Towing fuel economy... What are you getting?

[johnvosh]

Well after 3 trips with my new truck towing my trailer, I am quite happy with it! It pulls better than the 2.3L in my 2023 truck and the fuel economy towing seems to be a tick better as well. While towing I tend to keep my speed between 90-100 KM/H. I keep 10th locked out and depending on how's it going I will sometimes lock out 9th as well, otherwise I just let it do it's thing. I do run premium in my truck at all times usually. Either 91, 93, or 94 octane depending on the station I stop at. I don't use the computer reading as it is always off, saying I'm getting better than what I actually am getting. The truck bed carries the trailer spare tire, 2x 20lb propane tanks, some firewood, griddle, small BBQ, folding table. The trailer tongue with full water is a bit over 600lb and pulls quite good with a full tank. Trailer is just a small 16ft with a gvwr of 4,000 lbs.

1st trip -> Heading west, no water in tank I got 20.2 L/100 KM; 5.0 KM/L; 11.7 MPG. Heading west from my place to the campground you are increasing in elevation from around 2326 FT to 3020 FT. Heading back east I got 16.6 L/100 KM; 6.0KM/L; 14.2 MPG

2nd trip -> I didn't fuel up before/after as it was close to home and only used about a 1/4 tank, so it was probably around 10 MPG; 23.52L/100 KM; 4.25 KM/L

3rd trip -> Heading east, 40 gallons water in tank I got 21.3L/100 KM; 4.7KM/L; 11.1 MPG and coming back west I was fighting a wind the entire way so got 22.3L/100 KM; 4.5KM/L; 10.5 MPG. I kept the truck in 8th gear both ways as there are quite a few hills and quite a few jogs in the road requiring you to stop, turn and then accelerate again.

I have a trip to BC coming in September so it will be interesting to see what I get for fuel usage. I will be travelling with no water in the tank as the campground I'm going to is full service. Will be about 1300 KM's round trip!

What is everyone else getting for fuel economy while towing?

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[Sharpie223]

Not quite the same level of towing as a commercially built camper, but pulling a teardrop built to approximately roof height of the truck, I get ~20 mpg. The weight is probably less than 1000 lbs loaded and tongue weight is somewhere between 100-150 lbs. The back is a shallower slope than the typical teardrop, more aerodynamic, but I think the air coming off the cab crashes into the flat front and is where most of my mpg loss comes from (averaging 26mpg daily driving). Once I get a canopy I expect the towing mpg to be better. 2.7 running any kind of fuel, 87 vs 93 has made no difference for me.

I got about 17 mpg towing a 2000lb boat+trailer locally, hard to say what it would be on a longer trip with less stop and go.

Edit: this is based on the built in mpg display. With the current tank I am working to come up with a correction factor. So far I know that the odometer is about dead on, so I won't need to correct for actual vs measured distance. We'll see how much I need to correct for actual vs measured fuel consumption when I fill up at the end of the week.

 

[mattmico]

Well after 3 trips with my new truck towing my trailer, I am quite happy with it! It pulls better than the 2.3L in my 2023 truck and the fuel economy towing seems to be a tick better as well. While towing I tend to keep my speed between 90-100 KM/H. I keep 10th locked out and depending on how's it going I will sometimes lock out 9th as well, otherwise I just let it do it's thing. I do run premium in my truck at all times usually. Either 91, 93, or 94 octane depending on the station I stop at. I don't use the computer reading as it is always off, saying I'm getting better than what I actually am getting. The truck bed carries the trailer spare tire, 2x 20lb propane tanks, some firewood, griddle, small BBQ, folding table. The trailer tongue with full water is a bit over 600lb and pulls quite good with a full tank. Trailer is just a small 16ft with a gvwr of 4,000 lbs.

1st trip -> Heading west, no water in tank I got 20.2 L/100 KM; 5.0 KM/L; 11.7 MPG. Heading west from my place to the campground you are increasing in elevation from around 2326 FT to 3020 FT. Heading back east I got 16.6 L/100 KM; 6.0KM/L; 14.2 MPG

2nd trip -> I didn't fuel up before/after as it was close to home and only used about a 1/4 tank, so it was probably around 10 MPG; 23.52L/100 KM; 4.25 KM/L

3rd trip -> Heading east, 40 gallons water in tank I got 21.3L/100 KM; 4.7KM/L; 11.1 MPG and coming back west I was fighting a wind the entire way so got 22.3L/100 KM; 4.5KM/L; 10.5 MPG. I kept the truck in 8th gear both ways as there are quite a few hills and quite a few jogs in the road requiring you to stop, turn and then accelerate again.

I have a trip to BC coming in September so it will be interesting to see what I get for fuel usage. I will be travelling with no water in the tank as the campground I'm going to is full service. Will be about 1300 KM's round trip!

What is everyone else getting for fuel economy while towing?

We tow our 17’ Winnebago micro Minnie, about 4300lbs loaded with our ‘24 Lariat FX4 with adv tow pkg all thru the Appalachian mountains in NC and up to Maryland. The average has been 12 mpg.

 

[ADVNTURR]

I've done a few tows with my '24 2.7L

Borrowed open aluminum trailer (~5000lb total) from OH to KY with cruise set around 70mph and I was getting 12-13mpg

My open aluminum trailer with tire rack and stone guard (~5000lb total) from OH to PA with cruise set around 70mph and I was getting 11-12mpg

 

[srv256ss]

My Raptor was getting 14 mpg between Atlanta and Knoxville.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

Towing a 2025 NuCamp T@B 400 Boondock with the 2.3L I get anywhere from 11.3-13.1mpg. Usually lower than higher.

 

[chasc]

While towing I tend to keep my speed between 90-100 KM/H. I keep 10th locked out and depending on how's it going I will sometimes lock out 9th as well, otherwise I just let it do it's thing. I do run premium in my truck at all times usually.

I'm curious what motivates you to manually lock out 9th and 10th gear? I've pulled a 20 ft travel trailer in a lot of conditions and I think the only time I felt compelled to use lockout was when I wanted a touch more engine braking coming down a pass in CO. Usually with no override it stays in 9th gear on the interstate on its own, unless you're going downhill or have an awesome tail wind.

[EDIT] I don't think you said: Do you use the Towing driving mode? That makes a noticeable difference too.

I also have a 2.7L Lariat and I pull a 20 ft travel trailer with a height about 9.7 ft. We don't often exceed 65 MPH in highway driving. I'm very pleased if we're getting 15 MPG. 12 – 14 MPG is common if weather isn't perfect or you're gaining elevation. I don't typically see less than 10 MPG even in the worst headwind I'm comfortable towing in. Greater than 15 MPG I've only seen on long slow sections where I'm doing 30-40 MPH.

 

[johnvosh]

I'm curious what motivates you to manually lock out 9th and 10th gear? I've pulled a 20 ft travel trailer in a lot of conditions and I think the only time I felt compelled to use lockout was when I wanted a touch more engine braking coming down a pass in CO. Usually with no override it stays in 9th gear on the interstate on its own, unless you're going downhill or have an awesome tail wind.

[EDIT] I don't think you said: Do you use the Towing driving mode? That makes a noticeable difference too.

I also have a 2.7L Lariat and I pull a 20 ft travel trailer with a height about 9.7 ft. We don't often exceed 65 MPH in highway driving. I'm very pleased if we're getting 15 MPG. 12 – 14 MPG is common if weather isn't perfect or you're gaining elevation. I don't typically see less than 10 MPG even in the worst headwind I'm comfortable towing in. Greater than 15 MPG I've only seen on long slow sections where I'm doing 30-40 MPH.

When I am towing I always use the tow mode and then I'll usually put the instant fuel economy display in the centre. On my most recent trip heading to Westcove campground (north of St.Paul, AB) I let it go into 9th for the 1st bit and then I put it down to 8th and even though the RPM was sitting about 400RPM higher, the fuel economy was actually a bit better according to the gauge on the screen. When I was coming back home I was fighting a wind the entire time so just kept in 8th gear to keep it more in the power instead of going back and forth between 9th and 8th.

The only reason I stick to around 100 KM/H (62MPH) is for better fuel economy. I'm also usually not in a hurry when I'm going camping and make sure to leave extra time. If people are in a hurry they can go around.

My dad tows a 26ft tandem axle trailer with a 2019 Ford Expedition Max and the 3.5L and he will tow up to around 113 KM/H and he averages only about 8MPG!

 

[HotPepperLariat]

On a 5,000 mile trip from Virginia to west Texas (Big Bend NP) towing our 17' Casita (2,400# dry) my '24 Lariat 4X2 with the 2.3 averaged 16.1mpg in Tow mode. That was hand calculated. I generally kept it between 60 and 65mph for safety and economy concerns. Besides we're retired so what's the rush???

 

[some_guy]

RR towing a total load 2000lb trailer faster than i should have [70mph] i was getting 14-15mpg. pretty decent i think

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