Fuel Consumption when Towing

[Mollysdad]

2015 Tundra 11.9 mpg.
For those who said going up hills kills gas mileage, yes, but what goes up must come down. Downhill averages it out.
I use cruise when it's practical. In hills where it's revving to 4500 to try and keep up, I take over. I drive like the truckers, easy on the up side, store momentum on the down side.

[Milo1952]

Originally Posted by David in Lex

We tow our FC 30 with a 2020 F150 EB max tow package. We average 12 mpg over 7500+ miles in all kinds of terrain , weather, etc. I don’t use cruise when towing but I do use the tow mode transmission setting. I keep it around 60 and try to stay under 65. We have a ProPride hitch. I have no idea what effect if any that has on fuel mileage.

I have read that tow mode should only be used in hilly/mountainous terrain.
It is not advised for gently rolling or flat trips. It affects gas mileage.
Also, I believe cruise control will adversely affect gas mileage as well. Always trying to maintain a set speed.
My next trip, I will travel without using either, to see if te mpg improve is significant.

[Milo1952]

When determining what a heavy load is/is not, one has to take into account not only the weight of the trailer but also the capabilities of the tow vehicle. 8000# may be a lot for a GAS 6 cyl, V-8 or eco-boost truck, but not so much for a 2500 ,250 diesel .
SIZE MATTERS !

[Gary W]

With over 10k miles towing our 27' Globetrotter, I can say with confidence your can expect between 10 to 12 miles per gallon with a gas TV. I always estimate our trip at 10 mpg, stay in the TV's "sweet spot of 63 mph" and use cruise control when safe to do so.
Enjoy your journey's with your AS. Fuel consumption numbers will come into focus for you if you keep a mileage log.

[fthopkins]

Safety alert, cruise control should NOT be used on wet pavement, ice/snow and while towing. Check your TV's manual.

[MikeAnkorage]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

2015 Tundra 11.9 mpg.
For those who said going up hills kills gas mileage, yes, but what goes up must come down. Downhill averages it out.
I use cruise when it's practical. In hills where it's revving to 4500 to try and keep up, I take over. I drive like the truckers, easy on the up side, store momentum on the down side.

Downhill does NOT average it out, but certainly ameliorates the situation.

[TouringDan]

Vintage narrow body helps

Light weight helps- 5,000 lbs

No AC wart and clean lines help

Low speed towing helps- 55-60

Modern truck with fuel injection helps

2WD helps

Gentle towing helps

400 watts of solar hurts

Kayaks hurt

Tow haul hurts

Cruise control hurts



We generally get 13.5 mpg towing.



Dan

[Glen Carter]

One thing I plan to try is my Thule cargo box on the Cayenne to see if the aerodynamics change consumption.

[27ftToaster]

Bottom line if I travel 75mph for an 8 hour drive vs 65mph, I get there over an hour sooner. I'm not going to worry about spending another $10 on fuel, if i am relaxed, on holiday, and able to see more of the country. I'm traveling down the road with over $200,000 of equipment. Don't sweat the small stuff!

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Glen Carter

One thing I plan to try is my Thule cargo box on the Cayenne to see if the aerodynamics change consumption.

Not that your thule will be as bad, but I just completed an 8800 mile trip with an old x-cargo....a brick.....cost a full mpg. Never again. I'm reevaluating my storage configuration completely.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by 27ftToaster

Bottom line if I travel 75mph for an 8 hour drive vs 65mph, I get there over an hour sooner. I'm not going to worry about spending another $10 on fuel, if i am relaxed, on holiday, and able to see more of the country. I'm traveling down the road with over $200,000 of equipment. Don't sweat the small stuff!

Hi

If you are going cross country, those "hour or so" a day savings add up. You may well save a full day and all the food / cost associated with that ....

Some math

75 MPH x 8 hrs = 600 miles. delta
70. " = 560 " 40 miles
65. " = 520 " 80
60 " = 480 " 120
55. " = 440 " 160
50. " = 400. " 200

( .....and I can find you posts from folks suggesting each of those as a reasonable speed to be driving).

If your rig / on those roads / under those conditions / with you driving /... is stable and in control at this or that speed, there is a reason to go for it. Indeed not all rigs are set up for faster speeds. Not all conditions will allow them.

Running around on a lot of the local interstates out here ... ummm .... errrr ... 20 to 30 MPH might be doing very well. You can't go any faster than the guy in front of you

Bob

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by guskmg

It is pretty simple because diesel engines will get about 40% better milage due to more BTU per gallon than gas engines. Gassers will get 7-8 while diesels will get 12-14 mpg. Out West there is a lot of biodiesel and ethanol laced gas. Both get less mpg than straight fuel. I have seen info that says the enviromental cost of our smog equipped diesels accounts for 3-4 mpg. It all adds up to better mileage with emproved efficiency, but we pay a penalty for cleaner air. Without the smog equipment and using straight fuels we would be getting 4-6 better mpg.
guskmg

New ram 6.7 cumalong...20-21 empty...12.5 -14...straight fuels? Better mileage? I like clean air...and new diesels...with higher hp

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by AZ camper

Unfortunately we haven’t seen the end of gasoline price increases. Oil and gas leasing and drilling permits have been suspended on federal mineral estate including offshore. Domestic oil companies are no longer investing in new exploration or prospects because of the hostility of the current administration. Domestic supply will decrease over time and demand will continue to increase. I spent 35 years as a federal oil and gas geologist and am glad to be retired.

What ?...i remember 4.35 fuel in 2007..there are thousands of leases not being used..and the current administration isn’t going to give it away..like the previous administration..I worked in the refineries and in the field. Since 1966...and we dont need chinas tar sands oil spills...

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Fuel energy content from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density

Diesel 10.7 KWh/L

Gasoline. 9.5 KWh/L

Gas 10% ethanol. 9.2 KWh/L

So, worst case at the. typical pump, you fill up with corn gas and get 9.2. Compared to diesel at 10.7, you are behind the curve by 1.5 KWh/L. 1.5 / 9.2 gives you 16 % more energy per gulp of fuel.

Since all of these fuels are actually blends of this or that, indeed there is a range for each of them. Still, if you start off at 10 MPG on your gas powered vehicle, anything past 11.7 MPG is likely coming from something *other* than the energy density of the fuel.

Bob