Towing mpg AS FC 27'

[Milo1952]

For anybody towing an AS FC 27' TT I would be interested in real world
towing mpg with the following info
vehicle
avg speed
terrain
avg mpg
miles traveled
I would also like your general impression on your tow vehicles overall towing ability / handling.
I am days away fron ordering a 2017 AS FC 26u or 27fb twin.

Your help in determing TV choice would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking for the perfect blend of price. power, economy and overall ability,
Who better to ask than my soon tp be fellow airstreamers
Thanks

[Caffeinated]

2015 27 FC FB, towed by 2009 Chevy Silverado Crew cab LT short bed 4x4 with the 5.3 and Allison Tranny. Love the Allison, wish my truck had the 6.2.

12 mpg, on the straight and flat, keeping it about 55. 9-11 mpg in the steeps, depending. In >6% hills, my rig is slow. 30-35 on the steeper stuff.

I think I'm borderline over loaded on payload. I've replaced the shocks with Bilsteins, had braking issues on our last trip in the Mountains of S OR, thank god for Les Schwab in Medford, they turned the rotors and pads for me, which took care of the issue. Also had a front wheel bearing go S, this at 45,000 miles. Next truck in one to two years will be a 3/4 ton.

[TexAirS]

Bigger is always better. You are probably looking at a 3/4 ton. (Some will argue this.)

I had a big trailer push my small TV through a red light in an intersection.

Sure glad that Porsche got out of the way. It's not always about acceleration.

My new Silverado 2500HD diesel sure does a great job of starting and stopping.

14mpg at 65 mph. Have towed at 80mph, but traffic was very light on I-10.

Spinakerjohn

[mpsgolf]

I have a 28' international which is really same length as 27. I recently traveled from Seattle WA to St Louis MO - about 3500 miles in all kinds of conditions. I tow with a Nissan Armada usually around 63-65 target speed I averaged 11.5 mph.

[Toasterlife]

We tow a 23ft international with a Ram Hemi 5.3 gas TV. We notice that at any speed over 55MPH the gas consumptions goes up quickly so we tend to travel secondary scenic routs and stick to 55MPH. We consider 11 to 12 MPG pretty good, on fairly flat terrain and 55MPH. Add steep hills or faster speeds and the gas consumption rockets. The TV has the power and them some at higher speeds and or on hills, but we cant justify burning way more gas just to arrive 45 min sooner.

[nunover]

I started with a 1500 Silverado with the 5.3 gas and towing package. I got 10mpg towing during most drives, trying to keep a 65MPH cruising speed when possible.

But after a trip to Jackson Center, i felt underpowered and a little pushed around with the 1500 truck. So I traded it in for the same year (2012) but in the 2500HD Duramax diesel configuration. Our Airstream is a 2010 International CCD 27FB. With the 2500HD truck, the towing mileage averages about 14MPG and I can easily maintain 65MPH on highways.

For me, the larger truck's capabilities have made driving so much more enjoyable. Going up and down the hills isn't nerve racking like it was with the gas truck. I've only had the Airstream for two seasons but I can't imagine going back to the 1500 truck.

Best of luck in your search and happy streaming!

Paul

[SteveSueMac]

We tow a 2012 27FB with a 2013 Chevy 3/4T diesel. Average 13.5mpg usually around 62-65 MPH on highway. Mostly around New England so far but a couple trips to the Mothership, Tennessee, Finger Lakes, etc. - maybe 25,000 miles so far the past 4 years.

Lots of opinions on this. I love the truck for towing but it's not my favorite daily driver.

Everyone's calculus is different on this. Eventually I plan on spending a couple years touring the country so eventually this is our full time vehicle so it's important to me it is more than capable of the job (it is). Some prefer to have a tow vehicle that can do double duty especially if the trailer is just for a few weekends a year.

Good luck!

[lovetokite]

curious to know some Ram Ecodiesel numbers...

[55AS]

Originally Posted by mpsgolf

I have a 28' international which is really same length as 27. I recently traveled from Seattle WA to St Louis MO - about 3500 miles in all kinds of conditions. I tow with a Nissan Armada usually around 63-65 target speed I averaged 11.5 mph.

I think he means MPG:-)

[silverlabs]

I have pulled my 2015 28FC with two different trucks so will give the numbers for both. Many miles throughout the Western US with both of these vehicles.

I had a 2015 F150 Platinum with the 3.5 EcoBoost engine. I typically pull at between 65-70 MPH max and typically averaged in the 10 - 10.5 range. After driving in the mountains and some tremendous windy conditions I felt like I was being pushed around in the F150. (Handled the mountains fine going up) I ordered a 2017 F250 Platinum 6.7 Diesel in April and picked it up in September. Have pulled the 28FC for about 2,500 miles so far out West and love how it handles the trailer. Again typically 65-70 MPH and average so far about 14 - 14.5. Many have told me it should increase some as the diesel breaks in more. We shall see.

Good luck with your decision and safe travels.

Chuck

[Sodbust1]

Hello,
We have a 27' 1972 Overlander and pull it with our 2012 Ram 1500 hemi. It does just fine as we also load up a Yamaha Rhino in the truck bed when we head off to the Colo. Mts. Right at the load ratings.
MPG runs anywhere between 10 to 14mph.. The Rhino stands above the cab roof by 4 feet and that draws great deal of air even with the windshield off. But I have to agree,, speed kills MPG no matter what conditions. Just the trailer and pu,, its easy to see 12 mpg if I keep things at or under 60mph..

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Milo1952

For anybody towing an AS FC 27' TT I would be interested in real world
towing mpg with the following info
vehicle
avg speed
terrain
avg mpg
miles traveled
I would also like your general impression on your tow vehicles overall towing ability / handling.
I am days away fron ordering a 2017 AS FC 26u or 27fb twin.

Your help in determing TV choice would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking for the perfect blend of price. power, economy and overall ability,
Who better to ask than my soon tp be fellow airstreamers
Thanks

You will find this same question "answered" all over this forum site! The question is do you want gas or diesel, and 1/2 T or 3/4 T. Most of todays 1/2T pickups and many SUV's, will pull 28' on down, comfortably with great engine torque, hp, and transmission options available. Fuel economy pulling an AS can range from 9-12 in most gas models and I have seen some with diesels who claim around 15+ with 3/4 T models. For me, the larger 3/4 T trucks are great for towing, but not as daily driver, and have some higher maintenance costs over gas models. But, that's just me.
The Chevy 6.2 with 8 speed or the Ford 3.5 Echoboost 6speed or new 10 speed are great gas choices in the 1/2T range; Dodge (Hemi) and Toyota Tundra also have nice 1/2T gas rigs, but the mileage has not been quite as good (as the new Ford or GM) from what I read.

We have had our 2012 F150 EB for 5 years now, 99,000+ miles, and no issues. Great daily driver also; just make sure you get enough payload with what ever you get.

Soooo what you goanna do? Go test drive, do some more research, and let us know what you end up with.

[Grey Goose 2]

We tow our 2016 25 ft. FC with a 2012 Platinum Toyota Sequoia 5.8 l. V8 with tow package. Plenty of power for mountains of Virginia and out west. Trips to Grand Canyon, parks of Utah, and last year to Nova Scotia from Alabama. Highly recommend this vehicle for not only towing with a full load but also as the family car. My wife has a Highlander for hauling around the grandchildren. MPG is 10-11 while towing at 65-70 mph, depending on terrain and wind resistance.

[VaTravelers]

I have a 2005 F250 diesel Lariat w/49K towing a 2017 28' Serenity. I tow 55-60 mph and average 14mpg on flat terrain and around 10 mpg on rolling hills. I have an equalizer WD hitch. I hardly know the AS is behind me.

[Rgentum]

2015 Ram 2500 diesel crew cab automatic ---

No load: Drove from Seattle to Portland on I-5 with cruise set at 65 mph, several stops at fwy rest stops: 22 mpg.

With 2016 FC 27 FB: Drove from Seattle to AS rally in WVA & then back home; 9K miles, 6 weeks, typically 62-65 mph: averaged 14.1 mpg.

Best I've gotten with trailer on flats typically 60-65 mph: 15.0 mpg.

Any kind of hills or city traffic quickly reduces that to 13.5-14 mpg.

Over mountains, ie, Cascades, Rockies, etc. reduces that to 13-13.5 mpg.

Now have approx 15K with truck & trailer & have never gone below 13 mpg.

In my opinion, the Ram 2500 diesel is SUPERB for pulling (and stopping) the AS. My next truck will be a Ram 3500 diesel with the Ram air suspension system & Ram Boxes. I won't get the Aisin transmission ($2,600) as its only needed for pulling over 20K lbs.

I should say that I use the Ram to pull the AS & to get supplies from Home Depot; I don't use it as a daily driver & would not want to use it as such --- it's too much vehicle for that.

[jimfa440]

I tow a 2000 30' Excella with a Ram 1500 ECOdiesel. In eastern TN rolling hills, I average 15.5 mpg. When we hit the mountains on state highways, it will drop to about 12-12.5 mpg. I normally drive 55.

[ZBugman]

I pull my 27' AS (2012 Int'l) with a 2012 GMC Denali; 6.2 gas engine. It's a 1500 but handles the load with plenty of acceleration. Formerly used an older GMC truck with the 5.3....big difference! I would advise against the use of the 5.3 engine with this load.
I'm sure a 3/4T is better yet but the Denali has what it takes to safely get you up and down the steep mountains out West. Milage is about 11-12.
Braking is something that I abused initially; smoking the rotors but now I'm more careful on the long downgrades and slip into manual and feather the brake controller.

[mwgarrett]

Have a 2015 27 International Serenity. Started with a F150, with a 5.4 liter gas engine--got 7-10 mpg at 65 mph depending on grade and wind direction. Not to mention, having the engine run at 3000+ RPM for extended periods of time--not an ideal situation. Guaranteed drive train issues at some point due to the load on the engine and transmission.

Traded up to a Chevrolet 3500HD LTZ SRW (just a 2500 with extra leaf springs for higher bed capacity) with 6.6 liter Duramax. I now get 17-19 mpg regardless of grade or wind direction and rarely get above 2000 RPM. The combination of diesel engine, Allison transmission, exhaust brake and trailer brakes makes uphills and downhills non events. Nothing like passing everything in the left lane on a pass while never getting over 1800 RPM; You simply cannot beat a diesel engine for towing.

[Barbieri]

I tow a 2004 classic 31 ft. Using a 2012 Dodge Ram with a 6.7l diesel engine. Average 12-14mpg.

[smlbob]

I tow my FC27 with a 2015 Toyota Sequoia, 5.7L, V-8, tow package, usually in 2WD, over varied terrain I get about 10,7 mpg.