Miles per gallon thread.

[Fireballsocal]

Neal and Bev are going to make this thread a sticky so anyone can get an idea of what to expect for fuel milage. Please post your hi-lo model # and year, your tow vehicle and any pertinent info such as automatic/stick shift and V8, V10. diesel, etc. And of course, your milage.

[vannooch]

I have a 2693RD I tow at approximately 5000# with a 2001 Savana van with a 5.7 gasoline engine, four speed auto and 3:73 axle ratio. I get about 12 to 13 with this combination. Most of my travels are 50% mountainous with a 600# motorcycle in my van as well.

[sayhonkmon]

I have a 2207 classic that I tow with a 2005 Dodge 2500 diesel, 6 speed manual and I get 20 mpg. I try to drive 60-65 mph. I take it easy and drive like there is an egg under my accelerator foot. I do not like giving my gas money to the greedy oil people. Right now, I have the diesel parked in my garage, my camper is in it's garage and my little Honda is only used for grocery runs. This is how it will be until I figure out how to make white lightning that will power my diesel engine. Some day, somewhere, some intelligent person will invent a fuel that will be cheap and plentiful, that will not be petroleum based and will put OPEC out of business. I hope that I live to see that day. Amen!

[JackandJanet]

Great idea! I have a Ford 2005 F-150 KR SuperCrew 4X4, 5.4 V8 gas engine. It has an ARE bed cap on it that weighs about 300# and the truck has the factory tow package with a 3.73 gear ratio. I tow a 1707T Hi-Lo that is normally at about 3600# when towing (I've weighed things at a truck scale). And, my truck bed tends to be pretty loaded with food, equipment and so on. When towing, I drive at or below 65 mph. When not towing, I drive the speed limit - in Arizona it's 75 on the Interstates.

I've towed this thing over 11,000+ foot passes in Colorado and to slightly lower (10,000+ foot) elevations in Arizona and California.

Using a spreadsheet to keep track of things, my average fuel usage when NOT towing (over 5671 miles) was 15.1 mpg. This is almost entirely on trips - I drive a car in town as my "daily driver". My towing fuel usage was 12.6 mpg over 3559 miles.

So, towing the trailer has given me a 2.5 mpg hit in gas mileage.

I've attached a picture from our last trip to Yosemite to help clarify things.

- Jack

[campthewestcoast]

I think I get pretty good milage, I tow with a 06 toyota tacoma prerunner 4.0 liter v-6 automatic and a 97 21ft. towlite of a wieght of 3500# loaded.
I get 16.1 miles per gallon!!!!

[Neal and Bev]

2010 F150
Two wheel drive
5.4 engine
Automatic Transmission
3:55 axle

Towing our 2201 TL

We average about 13 MPG, 65 to 70 MPH

[RCREYES]

About 9 MPG pulling a 2404T
2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4X4, Automatic, with Astro Camper Shell
6.0 Gas Engine, 4:10
K&N Cold Air Filter
True dual exhaust (Turbos)
Travel at 65-70 MPH

[Bubbie]

2007 Classic 28 Footer (2807C)
16-17 MPG cruising @ 65 MPH
2006 Dodge 3500 Mega Cab Dually 5.9 Cummins Diesel rear wheel drive
6 speed stick shift with cab-high camper shell
(MPG doubled with HI LO compared to old 36 foot 5th wheeler)

Next trip - 2011 Dodge 2500 Crew Cab with 6.7 Cummins 4x4
6 speed automatic 4x4 cab-high camper shell

UPDATE: As anticipated, the MPG did drop with the bigger, more powerful 6.7 Cummins, Auto Trans
with 4WD. Just over 14 MPG cruising at 65 MPH. May improve after break-in.....
I do like the "Tow/Haul" tranny and the engine brake (especially in the mountains). HiLo brakes will last 4-ever!!!!

[TJM]

We tow our 1996 22' Hi-lo with a 2001 Toyota 4WD,3.4V6,automatic with a Snug Top shell with 127,000 miles on it and get 12-14 miles per gallan. Will be interesting,though, to see what we get on our upcoming trip next month, to the West Coast as I think that we all know that the fuel we are being gouged for now is junk.

[Fireballsocal]

2006 Toyota tundra regular cab long bed. 2wd, V8 and 5 speed automatic. Completely stock with 3.92:1 gear ratio. I had approx. 500 pounds of motorcycle and fuel in the bed.
2203T fully loaded with full freshwater tank and food/beverages/supplies for 1 person on a 3 day weekend.
338 miles traveled round trip with 1 decent sized hill (Whitewater grade on the 10 freeway near Palm Springs). The conditions were pretty optimal with little traffic and almost zero headwind so I think this is a best case scenario. I traveled a steady 60mph with street pressure (35PSI) in the both truck and trailer tires. Fantastic milage!
14.9MPG.

[boater454]

Just took my first trip and got 12.5 MPG in the Cumberland mountains. You can see my Hi-Lo and TV in signature.

[Lloyd]

2704 Towlight
2004 Expedition w/5.4

Just back wintering in Texas and got as low as 10 mpg keeping up with the 70mph traffic on the crowded interstate. Detoured off the interstate and got in the 12-13 range while traveling a more reasonable speed. The gas pedal is the best mpg regulator.

[wmjbuying]

We have a 2003 22' Tow Lite. It is towed with a 2002 Tundra, 4.7 V8, 4sd Auto and 3:92 axel. We get 13.4 to 14.0 at 60 to 65 mph. When we go we are full of water and LP (2-20# tanks)

[PopRichie77]

1999 Ford Explorer, 3.55 axel ratio, 5 speed auto, 4.0 V6, about 200 lbs in the back. 1995, 21ft. Towlite, 3400 lbs. empty, had it weight, about 3800 loaded, towed approx. 90,000 miles overall average about 13MPG.
2209 Towlite, weights 460 lbs. more empty than the 95, towed about 4,000 miles so far, haven't keep good recordes on gas milage yet but it looks like it is going to drop by 1 mile per gallon. With the increased weight a 3.73 axel would be better for towing.

[robobd]

towing a 88 22l funchaser going 65 mph in the rain with a 99 f250 with a 7.3 diesel (stock) I got 13.5 mpg

[cptmoney]

Put me down for an even 15 mpg while towing our '94 model 21'.

We're towing with a '92 Chevrolet 1/2 ton, 350 V8 with a 5-spd.

[TJM]

I have noticed that many of the people posting their miles per gallon have stated driving 65 and 70 miles per hour. Isn't that against the law in most states? I know on our most recent trip, to the West Coast, posted speed for vehicles towing a trailer, in California for example, is 55 miles per hour. And towing at 65 m.p.h. in the rain, INSANE. Just my two cents worth.

[PopRichie77]

Many states in the east are 70 miles per hour, but RV, ST trailer tires are rated at 65 max. I tow around 65 and under on these highways but many RV trailers blow by me and they must be doing at least 75.

[cptmoney]

I was holding steady at 65 mph - until I ran into the 3 mountain passes! That slowed me right down to 45, in 3rd gear.

[ArkTinkerer]

Just over 12MPG towing model 2577 with extension for a toolbox on back. Tow vehicle is a 2000 Lincoln Navigator 2WD. Usually run around 60mph.

ArkTinkerer