Question What impact does towing have on fuel consumption?

[dindan]

I'm trying to gauge just how towing a travel trailer will impact my Tundra's fuel consumption.

My 2002 Tundra has the 4.7 V8, Auto Trans and 4WD - I currently average 15MPG on a fairly flat highway.

Can anyone tell me how many MPGs I should expect to lose when I tow a:
1) 2000lb travel trailer on the same fairly flat highway?
2) 4000lb travel trailer on the same fairly flat highway?

Thanks!

[HOGWILD]

you do not wanta know!
Many Factors Affect MPG

[rambrush]

Its like if you have to ask you can not afford it..
even towing a 5x7 loaded u haul I drop into 9mpg range course I run about 80 with it.

[tazzboo]

I tow a 5400 pound boat. It hurts. Towing it at 65 to 70mph on the road yeilds 9 mpg. I have a 2005 4x4 DC. Now as far as how it tows it pulls just fine you know its back there but it does not seem to struggle at all. Good luck with your set up.

[dindan]

Thanks for the info - it's actually better than I expected to hear.

[Greenie]

9 mpg is what I managed towing a 12' enclosed U-Haul trailer to North Carolina about a month ago. I did get 10 mpg on one occasion. This was towing with OD off at 65-70 mph.

[Magic]

An 18' travel trailer dropped me to 10 mpg. I had to click the OD off to keep the transmission from "hunting". IMO, the wind resistance hurt more than the weight. I got rid of it and bought an Outfitter pop up truck camper.

[elks]

I am getting around 19 flat high way on my 01. I tow a RV just under the 4000 mark and get 12 mpg. The biggest thing I find is to not let the truck shift fo itself. MEnaind take the over driver off on up hill swings, do not use cruise etc.

[elks]

I am getting around 19 flat high way on my 01. I tow a RV just under the 4000 mark and get 12 mpg. The biggest thing I find is to not let the truck shift fo itself. MEnaind take the over driver off on up hill swings, do not use cruise etc.

[elks]

I am getting around 19 flat high way on my 01. I tow a RV just under the 4000 mark and get 12 mpg. The biggest thing I find is to not let the truck shift fo itself. MEnaind take the over driver off on up hill swings, do not use cruise etc.

[MCoupe]

I get about 18 mpg in my 2000 2WD Tundra, 4.7 auto.

I towed a full sized race car on an old steel open trailer once eleven hours each way (mostly flat). I estimate that the weight of this setup was 4,500 pounds (I knew the car weight exactly). I got 13 mpg. But of course my heart stopped every time I looked in the rear view mirror and saw that durn blue car RIGHT THERE ON MY BUMPER, tailgating me. . .

I usually tow a smaller car, a formula race car in an enclosed trailer. Trailer is medium height - very important to gas mileage - about six feet tall. About 2,500 pounds. I get a very consistent 11 mpg towing it.

The difference is not weight, obviously, but aerodynamics. Towing a brick costs more.

Chris

[ericb]

My 2003 4x4 SR5 AC gets 17-18 normally, but only 9 mpg when towing a 5K travel trailer. If you haven't bought a trailer yet, look for a dry weight under 4800 lbs and check height and surface area also. I rejected a 25 foot Puma at a dry weight of 5200 lbs and high ground clearance that my wife liked and we got a KZ Frontier (26.5 ft) at 4600 lb instead. Not only is the dry weight 600 lbs less, but the height and surface area of the front are a lot less, making it less like a parachute. When I'm pulling a long hill at 4500 RPM, I am so glad I stuck to my guns with the salesman who swore to me that 5200 lbs would be no problem for my Tundra. You have to understand that loaded with fluids, gear, supplies, passengers, etc, you are going to add 1000 lbs or so to truck and trailer.

[trfytoy]

Seems average is around 9mph towing. I get 5-7mpg offroad

[sr5mike]

Originally Posted by ericb

My 2003 4x4 SR5 AC gets 17-18 normally, but only 9 mpg when towing a 5K travel trailer. If you haven't bought a trailer yet, look for a dry weight under 4800 lbs and check height and surface area also. I rejected a 25 foot Puma at a dry weight of 5200 lbs and high ground clearance that my wife liked and we got a KZ Frontier (26.5 ft) at 4600 lb instead. Not only is the dry weight 600 lbs less, but the height and surface area of the front are a lot less, making it less like a parachute. When I'm pulling a long hill at 4500 RPM, I am so glad I stuck to my guns with the salesman who swore to me that 5200 lbs would be no problem for my Tundra. You have to understand that loaded with fluids, gear, supplies, passengers, etc, you are going to add 1000 lbs or so to truck and trailer.

Great advice. I have towed w/ my 02 a/c 4.7 I would guess that i have over 7k of tow miles. I have a 20ft TT locked and loaded it is about 5000lbs. I have gotten anywhere from 7mpg to 10mpg. I live in washington state and go camping in the mountains a lot.

[dsrtrcr01]

Originally Posted by dindan

I'm trying to gauge just how towing a travel trailer will impact my Tundra's fuel consumption.

My 2002 Tundra has the 4.7 V8, Auto Trans and 4WD - I currently average 15MPG on a fairly flat highway.

Can anyone tell me how many MPGs I should expect to lose when I tow a:
1) 2000lb travel trailer on the same fairly flat highway?
2) 4000lb travel trailer on the same fairly flat highway?

Thanks!

Last time I towed the load below I got 11.8 MPG's. BUT one time with a head wind I got less then 8 MPG's. I average 18 empty. As stated when towing you do.