Gas mileage -- Expedition

joinco70 · 08-28-2016, 01:25 PM

We just bought a 2014 Ford Expedition to have a second, more family-friendly vehicle, to tow our 23WS. My husband's Silverado 2500 was getting around 8 MPG, so I was hoping we might get closer to 12. Nope! We are currently travelling from Colorado to Iowa, and we're only getting 8. Does anyone tow with an Expedition, and is your gas mileage this low as well? Thanks in advance!

jehrbear · 08-28-2016, 02:16 PM

I saw as low as 7mpg in Colorado towing a roo 19 with my Silverado 1500 (similar mpgs in general to your Expi). Went back to around 10mpg when we got between KS and MO. My truck didn't love the altitude or their 85 octane regular. I ran one tank of that and spent the extra on the mid grade 87 (which is the regular low grade here in Mo).
I had an Expedition once, but sold it for a better mpg vehicle ironically.
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**bikendan** · 08-28-2016, 02:41 PM

Gassers will always get around 9-11 average mpg.
So never expect a 12 mpg average.
Maybe going downhill.

You need a diesel if you want a consistent 12 mpg average.

kho6658 · 08-28-2016, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joinco70

We just bought a 2014 Ford Expedition to have a second, more family-friendly vehicle, to tow our 23WS. My husband's Silverado 2500 was getting around 8 MPG, so I was hoping we might get closer to 12. Nope! We are currently travelling from Colorado to Iowa, and we're only getting 8. Does anyone tow with an Expedition, and is your gas mileage this low as well? Thanks in advance!

This summer I towed from Texas to Florida, 9 MPG. Went from Texas to Alabama 8 MPG. The only way to get better is to tow at a slower speed. I choose to drive at 65, so it is what it is.

rockfordroo · 08-28-2016, 05:53 PM

My Silverado 2500 is getting about 9mpg pulling my Mini-Lite. I'm expecting (hoping?) it will improve to 9.5-10mpg after it gets broken in. Only about a 1,000 miles on it now.

If I were you, I'd be thinking more about the "family friendly" and less about the mileage. The mileage will suck no matter what you're towing with.

That being said, I'd rather be towing with the 2500 than the Explorer.

Drenjoey · 08-28-2016, 06:21 PM

Unless you're on a tight budget.....don't think about it. As some folks said: "It is what it is" .
Camping, family and fun is all that counts. Life is way too short to worry about the minor things.
Good chance you don't live in Canada where my family is from.....over $4.00 a gallon !!

jaymemiller · 08-28-2016, 07:29 PM

Wow, I thought my Tacoma did bad, and you get the same mpg with a v8.

joinco70 · 08-29-2016, 07:02 AM

These are all great points. I will up the octane on the next full up and hope for some improvement. If not, oh well. We are loving the Expedition and the fact that the kids have more room, and the dogs are inside the vehecle rather than in the truck shell. As far as towing performance, the newer Expedition is kicking the 2007 Silverado's butt in comfort. We can hardly tell it's behind us. I know it will be dogging it a bit in the mountains, but that's okay. Thanks for all the input. At least I know our MPG is normal.

Celestep2k1 · 08-29-2016, 12:17 PM

We tow our 2007 21SS (4850-lbs unloaded) with a 2004 Cadillac Escalade 6.0 AWD and are getting 13-mpg. A couple trips ago we encountered a 5-mile stretch with 12% uphill grade. The old Cadi handled it great. Also, we notice a huge gas savings when traveling under 60-mph. The Cadi sucks the gas tank dry so fast when towing at over 65-mph.

larryandamy · 08-29-2016, 01:44 PM

Sounds about right.
I just completed an 11,040 mile trip from San Diego to Alaska and back and my average mileage was 9.1 MPG.
I towed a 2011 27 foot, SS22-16 Stealth Limited toy hauler (5200lb dry) with my 2008 Sequoia, 5.7L V8.
Driving under 65 MPH makes a big difference.
I only got 7-8 MPG driving at 65-75 MPH.
I planned gas budget for 8 MPG so I was within budget.

But I also went through 3 tires, 2 leaf springs and 2 axles.
Parts were over $2000 and I did all the repairs myself in Walmart parking lots.
The Denali highway kicked our butt even driving around 30 MPH.

I will be sending out a detailed trip report for information for those planning to do the Alaska trip.
My biggest complaint was not being able to explore turnoffs with my trailer for fear of not being able to turn around to get back to the main road.

Lesson learned is that I am going sell the Sequoia and the SS22-16 Limited toy hauler and buy a 350 size 4X4 diesel truck and a slide on camper.
I have lots of research to do on the truck. I am leaning toward the Lance slide on campers.
I wish Toyota had a large diesel truck, but they don't.
Leaning toward the Ford, but trying to keep a open mind.
I am a retired reliability engineer and I still have concerns over Chevy and especially Dodge reliability.
But last time I researched this was many years ago.

Thanks

TandSH · 08-29-2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joinco70

These are all great points. I will up the octane on the next full up and hope for some improvement. If not, oh well. We are loving the Expedition and the fact that the kids have more room, and the dogs are inside the vehecle rather than in the truck shell. As far as towing performance, the newer Expedition is kicking the 2007 Silverado's butt in comfort. We can hardly tell it's behind us. I know it will be dogging it a bit in the mountains, but that's okay. Thanks for all the input. At least I know our MPG is normal.

Using a higher octane fuel will not affect (improve) fuel mileage. Octane is a measure of the gasoline's (and it's blend of additives) to resist pre-ignition /detonation, commonly called "knock". Wider cut fuels such as lower octane and diesel actually have more energy potential per gallon than higher refined fuels. Buying gas without ethanol will also improve mileage for the same reason stated in the last sentence but generally not priced to be economical and hard to find.

jjuscg · 08-30-2016, 07:54 AM

I tow with an Expedition, and also like it for it's roominess and comfort. I had a 25' Salem (about 4900 lbs dry weight) and got a solid 9 MPG on numerous trips, both summer and winter, including Ohio to Fla last winter.
This year I traded up to a 29', but it was only about 400 lbs heavier. Imagine my surprise when my mileage went up to a solid 10 mpg on several trips of several hundred miles. Trailer configuration is the same - I wouldn't have though that a different trailer (2006 model to 2015) would result in better mileage, but that was my pleasant experience.

Purdyquibb · 08-30-2016, 08:44 AM

I have an 06 towing a 23ss. Sounds to me like your just about right on the money. We just got back from Mackinaw and just like always, we get between 8 and 10, depending on wind. Love the way it pulls but everyone I have ever talked to is getting right about the same mileage. Camp on!

gickes · 08-30-2016, 02:06 PM

I drive a 2016 explorer pulling a palomini light recently got over 12 miles per gallon traveling from MI. thru the bad lands, mount Rushmore and Yellowstone park onto Oregon and back. speed around 62 to 65 mpg

JustB_Rad · 08-30-2016, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joinco70

These are all great points. I will up the octane on the next full up and hope for some improvement. If not, oh well. We are loving the Expedition and the fact that the kids have more room, and the dogs are inside the vehecle rather than in the truck shell. As far as towing performance, the newer Expedition is kicking the 2007 Silverado's butt in comfort. We can hardly tell it's behind us. I know it will be dogging it a bit in the mountains, but that's okay. Thanks for all the input. At least I know our MPG is normal.

The trade off isn't even worth it. As long as you're using the manufacturers recommended fuel, just fill it up and drive. Here is an example with round numbers.

If 87 Octane is $2.00/Gal and you are going on a 100 mile trip at 9MPG...you will use 11.1 Gallons of fuel or $22.22

If you use 89 octane that is $.30 more per gallon (That's what it is around here), you would need to 10.35MPG to just break even....a 1.35 MPG increase or almost 14%. That's not going to happen.

The only thing that MIGHT, and I stress MIGHT give you better mileage would be if you are in an area that has ethanol free 87 octane gas. You might pay around 10 cents more per gallon than with 10% ethanol for it, but you MIGHT see enough of a MPG increase to justify it. Those 87 Octane ethanol free stations are HARD to find.

joinco70 · 08-31-2016, 08:33 AM

Yes, I would say that's in line with my findings. I think my gad mileage did go down a bit. Good information!

n4uaj · 09-02-2016, 04:56 PM

Years ago I listened in on a discussion between a coworker that always had a camper and another that vacationed in apartments, beach house rentals etc. The camping guy told the other flat out that if gas prices and mpg were a major concern that he would have never bought the first camper to begin with. The camping experience is well worth the price paid to haul your home away from home wherever you want to go.

SGM-79S · 09-03-2016, 11:09 AM

I have a 2012 Toyota Tacoma V6 4.0 l and I am towing a 2017 Roo 19. I am averaging 13-14 mpg.

joinco70 · 09-04-2016, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGM-79S

I have a 2012 Toyota Tacoma V6 4.0 l and I am towing a 2017 Roo 19. I am averaging 13-14 mpg.

Wow! What do you think your average speed is? I'm coming to the conclusion that speed is the biggest factor.

rockfordroo · 09-04-2016, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGM-79S

I have a 2012 Toyota Tacoma V6 4.0 l and I am towing a 2017 Roo 19. I am averaging 13-14 mpg.

WOW. I pulled my Roo 19 with a Traverse (3.6L) and got 9 mpg. I pulled it with a 2009 Silverado (5.3L, 3.73) and got 9 mpg. And that's in the flat midwest.

I'm having a hard time believing 13-14.

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