Gas Mileage....

roman253 · 11-26-2013, 07:29 PM

Ok so my question is for those folks with a TT that is pulled by a 1/2 ton truck. I recently went on a trip and maintained a 65MPH almost the whole way there (cruise control) and noticed my gas mileage was pretty bad (7.7MPG compared to 14MPG w/o trailer). I know my MPG was never great but has anyone else had similar dips in their MPG?

AquaMan · 11-26-2013, 07:36 PM

Everyone has. You're not alone.

OldCoot · 11-26-2013, 07:42 PM

Normally get 20-21 @ 65 with no trailer on cruise, with trailer at 55-60 get 9.0-11.2.

Lloydg · 11-26-2013, 07:47 PM

With my former 4500 lb TT being pulled with a F150 5.2L I got 10-11 MPG vs. 17 MPG w/o. Now with my 9000 lb 5er pulled with a F250 6.2L I get 9-10 MPG vs. 14 MPG w/o. Sounds you're about right. That's a pretty good size TT you're pulling with a 5.6L. Welcome to the club!

Chuckinca · 11-26-2013, 08:02 PM

My combined total weight is about 15,500 to 16,000. At 65 MPH we get 10 - 11 MPG plus or minus depending on terrain and wind (better going downhill). W/O TT get around 18.

Ram 3500, MegaCab, camper shell, 6.7 L Cummins Diesel, 5,300# empty TT.

.

**bikendan** · 11-26-2013, 08:07 PM

you're driving too fast. try slowing down to 60 and you'll see better gas mileage.

but normal mpg for a gasser pulling a TT, is between 8-11 mpg, of course depending on the conditions.
did you research this before buying a TT?

roman253 · 11-26-2013, 08:32 PM

ok so it seems I'm not to far off and in compared to some, I shouldn't complain at all. I know that there are plenty of things that can change the mileage (weather, roads, weight) but I was just a little surprised at just how much. I know there are a few things that can help a little, but I didn't want to spend the $$$ on anything if there was something way off. From the sounds of it, the only thing way off were my expectations. Thank you folks for filling me in.

roman253 · 11-26-2013, 08:37 PM

thanks for the post and yes I did research the towing amounts but not the mileage issue while hauling. I have about a ton between my TT and max haul weight and it pulls very nice until about 45 MPH and then it can be a little slow and hang at high RPM's more. So I assumed that with good weather, flat road and below 2500RPM I would be better that's all.

OldCoot · 11-26-2013, 08:38 PM

If you tow @ 55 to 60, you'll find you get better mileage, probably around 1mpg better and if you go down to 50 -55 even better, but it seems like at 50-55 you could just about walk faster as EVERYTHING passes you.

BamaBob · 11-26-2013, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roman253

Ok so my question is for those folks with a TT that is pulled by a 1/2 ton truck. I recently went on a trip and maintained a 65MPH almost the whole way there (cruise control) and noticed my gas mileage was pretty bad (7.7MPG compared to 14MPG w/o trailer). I know my MPG was never great but has anyone else had similar dips in their MPG?

*Chuckles* Welcome to the gulp club :rollback:

I am thinking you can push 10MPG if you back off to 55-60 - just run at cruise at the lowest RPS possible

If I want to ROLL in my rig - I can do 65-70 (right at the tire rating) and I get 8MPG. Drop to 60-65 and it goes to 10MPG
drop to 55-60 and it goes to 12ish

At 55 I feel like folks on bicycles are passing me though - OTOH, DW and I have great conversations and in a couple years when we retire, whatthehellelse do we have to do? :rollback:

catworker · 11-26-2013, 08:58 PM

When I retired my wife and I planned to travel. Our first trip east we travels through Maryland to the coast of Virginia and back via West Virginia to our home in Illinois. Our mileage averaged 7 mpg towing, 14 - 17 not towing. Our 2000 mile trip cost $1200 for gas. The price then $3.86 to 4.28 per gallon. I towed a 2008 Surveyor SV233T (hybrid) with a 2005 Chevy 3500 Express van. I have a nice blue collar pension, but it's not nice enough to travel extensively.

We bit the bullet and downsized to a 2014 Rockwood A-194 HW, an A-frame camper. Replaced the van with a 2008 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab 4 x 4. Towing now we average 16 mpg, not towing 19 -23 mpg. Big different. The living conditions are definitely smaller but doable. We've camped 33 nights in our new rig since our purchase the end of July and the wife hasn't complained. She's a really good sport.

**bikendan** · 11-27-2013, 12:16 AM

one other problem you have is that you're pulling with a Nissan Titan, well known on the forums as having the worst gas mileage for a 1/2 v-8 pickup.

a good friend has a Titan and is always complaining about the gas mileage. even Armada owners complain about gas mileage, since it's built on the Titan powertrain.
but the Titan is a strong towing machine, it's just that Nissan hasn't kept up with the other v-8 truck manufacturers in technology. but i've seen that a diesel option may be in the future.

kandl · 11-27-2013, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roman253

Ok so my question is for those folks with a TT that is pulled by a 1/2 ton truck. I recently went on a trip and maintained a 65MPH almost the whole way there (cruise control) and noticed my gas mileage was pretty bad (7.7MPG compared to 14MPG w/o trailer). I know my MPG was never great but has anyone else had similar dips in their MPG?

Hemi has voracious appetite for fuel like Titan but we can manage 10-11 mpg by maintaining speed at/around 55 (90-100 km/hr in these parts). Yep, we get passed lots but c'est la vie. We're never in a hurry.

sail2liv · 11-27-2013, 05:51 AM

As speed increase so does drag...pulling a barn door really make good drag....I still have not figured out that I am almost the slowest driver out there and everyone passes me at least three times in a trip? Maybe they have to stop for fuel more often? This year mileage is lower, but wasn t there when wife loaded trailer...so mileage not as good, maybe I better run over the scales.... I was having hard time keeping rpms at 1500 @ 56-59 mph....but at a rest area a 5er pulled out ahead of me and I followed him - he was going 54-55 mph and at that speed the rpms stayed at 1500....so just a mph or two can make a difference....find the sweet spot for your truck for mileage and you will get to see everyone pass you three times on each trip.

**dcheatwood** · 11-27-2013, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Normally get 20-21 @ 65 with no trailer on cruise, with trailer at 55-60 get 9.0-11.2.

X2

rlocicero · 11-27-2013, 08:50 AM

I still cannot understand the issue here. We spend $30,000 to $40,000 for a truck and another #20,000 or $30,000 for a tt or 5er. Then we put 6000 lbs on the back of a 5000 lb vehicle and wonder why the fuel economy drops by 1/2... It's not rocket science, Gas mileage is going to suck! I, for one, do not care. I love camping and this is just part of it.

BigBaron · 11-27-2013, 09:35 AM

To the OP - I'd get a tranny temp gauge or beter yet, a scanguage. There are a lot of threads about it here. The best thing about the scanguage is you can get tranny temps AND a real-time MPG that is accurate. I've seen pics of 2.5 mpg while going uphill! Ouch!

force · 11-27-2013, 10:42 AM

I've complained so much about my mpg's that DW finally had to tell me to stop lol

8.5mpg towing (at most), 13.5 w/o in my 2500HD gas'r. I could probably squeek out another 1 mpg, 2 tops, but I prefer actual acceleration over saving $6 or 7 a tank

avolnek · 11-27-2013, 10:45 AM

I would also suggest trying to find some horse power / torque charts for your specific truck. In doing so you will find where the peak power is in relation to your rpm range. I will actually get better fuel mileage pulling 65 than I will at 60 due to where my RPM band is at those speeds.

Take some time and do a little research. Otherwise keeping tires inflated appropriately will be one of the best things you can do for fuel mileage.

Also, please don't rely on the truck's computer for true fuel mileage. Your best bet will be to hand calculate that! I use my trucks computer and programmer to find my sweet spot as it gives me a good reference as to what the truck is consuming... but it is far from accurate...

If I follow my programers fuel mileage I average about 24 unloaded and 20 loaded.... (hand calculated i'm half of that...)

w4drr · 11-27-2013, 11:07 AM

Let me throw this out there. I have not made any scientific study on this, but my observation has been, unless you are on flat terrain, using the cruise control while towing will decrease mileage. Slowing a little on hills, and speeding up on the downhill side seems to net better mileage. At least that is my story, and I'm sticking with it.

Bob

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