Gas mileage

[Gumpster808]

Agree with finding the sweet spot on the whole setup.

Have a class c but how I drive it as far as rpms and how I take hills etc makes a big (relative term) difference in overall mpg.

Staying where the engine and drive train are comfortable and happy I got 9.4 last trip instead of 8.

Takes me longer to get where we are going but it is called vacation.

As others have stated short of something larger that wouldn’t notice the TT weight as much it comes with the lifestyle. Relax, enjoy life and camping with the family.

[KansasJohn]

I wish I could say there is an easy answer to improving fuel economy. And there are some things you can do to help, but the reality is 10-11MPG is about the most you will ever see from any kind of a gasoline towing setup. Diesels are capable of much better mileage, but at a much higher initial cash outlay, usually. Here are some things you can do to help improve fuel economy, both towing and not towing:

1. Check your air filter. If it's extremely dirty or clogged, clean and/or replace it. A dirty air filter can affect mileage slightly. (Don't expect more than 5% increase in mileage at best, unless the filter is totally shot)
2. Check your tire pressure. Make sure none of your tires are underinflated. When towing, I like to run my rear tires at maximum pressure (listed on the sidewall) and the fronts a few PSI lower. Trailer tires I run at maximum PSI.
3. Slow down. With my 2016 Silverado 4.3 V6 towing a ~5000lb Rockwood Mini Lite, I get 11-12MPG at 55-60, but at 65 I only get 10-11 at best. If there is a headwind, I frequently say 8-9 doing 65. Just backing off from 65 to 60 will likely give you a 0.5-1MPG gain, if you're currently driving 65.

Sadly, RVing and good fuel economy have always been mutually exclusive. Maybe newer tech will change this some day, but for now, ~10MPG is the best you can expect.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by patpat

Why

Or just buy a truck with a diesel.

[Crabman]

Yep, run out and spend 60 grand on a new diesel truck will net you some better mileage. ☺

[ronheater70]

SInce the title of the thread is GAS mileage I will say that the lil Tacoma gets 100% better GAS mileage than any diesel on the market!

Myself, I personally will never own a diesel, until I do..

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Crabman

Yep, run out and spend 60 grand on a new diesel truck will net you some better mileage. ☺

Or just be happy and don't whine about poor mileage. I only get 11.5 pulling 14,500 ...

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by Crabman

Yep, run out and spend 60 grand on a new diesel truck will net you some better mileage. ☺

And how many years to recoup the cost. Later RJD

[SlfMdeFam]

Hybrids are made for good gas mileage. Trucks are made to handle stuff. Diesel or gas i rarely hear anyone shopping for a new truck to get good gas mileage. It’s usually a purchase for a purpose and saving gas usually isn’t the reason.

[Casey r]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

Hybrids are made for good gas mileage. Trucks are made to handle stuff. Diesel or gas i rarely hear anyone shopping for a new truck to get good gas mileage. It’s usually a purchase for a purpose and saving gas usually isn’t the reason.

2X

[Crabman]

Is the OP whining or asking if they can do better? We know a gasser will likely get lousy mileage with appreciable improvement unlikely no matter what is attempted, but a newbie may have to learn that through asking and then through experience.

[DNA Dan]

I get 8.5-9.5 MPG with a F150 Ecoboost 3.5L on premium gas pulling about 7500lbs. It's a V6, so you are right in the range for the size motor and shape/weight you are pulling. Sadly, this is the part of the RV experience that dealers and companies don't talk about. Also the ford, chevy and ram dealers inflate their numbers on truck abilities/MPG. A diesel is better, but you really need to calculate your ROI to determine if it's worth the $$$$.

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by DNA Dan

....Also the ford, chevy and ram dealers inflate their numbers on truck abilities/MPG....

I don't think the dealers inflate anything. Their numbers are based off of unreal world conditions. I think the customers look at all the numbers and forget to add in the real life variables.

Will the 3.5 ecoboost tow XXXX pounds?...Yes.
Will the trucks payload be overloaded?......Very likely.

Will the 3.5 ecoboost get 20 MPG on the highway?.....Yes.
Under all conditions?....................................... .......NO!
While towing?........................................... ............Absolutely not!

As consumers, we look at every individual number advertised and think it will do that under all conditions. We need to realize that the numbers come from a small test pool under perfect conditions.

[Paulie1138]

.....and to add....have you seen how they actually test the vehicles for towing? it is with a loaded towable that is at best....and often lower than the tailgate of the truck tested. There is little to no wind resistance measured. Now, add an empty full size behind, watch how far the mileage will tank....even with no load. Wind resistance goes up exponentially with just a few miles per hour speed increase!

[znate80]

Originally Posted by znate80

Buy a diesel, 15 mpg towing my Rockwood 2504s w/my ram 1500 eco diesel 4x4

Forgot to mention the 29 mpg at 70 mph I get also. There is nothing you can do to get better fuel economy out of your set up with out drastic changes (i.e. buying a new truck).

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by patpat

I have a 2017 Salem cruise lite. I tow it with a 2012 Toyota Tacoma V6 with a tow package. I get 8-9 mpg. Is there anything I can do to get better.

Thats a lot of trailer for a Tacoma. I get 12.9 to 13.7 with my Frontier but I'm pulling a much smaller (19 feet) & lighter TT. The 261 hp is adequate but suffers on steep grades. The suspension has been upgraded/lifted.

[Hersbird]

A pop-up or Hi-lo trailer will do much better, an Airstream or Scamp will do marginally better. As it is keep it under 60mph, anticipate stops, accelerate or climb hills with about 3/4 throttle to keep it out of fuel enrichment mode, and remember all the money your V6 saves the majority of time you use it when you aren't towing. I may get 13 mpg with my fancy diesel towing but its not good for much else so it sits besides the house.

[Briorick]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

A pop-up or Hi-lo trailer will do much better, an Airstream or Scamp will do marginally better. As it is keep it under 60mph, anticipate stops, accelerate or climb hills with about 3/4 throttle to keep it out of fuel enrichment mode, and remember all the money your V6 saves the majority of time you use it when you aren't towing. I may get 13 mpg with my fancy diesel towing but its not good for much else so it sits besides the house.

X2. Looking at the stats on the truck, and with his setup as is, it shows it's capable of pulling up to 6400 lbs. The Salem Cruise Lite 15bn that he has, it looks to be at roughly 3k lbs. "unloaded". It's a close match up, the headwinds may not be much fun, but it's doable.

I used to pull a 3k popup with a 6cyl Trailblazer and 6cyl Jeep GC. Was doable but I wouldn't win any races.

Sadly, the fuel economy isn't going to improve much, but they will still be able to go out and enjoy camping. Maybe a bigger TV will be on the OP's future Xmas list.

ENJOY!

[stevens233s]

I'm towing a 5000lbs 233s with my 4cyl canyon diesel and getting 16-17 mpg!!! The wdh may help a bit by possibly leveling out the profile of the truck and trailer!
It's definitely a good idea to have a WDH!

[aeblank]

Originally Posted by stevens233s

I'm towing a 5000lbs 233s with my 4cyl canyon diesel and getting 16-17 mpg!!! The wdh may help a bit by possibly leveling out the profile of the truck and trailer!
It's definitely a good idea to have a WDH!

And you drive a max of 50mph? That's some good mileage, seems to me.

[randymoore5]

I️ have a 2016 RAM 2500 diesel unloaded on hwy at 70 mph I’ll get 19-20 mpg. Pulling the 5th wheel drops to 13