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Phoenix · 09-09-2012, 02:42 PM

2005 19-foot Bambi
2008 Toyota Tundra CrewMax, 5.7L, 2WD, with tow package

15-16.5 mpg - Rocky Mountains and back highways (typical speeds 45-55 mph)
13-15 mpg - Highway cruising, non-Interstate (typical speeds 55-60 mph)
13.5 mpg - Interstate cruising average on relatively flat ground (typical speeds 60-65 mph)
12.0 mpg - Interstate cruising (typical speeds 70-75 mph; we don't do this anymore)
10-12 mpg - Long upgrades in Rocky Mountains (typical speeds 55-60 mph)

Ridgerunner3 · 09-09-2012, 03:02 PM

10.5 mpg average for the last year. We have a 2002 25' Safari at 6300# gross weight. TV is a Chevy 2500, 6.0 gas engine, 3.73 differential, 4X4, 6 speed transmission. 9000 miles of towing in the past year. One trip from Tennessee to Yellowstone and back (considerable amount of head and side wind on this trip). Several trips to Florida and one to Ohio. I typically tow at 62 mph and never exceed 65 mph.

Road Ruler · 09-09-2012, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrUKToad

Towing a 2011 28' International with our 3.5 litre V6 Toyota Sienna, we averaged over the 2012 camping season 12.8mpg (US). Most terrain was pretty flat and we tend to do around 60-65mph. Our best ever was 14.9 on flat terrain with no headwind doing around 50mph. Our worst was 10.1 on a wet and windy day on our way back from the Finger Lakes in NY.

Our real advantage is the average 28.4mpg when not towing :~)

That is quite good UKT. We too have a 3.5V6 in the G35 and have averaged 13.5 to 14MPG/US towing the lighter 23'. Did you make the climb to Watkins Glen State park? That was a 1st gear climb for us.

PS, non towing "bonus" mileage is 25MPG/US which is 90% of the time.

**azflycaster** · 09-09-2012, 05:15 PM

We had a 6,000 mile road trip this summer which took us from Phoenix to the East coast and back. We did mountains and plains, back roads (mostly) and Interstates with speeds mostly in the mid 60s, but hit 70 a few times to keep up with the flow. 2007 Tundra towing a 75 Trade Wind.

Average for the trip was 11.0 MPG. We travel with a pair of bikes on the roof of the truck cap which I estimate costs me a little in the MPG numbers.

crisen · 09-09-2012, 06:32 PM

Ok this is only partly related so please don't flame it, on 12000 miles this past spring with 28' Keystone toy hauler averaged 11.2 from Fairbanks, down to CA coast, across to southern CO, east to MI, them back to to Fairbanks. Keystone was at just about 8500 lbs. Set the cruise on 60 most of the time. We will be leaving in a month to pick up our 25' Eddie Bauer and will report on the mileage with that when we get back. See sig. for tow vehicle.

BAB · 09-09-2012, 06:45 PM

Towing a 2012 28' Intl CCD with a 2012 Infinity QX56 (400 HP, 440 lbs of torque)....up through the Smokies today = 11.5 MPG.. This is 475 miles from central NC to Frankfort, KY. While much of the speed limit is at 70 MPH....and I am towing with a PP 3P, I still hold it at between 60-62 MPH.

MrUKToad · 09-09-2012, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

That is quite good UKT. We too have a 3.5V6 in the G35 and have averaged 13.5 to 14MPG/US towing the lighter 23'. Did you make the climb to Watkins Glen State park? That was a 1st gear climb for us.

PS, non towing "bonus" mileage is 25MPG/US which is 90% of the time.

I'm a very conservative driver, slow to speed up and gentle in the slowing down, so that may be some of it. We did go up to the Watkins Glen campground but without the trailer, we just went to have a look around - that is a STEEP hill! We stayed at Taughannock Falls, Ithaca. There's a story about hill climbs at Taughannock but I'll save that for another day :~)

Bonus mileage is the key, eh?

HiHoAgRV · 09-09-2012, 07:00 PM

In our June/July 4,200 mile tour we netted just under 14 mpg. MS to WY, flat lands to mountians

2006 dodge diesel, 34' Airstream towing 65-70 on the interstate, with the flow on 2 lane roads.

Of course the on board computer showed MUCH higher

Globie64 · 09-09-2012, 07:04 PM

I've been pretty careful too, watching the instant mileage thing and trying to up the average by feathering the pedal, optimizing whatever momentum I can. It was great on the freeway (55-60, 55 is the limit in CA for towing a trailer), less on the twisty and hilly two lane highway nearer home and when I dragged the trailer over Centennial drive behind UC Berkeley, the mpg plummeted.

rodsterinfl · 09-09-2012, 07:22 PM

I drove from Fort Myers to St. Augustine and back and also from Tampa as longer trips so far with just a few months under my belt. The best I have gotten based on fill-ups and calculation (not onboard computer) was 14 mpg at 60 mph and no wind to speak of. The worst I have gotten is 8.9 mpg with a powerful head wind from Tropical Storm Debbie coming home from St Aug. I have noted that it seems to be 12-14 mpg on the computer unless there is wind and it drops to about 11 mpg. I have a 2009 F-150 4dr 4.6L 3V with the 6 speed transmission.

ElCamino Man · 09-09-2012, 08:13 PM

This is all very surprising info! Its lookin like the diesels are gettin similar to the gassers which kinda makes me not wanna get a diesel anymore lol. Especially for the price of diesel compared to gas...

bovk · 09-09-2012, 08:22 PM

20' FC and 2003 Dodge diesel, manual trans. The TV has 260000 mi.
From Texas to Glacier Nat Park and on the way back, we are averaging for the total miles 17.7 mi/gal (this is very accurate number). We drove 5600 mi so far and 20 % of it is without trailer. Good numbers for us, we are spending just a little more money for diesel compared to staying home.
On the other hand I agree I could get this with some other vehicle so next buy of TV will be a tough choice. I like the 600 ftlb torque on the stick shift.

Roy B · 09-09-2012, 08:42 PM

We took a trip last fall from North Georgia to Bangor, Maine and back, on the whole trip we averaged 11.8 MPG. Our camper is a 2005 25' Safari pulled with a 2010 GMC 2500, big V-8 , I thought that's not so bad because around here working I only get about 13-14 MPG with out a trailer. I am glad I didn't get the diesel since it was about ten grand more at the time and diesel fuel was on the rise

idroba · 09-09-2012, 08:42 PM

TV: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, 5.7 hemi V8, 5200#

Trailer: 1974 Argosy 20' Total weight 4200 #

I tow a lot, keep full records. 13.5 mpg towing, mountain west, high altitudes, lots of long passes. Normal speed limits of 60, rarely over 70 other than on limited interstate towing.

Recent 850 mile trip, all interstates, 70 mph all the time, 22' Argosy, empty of belongings so probably 4000#: Exactly 13 mpg.

Solo: (not driven that way much, but return trip from Wyoming: 21 mpg

mefly2 · 09-09-2012, 09:06 PM

13.8 indicated / 14.2 actual: on diesel holding 55-62 mph.

TouringDan · 09-09-2012, 09:07 PM

TV: 2008 Tundra, 2wd, 5.7L, 4.3 rear end, 6 speed, Leer Cap

Trailer: 1966 Tradewind 24 ft, under 5,000 lbs loaded.

Towing mileage over the last 2 years has been 13.5 mpg. I drive gently and usually only about 60 mph, but sometimes 65 mph on interstates. On one trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway (and back) I got 14 mpg! Go figure. Guess it was the 45 mph speed limit.

Tundra mileage solo is 14 mpg in town and 18-19 mpg on the road. Very nice and comfortable tow vehicle but it is HUGE. SR5 model is very well equipped and only cost 25k out the door in 2008 (5k rebate helped).

I used to tow my 1984 Excella 31 ft with a 93 5.7L Chev Van (very underpowered and underbraked) and I got 10 mpg driving gently (and scared).

Dan

Bigventure · 09-09-2012, 09:25 PM

TV: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Larado, V6,

Trailer: 2011 Safari Flying Cloud 20' 5000#

14.7 high
14.3 low

All interstate at 65-70 mph. I havn't done any hills yet and this combo could be a dog on a long climb.

Hodum · 09-09-2012, 09:31 PM

The best that I ever got for a full tank of fuel was 14.7 however I average about 13 overall pulling a 34'ft weighing 10300 pounds loaded. My truck weighs 8240 pounds so i count myself blessed indeed to average 13 mpg overall while pulling at 65-70 mph and weighing well over 18,000 pounds.

jmcarter · 09-10-2012, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAB

Towing a 2012 28' Intl CCD with a 2012 Infinity QX56 (400 HP, 440 lbs of torque)....up through the Smokies today = 11.5 MPG.. This is 475 miles from central NC to Frankfort, KY. While much of the speed limit is at 70 MPH....and I am towing with a PP 3P, I still hold it at between 60-62 MPH.

Wow, identical mileage with our 2012 QX pulling a 2010 28' International and keeping same speeds. Solo it's getting ~19. Would rather pull with the Dodge 5.9 Cummings (15mpg at same speeds) but the QX is so much more comfortable running around in at the destinations. Premium fuel prices almost as bad as diesel

Kosm1o · 09-10-2012, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkottum

Brian, that's interesting because it supports the idea that weight has little to do with effort needed to pull the trailer, is mostly about wind resistance (except during hill climbing). Of course those who have done bicycling are aware of that.

Similarly when we went up 1300# from a 20' Airstream to a 25' the difference was hardly noticeable in driving or fuel usage.

doug k

Indeed, which explains why I get better mileage with my 28' Safari than my previous ultra light 18' . Recent trip to Tetons from Michigan average 12 in my 2011 Silverado 5.3 , 3.42, 6 speed trans, 1/2 ton. Worst was coming home (downhill) with 25mph headwinds. Wind is the biggest factor overall IMHO.