Notices
2004 - 2008 F150 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Ford F150's with 5.4 V8, 4.6 V8 engine
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Towing MPG

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 10, 2007 | 04:59 PM
  #1  
Texan4life's Avatar
Texan4life
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Towing MPG

A buddy and I are thinking about towing his jeep to Big Bend Nat. Park to hit all the trails. Problem is its about 7 hours from here and I don't know how great the mpg will be towing him with my truck. What do ya'll think 12-14 mpg maybe? I have a 4.6 V8. If its worse than 12mpg we can just use my truck to cruise around.
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2007 | 05:09 PM
  #2  
FTE Trigger's Avatar
FTE Trigger
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 0
From: Greenvile, SC
Originally Posted by Texan4life
A buddy and I are thinking about towing his jeep to Big Bend Nat. Park to hit all the trails. Problem is its about 7 hours from here and I don't know how great the mpg will be towing him with my truck. What do ya'll think 12-14 mpg maybe? I have a 4.6 V8. If its worse than 12mpg we can just use my truck to cruise around.
What kind of terrain will you be seeing with that drive?
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2007 | 05:26 PM
  #3  
Texan4life's Avatar
Texan4life
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Desert with some hills, mostly flat though.
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2007 | 05:45 PM
  #4  
FTE Trigger's Avatar
FTE Trigger
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 0
From: Greenvile, SC
I could see getting 12-14mpg on my 4.6 while towing something like a Jeep...provided that the trailer was alum. or of a similar weight...and I wasn't making the truck "work" (gear shifting, high revvs, etc...)
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2007 | 05:56 PM
  #5  
smokestone52's Avatar
smokestone52
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 958
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
I just recently towed a S-10 Blazer sport, 2 door about 300 miles. I towed on a car hauler trailer. I could not dolly it because it had issues. I went through some tough pulls for about 30 miles. By tough I mean steep grades. The rest of the trip was pretty normal for western states. Hills, down grades, some long flats.

I was surprised to see I still got 13.3 average. I drove about 63 average mph. I suppose, had I drove 75 average, my mpg would have went down. But pulling that much weight, I just don't think the F-150 should do any faster speed. It was a good trip. I had to put the Blazer to the very extreme front of the trailer to prevent sway.
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2007 | 06:27 PM
  #6  
Texan4life's Avatar
Texan4life
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
I am planning on using a dolly.... but like i said I just need to decide if it is even worth taking a jeep.
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2007 | 07:09 PM
  #7  
FTE Trigger's Avatar
FTE Trigger
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 0
From: Greenvile, SC
Originally Posted by Texan4life
I am planning on using a dolly...
In this case... I'd go for it...
 

Last edited by FTE Trigger; Mar 10, 2007 at 07:10 PM. Reason: Removed underlining
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2007 | 10:42 AM
  #8  
MBBFord's Avatar
MBBFord
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I don't know how much a jeep weights, but I'd say around 4,500 or so.
My dad's 04 5.4 w/3.73 gears gets about 11 mpg when he pulls his 6,000lb camper.

So he's got the bigger engine with the better gears and gets 11, so since you'd be pulling somthing about 1,500-2K lbs less, I'd think you'd get about the same or maybe one mpg better.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 11, 2007 | 11:48 AM
  #9  
pukemon's Avatar
pukemon
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
your estimate of 12-14 does not sound unreasonable. if it's just a dolly and a not too heavily modified jeep, i could see you getting close to 14 if there are not too many hills to contend with and you do a reasonable speed such as 60 +/- 5 mph on cruise control. should you encounter hills or some stop and go traffic i think you'll be closer to 12.
 
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2007 | 12:22 PM
  #10  
osbornk's Avatar
osbornk
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
From: Marion, VA
I get around 11 MPG pulling my 4,500 travel trailer at 60 MPH. When towing, a larger engine usually gives you better towing mileage than a smaller one.
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 12:23 AM
  #11  
Fire2722's Avatar
Fire2722
New User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I got 8 last weekend pulling a 7,000 lb trailer 75mph into a 40mph headwind, with some of it on a slight incline. It was working, but wind was causing problems too. Usually when pulling my other cars I get around 10-11. I have the 5.4L 3V engine and 3.55 gears.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2007 | 09:44 AM
  #12  
Mystic_Cobra's Avatar
Mystic_Cobra
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
I get about 11 mpg when I tow my 1996 Mustang Cobra (3000lbs) on a flat 18' ft steel open trailer (1900lbs) plus two friends and a bed full of tires, tools, and spare parts.
This is with an 05 SCrew FX4 (5.4L 4x4 3.73) and VA/NC semi-hilly terrain. I typically cruise about 5-7 mph over.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2007 | 09:00 PM
  #13  
Benoit1967's Avatar
Benoit1967
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I get 13 miles/gallon Canadian... based on 5300km.... It translate to 10.8 Miles/gallon US based on a 3663 mile trip from/to Winnipeg/Montreal and around Montreal.

We tow a 5100# dry (about 5800 loaded) 5th wheel which is almost 12 feet high.

Hope this helps...

Benoit
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2007 | 11:02 PM
  #14  
bsocko's Avatar
bsocko
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
I wish I would get 14 empty, let alone pulling a trailer!

I live in Central PA, where hills and curves never seem to end!
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:10 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE