chimmike

exactly. Aerodynamics is the overriding factor.

You could probably tow a 8000lb flatbed trailer with something like a load of steel plate and get better mpg than I do with my 3500lb TT

acdii

Probably. I had 1000# of equipment in the bed of my truck and got 17 MPG with a strong headwind going 70 MPH. Definitely not the weight, but the drag.

We decided to get a TT after going over what it would cost for a trip to the Grand Canyon staying at motels and eating out, etc. The down payment on the trailer, and the complete trip to Bryce for a week came out less, and that included fuel for 2 vehicles. Since then we made 4 more short trips that cost us very little. This is for 3 adults and 2 children, so it does make a difference depending on the number of people and rooms needed. Visiting state and federal camping grounds is also a great way to save money and get out for a weekend. Usually they are $20-$30 a night with electric hookup, less if you just drop hitch with no hookups.

Got 3 trips planned this year, first is next weekend in the Dells, $133 for 3 days for 5. Try doing that in a Motel, and add in eating out.

Deerchaser

Most states have a lesser speed limit while towing. FL is 65 if your towing.

thrifty biil

One challenge with the economics is if you have a loan on that trailer, payments are 12 months a year, while camping might be four or five months a year. The more you use it, the better it works out.

And some of the RV loans are ridiculously long term, anything from 10 years to as much as 20 years.

I consider RV travel a life style choice, rather than a money saver. I just enjoy it. Want to really save on travel? Take a high MPG car and sleep in a tent. I took a three week trip on my motorcycle to Alaska, slept in a tent every night, got 40MPH. Very cheap trip considering the distance traveled.

VigII

I run into NEPA for anthracite several times a year and did it many times with my 09 4.6 3V pulling my 6x10 low profile dump trailer (10k gvwr). Last month I hauled my first load with my 17 3.5 EB max tow. Huge difference in power as I expected.

I usually ran through the valleys with the 09 4.6 and on the same run towing 8,000, MPG in the 09 was around 11.2. The 17 3.5EB felt so strong I wanted to see what it'd do over the hills of coal country. MPG was 13.3 and the hills didn't strain it at all. Didn't see much over 3,500 rps uphill, and 4.5 down. In Tow/Haul always.

Now, I'm thinking about a 29' V-nosed TT. Westward hoooo!

NC F150

What speed rating are your tires?

mass-hole

Trailer weight probably only has a significant difference on MPG's when you are towing hills. Other than minor rolling resistance increases, the extra weight doesnt do anything on flat ground.

8th gear makes sense on the 10 speed. 10th is taller than the old 6th, 9th is the same as the old 6th, so that would mean 8th probably falls between the old 5th and 6th. A lot of people say the EB likes 5th on the 6 speed trucks.

chimmike

yeah, 9 and 10 are overdrive gears...well, 10 is super-duper overdrive lol

VigII

I 65 or 70, can't recall. I never see that on the roads I trailer the dump trailer on. Radial E, 80 psi.

Siskiyou

Where we always make up the difference is meals, with the trailer you aren't eating at restaurants all the time. Another really nice thing about rv's is we have our own bed with us.