Fuel efficiency towing trailer

[Mvrck]

I'm getting 24mpg highway pulling a 2000lb trailer on the highway with my hybrid. I also got 31mpg on a short 18 mile city trip which was pretty impressive.

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[pmcdonald387]

That trailer has a decent aero profile. That is a big help.

The headwinds barely notice your pop up. Put a 7'x7' sail on that trailer and it will be in the low teens probably.

He should have said a small polished brick(still better than any other truck) towing a big square box that weighs 3/4 of your brick.

Weight is a factor especially in Colorado with altitude and grades. But as I said the other trailer examples that showed pics of their campers, aero is huge. If you have a simple style nearly flat front trailer with a long tongue between the box and your tailgate it will catch air just like a sail. Not much you can do about it. A bed topper and a nose cone could add 1mpg each but would take a super long time to make it worth it. As others said atleast it gets good mpg while not towing. Next trailer purchase, if ever consider something with a sleeker front profile.

Thanks. The profile of mine is maybe not quite as aero as this one but it's new and rounded on the upper half specifically to better deflect wind. I expect there is still some resistance regardless of the design but agree aero is important.

 

[pmcdonald387]

Speed. You need to talk about SPEED more than weight.

You'll get better MPG towing 4000 lbs of bricks or sand on a flatbed than you will get towing 2000 lbs of camping trailer. Wind drag is HUGE when towing something taller than your truck.

Also slow down 10 MPH and gain 5 MPG.
Your choice what makes you happier.

Thanks, I think there is a lot of truth to this.

 

[Ranger5.0]

I do a lot of towing regularly with my hybrid. 95% of that is on the highway. I keep the cruise control set to 65-67. With the small trailer and mower I get about 30mpg. With the open trailer I get 18-20. With the enclosed I get about 20.

 

[GPSMan]

Have a similar enclosed trailer.
I get 20 MPG at 60 MPH.
At 9' tall the thing is like dragging a parachute. I have trailer brakes. But don't need to use them even on 5% downgrade.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

The few times I’ve pulled my boat I averaged 12-14 mpg pulling near the same weight.

He is pushing more air with his rig so looks about the same +/-.

 

[pmcdonald387]

I do a lot of towing regularly with my hybrid. 95% of that is on the highway. I keep the cruise control set to 65-67. With the small trailer and mower I get about 30mpg. With the open trailer I get 18-20. With the enclosed I get about 20.

Thanks, that's really helpful.

 

[pmcdonald387]

Have a similar enclosed trailer.
I get 20 MPG at 60 MPH.
At 9' tall the thing is like dragging a parachute. I have trailer brakes. But don't need to use them even on 5% downgrade.

Loving this forum. Thanks everyone for your experience and guidance!

 

[altomav]

I have zero towing experience with the Mav, I do think that when concerned with mpg most Mav owners aren't towing 90%of the time. If it's getting 30ish most of the time when not towing that should be better than a full sized truck.

I took a trip from Northern Alabama to Ontario Canada (Not towing) and back averaging nearly 28mpg, mostly highway miles. A few legs of the journey got 31.5 mpg. I did notice when using Premium fuel I got slightly better.

 

[pmcdonald387]

I took a trip from Northern Alabama to Ontario Canada (Not towing) and back averaging nearly 28mpg, mostly highway miles. A few legs of the journey got 31.5 mpg. I did notice when using Premium fuel I got slightly better.

Thanks, I completely agree with high quality gas and watching the speed makes all the difference. We just came back from a trip to the Midwest and was pleasantly surprised to see a pure gas /no ethanol option at the pumps. And not at exorbitantly high prices either. Unheard of in "progressive" Colorado in my experience.

 

[RogueCheddar]

That's good. What do you have on the maverick?

on this occasion 2 x 35lb bikes, 2 x 20l water containers and approx 50lb of firewood

 

[Sykotyk]

With a hybrid in tow/Haul I average between 23 and 26mpg mostly highway. On streets was maybe 27 or 28. It you are driving in town just run normal and I've gotten 31-33 without issue.

 

[GPSMan]

In the hybrid, tow/haul is going to be helpful for going uphill and for accelerating because it ups the engine RPM, basically giving you a lower gear ratio.

For downhill and flat or gentle roads I like normal.

I have found it gives you engine braking going downhill in any mode.

 

[DeanR]

When pulling a trailer only brag about gas mileage if you have a tail wind.

 

[pmcdonald387]

In the hybrid, tow/haul is going to be helpful for going uphill and for accelerating because it ups the engine RPM, basically giving you a lower gear ratio.

For downhill and flat or gentle roads I like normal.

I have found it gives you engine braking going downhill in any mode.

That's really interesting, I hadn't thought about experimenting with changing drive modes too. Hopefully it's not a problem with the truck doing that on the fly.

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