Another Towing MPG thread
10-06-2011, 02:07 PM
#1
Another Towing MPG thread
I figured I would make a post for those who want some real world towing MPG numbers.
My truck is a 2011 Ecoboost Screw 4WD with 3.55 gears and my trailer is a 2012 Prime Builders Tracer 3150BHD.
The trip was from SE Pa to the Salmon River in NY. 270 miles each way.
Trailer is 31' and 6,700 lbs. dry. With gear, 7,000 lbs. is a fair number. It was me and one passenger. I use a weight distribution hitch with active sway.
In summary, 540 miles, 9.0 +/- MPG.
I used 93 octane (ethanol blend in Pa) and did 8.6 mpg on the way up. Conditions were cool and overcast with little wind.
I used 87 octane (ethanol blend in NY) and did 9.5 on the way back. Conditions were cool, sunny and windy, say 20-30 mph.
Average speed both ways was 65 MPH. The trip was 95% highway, the Pa Turnpike and Route 81.
I don't think the MPG difference was a result of the octane, rather it was the elevation climb on the way up and of course down on the way back. I used the 87 on the way down just to see if there was a difference. Had I used premium maybe I would have got a point, maybe 2 but I doubt much better.
I did not notice much of a performance difference one way or the other. If I had to chose between the two gas grades I might give 93 a slight edge but not enough to warrant spending the difference for premium. If it was 90+ degrees out then maybe but my trans. temp. never went above 195.
My friend shared the driving. He has towed before with several vehicles but I'll leave you with a couple of his comments. "Is it still attached?" and "This is funny, it's just like the commercial" when passing other trailers.
My truck is a 2011 Ecoboost Screw 4WD with 3.55 gears and my trailer is a 2012 Prime Builders Tracer 3150BHD.
The trip was from SE Pa to the Salmon River in NY. 270 miles each way.
Trailer is 31' and 6,700 lbs. dry. With gear, 7,000 lbs. is a fair number. It was me and one passenger. I use a weight distribution hitch with active sway.
In summary, 540 miles, 9.0 +/- MPG.
I used 93 octane (ethanol blend in Pa) and did 8.6 mpg on the way up. Conditions were cool and overcast with little wind.
I used 87 octane (ethanol blend in NY) and did 9.5 on the way back. Conditions were cool, sunny and windy, say 20-30 mph.
Average speed both ways was 65 MPH. The trip was 95% highway, the Pa Turnpike and Route 81.
I don't think the MPG difference was a result of the octane, rather it was the elevation climb on the way up and of course down on the way back. I used the 87 on the way down just to see if there was a difference. Had I used premium maybe I would have got a point, maybe 2 but I doubt much better.
I did not notice much of a performance difference one way or the other. If I had to chose between the two gas grades I might give 93 a slight edge but not enough to warrant spending the difference for premium. If it was 90+ degrees out then maybe but my trans. temp. never went above 195.
My friend shared the driving. He has towed before with several vehicles but I'll leave you with a couple of his comments. "Is it still attached?" and "This is funny, it's just like the commercial" when passing other trailers.
10-08-2011, 06:45 AM
#2
Senior Member
interesting indeed. My boat, all in, is 6k lbs. Truck pulls it with authority and is actually still fast.... mpg is 12-14 at 65, but I dont have wind resistance you do. Hit limiter once while pulling boat as I was passing some moron but had no idea I was that fast since it pulled so easy. slowed down after the pass of course.
10-08-2011, 08:40 AM
#3
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interesting indeed. My boat, all in, is 6k lbs. Truck pulls it with authority and is actually still fast.... mpg is 12-14 at 65, but I dont have wind resistance you do. Hit limiter once while pulling boat as I was passing some moron but had no idea I was that fast since it pulled so easy. slowed down after the pass of course.
You did 95+ MPH pulling a 6k boat and still have the nerve to call another driver a moron...Go figure
10-08-2011, 08:41 AM
#4
interesting indeed. My boat, all in, is 6k lbs. Truck pulls it with authority and is actually still fast.... mpg is 12-14 at 65, but I dont have wind resistance you do. Hit limiter once while pulling boat as I was passing some moron but had no idea I was that fast since it pulled so easy. slowed down after the pass of course.
I agree though that the truck is still fast even with this load. I got out of a 2010 4.6 3v screw because of towing this camper. The ecoboost does 0 to 60 with the load just as fast as the 4.6 3v did without. Amazing difference.
10-08-2011, 10:19 AM
#5
Senior Member
Made three day-long trips to Northern Ontario lately hauling a 4000# Travel Trailer at the speed limit, ~55-65 mph (~90-100 km/h), secondary roads and limited access highways. Terrain's pretty hilly.
Consistently got 12.25 mpg (19.2 L/100km) according to the trip recorder. And comparing the trip recorder to hand calc at the pump, I'm getting almost exactly the same values so those numbers are good.
Consistently got 12.25 mpg (19.2 L/100km) according to the trip recorder. And comparing the trip recorder to hand calc at the pump, I'm getting almost exactly the same values so those numbers are good.
10-08-2011, 10:30 AM
#6
Senior Member
Moron...drunk....mentally unstable... any one could apply. It was actually safer to fly past than to have him hit me. Just wanted to get around him and didnt watch my speed. Point is truck has plenty of power even when loaded.
10-08-2011, 04:11 PM
#7
