gas pedal game.....

[Route 66 Traveler]

My 2007 Tundra pulls my 30' TT, 7200lbs, and gets 9-12 mpg calculated. When planning a trip I use 10mpg when figuring out the amount of gas for the trip. After about 150 miles I am looking for a station.


Without the trailer on the freeway @ 70mph I usually get 17-19 mpg. When the truck was new and I used fuel without ethanol it was consistently getting 21mpg on the freeway. Corn gas will always lower your mpg.....

[Atlee]

Originally Posted by Cincinnati Kid

Does anyone tow at 50-55 mph? I'm sure going to try to keep the speed down, and have shorter segments. Before retiring, I understand needing to get there in a jiffy- you only have so much time off. now I've got time. I really want to get out of the long driving day panic mode. We'll see if I can do it.

No on an interstate, I don't. On the interstates, I cruise at 63-65 and just stay in the right lane.

One reason I like the "blue" highways is I can't comfortably cruise at 55 or less if the speed limit so dictates.

[Atlee]

Originally Posted by Quantum

With my last ecoboost (2016) if I towed in 6th I would average 8-9MPG. If I towed in 5th gear, I would get 9-11MPG. Keeping the ecoboost out of boost was the way to go. I really enjoyed that truck, so I just got a 2019, but now with the 10sp I will have to figure out what gear I need to use to keep it out of boost. At least now the truck has a boost gauge.

I have a 2014 with the 1st generation EB. I will almost always lock out 6th and cruise. Get very little down shifting when on relatively flat or light hilly terrain.

[mnaquaman]

2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab, 5.3L with 3.42 gears pulling a 2017 Jayco 23BHM max weight 6250 lbs.

Driving from Minneapolis to Nashville I saw per tank mileage from 8.5mpg to 11mpg. Conditions varied from flat to hilly, wind & no wind. I try to run 65mpg. This is a calculated MPG not computer, the computer is normally off approx. .20 mpg.

2004 Chevy Avalanche, 5.3L and 3.42 gears pulling a 2005 Jayco 21J, 5500 lbs. From Minneapolis to Washington, DC. We averaged right at 10 mpg - calculated. Same rig Minneapolis to Western Colorada, again right around 10mpg calculated. I did get my best MPG in the mountains - less wind drag and gravity assist going down hill!

From what I have seen and observed weight has very little to do with your Fuel economy. Once you get it rolling weight just doesn't matter. Otherwise why would all get between 8 -10 mpg.

A good rule of thumb is that for every 10 miles an hour increase in speed will cost you 10% decrease in Fuel economy! Same applies to a 10 MPH head wind.

Once on another sire I had a guy insist that he got 15mpg towing his trailer at 65 mph - I think he bought his gas from the same guy Jack bought the beans from??

I always log my MPG, more to keep an eye on my trucks performance. GAs is just what we have to pay in order to enjoy the road the way we want too!

Happy Camping

[geezerbob]

x2 what atlee said about highways

[MikeNChelle]

We just did a round trip from Illinois to Denver pulling our 2016 Pinnacle with out 2014 F-350 6.7 3:73 4x4. Average speed was 72mph for the trip with most of it doing 77mph @ 2200 rpm.
We averaged 8.2 mpg going and 9.6 mpg coming home. We added a 69 gallon RPS external fuel tank which with the standard fuel tank gave us 105 gallons of diesel fuel.
It rained everyday on the way out and mostly dry on the trip home

[Atlee]

Originally Posted by Atlee

No on an interstate, I don't. On the interstates, I cruise at 63-65 and just stay in the right lane.

One reason I like the "blue" highways is I can't comfortably cruise at 55 or less if the speed limit so dictates.

I just noticed an incorrect word but it's way too late to edit. I like the "blue" highways because I CAN comfortably cruise at 55 or less, or less, if the speed limit so dictates.

[djnott]

10/12 pulling 38' 5th wheel #15000.
2013 chevy 3500 single, diesel, going 65. Hills it will drop to 9.

[bgelyhome]

I am pulling a 2016 Jayco Pinnacle with a 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD with the Duramax Diesel (Crew Cab, Standard Box and 4WD). I average between 11 and 13 mpg depending on hills, headwind or tailwind. Typical is 12.0 to 12.5 mpg. I have a 50 Gal Transfer Flow tank in the bed of the truck and have towed the trailer about 850 miles before needing to purchase diesel.

[bleckb]

Just returned to Spokane from Cape Disappointment, through the Gorge into that standard brutal headwind on the way over. Back home via the Seattle area and I-90. Barely 10 mpg on the way west thanks to the wind in Oregon and 11.8 overall. Should have returned via Oregon with the tailwind instead of heading near Seattle before crossing the mountains. Not sure what the hellish traffic did to the mileage, but would have much rather been moving at speed the whole time instead of idling on the freeway.

[Bayoutalker]

We recently took a trip with our Jayflight 34RSBS loaded from Southeast Texas to Carthage, MO. Pulling with a 2017 Ram 2500 4X4 with the 6.4 Hemi the one leg I actually measured was 7.8 mpg running 65-70 mph. That section was fairly hilly and I didn't slack up pulling the hills.

Like I said, that was a full tank calculated after filling up. The on dash readout said 8.6 mpg.

[OldSoldier_5]

Originally Posted by Aggie79

I just towed my 11K lb fifth wheel from Dallas to Victoria down Hwy 77 (369 miles). With my 6.2L gasser, I averaged 6.2 MPG trying to hold 65. Way more hills than I thought. Don't know that I missed a gas station. Also, have a 26 gallon tank so it looks like I'll need fuel about every 110 miles. May be back in the market for a long bed F250 gasser with 48 gallon tank or a diesel. Losing dollars either way.

2017 F250 Lariat 6.2L Crew Cab 6 3/4 ft bed 34 gallon tank (per brochure).

How are y'all doing on towing MPG?

I tow a 35ft Heartland Bighorn Model 3270RS 5'er @ about 13,000 loaded for the road with a 2015 Chevy 2500HD Duramax.

Across west Texas I get BETTER than 12 MPG. I have an after market Titan 57 gallon under bed fuel tank and can get 600 miles between fills in descent terrain.

Running slick, no trailer, I can get nearly 1000 miles per tank of diesel.

PS: With trailer I stick to 65 and below. I hate pushing that big bubble of air in front of me at 75.

[Fleetman]

'12 F250 CC LWB 2WD 6.7 diesel 150k mi. Over 40k towing 16k # Pinnacle and currently 14k # North Point. Average 10.5 with Pinnacle, 13.2 with North Point. GPS mileage not truck computer. Religiously try to run 65 MPH. Faster and MPG thanks considerably. Will never go back to gasser. Previous set up was '10 F150 5.0 wit 8.5k TT. Best I could do was 7.3 MPG avg. Plus diesel does not lug in mountains. Just returned from Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, no problems.

[newsleet]

09 GMC 3500 6.0 l gasser drw 4wd 4:10 gearing pulling 17 338rets TT gcw around 19000 getting 6-7 32 gal tank

[Packerbacker_TX]

Mpg is subjective. My 2017 F-250 6.2 gets 11-12mpg unloaded in the city. With our 10K 5th wheel, it drops down to 8-9mpg. Most of our camping has been in the PNW area with small mountains and the coast. I'm curious to see how we do driving to Yellowstone this summer.