Gas Mileage

[vol_bambi]

Curious what others are generally getting for gas mileage. For example, I just got 8.9 MPG in my Nissan Titan XD (gas engine) towing our loaded 25’ FC RBT over 4,000 miles the last 2 weeks. I understand conditions such as elevation and weight will make big impacts, just want to generally get an idea of other TV MPG.

[Ray Eklund]

Welcome and be prepared for great opinions! Lots of experience at your fingertips.

My mileage is determined by the RPM, not speed going UP a mountain or going DOWN. It is a bit of a game for the driver to MAX the MPH.

I have a sweet spot between 1200 and 1500 RPM. If I want to travel 75mph... my MPGallon drop by tenths as I proceed. The higher MPG drops quicker than I can regain what I had. If the turbo kicks in... you decide if you need that speed UP, or slow down. Great game plan for us. Keeps the driver awake...

Going up Monarch Pass in Colorado may knock me down to 8.5 MPG. Down the other side to average 12.0 MPG. Once the transmission shifts DOWN... you already caught onto this choice of easing up and go slower, or maintain the higher RPM to maintain speed.

The western Mountains also take about 3% per 1,000 feet above Seal Level of horsepower... unless like Diesel Turbo engines... crank up the turbo compression.

An undersized engine like a 4.7L in an older Tundra, gets worse mileage towing the same trailer with a 5.7L Tundra. Yep... true.

I look at it this way. You are happy with the Tow Vehicle? Yes... you own it and fuel savings for a larger engine and cost for the vehicle are a... wash. Maybe the smaller engine would 'pencil out' as better for cost.

You are in some hilly country at Murfreesboro! None of us expected to get wonderful gas economy towing a trailer. We have a log for the tow vehicle, F350 diesel currently. Our last Higher Elevation 2,500 feet to 10,000+ elevation with the F350 diesel: 9.2mpg to 11.6mpg.

The F350 has a mileage B and we use it for totals. We get better mileage than what it reads, so add about 5%. We top off and always use LESS than what the instrument panel says. Not crying about that... either.

End of 4,363 miles, 100 hours driving, 400 gallons, average 10.9mpg Fully Loaded and not poking around up or down Interstate, State highway, BLM/NFS dirt, gravel or two ruts.

Going SLOW can have worse mileage than 75mph... These mountain Boondocking Sites can fool you quickly. Top Off the tank as you think you may never see a Service Station every again... kind of thought process. It works... have not emptied the tank, yet.

I have had mileage in the 40's to mid 60's fueling BEFORE going down the mountains! It quickly disappears before your eyes at the bottom... but is part of OUR GAME. Yaaaa Hooo for the Rocky Mountain Gas Mileage TANGO...

[n2916s]

For seven years I towed my 31’ Sovereign (~8000#) to Yellowstone from Miami every Spring and then back in the Fall. Kept pretty good records and I seem to have averaged 9.1 mph. That was with a 2004 Nissan Titan with an earlier version of the 5.6 liter gas V8 that is in your Titan.

The last three trips were with a 2016 Nissan Titan XD diesel and I average 12.8 mpg on the same trip. Considering the better energy density of diesel fuel, that seems pretty consistent considering that the western half of the trip is at elevations where the turbocharging on the diesel made a difference.

Those trip were long enough to kind of average out the variables such as wind, elevation change, different brands/blends of fuel (lots of biodiesel in the middle of the country).

I think you are doing fine for what you are doing. You could probably save 10% or so if you slowed down to 55. I just can’t — 62 is the sweet spot for my current rig and, later in the day, I am often spinning up closer to 68-70.

[wulfraat]

Sounds about right for Gas. I got something similar with a 1/2 ton SUV pulling a 25'.

I now get 11-13 with my 3/4 ton diesel pulling a 30'. (~17,500 total lbs.)

[uraljohn]

We tow a 2019 FC 25 RBT with a 2013 Ford E150 XLT Premium van. Van specs are 5.4 Triton, Factory Tow Pkg, 8600 GVW (Yes it has a high gross weight package with 8 lug wheels and E rated tires) 3700 LB front axle, 5120 rear axle, 2530 LB payload rating, 14,000 LB CGVWR.

Last Cat Scale ticket said 12,800 LBS ready to travel. Getting close to my CGVWR but still under considerably on both axles.

We average right between 11/12 MPG depending on terrain, wind, ect.

We live in western North Carolina so any direction we go means the first 150/200 miles are up and down some pretty good grades. We are very happy to get 11/12 MPG. I always do the math on paper however the built in electronic read out on the dash is pretty dang accurate. Happy travels.

[lsbrodsky]

10-12 in a 2017 Silverado 2500 HD Gas. Terrain does not seem to make a lot of difference and I stay in Tow-Haul. Trailer is a 25 FB with full water tank and all of my wife's clothing....

Larry

[Bill M.]

14-15 mpg with a 2500 diesel running 63 pulling a narrow body 25'. winds seem to be the big factor that affects my millage.

[jeffmc306]

vol_bambi,

Driving a 2019 RAM 2500 6.4 gas and 8 speed trans with 3.73 axle towing a 27’ Globetrotter FBT. We just got back from a 2200 mile trip to Colorado and averaged 10.7 mpg.

It would have been 11+ if I hadn’t pushed it on the way home. Mileage did creep up to 13 mpg on flat highway by turning off Tow-Haul mode so the trans dropped into 8th gear and occasionally into Eco (4 cyl) mode. The sweet spot is around 67 mph. Over that and it wants to stay in 7th gear. Ray Eklund is correct - it’s about the engine RPMs.

That’s better than our 2019 RAM 1500 got and the 2500 weighs 1020 lbs more...

[mkcurtiss]

Pulling our 26' overlander, with a 2018 Tahoe with 5.3, we get anywhere from 12.5, to 16, depending on speed and terrain......I am shocked at how good the mileage is.....I also tow with a Ford e-350 with a v-10...pure pleasure to tow the Airstream with the Ford, but I only get about 9.5 mpg.....but in a short trip, the lower mileage is totally worth it, because of the total absence of any stress towing with the big van.......The Tahoe tows it fine, but the e-350 weighs about 2500 lbs more, and makes all the difference in the world.....Incidentally, the Ford only gets 10.5 mpg when not towing...lol...heavy duty trucks are amazing

[moosetags]

We towed for many years with 3/4 ton Suburbans with the 6.0 liter gasoline engine. On long Airstream trips we got between 8 and 9 mpg.

Our Duramax towing gets us 13.5 mpg consistently. We tow a heavily loaded 25FB and usually travel between 65 and 70 mph.

Brian

[CRH]

25 ft AS. Ford F350 gas 6.2 with 4.30 gears. 9-10 mpg towing. I have towed 100+ miles on relatively flat ground. The truck got 12 mpg. As soon as I hit the hills and then mountains it dropped back to 10 or so. I have never seen a tank full that was under 9 mpg, though.

[GOUSC]

13.5 - 14.5 mpg towing with 3/4 ton diesel. 27FB Globetrotter is 6,380 lbs on the Cat scales fully loaded with W/D. 16,060 lbs total weight.

[JonDNC]

12-14 F350 diesel towing a 27 Int. Serenity.

[KCurtis]

2019 Chevy High Country 6.2 pulling 2020 25 RB. Just got back from a 2200 mile trip getting 13.5 average. This was throughout Colorado and Utah. My first trip in the new trailer I was only getting 11.5 to 12. My guess is both the Truck (used for towing the trailer only) and the Airstream needed some breaking in. I drive a steady 65 MPH.

[InsideOut]

19-22 mpg towing our 1956 Safari +/-3200 lbs. with our 2013 Cayenne Diesel in the mountains.

Shari

[VeloBuckeye]

15.5 - 16.5 mpg pulling our FC27 when rolling at 63-65 MPH on flat to rolling terrain. 13.5 - 15.0 when route is hillier. F150 with the small diesel.

[dznf0g]

1500 Silverado, 6.2l, 8 speed. 2006 30' classic @ 9000 to 9500lb. Lows at 9.5, highs at 14. Overall in the high 11s to 12 mpg on long trips with varying wind speeds and direction, and varying terrain.

[Coast N]

We just returned from a 1600 mile trip. Towing a 2016 25FB with a 2018 F-150 Eccoboost gas engine. Averaged 11.9 which is consistent with prior trips.

[drmox]

I tow my 31ft. Sovereign with a 2003 4x2 Dodge Ram diesel, and usually get 15-16 mpg when towing. I'm at the high end of MPGs with the Cummins 5.9 inline 6, and I've gotten 25+ on road trips when not towing. That's a rare occasion these days, as the old Dodge now only serves as my dedicated TV.