decrease in gas mileage when trailer weight goes up

[swj]

GM: Currently towing a FRiver Surveyor 251RKS, loaded weight is 7500 lbs.
Tow vehicle is a 2020 F250, 6.2 gasser. Current MPG is 7.8 mpg when towing. IF I upgrade to a loaded 9,500 trailer weight, what will my MPG be?

[richp]

The difference in frontal area of your two trailers will be a huge determinant of wind resistance -- the major factor in answering your question.

[Odyknuck]

More weight equal more fuel and hard to say how much however odds are MPG will go down.

[Oaklevel]

My experience is with older trucks but my guess is if the trailers frontal area is similar then your gas milage will change some but not greatly.

This is assuming that the new trailer is within the TVs capacities.

[swj]

looking at the Grand Design Reflection 297RSTS, my F250 has a 3900 payload

[Mike134]

Originally Posted by richp

The difference in frontal area of your two trailers will be a huge determinant of wind resistance -- the major factor in answering your question.

X2

[5picker]

MPG towing a trailer is more about frontal area than a few extra pounds of added weight. That front can be a big sail, or more slipstream in design.

Sure it will take a few extra HP to get things moving but rolling mileage will not change much.

I always get a kick out of those that say "I never tow with a full tank of water to get better fuel mileage." To that I ask... "Do you get tremendously worse fuel mileage with a full tank of fuel and a couple extra passengers in your vehicle?"

That 6.2 engine is a good workhorse. If you have the 10 speed transmission and at least a 3.73 rear end you won't empty your wallet worrying about MPG.

Until I traded trucks recently, I was towing a 13-15k 5th wheel with a 6.2, 6 speed, 3.73 and religiously got 7.5-8 MPG.

But, who really cares what MPG one gets? It is what it is and if you are chasing MPG numbers, you'll drive yourself nuts!

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by 5picker

MPG towing a trailer is more about frontal area than a few extra pounds of added weight. That front can be a big sail, or more slipstream in design.

Sure it will take a few extra HP to get things moving but rolling mileage will not change much.

I always get a kick out of those that say "I never tow with a full tank of water to get better fuel mileage." To that I ask... "Do you get tremendously worse fuel mileage with a full tank of fuel and a couple extra passengers in your vehicle?"

That 6.2 engine is a good workhorse. If you have the 10 speed transmission and at least a 3.73 rear end you won't empty your wallet worrying about MPG.

Until I traded trucks recently, I was towing a 13-15k 5th wheel with a 6.2, 6 speed, 3.73 and religiously got 7.5-8 MPG.

But, who really cares what MPG one gets? It is what it is and if you are chasing MPG numbers, you'll drive yourself nuts!

If people ask what kind of mileage will I get as their first question, and are thinking about RVing…..I tell them to maybe consider a different hobby or recreation.

I also sometimes answer with “And how many miles to the gallon does your house get?”

[Bob K4TAX]

Just like owning a boat. If one has to ask how many gallons per hour does it burn? You can't afford it. Our last one consumed about 30 GPH at 22 kts in decent seas That is about 1.3 gallons per mile. Our tankage was 300 gallons.

Don't fret about a 7 to 12 MPG consumption.

Bob

[D W]

With another ton of added weight, most likely you will lose 1-2 mpg.

[Reverse_snowbird]

You already know that the mpg is going to decrease because the weight you're towing is increasing significantly.

We can't give you a definite answer because it depends on speed, terrain and driving style.

Driving at around 60mph gave us what appeared to be the max mileage when we were towing a trailer. When we drove faster, you could almost see the gas gauge heading toward empty.

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by swj

GM: Currently towing a FRiver Surveyor 251RKS, loaded weight is 7500 lbs.
Tow vehicle is a 2020 F250, 6.2 gasser. Current MPG is 7.8 mpg when towing. IF I upgrade to a loaded 9,500 trailer weight, what will my MPG be?

You won’t know until you actually tow. Too many variables.

[BlueThunder]

You'll never spend the $100k on fuel that it would take to buy a new diesel Pick-up that gets 5 more MPG. :-)

[RamManMN]

Originally Posted by swj

GM: Currently towing a FRiver Surveyor 251RKS, loaded weight is 7500 lbs.
Tow vehicle is a 2020 F250, 6.2 gasser. Current MPG is 7.8 mpg when towing. IF I upgrade to a loaded 9,500 trailer weight, what will my MPG be?

There may be no difference. My experience with gas engine trucks:

1. GMC Canyon with 3.6L and 6000 pound trailer: 8 mpg +\- 1

2. GMC Sierra 6.2L and same 6K trailer: 8 MPG +\- 1

3. ram 2500 6.4L and 4.10 rear end with 7600 pound trailer : 8 mpg +\- 1

4. ram 2500 6.4L and 3.73 rear 3nd with same 7600 pound trailer : 8 mpg +\- 1

What then wind is doing seems to matter most. Head winds bad/tail winds good. Going faster bad/going slower good when it comes to MPG.

[Coldfingers]

Probably within a 1/2 mile per gallon, or if the newer one is more rounded like someone said, could be the same

[garywilson]

Originally Posted by swj

GM: Currently towing a FRiver Surveyor 251RKS, loaded weight is 7500 lbs.
Tow vehicle is a 2020 F250, 6.2 gasser. Current MPG is 7.8 mpg when towing. IF I upgrade to a loaded 9,500 trailer weight, what will my MPG be?

Seems like the increase in fuel costs would probably be the lesser of overall expenses... a little headwind probably hurts more than the weight.

[Coldfingers]

Right, you should be fine for the weight

[Dobbs]

I have a 2018 F-250, 6 speed automatic, 3.73. I went from a 30' trailer (not Forest River) to a 32' fifth wheel (also not Forest River). The trailer GVWR was 8900. The fiver started at 8900 and I have close to 1800 pounds of gear. I get the same, if not better, MPG with the fiver, which is a tad more aerodynamic. 8.5 to 9 MPG