Towing fuel economy sucks

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Dennis Montey

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Towed a new Coleman Light trailer (7,000 lbs) Highway fuel economy dropped from 26 to 8 MPG. WTH.
 

Longhorn1500

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Hello, welcome to the Forum!

I just did a 1,300 mile trip towing my 9,000 pound Airstream. I got an average of 11.5 mpg while towing (still not great, but better than 8). When not towing, I get right around 20 on the highway. Can you tell us a little about your truck (cab type, rear end ratio, transmission, Hitch setup, ...)?
 

NewBlackDak

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Any wind from the front or side makes it bad. Any incline makes it bad.

It’ll never be good with a box trailer that tall, especially on a gas motor.

The best advice I can give is to keep it at 60mph or under.


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NorZeman

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Any wind from the front or side make it bad. Any incline makes it bad.

It’ll never be good with a box trailer that tall, especially on a gas motor.

The best advice I can give it to keep it at 60mph or under.


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Yep, this.

With our 28 foot tt, 72-7300lbs loaded, I will get 10.5 to 12.5 pulling under 60 depending on the wind.

If I'm going at or near interstate speeds, I'll drop down to that 8-10mpg fast.

5.7L, 3.21 gears, CC with 76.4" box

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GrumpyOleMan

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'19 Classic with 3.6 V6 and 3.55 gears...towed 1100 miles (round trip). 2200# trailer (empty) there and additional 4400# cargo back (car on trailer so drag is not as bad as a travel trailer). I averaged 13.8 for the trip and actually got better MPG fully loaded (I drove slower). terrain was basically rolling hills, nothing crazy.
 

GsRAM

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Very typical when towing a trailer that weight with a gas engine. It is what it is.
 

tjfdesmo

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It's the aero drag, not the weight, so much. My 2500 w/6.4 got 7.5-8.5 pulling a 41' toyhauler at 23,160 combined. I tend to stay in the 65 mph range. You should be able to do a bit better if you get your driving style dialed in, but towing mpg is going to be bad no matter what.
 

dhay13

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My son drove a 2017 2500 Duramax diesel 3 hours home empty and got 20 MPG. On the way back he towed his 27' camper that weighed about 8000lbs and got 9 MPG
 

BossHogg

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My son drove a 2017 2500 Duramax diesel 3 hours home empty and got 20 MPG. On the way back he towed his 27' camper that weighed about 8000lbs and got 9 MPG

Both those MPGs aren't very good, compared to a Cummins, they are dismal.
 

jackham

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Diesel is better and maybe a bit smoother but not that much better MPG. The key to towing is to slow down and enjoy the scenery. You don't make time with heavy loads on the road. It is dangerous in so many ways and does not just involve you either. Accelerate slower, slow down slower, and feather the hills.
 

dhay13

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Guaranteed lead foot.


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Nope. I was following him when he was towing the trailer. Went the speed limit the whole way. It was about 90% highway on PA turnpike (I-76)
 

corneileous

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Sure is a lotta halftons towing with 3:21’s in this thread.... wouldn’t the 3:92’s fair better?


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Toddbigboytruck

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Yes it would but mine is a 18 Laramie and all the 1500 the dealer had were 3.21. I don’t know why. I don’t tow that much Canada to Florida one a while. Most of my towing is with in 4 hours drive. But deep down I wish I Home a better dif. And air bags
 

WY-Dave

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Heck I would get 12-14 towing our #1900 coleman popup in our Jeep. This is in hilly country with alt changes of about 2500ft
 
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