Real World MPG's While Towing
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 90
Likes: 25
From: SE Wisconsin
Real World MPG's While Towing
I'm beginning to look at some of our summer travels, which will be our first with our new F150. This makes me wonder how often gas stops will be needed. So, I'm curious if we can create an informal history of typical mpg's while towing.
Key information might include:
-Engine
-Trailer length/weight
-Common terrain (Midwest flatland, western mountains, etc...)
-Typical driving speed/style
Key information might include:
-Engine
-Trailer length/weight
-Common terrain (Midwest flatland, western mountains, etc...)
-Typical driving speed/style
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
From: Lake Forest, CA
3.5 EB, 4x4, 10 speed
14ft Enclosed Trailer/5000lbs
Highway with one pass (southern california... so some traffic sprinkled in there)... 400 miles round trip
Mostly cruise at 65ish, some traffic
10.5 mpg average
14ft Enclosed Trailer/5000lbs
Highway with one pass (southern california... so some traffic sprinkled in there)... 400 miles round trip
Mostly cruise at 65ish, some traffic
10.5 mpg average
5 Year Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 836
Likes: 362
From: Snohomish, WA
Trucks: Both the '16 (6.2L) and '11 (3.5L) trucks in my signature averaged 8.5 MPG towing the trailer.
Trailer: 30' total length, 11' tall, actual weight is 7,500 lbs.
Terrain: Terrain in WA is hilly. Our home is at 500' above sea level. Within 10 miles of our house, the highway is 15' above sea level and 150 miles later, we are at 5400' (North Cascades Pass). Most of the time, we are travelling a Snoqualmie Pass that's 3000' and dropping down to 700' in eastern WA.
Speed: Main open highway driving is 65 mph with the cruise control set. If it is 2 lane roads, 50mph. Always with Tow/Haul mode.
Notes: For travel planning, I use 8 MPG and figured about 160 mile range for the 3.5L (26 gal tank) about a 225 mile range for the 6.2L (35 gal tank) between fill ups. This may seem very conservative, but once on the road, we've never had the gas light come on.
Trailer: 30' total length, 11' tall, actual weight is 7,500 lbs.
Terrain: Terrain in WA is hilly. Our home is at 500' above sea level. Within 10 miles of our house, the highway is 15' above sea level and 150 miles later, we are at 5400' (North Cascades Pass). Most of the time, we are travelling a Snoqualmie Pass that's 3000' and dropping down to 700' in eastern WA.
Speed: Main open highway driving is 65 mph with the cruise control set. If it is 2 lane roads, 50mph. Always with Tow/Haul mode.
Notes: For travel planning, I use 8 MPG and figured about 160 mile range for the 3.5L (26 gal tank) about a 225 mile range for the 6.2L (35 gal tank) between fill ups. This may seem very conservative, but once on the road, we've never had the gas light come on.
Senile member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,633
Likes: 1,058
From: Sarasota, FL area
2017 3.5EB SCREW 4x4 3.31's. Sundance Ultra Lite 278BH (probably 7k-7500lbs loaded).
35" tires, bilstein 5100 level
anywhere from 8.5-11mpg depending on wind, ambient weather. Can do the higher end of the range and upwards of 12mpg when drafting semis on the interstate.
Florida (some hills, lot of overpasses). Wind here has been stupid over the past year. Even summer was windy.
The average you'll see is about the same for all trucks. It's not the trailer weight that kills it, really. It's the aerodynamics of trailers. Big tall TT's with a big frontal area just destroy economy.
35" tires, bilstein 5100 level
anywhere from 8.5-11mpg depending on wind, ambient weather. Can do the higher end of the range and upwards of 12mpg when drafting semis on the interstate.
Florida (some hills, lot of overpasses). Wind here has been stupid over the past year. Even summer was windy.
The average you'll see is about the same for all trucks. It's not the trailer weight that kills it, really. It's the aerodynamics of trailers. Big tall TT's with a big frontal area just destroy economy.
Last edited by chimmike; Feb 3, 2020 at 03:14 PM.
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 281
Likes: 87
From: Washington
2018 5.0 V8 on 35" tires. 10mpg average. 300 miles round trip
7x12 enclosed cargo trailer full of ATV's and associated tools/gear. Guessing 5k-6k pounds
Washington state. As clarkbre said above "Terrain in WA is hilly"
65mph on the highway. Tow/Haul mode 100% of the time
7x12 enclosed cargo trailer full of ATV's and associated tools/gear. Guessing 5k-6k pounds
Washington state. As clarkbre said above "Terrain in WA is hilly"
65mph on the highway. Tow/Haul mode 100% of the time
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5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 1,275
2014 3.5 Ecoboost 4x4 with 3.73's and 33" Wrangler Duratracs, Jayco Jayfeather x213 with a 5500 lb GVWR:
10 mpg at 70mph in ideal conditions but have seen as low as 7 mpg fighting headwinds in Wyoming and Idaho.
10 mpg at 70mph in ideal conditions but have seen as low as 7 mpg fighting headwinds in Wyoming and Idaho.
