Favorite Higher Fuel Economy Tow Vehicles

[AZ-JH]

Dodge 5.9L Cummins pre-2007.5 4X4, average 16 mpg towing at 65 miles per hour, fully loaded and full fresh water. 21+ highway not towing, 18 in town.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by ALANSD

Arbitrary but let's list those that get over 14MPG towing.

I get well over 14 if I leave the trailer at home.

Your trailer should be pretty light, so I can't see why you'd need a diesel—costs more and more maintenance and it will take many years to break even. But … you may be able to put your trailer in the truck bed if you get a big enough diesel.

Real world experience is valuable input, but see what your trailer weighs packed to the max, and check out towing and payload ratings for the type of vehicles you are interested in to narrow the search. Check on vehicle reliability since breaking down somewhere may cost more than saving a little money on gas mileage.

Also, check how much you will save between vehicles with different gas mileage ratings considering how much you drive—often, it is not as much as you think.

Gene

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Solo driving at 75 MPH it turned in 26.4 MPG US 8.9 L/100km this was with a slight head wind which I was quite impressed with as this is a large roomy vehicle. Towing the Airstream home from JC there was a 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph cross wind which had to affect mileage somewhat. Towing at 65 mph it turned in 13.4 MPG. This is a very stable tow vehicle and you cannot beat the price of them. The biggest advantange mileage wise is that as solo day to day vehicle with a lot of stops and starts it still turns 18 MPG.

That sounds pretty good. I could beat the day-to-day mileage by about 2 mpg and the towing mpg by 1 with our 2005 Odyssey. Then again, a 30' Serenity is a lot more trailer... I like that you can actually get a towing package as a factory option for the Caravan/T&C unlike the Odyssey or Sienna.

Unfortunately the 2011 Jetta no longer has independent rear suspension so I doubt it is as stable as the 2010 we have.

The 2011 Jetta Sportswagen still is on the old platform rather than the crummy new sedan. In moments of weakness, I've thought about a TDI Sportswagen for the Minuet...

Andy, I don't know if your Jetta TDI has hit 30k yet, but watch the DSG maintenance schedule; it calls for frequent fluid changes and they're expensive dealer-only services.

Tom

[Andrew T]

Thanks Tom

I better look at that as it has close to 40,000 miles on it now with about 50% of that towing.

The new Caravan is the Crew model and the only option is the tow package. I really like the suspension revisions it handles much better than the 08 Town & Country. That 3.6 really goes once it hits 4000 RPM, 0-60 with the 30' Serenity was 21 Seconds. In 1983 I timed a new 454 Suburban with a 31' 1978 Airstream which would have had less air drag, 0-60 took 24 seconds. I don't think it did as well on fuel solo as the Van does towing. Here in Canada if you factor in the Interest rate deal it was just under 26,000 for the van.

Have you driven the new Passat yet?

Andrew

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Town & Country. That 3.6 really goes once it hits 4000 RPM, 0-60 with the 30' Serenity was 21 Seconds. In 1983 I timed a new 454 Suburban with a 31' 1978 Airstream which would have had less air drag, 0-60 took 24 seconds.
Andrew

For sure with that weight of trailer the T & C is quick.

Towing our 23', by comparision, our 150HP/180TQ Nissan Quest took a lazy 30sec from 0 - 60 but the
G35 with less weight, better aerodynamics, and 260HP/260TQ does it in 15sec, "half the time". Note bad for a non turbo, 3.5V6.

Both the Quest and the G35 got/get
13 - 14MPG towing and
22 - 25 solo. Note US gals.

[ALANSD]

I calculated my cost of fuel at 3.70 a gallon, using my V10 Ford. Then I caclulated for a vehicle that gets 17 mpg in town, and one that gets 30. Of course the 30mpg one will not be used to tow. I save about $1000 a year going to a 30mpg. SO; I am gonna buy an old Miata to drive to work, keep the truck for trailer towing and use it only when needed. Seems like a plan.

[Globie64]

good grief, $3.70 a gallon? I just paid $4.35 for regular, and its $4.55 for super.

[Gene]

But Globie, you can drive up to Gualala and stop at Upper Crust Pizza where you can some of the best pizza anywhere. Gas prices aren't everything. We dream of Al's pizza even if he is as crusty as the pizza.

Gene

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Aage

Did you do the calculation? It's like one of those retirement calculations, since the first question will have to be "How long until you have to stop trailering?"

Who knows...I'm 73 now.
Neil

[Aage]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Who knows...I'm 73 now.
Neil

Then, Neil, I completely agree with your calculation you mentioned here:

"I believe that the cost of the fuel I'm paying for still won't equal the purchase of a new vehicle and it's inherant costs, insurance, registration and eventual service costs."

And even if you did change out your existing TV, nothing you can buy now is going to be as sexy as a 1971 Buick Convertible!

[DaveFL]

Here is what you need for the least fuel used to tow.

World's smallest caravan can be towed by scooter - Odd News | newslite.tv

Maybe boondocking in the back parking lot of the nursing home.

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Have you driven the new Passat yet?

Nope - just sat in one in Detroit. Very roomy inside. Interior quality isn't on par with my (now gone but missed) 2000 Passat but it's better than the new Jetta sedan.

Supposedly the Mazda6 and CX-5 mini-ute will get the Sky-D diesel engine. I'm also curious about the Audi Q5 TDI; I'd expect it to retain the (decent) 4400 lb tow rating the 2.0 turbo version has here.

Have you driven the new Charger/300? Very nice - even more improved than the vans. The 3.6 is plenty in that platform; I want more ooomph in the V6- powered Durango/GC (maybe the eventual 8-speed automatic upgrade will help) but it does well in the sedans.

That said, the 6200-lb tow rating in that new Durango V6 gives me hope that other manufacturers will work on optimizing tow ratings for their competing unibody 3-row SUVs.

Tom

[Andrew T]

With the mileage this van is giving with the 3.6 I would like to have a sedan but I think I'll wait for the 8 Speed.

I had not noticed the tow rating the Q5 before it is 2400 KG's, 5300 Pounds here in Canada with the 3.2 V6. I might be a mistake on their part, they have likely brought over the European rating without realizing it. The dynamics should be excellent with that short overhang.

The Mazda 6 might be the ticket. The slightly larger 2.2 Litre deisel would perform that much better and it has less overhang than the new Passat. I think the 6 is the same platform as the Edge from their time with Ford.

Are you in Europe at the moment? I noticed you said here when talking about the Q5?

Andrew

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Aage

Then, Neil, I completely agree with your calculation you mentioned here:

"I believe that the cost of the fuel I'm paying for still won't equal the purchase of a new vehicle and it's inherant costs, insurance, registration and eventual service costs."

And even if you did change out your existing TV, nothing you can buy now is going to be as sexy as a 1971 Buick Convertible!

Thanks, I admit it is a bit of a vanity thing. Although we do enjoy seeing all of the smiles and waves as we drive by.
Neil

[Phrunes]

How about a Ford Ranger? My Dad tows his 14 footer all day long and gets 17+ mpg while he's cruising with that 4.0V6...fyi Ford is going to drop it this model year.

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Are you in Europe at the moment? I noticed you said here when talking about the Q5?

LOL - I was posting from scenic Cornwall, England. Just got back from a week of sunshine (!!!), coastside walking, too much cake, and reading European caravan magazines. (I wish we got the VW T5 diesel camper van here, but otherwise I prefer our electric brakes, built-in water tanks, and less-than-feather-light tongue weights.)

But the "here" meant in the US - Audi's US website shows the 4400 lbs for both the 2.0T and the 3.2.

Tom

[ALANSD]

anyone have experience towing with a Mazda B4000 or Toyota Tacoma? I saw these rated for 5000 lbs .
Also what about Jeep Cherokee?

[lkpills]

I'm getting 13 to 15 with 2 kayaks and 2 bicycles in the bed. Going no faster than 63 or 64 mph. Thats calculating the manual "fill the tank to the same spot" method although my computer calculated mpg is pretty dam close.

[Andrew T]

We have set up plenty of B4000 / Rangers and Tacoma's. With the right axle ratio's and tire sizes they perform very well but fuel economy on the highway or towing is not dramatically better than the more fuel effiecient full size trucks such as the 4.8 Litre GM's. I would guess that a new Ford with the 3.7 Litre motor would give about the same mileage as a the smaller trucks just becasue the drivetrain is so much more effiecient.

The Jeep Cherokee is a really nice vehicle but at the moment I would likely go with a Traverse or an Edge/Flex for the 6 speed transmission until the Jeep gets the 8 speed.

Andrew T

[DKDarrow]

Originally Posted by ALANSD

I calculated my cost of fuel at 3.70 a gallon, using my V10 Ford. Then I caclulated for a vehicle that gets 17 mpg in town, and one that gets 30. Of course the 30mpg one will not be used to tow. I save about $1000 a year going to a 30mpg. SO; I am gonna buy an old Miata to drive to work, keep the truck for trailer towing and use it only when needed. Seems like a plan.

Alan........Our 250 V-10 is an 03 with 43K on it used pretty much as you describe above since new.........For the everyday vehicle it's either the Pilot at 22 MPG or a 75 R90 BMW that gets 48 mpg. lololol.....doesnt matter which to wear out as they are all paid for, primo, and well maintained...........At any rate for me, to park the truck and use something else has always paid off well.............God bless.....Dennis