|
02-01-2023, 02:03 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
Flat towing vehicles
Hello, I’m looking for some advice on a vehicle to flat tow (dinghy tow) behind my 24 foot Jayco. I have a list of cars that can be dinghy towed. If anyone knows, is there a big difference in towing a 4500 pound car versus a 3500 pound car? How different is the gas mileage and handling between these 2 vehicle weights?
Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you. Lynda
.
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 02:07 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Central
Posts: 177
|
I have one point of reference. A friend of mine tows a Grand Cherokee behind his Greyhawk. He said he looses 1 MPG. He's a cautious driver.
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 02:57 PM
|
#3
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
Thank you, good to know. Not as bad as I thought.
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 03:04 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Glendale
Posts: 857
|
I dont notice mine hardly at all
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 04:00 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 3,790
|
Do a search using the search feature, or even Google and there are vast, threads on this topic covering flat towing, dingy towing et al.
__________________
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 04:02 PM
|
#6
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
Thank you! Good to know
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 04:42 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Fairfax
Posts: 141
|
Flat towing vehicles
I have a somewhat comparable real world example.
We towed a 2010 Toyota Prius and a 2016 Chevy Volt on a dolly, between the dolly and the vehicles, those were both around 3800 lbs. We then switched to flat towing a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited at the end of 2019, which weighted in at 4900lbs the last time I went over a scale.
All this was towed behind a 2018 Thor Miramar 37.1, which was on a V10 based 24K F53 with an 8k towing capacity.
I can say I didn’t notice any real difference in drivability when towing any of them.
Looking back at my data, it looks like I was getting 6.6-6.7 MPG in 2018 and 2019 (almost all Prius/Volt) and 6.1-6.2 in 2020 and 2021 (all Jeep). While a clear difference is towing the Jeep, it’s hard to say whether there are other differences to explain the difference in gas mileage (lighter/heavier foot, less/more mountains, less/more towing).
__________________
2022 Entegra Accolade 37K <- 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited <- 2022 inTech Flyer Explore
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 04:59 PM
|
#8
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
I appreciate all of the information! I’m looking at either a Buick Enclave (4500 lbs) or a Chevy Equinox (3500ish lbs). Now with what you wrote I can consider both. Thanks again
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 05:02 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Orlando
Posts: 282
|
Once you pick the car, I found this article helpful for learning about everything that goes into picking a flat tow setup:
https://learntorv.com/flat-tow/
__________________
2022 Precept 36C
|
|
|
02-01-2023, 05:07 PM
|
#10
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
Perfect, thank you
|
|
|
02-02-2023, 07:09 AM
|
#11
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Central Jersey
Posts: 86
|
I tow a 2 door jeep wrangler. I use a footwell inertia braking system. It has a wireless monitor so I can see when it is applied. My E450 22j with V10 goes down to 8-9 mpg towing, so it costs me about 1 mpg to tow. I really don't notice much difference accelerating or stopping. The V10 is over kill without towing but just right with a tow. Every once in a while I'll notice the "Tail wagging the Dog" in strong cross winds but otherwise I think the drag helps the RV steer straighter down the Hwy. It stops well and pulling away at a light feels the same. I use a Blue Ox tow bar and a wireless lightbar on the jeep and the braking system is a Roadmaster Even Brake
__________________
2018 Jayco Redhawk 22J
|
|
|
02-02-2023, 02:31 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Shrewsbury
Posts: 345
|
Assuming your Class C weighs about 14,500 loaded, I don't think the difference between 18,000 and 19,000 combined weight (~5% difference) will have much effect on gas mileage. Frontal plane area (wind resistance) likely has the biggest impact on gas mileage.
__________________
retired USCG aviator
2020 Jayco Greyhawk 29MV/2021 MINI Cooper toad
|
|
|
02-03-2023, 12:04 PM
|
#13
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
Thank you. I love the picture of your RV and jeep, that’s exactly what I’m looking for.
|
|
|
02-03-2023, 12:05 PM
|
#14
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
Good to know, thank you
|
|
|
02-03-2023, 07:11 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Moultrie
Posts: 234
|
My flat tow is a little different. I flat tow a 2017 Smart Car and I can't even tell it's back there. Absolutely no gas mileage difference and I have to look in the rear monitor to tell it's still back there. I've towed all over the US with this car and never had a problem. I wouldn't like the hassle of using a tow dolly and this vehicle is so light it doesn't even require braking assistance.
|
|
|
02-03-2023, 07:54 PM
|
#16
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Denver
Posts: 31
|
Thank you!
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|