fuel mileage when towing
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New User
Joined: Jun 2010
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fuel mileage when towing
I have 2005 f250 it gets about 18 empty. When I tow my boat I'm getting 10 mpg. I just purchased this truck Previous owner said the worst he ever saw was 15 mpg and that was towing 9000 lbs. My boat is 7000 lbs. Just wondering if this sounds about normal or if I might have someting else wrong. Air filter is good and truck is all stock.
Thanks
Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 560
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From: 92592
I have 2005 f250 it gets about 18 empty. When I tow my boat I'm getting 10 mpg. I just purchased this truck Previous owner said the worst he ever saw was 15 mpg and that was towing 9000 lbs. My boat is 7000 lbs. Just wondering if this sounds about normal or if I might have someting else wrong. Air filter is good and truck is all stock.
Thanks
Thanks
I get about 10 towing, too.
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
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Your dad nailed that one
. I agree 100%
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Suffolk, VA
I just averaged 8.5 to 9.5 over a 3000 miles towing 9500lbs. Of course I my average speed was around 70mph. I wanted to maintain around 65 but my RPM’s were around 1800RPM in overdrive, which was too low to pull on any grade. If I kept the speed under 62 I could keep the torque converter locked up in 4th gear around 2400 RPM’s without shifting into overdrive. This was great for hills but I still only got a little over 9mpg. So I said screw it and tried to keep the RPM over 2000 in overdrive resulting in a little less than 9mpg and exceeding 70mph. I also learned you have to have tow/haul on to get the torque converter to lock up in 3rd or 4th. If not in tow/haul it would only lock up in overdrive.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Glendale, AZ
I get about 14mpg unloaded(although my trips are like 10 miles at a time). I get about 8mpg - 10mpg towing my 10k# travel trailer(bumper pull).
I would be ecstatic if I got 18mpg unloaded. Even when I take a long trip unloaded I might hit 17mpg.
I would be ecstatic if I got 18mpg unloaded. Even when I take a long trip unloaded I might hit 17mpg.
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Joined: May 2010
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I will see 18 on the highway empty if theres no wind at all or if the wind is behind you. Pulling my 24' trailer with all my plumbing supplies (7000#)at around 72-75mph i will range from 10-13 depending on wind. Just pulled the boat(4000#) 350 miles this last weekend and i hand calculated 13.5 with a good head wind at 75 mph. Its a 2005 with SCT from ID and has exhaust. All in all I'm pretty happy. Once you hit a wind you can kiss your mileage good-bye.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 104
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From: West Coast
jthussey hit the nail on the head......its not always weight that affects fuel mileage, aerodynamics are a huge factor when towing.
A crosswind on a tall trailer can decrease your mileage faster than heavier weights.
Towing my 41' Escalade toy hauler (15,000 lbs) gives me an average of 11.2 mpg. I have been calculating that figure over the last 3 years towing with this 07.
My prior 04 p/s did a little poorer even though towing a lighter trailer (11,000 lbs), got around 9.8 mpg.
A crosswind on a tall trailer can decrease your mileage faster than heavier weights.
Towing my 41' Escalade toy hauler (15,000 lbs) gives me an average of 11.2 mpg. I have been calculating that figure over the last 3 years towing with this 07.
My prior 04 p/s did a little poorer even though towing a lighter trailer (11,000 lbs), got around 9.8 mpg.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 102
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From: MA
Aero is huge. I can pull a car on an open trailer and only lose 1-2 mpg, but lose double that when pulling my empty enclosed trailer (~same weight). Load the enclosed trailer to double its empty weight and mileage doesn't go down much at all. I don't recall the exact numbers though so this isn't a very scientific response. In the end I get mileage in the 12s with the 28' enclosed loaded to ~9k using some towing file on my SCT.
The condition of the trailer's bearings and brakes could also play a role.
The quote in post #2 is hillarious.
The condition of the trailer's bearings and brakes could also play a role.
The quote in post #2 is hillarious.
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