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I have been getting consistently bad towing MPG’s given the light load I am towing and it just doesn’t seem right. I see people on here talking about their towing MPG’s and the ease of towing and I want in damn it! For example, the earlier thread with the guy getting 15 MPG towing two huge quads and a full load.
My setup:
2018 Screw, 5.0 FX4 , 3.55 rear end
Trailer / Load:
-Single axle 6x8 utility trailer with riding mower and old wood stove ( stove 150lbs max)
- 100 lb German Shep.
-185lb driver & 125 lb backseat driver
- 100lbs max worth of bags , cooler, etc.
- 36 to 9ish gallons fuel (truck)
Driving Scenario:
- I-75 along mid-to-northern Michigan (relatively flat )
- Speeds ranged from 70-72MPH
-RPMs were 1600-1800
- Drove in normal and tow/haul modes
What I’m Getting:
Per my truck’s computer, MPG’s under these conditions were 11.7 to 13.2, with the average being 12.1. My own math after fueling up after 80 miles was about 12.5 MPG.
Truck just seems like it’s doggin it and shouldn’t be with such a small trailer. Trailer wheels offer no resistance so it’s not that. My only truck mods that I feel would hurt my MPG’s are my 305/45R22’s or my MBRP exhaust.
Head wind? Running the ac? Your right it’s not the weight but more likely the wind resistance. Running that fast that stuff back there is catching a lot of air. I towed a fairly large side by side into a head wind on a car hauler trailer running 70 mph and got like 9 mpg.
Head wind? Running the ac? Your right it’s not the weight but more likely the wind resistance. Running that fast that stuff back there is catching a lot of air. I towed a fairly large side by side into a head wind on a car hauler trailer running 70 mph and got like 9 mpg.
Nope on the AC. Unsure on the headwind, if there was it wasn’t much.
Recently someone else made a similar post with a trailer like yours. Although it looks porous, at those speeds that ramp is pulling a lot of air with it. Try removing the ramp just as a test, or slow to 60mph and check mpg again.
I have been getting consistently bad towing MPG’s given the light load I am towing and it just doesn’t seem right. I see people on here talking about their towing MPG’s and the ease of towing and I want in damn it! For example, the earlier thread with the guy getting 15 MPG towing two huge quads and a full load.
My setup:
2018 Screw, 5.0 FX4 , 3.55 rear end
Trailer / Load:
-Single axle 6x8 utility trailer with riding mower and old wood stove ( stove 150lbs max)
- 100 lb German Shep.
-185lb driver & 125 lb backseat driver
- 100lbs max worth of bags , cooler, etc.
- 36 to 9ish gallons fuel (truck)
Driving Scenario:
- I-75 along mid-to-northern Michigan (relatively flat )
- Speeds ranged from 70-72MPH
-RPMs were 1600-1800
- Drove in normal and tow/haul modes
What I’m Getting:
Per my truck’s computer, MPG’s under these conditions were 11.7 to 13.2, with the average being 12.1. My own math after fueling up after 80 miles was about 12.5 MPG.
Truck just seems like it’s doggin it and shouldn’t be with such a small trailer. Trailer wheels offer no resistance so it’s not that. My only truck mods that I feel would hurt my MPG’s are my 305/45R22’s or my MBRP exhaust.
Thoughts?
Take it out of Tow Haul mode and see how it does!! IMO I don't think you need it in tow haul mode for that trailer!!
1600-1800rpm tells me you're running in 8th or 9th gear. That's part of it. 8th gear is still not an OD gear. if you can get it to hold 9th when towing, that's good and will cut mpg by at least 1-2.
Trailer hubs greased well? I've also found that the truck tire pressure makes a difference. I air my hankooks up to max pressure when towing. That's helped both stability and mpg.
Something is definitely off. If I'm not getting headwinds, I get 12.5 MPG towing my very un-aerodynamic TT (5000 lbs) and usually average 10.5-11.5 (mild winds, hills, longer trip) with my 2.7 EcoBoost :
Last edited by BlackBoost; 07-19-2018 at 10:24 AM.
07-18-2018, 09:30 PM
These towing MPG’s don’t seem right....
