Towing mileage
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 162
Likes: 43
From: CA
Towing mileage
Hi all, we have heard some people are not too happy with the trucks mileage when not towing. What mileage are you seeing towing with your new truck? I'm going to be towing a 5,000lb trailer and leaning towards the 3.5L and yes I will make sure it has the 36 gallon tank.
These are trucks and I'm not expecting miracles of 20mpg even when empty. So what are you results so far?
These are trucks and I'm not expecting miracles of 20mpg even when empty. So what are you results so far?
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 474
Likes: 4
From: SE Michigan
Hi all, we have heard some people are not too happy with the trucks mileage when not towing. What mileage are you seeing towing with your new truck? I'm going to be towing a 5,000lb trailer and leaning towards the 3.5L and yes I will make sure it has the 36 gallon tank.
These are trucks and I'm not expecting miracles of 20mpg even when empty. So what are you results so far?
These are trucks and I'm not expecting miracles of 20mpg even when empty. So what are you results so far?
Also city, highway, mixed,, flat, hilly, mountains? Are all going to play a part in your and everyone's mpg.
I went with the 5L just to play it safe. I know that my old 2002 with the 4.6L 3.55 handled my boat and bobcat just fine and the mpg wasn't bad. And I figure I have 285 gallons in the bank if needed from the money I saved getting the 5L over the 3.5EB.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 162
Likes: 43
From: CA
I'm going to be towing a 5,000lb travel trailer. Been towing for years and do understand a lot comes into play with gas mileage. I'm currently towing a 3800 lb. travel trailer with a 2005 Toyota Tundra V6. Goes and stops ok but it's time for a new truck. Currently it averages 8-10mpg.
Would just love to hear:
Which F150
Which engine
Type of trailer towed
Average Mileage
Would just love to hear:
Which F150
Which engine
Type of trailer towed
Average Mileage
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
You should expect about 10 mpg while towing your travel trailer. That's what my 3.5L Eco F150 was getting towing our 6000 lb. travel trailer on relatively flat highway. My truck got decent mileage unloaded, 16/17 around town 21/22 highway.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I think you'll get better than that - but I don't have first-hand experience, yet. However, I know two people who have "older" 3.5L Ecoboosts that get ~14 MPG pulling trailers with a couple of side-by-side 4-wheelers on them at reasonable speeds. But, that MPG dropped significantly when they followed my nephew's "tuned" diesel 2500 at 80+ MPH last summer. 
Yes, your trailer is heavier than theirs as each 4-wheeler weighs about 1000 lbs. So, assuming the trailer and gear, and there was a lot of gear, at about 2000 then the load was about 4000 lbs. And, I'm not sure if the aerodynamics of it is worse or not. Theirs have the 4-wheelers sitting up high and their tops grabbing lots of wind, so there's a lot of drag. But, since yours is enclosed and tall it might be as bad or worse.
Again, this isn't first-hand info, so take it with a bit of salt.
Yes, your trailer is heavier than theirs as each 4-wheeler weighs about 1000 lbs. So, assuming the trailer and gear, and there was a lot of gear, at about 2000 then the load was about 4000 lbs. And, I'm not sure if the aerodynamics of it is worse or not. Theirs have the 4-wheelers sitting up high and their tops grabbing lots of wind, so there's a lot of drag. But, since yours is enclosed and tall it might be as bad or worse.
Again, this isn't first-hand info, so take it with a bit of salt.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,465
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From: Calgary Canada
Wind resistance is a much bigger factor than weight on the highway.
I've towed Travel trailers and boats of about the same weight, and use about 30% more fuel on the travel trailer.
I've towed Travel trailers and boats of about the same weight, and use about 30% more fuel on the travel trailer.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2011
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X2. I have towed travel travel trailers ranging from 18 ft and 4k lbs to 29ft and 8k lbs. These have been pulled with a 1995 F-350 with a 460, 2000 Chevy 2500 with 6.0 gas. 2001 f-250 with 5.4, and now a 2011 Ecoboost. I have never got over 9.5 and never under 6.5 with any of these trucks or trailers at freeway speeds. It takes a lot of fuel to move as much air as the front of a travel trailer has to displace. With my Ecoboost and a 29 ft 8k lb travel trailer I get 7 mpg at 75 mph, and 9 mpg if I can keep it at 60 mph.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Yep, most folks are thinking the right way in this thread. It's all about wind resistance on the highway, and enclosed trailers and travel trailers are about the worst that it gets. My dad's 2010 F150 gets around 21 on the highway unloaded, but averaged 9.5 MPG pulling an empty 2,600 lb 7x18 enclosed trailer on a 1,200 mile trip at 65 MPH.
Weight matters very little on the highway, but the opposite is true in the city. At slower speeds you are burning fuel to accelerate and brake the weight, but wind resistance is much lower due to the lower speeds.
Weight matters very little on the highway, but the opposite is true in the city. At slower speeds you are burning fuel to accelerate and brake the weight, but wind resistance is much lower due to the lower speeds.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2008
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I have not pulled my enclosed two bike trailer yet with my 2015 5.0 Platinum Flex-Fuel,but my 2011 5.0 flex when I ran E-85 the mileage was bad, but if I ran E-85 with the trailer on I got the same mileage as I did with regular, 9-11mph so I did save money on long trips.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,881
Likes: 359
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
You know, besides wind resistance and weight, is the question of how often do you tow? If you're going to spend half your time towing a 5000# trailer, maybe an F150 is not the best choice of vehicle? Maybe you ought to be looking at an F250 or larger? And if you go that route, the mileage is not the primary concern?
In my case, I pull two or three different trailers, but the amount of total road time I spend "towing" is perhaps 1 or 2 percent of my total driving. MOST of the time, I will be driving around town and on short trips. So even if I get 5 MPG, because it is such a tiny amount of my total driving, the mileage I get when doing it is not my primary concern.
In my case, I pull two or three different trailers, but the amount of total road time I spend "towing" is perhaps 1 or 2 percent of my total driving. MOST of the time, I will be driving around town and on short trips. So even if I get 5 MPG, because it is such a tiny amount of my total driving, the mileage I get when doing it is not my primary concern.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
You know, besides wind resistance and weight, is the question of how often do you tow? If you're going to spend half your time towing a 5000# trailer, maybe an F150 is not the best choice of vehicle? Maybe you ought to be looking at an F250 or larger? And if you go that route, the mileage is not the primary concern?
I've towed a lot of trailers over a lot of miles, and anyone who buys a Super Duty to tow 5,000 lbs is buying far too much truck for the application. Much like buying a Freightliner to tow an RV.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,881
Likes: 359
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
So maybe I picked too small a number, but the amount of time you spend towing and the size of the tow load are a big part of the equation.
And like I said, many, if not most, F-150s spend very little time towing, and more time running groceries. Perhaps an exaggeration, but not by much.
And like I said, many, if not most, F-150s spend very little time towing, and more time running groceries. Perhaps an exaggeration, but not by much.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I didn't size the engine based on what it'll pull 95% of the time. I sized it to pull what I want to pull the other 5% of the time. I wanted the capability to pull what I want to pull. So, I'll have to pay the price for that the rest of the time. But, I knew that going in and I'm not expecting miracles.