7.5-8.5 mpg towing is this normal?

[Rdunkin]

I just towed a 7500# "tall" fifth wheel RV from Tulsa OK. to Pinedale WY. in a Approx. 20 mph headwind from 750' above sea level to 7100'. I drove 75 to 80 mph and got 7. 5 to 8. 9 mpg. I tried 70 mph and didnt notice much differance. I got the best mileage with the Edge on "race" and had a high EGT of 1280 for a moment a couple of times. The norm was 1080*, 22 lbs boost and 49% throttle, 2100 rpm. Is this normal? Any Info. and advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Dieselnerd]

It's the speed that is killing your mileage. I tow a fifth wheel that weighs twice what yours does but unless you're pulling uphill the weight isn't as important as speed. If I go 70 I get about 9 mpg too. I normally drive between 62-65 and get around 11 mpg on average and sometimes as high as 13 with a tailwind and as low as 9 with a headwind.



If you want to go fast, you have to pay.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

MPG towing

Same as what Dieselnerd said, Our GCW is a little over 20K, 60 to 65 MPH average 11/12 mpg, Big headwind down to 8/9 mpg

32'ALFA Ideal 5er

 

[ACamilli]

I get 11mpg with my stock 10,000 mile 06 3500 4x4 auto 3. 73 DRW pulling my 14,000lb fifth wheel at 65 mph on the PA turnpike. I get 12. 5 empty around town, and can get 22 mpg cruise control 55 mph empty. At 55 I tach 1500; at 65 1800; at 70 about 2000... ... ... ... ... ... . just an fyi

 

[jelag]

Just got back from 1000 miles on my 05 pulling a 8000 lb 5er... . used 92 gal of fuel... . so close to 10 mpg that where I stopped...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The headwinds and speed kill your MPG. When towing my camper I keep it 65 mph tops otherwise my MPG divebombs dramatically. By 70 it is a lot worse, I can't imagine towing faster than that. Only got 10. 3 pulling a 3500 lb camper when I was in a hurry doing 70-72 once.

 

[Rdunkin]

Thanks for the response, I will just have to live with it because.....



I CANT DRIVE 65 !!

 

[BHaden]

Thanks for the response, I will just have to live with it because.....



I CANT DRIVE 65 !!

The headwind you said you had was a killer. Last Sept. , with only 6000 miles on mine at the start of the trip, I towed a low profile (7 foot high) 22 foot cargo trailer from San Diego to Topeka and back. My all-up weight was around 15k. I had the cruise on 70-75mph for 80% of the trip and averaged 11. 9 for the whole trip. A head wind like you had or taller trailer would have been different. After I got home my daily mileage went up about 10% from the "break-in tow".



I agree with your philosophy on speed.

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks for the response, I will just have to live with it because.....



I CANT DRIVE 65 !!

I personally don't think it's safe to drive 75 and 80 MPH towing a 5er just in case of an emergency maneuver or a blowout. Make an effort to live with 60 to 65 MPH. Most of us do it.

 

[DPKetchum]

Towing ANYTHING at 75/80 mph much less a tall fifth wall rv and your worried about fuel mileage? Worry about yours and others lives first. My MAX towing is 70 and I try to stay 65/68. If you do you just might see depending on wind/terrian anywhere from 10. 5 to 13 mpg.

 

[Huskerman]

Grizzly & DPKetchum,



THANK YOU!!! At least now I know I am not the only one on this board that thinks towing at those speeds is ridiculous!!!



Huskerman

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Thanks for the response, I will just have to live with it because.....



I CANT DRIVE 65 !!

Then ya better steer clear of Oregon - 55 MPH state speed limit! :-laf



Also when driving 80 MPH into a 20 MPH headwind, your truck and trailer are virtually traveling into a windforce of 100 MPH - it's a wonder yer RV siding and vents are still all together... :-laf

 

[AKaiser]

If you're towing and you exceed the speed limit, the cops will treat you worse than a car or pickup truck w/o trailer. Essentially, it's like being a trucker. Some states, like IN, and even worse, OH, have slower speeds for trucks over x weight and combination vehicles. Don't drive more than 5 over in OH (55 truck/65 car), and since they raised the speed limit to 70, 5 over in IN (65 truck/70 car). Of course, it's all situation dependent. If you're in W TX, the speed limit is 80 anyway.

 

[AKaiser]

Then ya better steer clear of Oregon - 55 MPH state speed limit! :-laf

And we complain about the People's Republik of Ohio. Glad I didn't make my big trip and include a trip to Washington. I would still be driving thru OR, and that was 2 months ago

 

[bighammer]

If you're towing and you exceed the speed limit, the cops will treat you worse than a car or pickup truck w/o trailer. Essentially, it's like being a trucker. Some states, like IN, and even worse, OH, have slower speeds for trucks over x weight and combination vehicles. Don't drive more than 5 over in OH (55 truck/65 car), and since they raised the speed limit to 70, 5 over in IN (65 truck/70 car). Of course, it's all situation dependent. If you're in W TX, the speed limit is 80 anyway.

I noticed the signs down there and wondered about that. Truck is about 8000lbs. but I also had an unloaded flatbed trailer, so I was over the 8k limit. I was cruising about 62mph and with the lousy lights and rain, I didn't read the signs until the return trip the next day. They had cops all over the place, and I'm lucky they didn't tag me.

 

[10.5 Dave]

I noticed the signs down there and wondered about that. Truck is about 8000lbs. but I also had an unloaded flatbed trailer, so I was over the 8k limit. I was cruising about 62mph and with the lousy lights and rain, I didn't read the signs until the return trip the next day. They had cops all over the place, and I'm lucky they didn't tag me.

That rule only applies to commercial vehicles. I've lived in Ohio for 20 yrs and pull trailers all the time and have never heard of anyone in a pick up truck getting hassled.


Since when has driving the speed limit dangerous and irresponsible. In the good ol USA you will see interstate speed limits from 55-80 mph. If it was dangerous to tow at these speeds why would it be legal.

I've towed at least a couple hundred thousand miles and have had blowouts at slow speeds and at 75 mph. You know what the difference was ... ... ... . NOTHING.

If you don't have the confidence or skills to tow a trailer at more than 55-60 mph PLEASE stay in the right lane. I'd hate to see someone running at a normal speed run up your tailpipe,or worse yet swerve around you and crash into someone.

I don't advocate running 85 mph with a 15,000 lb 5er in tow but 55 mph is just as silly to me. :-laf

 

[Huskerman]

Since when has driving the speed limit dangerous and irresponsible. In the good ol USA you will see interstate speed limits from 55-80 mph. If it was dangerous to tow at these speeds why would it be legal.



I've towed at least a couple hundred thousand miles and have had blowouts at slow speeds and at 75 mph. You know what the difference was ... ... ... . NOTHING.



If you don't have the confidence or skills to tow a trailer at more than 55-60 mph PLEASE stay in the right lane. I'd hate to see someone running at a normal speed run up your tailpipe,or worse yet swerve around you and crash into someone.



I don't advocate running 85 mph with a 15,000 lb 5er in tow but 55 mph is just as silly to me. :-laf

Consider yourself lucky I guess. I am in a family of people who make their living on the road and they all shake their heads at the multitude of people who think they are better drivers than they are.



FWIW, I DO stay in the right lane unless I am passing somebody. Unfortunately, it NEVER seems to be the guy doing something stupid that gets injured; its the family minding their own business and trying to do the right thing.



Huskerman

 

[Big MAK]

That's decent mileage at that speed.



Anything above about 65 and you loose about 1 mpg for each 2-3 mph.



It's all about wind resistance; not so much the weight.



Speed limit here is 75 (all vehicles) I -try- to keep it at 70 and get 10-11. At 65 I can get 12. I imagine if I could drive 55/60 I might see 13/14... not gonna happen. I can't drive that slow.



There's almost always a wind. Side wind is the worst -- tons of drag especially with a flatbed with a truck on deck.

 

[Grizzly]

Grizzly & DPKetchum,



THANK YOU!!! At least now I know I am not the only one on this board that thinks towing at those speeds is ridiculous!!!



Huskerman

It is a bit insane to tow a 7500# tall 5er at 75/80 MPH. I hope he gets stopped and take his licence away.

 

[Big MAK]

It is a bit insane to tow a 7500# tall 5er at 75/80 MPH. I hope he gets stopped and take his licence away.

Makes much more sense to run a rolling roadblock and watch the multi-car pileups behind you. NOT.



Relax. There are some places in this world it's perfectly safe to drive 75-80 with a trailer -- or atleast a heck of a lot safer then driving under the speed limit.