Tow vehicle gas mileage

[Mikebrady62]

[QUOTE=1StreamDream;2469318]I posted this in a different thread hoping to see how others with a similar setup were doing. I have had my 2021 7.3L gas F-250 for about 3 months now, towing a 25' flying cloud,

Seems no one else has this same engine?? Lots of responses but no one with this engine.
9 mpg seems very low traveling at 65-70 mph. Unless of course as another had mentioned, you had a head wind there and back. Which I have been unlucky enough to have happen to me. We had a 6000 mile round trip to the PNW and back and averaged 11.3 (1500 w/ 6.2L) but some days were certainly worse and better.
I have to believe yours will even out soon.

[gypsydad]

[QUOTE=Mikebrady62;2469803]

Originally Posted by 1StreamDream

I posted this in a different thread hoping to see how others with a similar setup were doing. I have had my 2021 7.3L gas F-250 for about 3 months now, towing a 25' flying cloud,

Seems no one else has this same engine?? Lots of responses but no one with this engine.
9 mpg seems very low traveling at 65-70 mph. Unless of course as another had mentioned, you had a head wind there and back. Which I have been unlucky enough to have happen to me. We had a 6000 mile round trip to the PNW and back and averaged 11.3 (1500 w/ 6.2L) but some days were certainly worse and better.
I have to believe yours will even out soon.

The service manager at Ford dealer I service with here in North Austin, has the 7.3L on his F250. Told me he is sorry he got it due to mileage towing his 30' SOB and is selling for the diesel. Said he gets 8-9mpg towing and only around 14-15mpg when not towing... That said, I do wish I could get better mileage with my 6.7L. 12-13 towing is not great...neither is 15-16 around town...I have heard you can get a "kit" installed (Banks?) that will improve mileage to around 20 when not towing and also towing mpg. Another benefit is no DEF needed anymore? Anyone out there have this? If so, please share feedback and cost.

[kscherzi]

F150 Ecoboost 10 speed transmission. Average 12.5 mpg to Michigan and back to California. Same when towing to Arizona and back earlier this year. Towing a 27 FB. Typically stay under 65 mph. Not towing up to 22 mpg on the freeway.

[jimfa440]

Originally Posted by Gizmosp641

Last week someone posted about 2019 Nissan Titan XD requesting it’s ability. Did trip to Georgia and back to Southport NC. TV towed extremely well, very quiet, good overall feel. Braking was good but disappointed in gas mileage at best 9 MPG as I just traded my Chevy Silverado with the 6.2 lt and got 12.5 to 13 MPG. Also got weighed at pilot scale 14000 GCVW 2017 25 Flying Cloud

I tow a 25' FC with a 2017 Nissan Titan XD Diesel. I'm getting about 15 mpg. Before the 25' I towed a 30' Excella and averaged around 12.5 mpg. I don't drive crazy fast, I find that my sweet spot is 62-63 mph.

[n2916s]

Originally Posted by jimfa440

I tow a 25' FC with a 2017 Nissan Titan XD Diesel. I'm getting about 15 mpg. Before the 25' I towed a 30' Excella and averaged around 12.5 mpg. I don't drive crazy fast, I find that my sweet spot is 62-63 mph.

I tow a 27’ Safari FB with my diesel XD and average about 12.5 as well. I can’t imagine getting 9 unless there was something wrong and it was going into regen too often.

[kbmwrs]

'16 AS 25'FB
'17 F250 6.2L gas

Last trip
5,592.7 miles
11.48 MPG

[vbackman]

Just finished 6300 miles over 15 MPG average.

2018 25’ Airstream International Signature
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Eco Diesel

[Dutchkma]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

2015 Toyota Tundra. Towing a 26U I get 11.9 mpg. Doesn't seem to matter if hilly or not.
I chose reliability over economy. BTW, I only use regular gas. (87)

Did a trip from Michigan to Glacier Ntl park last September. 2008 Toyota Sequoia, 22’ sport. 10.9 for the whole trip on regular gas. Starting this year with a 2018 Sequoia, heading south in two weeks and I’ll bet I get the same. Traded the ‘08 off with 210K while it still had decent trade in value.

[brokeboater]

Originally Posted by n2916s

I can’t imagine getting 9 unless there was something wrong and it was going into regen too often.

I think he was reporting a gas engine model.

[Daquenzer]

Speed is definitely the biggest variable. If I keep my speed in the 60mph range I will get 12mpg easy. I go to 65mph and the computer drops it to under 11. And this is on the same road, etc. My son was driving and I noticed he was going 70mp. Mpg was 10 on the computer. Which is a good use for that onboard computer. It does tell you the difference at different speeds.

It would be interesting to test out the mpg difference for 5 mph increments for different trucks towing and not towing.

By the way I have a 7x12x7 cargo trailer. Just to show you how much wind drag affects mileage, I barely get 10mpgs with that trailer and it’s not close to being as heavy as the Airstream. But it is square and not remotely aerodynamic. What this tells me is that aerodynamics probably is a bigger factor than we think. Maybe some thought should be put into how aerodynamic our tow vehicles are.

[Dick tracy]

2019 FORD F150 coyote v8, 3.73 gears 65mph, 27FBT International, from Vancouver Washington to Malibu Ca and back, 11mpg on flat, 9 mpg over the hills.
AS is only 6650# loaded

[twbucksr]

2018 GMC Sierra SLT with 6.2L gas and Max Tow Package towing a 2018 27 FBQ FC.

Just travelled from Charlotte NC to Pueblo CO via Fredericksburg TX and averaged 12 mpg with the cruise set at 70 mph (where possible) and tow haul mode engaged for the 2,120 mile journey.

All weather types and temps with winds behind, into and the side. Seems to get better mpg in hilly terrain where the v4 engages downhill. Not so in the mountains where the higher grades engage hill descent braking with high revving rpms.

The mpg factor I’ve noticed besides temp, wind and terrain is fuel octane. I am getting better mpg when I can fill with 93 vs 91. Don’t know if it is a coincidence or not but I do notice.

[Nels]

About ten years ago I bought a 1960 Airstream Pacer out of New Mexico. I towed it home with a 2008 Ford Ranger 4 cylinder stick 5 speed. If I remember right I was getting between 18 and 20 mpg and I was in a hurry to get home to Cincinnati. I even got pulled over for speeding (down hill) in Oklahoma.😊 I mention this as a testament to the great aerodynamics of the Airstream shape. Since then we started collecting and restoring vintage campers. I presently still have a newer Ranger and also a 2.7 eco boost f150. One of the vintage campers we own is a 14 ft Comet. I’ve towed it some distance with the Ranger and the mileage is around 14 mpg. The size of the Comet is comparable to the Pacer but the mileage penalty due to wind drag of the Comet is very apparent, I even nicknamed the Comet the Parachute. Mph is very important as the drag increases exponentially with speed. I would think mpg would be very different at 55 mph versus 65 mph.

[AKNate]

Originally Posted by jcl

I would have put the volumetric energy advantage of diesel over gasoline at 12%



It is certainly possible to get more out of a gallon of fuel, the starting point would be to vary the compression ratio. That covers most of the difference for a diesel engine over a gasoline engine.



Everything else down the powertrain is just about losing less, eg lock up torque converters.



Agree with the comments on travel speed, it is the biggest variable.

☝️this exactly. The ideal Otto cycle is actually a bit more efficient than the Diesel cycle for the same compression ratio, but diesels in the real world have around double the compression ratio of a gas (Otto) engine. This and diesel fuel having more energy per volume makes them much more efficient as measured in mpg.
From my own experience and what I’ve seen and read from others, around 10 mpg when towing with gas and around 15 with diesel is normal. Numbers drastically better than that are probably the result of a downhill route, a tailwind, driving slower, or just a miscalibrated speedometer. Another factor is the rolling average or instantaneous mpg read outs in vehicles. For accurate numbers you’re better off comparing against actual miles driven and gallons used.
As far as the OP’s numbers, I find it hard to believe one truck is nearly 50% more efficient when towing than the other, and it’s not the Titan’s numbers that look off to me. If the Titan is brand new it’s numbers might be slightly low as it’s not broken in yet, but the Chevy’s numbers seem a bit too high to me if all things are equal.

[Nels]

Someone brought up variable compression ratios. In a sense that is what Ford is doing with the Eco Boost engines. While the static compression ratio may be low as read on a compression gage, the dynamic compression ratio goes up with boost increase. Computers, variable cam timing and variable boost are all technological marvels. As the boost goes up (more air)the computer senses exhaust temperatures and adjusts the cam timing and fuel volume delivered to the combustion chamber. The more power you need the more gas and air your engine will get. Therefore your mileage drops off when the engine is taxed and goes up when it’s loafing along. A good analogy is if you are running a 3.5 liter eco boost under no load is breathing in 3.5 liters of air every other revolution of the engine. If it’s heavily loaded the turbo may put out 15 psi of boost pressure on top of 15 psi atmospheric pressure and your engine now thinks it’s twice as big or 7 liters and it’s fuel appetite is that of a 7 liter engine.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Nels

Someone brought up variable compression ratios. In a sense that is what Ford is doing with the Eco Boost engines. While the static compression ratio may be low as read on a compression gage, the dynamic compression ratio goes up with boost increase. Computers, variable cam timing and variable boost are all technological marvels. As the boost goes up (more air)the computer senses exhaust temperatures and adjusts the cam timing and fuel volume delivered to the combustion chamber. The more power you need the more gas and air your engine will get. Therefore your mileage drops off when the engine is taxed and goes up when it’s loafing along. A good analogy is if you are running a 3.5 liter eco boost under no load is breathing in 3.5 liters of air every other revolution of the engine. If it’s heavily loaded the turbo may put out 15 psi of boost pressure on top of 15 psi atmospheric pressure and your engine now thinks it’s twice as big or 7 liters and it’s fuel appetite is that of a 7 liter engine.

Well, yes and no. Turbos accomplish the effect of variable compression, but that phrase is usually associated with a mechanical change in combustion chamber volume.

[Collyn]

Excess fuel consumption (in hilly areas) can be caused by using cruise control. Particularly with a petrol engine it is better by to keep a reasonably constant throttle opening and let the speed vary.

Collyn

[Florida239]

After reading everyone’s post, I am so happy with my 2016 ram eco diesel. We tow our tradewind 24 regularly and get 18 to 19 mpg. When we towed our heavy 29 ft 89 squarestream this week a few hundred miles with a fair amount of headwind we averaged 13. It is one heavy trailer. I regularly get 28 to 29 mpg on my eco diesel since the last recall update to the fuel system.

[TowmaterATX]

Originally Posted by 1StreamDream

I posted this in a different thread hoping to see how others with a similar setup were doing. I have had my 2021 7.3L gas F-250 for about 3 months now, towing a 25' flying cloud, and just finished a trip with about 3000 miles of mostly flatland towing (Chicago to South Padre Island and back). I love the truck, the towing stability is fabulous, but I was hoping for slightly better MPG, I really thought the power and torque of the 7.3l would help me in some efficiency. I am getting about 9.5MPG on average while towing, I try to stick to about 65mph. For those of you with the same rig (7.3l gas F250) would you mind posting your towing MPG observations ?? I do have the 4.30 rear end, love the responsiveness, and feel it’s ideal for towing but not so ideal when I see the MPG results. We all try to spend wisely, I’m not complaining about the cost so much as I am about the range I have (per tank). In hindsight I am wondering if I should have gone with the 3.73 so I could have gained the better range (via MPG) that I want. Only about 5k total miles on the truck, my non towing mpg has been about 12

I have the 2020 7.3L plat f-250. Towing a GT 25 FBT I get around 10-11mpg and that was over mountains. I went from Austin to Monterey CA and back. Mostly drive the speed limit so up to 75mph through Texas etc..

[TowmaterATX]

Originally Posted by Daquenzer

Speed is definitely the biggest variable. If I keep my speed in the 60mph range I will get 12mpg easy. I go to 65mph and the computer drops it to under 11. And this is on the same road, etc. My son was driving and I noticed he was going 70mp. Mpg was 10 on the computer. Which is a good use for that onboard computer. It does tell you the difference at different speeds.

It would be interesting to test out the mpg difference for 5 mph increments for different trucks towing and not towing.

By the way I have a 7x12x7 cargo trailer. Just to show you how much wind drag affects mileage, I barely get 10mpgs with that trailer and it’s not close to being as heavy as the Airstream. But it is square and not remotely aerodynamic. What this tells me is that aerodynamics probably is a bigger factor than we think. Maybe some thought should be put into how aerodynamic our tow vehicles are.

I have a similar trailer and on my 7.3L f250 on the same trip I just posted on this thread about I average 8mpg. So a 3mpg difference between the cargo trailer (lightly loaded) and the 25' GT FBT. Aerodynamics makes a much bigger difference than the weight for my truck (and speed driven).