Tow Vehicle Specs for Better Mileage

[rlocicero]

Originally Posted by Macman747

We made our first ever RV trip from Austin, TX to South Padre Island. Pulling a 2021 IBEX BHS with a BMW X5 with a 4.4L V8. I found that the BMW just didn't have enough torque to be able to keep itself in its highest gear. Only in high gear would my instantaneous mileage gauge go over 10 MPG. This first trip, we averaged 7 MPG. At 282 HP and 324 ft-lb of torque, I think it just doesn't have enough power to keep itself in the sweet spot it needs to be in order to perform at it's best.


I've been looking at used Tahoes or Yukons. Does anyone know how well these would do as a tow vehicle for this size trailer? What HP / torque minimums should I restrict my search to? My initial thought was to not consider anything less than 300 HP and 350 ft-lbs of torque. What do you think?

My 2019 F150 3.5 ecoboost has 375HP and 450# torque, more than enough to tow your current TT with enough power to even upgrade tt's

[rlocicero]

You will still be in the 9.5 to 11.5 MPG range.

[NMWildcat]

If you are concerned about mpg while towing an RV, you need a different hobby

[Relaxin in the woods]

You don't buy them for the towing, you buy them for the camping!

I just can't see changing vehicles to pick up a couple mpg while towing. Those mpg are going to take a looong time to pay for themselves.

[corn18]

My truck gets 15 hwy, 11 city just pulling itself around. It weighs 7,400 lbs. I wonder what gas mileage a 1/2 ton would get if you loaded it up to 7,400 lbs? I get 8 mpg pulling my 11,000 lbs 5er that is 13' 6" tall.

[JRHERE]

Chevy Suburban/Tahoe and Ram 1500 are both offering smallish diesels that are daily driver friendly. Ram 3.0 (I believe?) has max tow cap of 7400 lbs or thereabouts. 460 lbs of torque. Suburban about the same. The 'Burb will no doubt be Gawdawful expensive, but so is a BMW.
These vehicles will get as good mileage, towing, as is available today. Chevy diesel is a new intro. The Ram 3.0 has been on the road and getting better.
I would guess that the small BMW high RPM engine resents towing. My daily driver, an RX350, is similar. It has a tow package, and specs for 6k load, but there's no way it's up to that. Excellent vehicle otherwise.
The Suburban wheelbase would make for a better tow vehicle compared to the Tahoe.

[juice5]

Originally Posted by Macman747

We made our first ever RV trip from Austin, TX to South Padre Island. Pulling a 2021 IBEX BHS with a BMW X5 with a 4.4L V8. I found that the BMW just didn't have enough torque to be able to keep itself in its highest gear. Only in high gear would my instantaneous mileage gauge go over 10 MPG. This first trip, we averaged 7 MPG. At 282 HP and 324 ft-lb of torque, I think it just doesn't have enough power to keep itself in the sweet spot it needs to be in order to perform at it's best.


I've been looking at used Tahoes or Yukons. Does anyone know how well these would do as a tow vehicle for this size trailer? What HP / torque minimums should I restrict my search to? My initial thought was to not consider anything less than 300 HP and 350 ft-lbs of torque. What do you think?

Skip the Tahoe n go right to 3/4 used suburban...you get wheelbase, power, stability, room, safte
y ect ect....mileage as the man said is not good on any until you go diesel n drive 62 to 65....juice in apple valley currently pulling 25 pack 12 with diesel F250 king ranch with extra leafs

[21wolfpupfq]

Originally Posted by Macman747

We made our first ever RV trip from Austin, TX to South Padre Island. Pulling a 2021 IBEX BHS with a BMW X5 with a 4.4L V8. I found that the BMW just didn't have enough torque to be able to keep itself in its highest gear. Only in high gear would my instantaneous mileage gauge go over 10 MPG. This first trip, we averaged 7 MPG. At 282 HP and 324 ft-lb of torque, I think it just doesn't have enough power to keep itself in the sweet spot it needs to be in order to perform at it's best.


I've been looking at used Tahoes or Yukons. Does anyone know how well these would do as a tow vehicle for this size trailer? What HP / torque minimums should I restrict my search to? My initial thought was to not consider anything less than 300 HP and 350 ft-lbs of torque. What do you think?

At what rpm is that 324 ft/lb torque rated at? I suspect very high rpm.
My TV is a 2018 VW Atlas 4motion 3.6 V6 276hp@6200 rpm with only 266 lbs/ft torque but that is at only 2750 rpm. I get as high as 13.5mpg with low of high 11's on regular gas, close to 3k miles to date. Using normal mode on tranny selector as I don't really see much difference/need with the 'sport' mode. TT is a 21 WolfPup 16FQ. Cat scales data on last trip - steer axle 2780lbs(174 below max);drive axle 3300lbs(over by 147);trailer axle 3820lbs. Will add another washer to WDH to put more weight up front.

[jjtotten]

Originally Posted by Macman747

We made our first ever RV trip from Austin, TX to South Padre Island. Pulling a 2021 IBEX BHS with a BMW X5 with a 4.4L V8. I found that the BMW just didn't have enough torque to be able to keep itself in its highest gear. Only in high gear would my instantaneous mileage gauge go over 10 MPG. This first trip, we averaged 7 MPG. At 282 HP and 324 ft-lb of torque, I think it just doesn't have enough power to keep itself in the sweet spot it needs to be in order to perform at it's best.


I've been looking at used Tahoes or Yukons. Does anyone know how well these would do as a tow vehicle for this size trailer? What HP / torque minimums should I restrict my search to? My initial thought was to not consider anything less than 300 HP and 350 ft-lbs of torque. What do you think?

I have not been able to understand why you think you can drive in your highest gear pulling a trailer with a vehicle that was never designed to pull a trailer. In the highest gear you are probably only running 15 to 1800 rpm and the torque you are talking about is only a a certain RPM. If you really want this vehicle to perform like a truck you need the gearing of a truck not an automobile. If I were driving it I would probably never be in high gear except perhaps when going down hill. Just put the vehicle in a lower gear and let it get to the RPM necessary to produce the required torque. 324 @ 3600 RPM If I got the right application you can see that the torque you are talking about is 3600 rpm which in high gear would be pretty fast.

I didn't find the rear end ratio but the vehicles that you were interested in but they are geared rather low if they have a towing package on them. HP is not a consideration when you are talking about towing the only thing that you need to consider is the torque. Your BMW is probably pretty high. I have the same engine in my sedan and I would choose an RMP that developed the needed torque and forget about the highest gear.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by juice5

Skip the Tahoe n go right to 3/4 used suburban...you get wheelbase, power, stability, room, safte
y ect ect....mileage as the man said is not good on any until you go diesel n drive 62 to 65..

You do know that the 3/4 ton Burb hasn't been made since 2014, right?
So there aren't a lot of them around.

[Theb2b]

My experience with an under sized vehicle for the task at hand. I had a 02 Dakota rated at 5,000 lbs towing and 600 lb payload if I remember, didn't know it at the time but it was unique for it's size. Pulling a Jayco White Hawk 24RBS and it was a struggle, OD off and I got 6 mpg, 7 going down hill with a tail wind. She had a 17 gallon tank, it was fill up, find the next station.
Traded it for 14 Ram 1500 ecodiesel, 11, 12 mpg towing with a 26 gallon fuel tank, plenty of power, gobs of torque and we were road tripping. As others have said, right vehicle for the job at hand.

[IvoryHemi]

Originally Posted by 21wolfpupfq

TT is a 21 WolfPup 16FQ. Cat scales data on last trip - steer axle 2780lbs(174 below max);drive axle 3300lbs(over by 147);trailer axle 3820lbs. Will add another washer to WDH to put more weight up front.

Looks like you’re 83 lbs over GVWR. Need to shift more weight to the trailer

[dbledan]

This....

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

If you are concerned about mpg while towing an RV, you need a different hobby

You will see 8MPG if you slow down to 60 to 65. That is pretty typical for a TT unless you switch to a diesel....then you will see 10 if you are lucky. Still a stretch.

You will likely NOT want to use the high gear when towing. The TV is staying in the power band to pull the barn door behind you. If you dont want to hear it scream you can get something with a turbo but your gas milage will not really change but expect it to down shift to mai tain speed even going downhill.

Save the money on the trade-in/upgrade for your gas. If you want better gas milage get a tent.

[thewheelman]

Don't expect great mileage from anything towing a several thousand pound brick. Gas 8-11 (as others have said), diesel--a bit more. As I've said before, towing it is not my worry, stopping it is. A good, heavy truck or van (I used to pull with an E250 conversion van--best pulling vehicle I've ever owned) is best. Brands are like ice cream, everybody has a favorite. I prefer the blue oval, but there are a number of options. My son purchased a new truck last year--F150 SuperCrew 4x4 3.5, the whole shooting match. Then child #4 appeared, so now, he pulls the camper with the truck and she follows with the kids. Think ahead and plan accordingly.
Good luck! Safe Travels!

[juice5]

Originally Posted by bikendan

You do know that the 3/4 ton Burb hasn't been made since 2014, right?
So there aren't a lot of them around.

Ive had 8 subs over the years...my best bein the 97 diesel...after 300k my wife sold it to a Harley biker freind...bought another gasser sub and a Grey wolf 27RR...pulled the new wolf home and traded the sub on a new lariat F250 Diesel which I loved ! March of 16 we rolled the whole opperation down a Nevada mountain caused by freak wind and castle rocks. 6 weeks in Reno hosp. Now have 25 pack 12 pullin with F250 Diesel...n Goodyears on everything. Good Camping to you ! juice

[Bhrava]

6400 pound trailer behind a 14, 16 and 18 Ecoboost 3.5 F150 averages between 7-10 MPG, 4 up the IKE. Same trailer behind a 6.7 F350 Powerstroke is 13. A 13,000 5th wheel behind the same F350 is 10.5.

If MPG is a concern, you have the wrong hobby. Replacing the TV for MPG concerns is a waste of time and money, but if the concern is that the TV is under rated, then by all means upgrade. Keep in mind though, an SUV is easily overloaded compared to a pick up. Way too easy to fill all the seats with people and pack things in the back and be over weight before even hitching up, so make sure whatever you do look at has a LOT of payload! 1800 pounds is a comfortable load, giving room to spare.

[WkndWarrior]

I tow a 23ft TT with my 2015 GMC Yukon Denali (6.2L) and I get around 10-12mpg down the highway. The truck has a 8500lb tow capacity and the trailer is about 5000lbs packed up. The only time I don't stay in high gear is up hills or a bad headwind. If looking for Yukon/Tahoe, make sure that you have an air suspension kit in the back to make trailer/truck level. The Yukon while in towing mode has autimatic downshifting grade braking which really helps on the brakes. Hope this helps, good luck!

[Tacky]

Most tow vehicles will run in a lower gear while towing, and will get crappy mileage. I have a Silverado with the max tow package and it spends most of its time in 5th instead of 6th, and will quickly downshift on minor grades. That is just the way it is. If you are otherwise happy with your BMW, keep it. If you really, really want to stay in top gear while towing, get a full size diesel pickup.

[Cabinfever97]

Pulling our 34ft Hemisphere, weighs 9300LBS all ready to camp, with a weekend worth of firewood in truck. With our 2007 Silverado 2500hd we get about 7MPG. When towing with our 2015 F250 we get about 8MPG. Those numbers are average. We might get .5 +/- depending on speed.

[hanknum]

Here's my experience...

My first TV was a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (3.0 liter V6 hybrid). We towed our 3000# TT and I got 14-15 mpg. This vehicle was my wife's daily driver and would get 26 mpg when not towing, and that was all on regular gas.

My second TV was a 2009 MB ML550 (5.5 liter V8, 382hp/391ft-lb). We towed our 3500# TT and I got 9 mpg. This was my daily driver and I would get 16 mpg when not towing, on premium fuel.

My current TV is a 2012 BMW X5 35d (3.0 liter I6 diesel, 265hp/425ft-lb). We tow our 3500# TT and I got 16 mpg. This is my daily driver and I get 22 mpg when not towing, on diesel.

I got rid of the MB for the X5. The MB was a nice vehicle, but boring to drive. The X5 is much sportier and tows the TT easily. The torque of the diesel peaks around 1600 rpm and I can cruise at 65-70 all day long. Mine is an E70 with a 6 spd transmission. the later models have an 8 spd transmission and can achieve over 30 mpg when not towing, but not sure if the transmission would "hunt" more with the two additional cogs when towing.