Why does the towing mpg seem so terrible?

[Shay]

In a nutshell it's really quite simple. Small turbocharged engines under load drink far more fuel than larger naturally aspirated ones. Period.

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[GPSMan]

I put a trailer brake controller in my Hybrid because this trailer is over 2000 lbs loaded. I really only need trailer brakes for panic stops. This style of trailer comes with it's own built-in parachute. The whole dang thing is one big drag chute!!! I'm using gas on a 5% downgrade to keep this thing moving 55 mph. Forget about capturing regen on those downgrades, there's none to be had!

Wind resistance is THAT powerful.
It takes A LOT of gas to overcome wind.

I got 18 MPG towing this uphill and 20.5 towing it downhill. At 57-58 MPH.

 

[RonRythm]

do you mind sharing what you’re towing? Thx!

and any other details like trip distance, hwy or city, etc

if I can get this mpg with my set up I’ll make sure to get in an order on a hybrid the next time that’s possible

Sorry for the late reply. Dealing with a pinched nerve and no time for my truck. 32 mpg was towing the Viking Express in my profile photo. Probably weighed about 1700 lbs as loaded. Trip to June Lake California from Ventura California and back. From sea level up to 8,000’ And about 350 miles, one way. I drove 55 mph-65 mph, but mostly toward the lower end of that. I’m not in a hurry and I’d rather enjoy the drive.

27 mpg was driving this 2021 Nucamp Tag XL over some of the same route, but starting from Palmdale California, doing 65-70 mph. I was late for an event. Weight was close to 2000 lbs, as it had a lot of extra stuff and a full load of water.

I’ve been renting small trailers to find one I want to purchase. I’ve like the Viking express best so far, as the pop up area that allows me to stand up completely really made a difference.
Enjoy
Ron

 

[SLINGSHOT]

Towing with a mini motor is like hooking a Shetland pony to a four bottom plow (look it up, I'll wait). The pony is WAY overworked. Hook a team of Percherons to the plow and they barely break a sweat.
A V8 is barely working pulling a load, running part-throttle a lot. A mini mtor has the throttle wide open a lot of the time.
Match the work to be done to the ability to do it, or pay the price.

 

[GPSMan]

Little trucks can pull big trailers, just more slowly than larger trucks.

(horse)power = work divided by time.

With a little (horse)power you will need more time to do the work. But it's capable just the same.

18 Wheelers, a lot of them are under 500 horsepower, moving gross weights of 80,000 pounds. I don't think anyone would call them fast though.

250 HP is a lot. You can do a lot with ~250 HP (EB) or or ~200 HP hybrid.

Just don't be in a hurry.

 

[Saul T Knutz]

Little trucks can pull big trailers, just more slowly than larger trucks.

(horse)power = work divided by time.

With a little (horse)power you will need more time to do the work. But it's capable just the same.

18 Wheelers, a lot of them are under 500 horsepower, moving gross weights of 80,000 pounds. I don't think anyone would call them fast though.

250 HP is a lot. You can do a lot with ~250 HP (EB) or or ~200 HP hybrid.

Just don't be in a hurry.

um...I don't think 18s are using the 500 or so horsepower to move the 80k load so much as they're using the 1850 lbs of torque to do it. And doing it below 2k RPM which is kinda cool tbh...but again, I'm just a casual dummy

 

[GPSMan]

um...I don't think 18s are using the 500 or so horsepower to move the 80k load so much as they're using the 1850 lbs of torque to do it. And doing it below 2k RPM which is kinda cool tbh...

Torque, is for sure HELPFUL but I could gear a lawnmower to move 80,000 pounds..... 0.25 MPH !

Cheers!

 

[Saul T Knutz]

Torque, is for sure HELPFUL but I could gear a lawnmower to move 80,000 pounds..... 0.25 MPH !

Cheers!

I'd actually like to see that, it'd be quite entertaining...

 

[GPSMan]

This is a Hybrid Vehicle!
Look what it has for payload capacity!

2 × 2,050 kW (2,750 hp) V16 ALCO 251C diesel engines, driving 4 × 1,000 kW (1,341 hp) generators for traction

 

[RogueCheddar]

I typically average 19-20mpg towing 2700lb travel trailer at 60-65mph but have seen 22 on slower (50-55mph) backroads.

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