First time towing, anything...few ?'s

[RTS001]

I have a 2014 1500 3.55 gears, 2 wheel drive and the Class IV hitch. I recently Purchased a 2015 7X16 Trailer (V Nose) the truck pulled it fine from the factory where I picked it up and it was obviously empty.

GVW: 7,000
Dry Weight: 2,260
Payload Capacity: 4,740

I have never towed anything before so I had a few questions..

While Towing I was ranging between 8-12MPG (Empty Trailer/Tow-Haul Button Active) Is this normal? I'm afraid to see what it is when it's loaded up traveling across the country.

Is there anything that can be done to improve the MPG??? Different Gears? Tuner?

This trailer shouldn't be more than what I can tow, right???

Thanks In Advance!!!

 

[regularcab2500]

You are certainly in your limits and that trailers not too long or anything. People tow much bigger things than that with 1/2 tons regularly. With tow haul on id say mpgs barely above 10 makes sense. I could be driving totally empty with tow haul on and it will dump my mpgs. It locks out the highest gear and makes the engine rev a bit more. With that said its also way better for your transmission so i wouldnt tow without it on personally.

 

[tjfdesmo]

It's not the weight, it's the aero drag of the box trailer. if you pulled a flat trailer of identical weight you'd see a big difference in MPG.

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

you can improve on power which should net you some MPG's (intake, ehxuast, tune, 87mm throttle body)
No joke, I saw 2mpg improvements hand calculated on my 1500.

Remember to use hills to help you with MPG as well. Give it some throttle going down hill to help that weight go uphill with some light throttle. also keep it around 60MPH when the trailer is loaded for safety and for fuel efficiency too.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Your good with that size trailer. With those mpg I'm assumeing it's a hemi. With any kind of drag the hemi will like to drink the fuel that's just the way it is. You can do throttle body exhuast and a tune but apox $400 each it will take along time to pay you back at 1-2mpg driving style will gain the most mpg, easy on the skinny pedal, gain speed before you hit the hills and use the back side to gain speed so your truck isn't working to get back up to speed. The loaded mpg won't be much different, loaded up you will probably sit about 10mpg. Becareful with tuners and make sure it has a tune for towing. Your aprox towing capacity should be around 8500lbs so your good there you will most likely run out of payload before towing capacity.


By the way good looking trailer and do you have a trailer brake controller? If not that would be the first thing I would do. I'm not sure what your loading up in there but 3500lbs+ really seemed to push my truck when it came to brakeing.

 

[regularcab2500]

It's not the weight, it's the aero drag of the box trailer. if you pulled a flat trailer of identical weight you'd see a big difference in MPG.

I meant bigger trailer as in huge TT 34' long and 12' high. Way more drag than the op's trailer. There are several people on here who push the limits of their truck.

 

[toofart]

Speed is the #1 factor that will influence mpg, loaded or not.

Do 75 you'll go broke.
Do 65 you'll do much better
If you can tolerate 60, you will save even more.

 

[tjfdesmo]

I meant bigger trailer as in huge TT 34' long and 12' high. Way more drag than the op's trailer. There are several people on here who push the limits of their truck.

Sorry, my post was not intended to refute what you said. We are on the same page. Many folks underestimate the effect of frontal area/aero drag. My box trailer is 7x14 with extra height, and it pulls like a parachute. I had a Chevy with 8.1 gasser that got 8 mpg puling it, my buddy's Chevy 1/2 ton with 5.3 got 9 mpg pulling it, and my '05 Dodge/Cummins got about 11 mpg.

 

[audio1der]

I meant bigger trailer as in huge TT 34' long and 12' high. Way more drag than the op's trailer. There are several people on here who push the limits of their truck.

Hey- I resemble that remark(35.5' long). We get about 10mpg no matter whether we tow across the prairies, or through the Rockies.
@OP- well chosen trailer if it carries what you need. Love the v-nose.

 

[RTS001]

Thanks to all who have responded. I ordered a Tuner, Exhaust, and an intake on Monday assuming that most of that would help a little.

I am driving 26 hours so it's going to be a long drive but I think keeping it at 65 will be the best bet, with that Hemi!

I appreciate the feedback... If anyone in SoCal is in the market for a trailer after I unload it! It's going to be for sale!

 

[audio1der]

Those mods should definitely (the tuner mostly) help.