MPG Hauling a small trailer

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GSparkleD

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I hauled this little trailer and 2008 Polaris Rzr from Oklahoma. I have a all stock 2012 Hemi 5.7L half ton 2wd CC. My question is what kind of milage are y'all gettin? Should I be unhappy with 10mpg for a 130 mile trip?
 
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audio1der

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That's lower than I would have guesses for a small, unenclosed trailer.
I get 9-10 pulling our 32' travel trailer (60mph max) but maybe we're flatter out here? Was it a hilly trip?
 

Chewy

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That's a HUGE parachute sitting back there. I'd say 10 mpg is pretty respectable!


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GSparkleD

GSparkleD

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It's my first time hauling anything at all. I was headed south to Texas from Oklahoma. The turnpike was hilly(less than half the trip worth) but past that is was pretty much flat.
 

Alex

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I can't remember exact numbers, but I was getting about 13mpg doing 100km/h when I was pulling a tandem 12' uhaul trailer about 2 weeks after I got the truck for a 2.5 hour drive. And that sucker was stuffed tight right to the roof and to the door
 

jlb

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That sounds horrible. I towed a single axle uhaul trailer that was about the same size (but more of a parachute thanks to a flat front), and it probably was about the same weight. I came all the way from Montana to New York, and got 16-17 most of the way.
 

Alex

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I was driving into a 40km/h headwind as well, forgot to mention that. sorry
 

Gtsum27

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I pulled this last weekend. Some hills but nothing steep. Got 12.5mpg round trip, but this was on the hwy, not interstate, so running about 62.

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A couple weeks ago I towed this through the blue ridge mts to west va...some long climbs an steep grades and got 11.2 round trip
 
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GSparkleD

GSparkleD

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Well it sounds like I should have gotten better than I did. I was disappointed with 10mpg but my truck before this was a dodge diesel so I was thinking I shouldn't expect so much .

Thanks for the input. Now I need to research and see what I can do to make this better because I will haul some small trailers, possibly a small camper in my future.
 

Rotzilla

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When pulling my 14' flat bed with the rzr loaded I average around 10.5 mpg. So I would say your in the ballpark.
 

raptor1797

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I pull a 7x16 aluminum enclosed and I only get about 10mpg but it is a hilly rout I take. I am comming off of a Powerstroke that was tuned and thought my mpg was crappy also.
 

Big Boi

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You have ti factor in wind, hill grades, weight, and avg mph. I got 17 mpg (65-75mph) on a 200 mile trip 98% flat. 900 lbs cargo including passengers. Without the trailer I get 20-21
 
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Big Boi

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And its a 5x10 enclosed Haulmark trailer
 

emjohn4

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Texas, huh?

Just how fast were you pulling the trailer? 80 mph will really cost you in gas while towing.

When I tow my 6x12 enclosed trailer, I get about 13-16, depending on speed, drive cycle, etc. However, I never exceed 70mpg towing; and typically keep it at 60-65mph. 60mph gets 15-16 mpg; and it drops off really fast as the speed increases.
 
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GSparkleD

GSparkleD

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I was only goin 65-70. The wind wasn't too bad and I expected about 12mpg that's why I was asking everyone.
 

emjohn4

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I was only goin 65-70. The wind wasn't too bad and I expected about 12mpg that's why I was asking everyone.

It was a little lower than I would have thought, but not stupid low.

The next few towing trips will be more telling - with a sample size of "1" it's hard to know if even 10mpg will be consistent, or if it was just low for some reason (weather, wind, etc).
 
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GSparkleD

GSparkleD

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Yeah I hope it's better next time. When I come the same way not hauling I get 20mpg goin 80mph and cutting that in half with just a small trailer and Rzr goin slower amazed me.
 

Brian N

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My last trailer towing experience, I towed a 12' tandem trailer with open top. Carrying only a small load. 10 hour drive from the Fraser Valley to the north of BC (lots of hills and windy sections) my trip down to get the trailer I got an average of 20 mpg, on the way back with the trailer, I averaged 14.5 mpg.
I'd say that 10 is a little low. Of course, it all depends how heavy you are on the pedal :)
 
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