Fuel mileage question

[RRuggles]

With my 2001 quadcab, shortbox, 4x4, automatic, 3. 54 axle I regularly get unloaded highway mileage of 20-23 mpg with conservative driving. Now with a 22 ft travel trailer weighing about 5000 pounds loaded, I get slightly over 11 mpg... the same as I got with our former 27 ft single slide 5th wheel which was taller and which weighed 2500 pounds more loaded. Same driving styles in all three situations. Why don't I get better mpg with the travel trailer than I did with the 5er???

 

[NVR FNSH]

Aerodynamics - smoother air flow from the truck cab to the front of the 5th wheel vs truck cab > bed > front of TT.



Brian

 

[DaveHess]

I just recently did a 200 mile trip with my rig and our 29 foot Jayco Eagle. The trailer weight was a tick over 9100 pounds in camping dress. No topper on the truck driving 65 MPH. The hand calculated fuel mileage with the VA C3. 1 on the high setting was just shy of 12. 5. Before the VA it hovered around 11. The truck never once dropped out of O/D making the VA worth every penny to me. BTW, I haven't made any empty runs yet since I put the VA in before XMas last year. I can't tell if it improved the fuel mileage that way yet.

 

[rluft]

I got around 14mpg pulling a 24ft 5000lb travel trailer. I get from 9-11 pulling my current 37ft 12000lb 5th wheel. I was bone stock pulling the travel trailer. But I never get 20-23 running empty, then again I don't run 55-60mph on the highway.