Holiday Travel Trailer Tow Trip - Weight / MPG stats & Experience

[Mavster Mechanic]

Holiday Travel Trailer Tow
Coastal City to Coastal City
No net elevation change.
Mountains in the middle.
Went on a CAT SCALE as loaded with people, pets, and luggage.

Steer Axle : 2260 lbs
Rear Axle : 2640 lbs
Trailer Axle : 2940 lbs

Full tank of Gas.
Full tank of Propane.
10 gallons Water.

Simple ball and chain.
No WDH. Sway not an issue.
Pulls well at 60 MPH which was most of the trip.

Trailer Brakes : YES

91 Octane one direction.
50°F to 65°F light rain for 100 miles.
462 miles / 29.868 gallons
15.468 MPG

87 Octane reverse direction.
50°F to 65°F.
464 miles / 29.180 gallons
15.901 MPG

Truck said 16.5 MPG for the round trip.

With a scangauge:
3000 RPM & 80 horsepower typical at 60 MPH and about 35% on dash power meter.

6% and 7% grades:
3800 RPM & 100 horsepower typical at 45 to 50 MPH* and about 50% on dash power meter.

*This to keep engine water temperature steady at 190° to 200°F and generator below 250°F the whole mountain climb of about 2000 vertical feet in a short distance.

Light to no wind either direction.
Light cross wind if anything as I was traveling N & S.

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[Maverick Country Club]

Is that a raccoon?

 

[boxster03]

I am exploring dropping in a 5th wheel mount on the bed - probably up the tow capacity to 10,000 lbs

 

[Little boy blue]

I am exploring dropping in a 5th wheel mount on the bed - probably up the tow capacity to 10,000 lbs

I like your thinking and can't wait to see and hear the results, one small step for the Maverick and one large step for Maverick owners

 

[Scupking]

Excellent! My new trailer is very similar to yours! Can't wait to take the first trip in the spring!

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

60 MPH and under is a piece of cake for the Hybrid.

62 MPH is comfortable.

65 MPH is about the maximum with my setup. Above this it's noticeably underpowered.

Still, I'm passing semis on 6% grades which I consider quite an accomplishment for this little HYBRID.

 

[Jbuys]

I have the same trailer as you do and plan on pulling it with my Hybrid as well. I have not towed it very far yet, home from the dealer and to put it in storage has been it. I did get a weight dist. hitch and it tows very nice with it, although with the trailer hooked up before hooking the weight dist. hitch up it does not sag the rear that bad. I plan on keeping the trailer and my truck for a very long time so hopefully it all works good this summer.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I have the same trailer as you do and plan on pulling it with my Hybrid as well. I have not towed it very far yet, home from the dealer and to put it in storage has been it. I did get a weight dist. hitch and it tows very nice with it, although with the trailer hooked up before hooking the weight dist. hitch up it does not sag the rear that bad. I plan on keeping the trailer and my truck for a very long time so hopefully it all works good this summer.

Just take it easy.
Most hills are only a few minutes long.
The difference in time you save trying to do the speed limit vs. 10 or 20 under on hills is miniscule. Like 5 minutes a day.

Take it slow on hills. Do what semis do and your truck will last a long time.

Would be interested in seeing any trailer mods or improvements.

Example I added a spare tire to the A-Frame and three LiFePo batteries that weigh the same as one flooded lead acid but give me 6 times the energy.

Also I am in the process of adding a 3000 watt inverter.

I also added stability jacks to the front of the trailer.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I have the same trailer as you do and plan on pulling it with my Hybrid as well. I have not towed it very far yet, home from the dealer and to put it in storage has been it. I did get a weight dist. hitch and it tows very nice with it, although with the trailer hooked up before hooking the weight dist. hitch up it does not sag the rear that bad. I plan on keeping the trailer and my truck for a very long time so hopefully it all works good this summer.

I really wish this trailer had a back bumper and a 2" hitch receiver.

Let me know if you figure out how to add one.

I'd really like to add an electric scooter or bike rack to the back of my trailer.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

I am exploring dropping in a 5th wheel mount on the bed - probably up the tow capacity to 10,000 lbs

I was considering a small 5th wheel like a Scamp as an option to make it an easier tow. I'm not a fan of towing; I think at my age I'll not be doing much camping with the Mav. Maybe take along a large tent for some situations where I want to drive the Mav, but most long trips I'll just use the Transit(not Connect) campervan and leave the Mav at home. Especially since it would be better mpg in the Transit(not Connect) T250 than the av pulling a trailer.

 

[Jbuys]

Just take it easy.
Most hills are only a few minutes long.
The difference in time you save trying to do the speed limit vs. 10 or 20 under on hills is miniscule. Like 5 minutes a day.

Take it slow on hills. Do what semis do and your truck will last a long time.

Would be interested in seeing any trailer mods or improvements.

Example I added a spare tire to the A-Frame and three LiFePo batteries that weigh the same as one flooded lead acid but give me 6 times the energy.

Also I am in the process of adding a 3000 watt inverter.

I also added stability jacks to the front of the trailer.



I also added stabilizer jacks on the front made it feel so much more stabile. I will end up running off the one lead acid battery I have until it goes bad and then run a couple LiFePo batteries. I plan on trying to keep the RPMs around 3800-4000 and try not to run much past 50%-60% on the power meter. Looks like your trailer might be a little different than mine, maybe a year or so older, or a different model, mine is a 2025 Coleman 17BX, which is the bunk bed model. But same basic trailer, about 2750 pounds dry. I have also have a scan gauge that I can monitor the temps and such. I will try to keep the coolant at or below 200ish and not let the trans temp get above 250.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Coolant for the engine is generally a non-issue.

Transmission temperature is a non-issue all together. Gears. One speed. No shifting. No clutch plate. No slippage.
Usually about 150°F.

THE ONE you'll need to watch is generator coil temperature.
This is the only component in my truck that ever gets above 210°F. And then, only on hills. At least 265°F is allowed.

My trailer is a 2025 17RX.

 

[No Brand]

I'd really like to add an electric scooter or bike rack to the back of my trailer.

Please don't, unless you want to take all the weight off your rear axle and create a "sway machine."

 

[yank283]

Nice. I have a similar camper, mine is about max weight, and tow with a 4k hybrid. I try to keep it between 55 and 60mph.

 

[Gray Goose]

Just take it easy.
Most hills are only a few minutes long.
The difference in time you save trying to do the speed limit vs. 10 or 20 under on hills is miniscule. Like 5 minutes a day.

Take it slow on hills. Do what semis do and your truck will last a long time.

Slow down is excellent advice. Trailer tires are not designed for high speed.
If I had a dollar for every blown trailer tire I've seen on the highways over the years, I could buy another Maverick.

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