Best MPGs While Towing?

[JeweloJalopy]

We usually get around 12 MPG when towing our 26' Streamline with our 2004 Tahoe with the 5.3 L V8. Not bad I think. We usually stick to 60 MPH.

[Drathaar]

Pulling the 2012 25' FC, we average 15.3 with a 4wd F250/7.3L automatic. We try to stay in the 55-60 mph range as well.

[High Cloud]

Well, I'm in the average MPG range in towing an Airstream with a gas engine.

Recently got 11 mpg from Albuquerque, NM to Glacier National Park, MT/Waterton Glacier, Canada and back----3,500 miles.

TV: '02 GMC Denali AWD w/Quadrasteer, 6.0 V8, 4.10 gearing with 69K miles and Snug Top topper. (Normally cruise the two lane and Interstates at 60-65 mph using regular grade gas)

TT: '13 25' FB Flying Cloud.

[excellaf350]

just did 900 miles, 03 F350 7.3L 4x2 CCSB 3.73's, 1990 29' excella... got 13 MPG average. Usually just set the cruise at 70 sometimes creep up to 75 when my foot override feature kicks in

[rodsterinfl]

Comparisons are hard to make in the RV world as info is usually presented with too many unanswered questions (as in my link in Post #86 above).
The overhead MPG readout on my truck is about 11% high. Accurate or not, it is consistent, thus I can check on the fly the effects of winds, traffic or speed on fuel burn.

Good points. As a revisit to this thread, I report an average of **12mpg** by pump/calculator calculation @65 mph on my 4.6L3V 3:55 F150 6-speed and 25' AS. The terrain was mixed SC, GA, FL- quite a bit of flat ground but not so flat in the Northwest area of SC this summer with this average matching all of my previous averages. I have learned that I can increase the mileage by 1mpg dropping to 60mph. Note, afternoon storm winds will blow any mpg average. My truck onboard mpg reading is about 1.4 mpg too high from actual but as mentioned, the readout does account for wind, condition, etc.

[barts]

During our trip to Burning Man, I noticed we got 12.8 mpg running 60-65 mph, including the climb from Sacramento to Reno over Donner Pass. We're pulling a 1971 Tradewind w/ a 1996 F250 4x4 crewcab w/ a 7.3l Powerstroke. Running in the flats we typically get 14 mpg at 55-60 mph.

- Bart

[Getahobby]

2006 v10 Touareg diesel with 25 ft FC. On varied terrain 13- 14 mpg running 60-65 mph.
Dave

[SmokelessJoe]

A trip to Newfoundland and back to Ontario last summer/fall was 93 days out on the road, 5314 miles

The average mileage was 18.32 overall. This is city and country, loaded and unloaded, day 1 to day 93.



Keep in mind that I am very heavily loaded (14,500 lbs) and that most of the trip was on constantly changing elevations. Much of it, like in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Maine, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, of course, included serious grades.

(Keep in mind too that the Canadian gallon is larger than the US so higher miles per gallon readings here. 1 Canadian gallon = 1.2 US or 1 Cdn MPG= 0.8327 US mpg).

The MPG figure equates to 31.5 cents Cdn. a mile.


Sergei

[SmokelessJoe]

Forgot to say that the vehicle is a 2006 Mercedes Benz SPRINTER, series 3500:

[JimGolden]

I just made a 2000 mile run pulling my 34' Avion 34X loaded to the gills (5 tons) with a 2004 1/2 Dodge Ram 4-door long bed 4x4 with the Cummins turbodiesel 305/555 and 4-speed automatic. I got as high as 14mpg on the flat land, about 10.5-11mpg in hill country, and averaged about 12.5 mpg for the whole trip.

14mpg is about the best I've gotten towing. I used to get up to 22mpg with the truck running solo, but the low sulfur fuel has cost me nearly 2mpg. I now get around 19-20mpg running solo and 14-11 mpg towing.

Still cheaper than staying in hotels

[ElCamino Man]

Originally Posted by JimGolden

2004 1/2 Dodge Ram with the Cummins turbodiesel

Ehh something's not right here. Do you mean 3/4 ton?

[mhutchinson]

I thought this was worth adding. Andy Thompson (Can-Am RV) wrote in his RV Living article that he got 16.4 mpg (US gals) with a Porsche Cayenne and 30' Airstream. If you'd care to read the article Can-Am RV :: Hitch Hints

Since my Touareg (correct spelling according to VW anyway) has the same powertrain as the Porsche, I'm hoping for similar results with my '63 globetrotter (if I ever finish the shell off refurb) or a late model 16' or 19' International (if I don't).

[KJRitchie]

We drove 2400 miles with the our 2008 Classic 25fb and had no issues. Ran into some rain, no leaks. On one leg through Louisiana we got 13mpg with our 2010 Tundra 5.7. On the way back I found I can get better mileage leaving the transmission in 5th gear. Even though it runs 500 rpm higher than 6th gear I don't have to put as much pressure on the accelerator pedal to maintain 60 mph. Unless the terrain is flat it shifts from 6th gear to 5th anyway. Most of the other legs were in the 12 mpg range. Fuel prices where under $3.25 for unleaded but diesel was over 60 cents per gallon higher.

Kelvin

[m.hony]

We are traveling back through Louisiana after a week in Texas. Getting 12-13 going 60. I am happy.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by ElCamino Man

Ehh something's not right here. Do you mean 3/4 ton?

The engine tune changed halfway through the model year. My "early" 2004 305HP/555TQ tune was superceded by the 2004.5 325HP/600TQ engine tune after mid-December of 2004. They're pretty similar on mpg with an edge to the earlier tune in the longest steady-state days at the wheel.

14-16/mpg is a reasonable expectaton from this truck with the larger A/S trailers when speed is kept to 65 or under and the terrain is generally level. Higher is possible and something I look to explore (as in, what is possible?).

[hahnstead]

I've been towing my '66 Globetrotter for 12 years with my 2000 Tundra, averaging 11-12 mpg. I've added a 1984 27-ft. Sovereign to my AS collection and have been towing it for the last six years, averaging 10-11 mpg.

[jasperkins]

We just purchased a new TV- 2013 Ram 3500 Mega Cab (non dually). Yes its oversized for our 27FB Eddie Bauer, but I also use our TV for other large stuff.

The following numbers are based off the last 1000 miles, towing from Carolinas thru the Great Smokey mountains in Gatlinburg TN and surrounding areas (a lot of mountains), and a heavy foot (average 10mph always over speed limit):

Towing: 12.5 mpg

Variables:
- Flat highway non towing- 20 mpg (averaged from Charlotte NC to Pensacola FL)
- City use non towing - 15 mpg
- City / mountain towing 11 mpg
- Highway flat towing 13 mpg

[AlaskaSafari]

I just finished a 7,000 mile trip from Fairbanks, Alaska to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Every square inch of the truck was packed and the trailer was pretty full as well. I didn't weight it before I left as I really didn't want to know. I drove between 55-60 and my average for the entire trip was 11.8, which is just slightly lower the on-board calculator. 5.7 Tundra pulling a 25' Safari.