Average towing speed

[DDC]

What is the average towing speed for the best MPG, any thoughts and are they all different with each set up?

[punkaccountant]

When I bought my Dodge 2500, the instruction manual said not to exceed 50MPG for the first 500 towing miles. So I took several trips down I-71 towing my trailer at 50 MPH. I averaged about 14 MPG. I wasn't the most popular person in central Ohio on that day but I did get very good mileage. After that I went up to 60-65 MPH and my MPG dropped to around 10 MPG. If I average 60 on the interstates then I can average around 10.5 MPG. It is really hard to go slower than that but I never exceed 65 due to tire ratings.

[bikendan]

i find that 60-62mph provides the best compromise for me.
yes, i'd get better mpg at 55mph but going that slow drives me crazy.
but the drop in mpg going faster than 62 is significant.
so, staying between 60 and 62 gives me the best balance.

[KyDan]

Wind resistance is HUGE.
The faster you go the higher the resistance.
Slower is lower resistance.

I typically go 65 MPH on US interstate hwy with speed limits of 65 or 70 MPH.
Since traffic usually travels slightly over the speed limit this allows me
to travel in the right lane with cruise control on and not have to do
much lane or speed changing.

I see you are Canadian so you'll have to do the metric conversion.
Wind resistance increase is a CUBE of increase in speed.

This is from Drag (physics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A car cruising on a highway at 50 mph (80 km/h) may require only 10 horsepower (7.5 kW) to overcome air drag, but that same car at 100 mph (160 km/h) requires 80 hp (60 kW). With a doubling of speed the drag (force) quadruples per the formula.

So go as slow as traffic and your schedule will allow in order to get the
best MPG.

[h20ski]

I am very comfortable and best MPG for me is 60-63 MPH. I have found things happen when I get in a hurry.

[Malco]

I find with my Dodge I get the best fuel economy while going 90 KM/h.It is the same for either towing or not towing although the fuel consumption is way up while towing it is still best at 90 for me.

[caper]

I try to keep the speed at 55mph. If I find that the traffic is backing up behind me i will pull over and let them pass. Being retired and not in a hurry is a luxury. Life is too short to rush. When going through the mountains of BC, I will let the big rigs pass me before the long hills and follow them up. I can keep the RPM's below 3000 and may only be traveling 25 to 30 mph at the summit but the truck I am following is also doing the same speed. On the down hill side they want to speed up. I want to take it slow and easy.

[Terier]

Originally Posted by bikendan

i find that 60-62mph provides the best compromise for me.
yes, i'd get better mpg at 55mph but going that slow drives me crazy.
but the drop in mpg going faster than 62 is significant.
so, staying between 60 and 62 gives me the best balance.

Don't you just love our 55mph speed limit in California? I keep do it at 55 but my mileage just sucks. Maybe 10.4 - 11.4 mpg. I was expecting a little more since it only me and a light weight trailer.

[EdJunior]

65mph. Sometimes less.

[Malco]

Terier what mileage do you get when not towing? Maybe you should trade for a Dodge. Seriously I burn a little more than twice as much gas while towing on average.