What's your fuel economy for a 16 foot Sport Airstream

[scamp]

What is your fuel economy while towing a 16foot sport airstream ,what's your tow vehicle ,engine ,trans ,rear axle ratio,and at what highway speed do you travel also fuel is it in litters,u.s.a. Gallon ,or imperial gallon,also what road conditions ,flat ,hilly,etc

[Melody Ranch]

Ford F-250, Super Duty. Diesel, 3:74, 65mph, tow off, 2 wheel Drive, bed empty, no bed cover or shell, normal is 81 mpg, on flat to rolling hi way Towing it drops to 11 mpg.

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

Ford F-250, Super Duty. Diesel, 3:74, 65mph, tow off, 2 wheel Drive, bed empty, no bed cover or shell, normal is 81 mpg, on flat to rolling hi way Towing it drops to 11 mpg.

I'm betting 81 mpg should have been 18 mpg.


Tow ANYTHING with ANYTHING and 12 mpg is in the neighborhood of what you're going to get. If you want fuel economy in a camper and you want a little camper - you could get an Interstate - if you've got $100,000 to spend on a camper. Oh and I think it only gets about 20-22 mpg.

Paula

[Stefrobrts]

Your question certainly indicates you understand how much fuel economy can differ based on road conditions, driving style, and tow vehicle. I'm not sure having people listing off what they actually get is going to help you figure anything out. What is the point? Are you trying to choose a tow vehicle and looking for the best mileage?

[Skooter]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

Tow ANYTHING with ANYTHING and 12 mpg is in the neighborhood of what you're going to get. If you want fuel economy in a camper and you want a little camper - you could get an Interstate - if you've got $100,000 to spend on a camper. Oh and I think it only gets about 20-22 mpg.

Paula

That's what I'm inclined to think, since that's been my experience in the past four years of towing. And I question claims of of those approaching 20 while towing. Because as everyone knows, anybody can say anything on the internets.

If you're talking dead air average, it's around 12 while towing our Sport 16 w/Honda Ridgeline, 3.5 V6 w/towing package. I forget the axle ratio but it's lower than that of the Pilot, therefore gets worse mileage than the Pilot which has the same engine but gets better mileage and not as high a tow rating.

I've gotten as little as 9 towing the Sport into a headwind, and as much as 16 with a tailwind. But on average, it's gonna be in that 12 mpg range. Tow between 60-65 mph.

[scamp]

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

Your question certainly indicates you understand how much fuel economy can differ based on road conditions, driving style, and tow vehicle. I'm not sure having people listing off what they actually get is going to help you figure anything out. What is the point? Are you trying to choose a tow vehicle and looking for the best mileage?

Thanks for all the input,what I'm trying to do is see what a 1000lbs less in trailer weight and three feet shorter in trailer length is going to make in fuel economy,,, I know on the hyw the weight is not going to make a big difference ,but will in hills and during acceleration, and what effects fuel economy the most is aerodynamics , example a parachute weighs hardly nothing but will affect your fuel economy drastically . I was getting around 18 mpg (Canadian gallon )( imperial gallon)towing a 19 foot airstream flying cloud weighing around 4500lbs at 50 mph on flat roads, with my 2012 silverado 5.3 4x4 with final drive 3.42 , a six speed trans, the truck would be in v4 mode ( cylinder deactivation ).im thinking the 1000lbs and three feet shorter will improve fuel economy slightly in the city and hilly terrain maybe 1-2 mpg and on the hyw hardly no difference maybe .2 to .4 mpg increase .

[scamp]

Originally Posted by Skooter

That's what I'm inclined to think, since that's been my experience in the past four years of towing. And I question claims of of those approaching 20 while towing. Because as everyone knows, anybody can say anything on the internets.

If you're talking dead air average, it's around 12 while towing our Sport 16 w/Honda Ridgeline, 3.5 V6 w/towing package. I forget the axle ratio but it's lower than that of the Pilot, therefore gets worse mileage than the Pilot which has the same engine but gets better mileage and not as high a tow rating.

I've gotten as little as 9 towing the Sport into a headwind, and as much as 16 with a tailwind. But on average, it's gonna be in that 12 mpg range. Tow between 60-65 mph.

Slow down and your fuel economy will increase drastically ( 55 mph ) thanks for your input! You can watch your fuel economy gauge in your ridgeline and find the sweet spot after all we have trailers to experience the outdoors and enjoy the ride to the destination! Just my 2 cents.

[renderit]

12-14 with premium in a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser in the Hill Country of Texas at 60. Just bought a 2014 GMC Sierra half ton 5.8 V8 to do our yearly Wyoming trip. We pulled a 100 mile round down I-35 at 60-70 and did 14 (no cover on the bed yet). Thats on regular. It is a 4x4 and standard driving is rated 16-22. Not broken in yet and we are hitting close to that. I suspect I will be around 12 on the trip. The point behind the change was the gas (regular vs premium) and the tank size (26 vs 16). With the FJ we were going to have to stop all the time for fear of running out, price be damned. The FJ will run on regular, but the mileage drops back enough there is no real savings.

If you are comparing tow vehicles I would definitely look at tank size. It will make a huge difference in how expensive it is to roll a trailer if you have no choice but to stop and top off and can't price shop a little.

[SafariSS]

MBenz GL350, towing Safari 30. 15.4 on 2370 mile trip just returned from Colorado to Texas.

[mefly2]

F150 w/ triton V-8 towing FC20 @ 60-65 yielded 14-5; same vehicle towing SOB Alpine Chalet fold down at 55-60 yielded 12-14 mpg; SOB / 196 Surveyor @ 50-55 yielded 10-12 mpg. Ram 2500 diesel towing EB25 @55-60 yields 12-14 mpg.

[BudE]

Picked up a 16' International in Boise in May, towed it to Sun Valley, ID, then to Rifle, CO. Averaged 55 mph and 15 mpg. Tow vehicle is a 2008 Volvo XC 90 with V8. This was mostly Interstate travel but with some hills and mountain passes. I rarely drove over 70 mph.

[Coloradobus]

2010 Sprinter passenger van, 144 inch wheelbase, low top roof, 188hp mercedes diesel, 3.73 gear ratio, van travel weight is 5400 lbs, Bambi Quik Silver weighs loaded 3480, water, LP, etc, with Equalizer brand hitch and bars, travelling Denver to Ft Collins yeilded 17 mpg at 60mph.. 2430 miles from Denver to Hot springs Ark, highest speed being 62, and back in wind, and rain, etc. we will called even 16.

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by scamp

Thanks for all the input,what I'm trying to do is see what a 1000lbs less in trailer weight and three feet shorter in trailer length is going to make in fuel economy

Since all Airstreams have an aerodynamic front end (compared to boxy RVs), I'd guess the difference isn't going to be much. I'd advise you to pick the trailer you prefer the interior of. If you like the 16, then that's all you need, but if you don't like it compared to the 19, that couple miles per gallon difference won't seem worth it before long I always advise folks to get the trailer they want, because tow vehicles change, but the right AS could be with you a long time. Heck, before long we might be towing with electrics, the way things are going!

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Bill Wilto

Picked up a 16' International in Boise in May, towed it to Sun Valley, ID, then to Rifle, CO. Averaged 55 mph and 15 mpg. Tow vehicle is a 2008 Volvo XC 90 with V8. This was mostly Interstate travel but with some hills and mountain passes. I rarely drove over 70 mph.

The key is 55 mph

Slowing down that 5-10 mile per hour will raise your mileage by 1 to 3 mpg easily. Try it sometime for just one good long stretch.

[renderit]

Agreed ^^^

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

The key is 55 mph

Slowing down that 5-10 mile per hour will raise your mileage by 1 to 3 mpg easily. Try it sometime for just one good long stretch.

Our truck shifts into overdrive at 60 mph when towing. So, for us, it may actually be better to be doing that instead of 55 mph. I haven't tested it to see which is better, though.

[Skooter]

Originally Posted by Skater

Our truck shifts into overdrive at 60 mph when towing. So, for us, it may actually be better to be doing that instead of 55 mph. I haven't tested it to see which is better, though.

Same here. Will depend on TV. 55 would cause my tranny to downshift at the slightest rise or puff of headwind. At 60-65 I'm at 2K rpm, which yields enough torque to keep the revs and speed stable. At 55 I'd be at 3K rpm much/most of the time here in the TN hills.

[scamp]

Well I'm going to answer my own post in a couple of weeks as I just bought a 2015 16 sport ! I'm hoping for a couple of mpg more ! Will see

[Stefrobrts]

Congratulations, and good luck. Believe me, when I have my AS out on the road, MPG is the least of my concerns. It's so much fun to get out and get camping, it's totally worth the price of gas to get it there

[wbrown]

Originally Posted by Skooter

That's what I'm inclined to think, since that's been my experience in the past four years of towing. And I question claims of of those approaching 20 while towing. Because as everyone knows, anybody can say anything on the internets.

It's possible with a VM Motori diesel in a Ram or Grand Cherokee body. I just got 20mpg with a 28' Serenity and a Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab; 55mph on remarkably shitty highways (I4 in Orlando).

I bet with a Bambi, you could get even better MPG.