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What RV or whatever thing you got, - what kind of mpg do you get driving around? Tell us what you got, too!
Me --
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8L SXT Tow package -- tows either a:
1) 1999 Honda Civic HX manual transmission [2370 lbs + cargo weight]
2) 2016 Legend 615DVNTA35 - tandem axle, one window, should weigh 1550 lbs empty
Towing {1} -- I get 8 to 12 usually mpg city, sometimes up to 15. 15 to 20 mpg hwy at 60 to 70 mph
Towing {2) -- I get 11.2 to 11.61 mpg hwy [ in {3} gear ]
Towing {2}, is that pretty good mpg compared to a Ford F150 towing a RV Trailer?
Speed is a huge factor when towing big campers with a lot of frontal area, as is wind direction in relationship to your route.
My last camping outfit was a 2000 Ford F250 diesel and a 27', mid-profile 5th wheel. I usually towed at 68-70 mph and would get around 11-12 mpg. (Bobtail mileage averaged 16.5 mpg, driving the interstates at 80 mph mixed in with city driving.) The diesel got MUCH better mileage than the gassers I owned before it, like 50% better. Before I bought the 2000 I'd had an '89 F250 with the 460 c.i. engine pulling a 25' 5th wheel. It struggled to tow it at highway speeds, and the mileage was horrible -- like single-digit horrible!
I don't think my F250 would have hardly noticed your little trailer -- much lower and a good deal narrower. If you can reduce your speed even 5 mph you should notice a difference in mileage, ESPECIALLY if you're headed into the wind. Keep an eye on your transmission temps, if your car is pulling that hard (to increase mileage that much). With a tow package you should have extra transmission cooling, but just keep an eye on it.
Yeah, my 2005 DGC SXT has an oem transmission cooler, oem load leveling shocks, and an after market maybe a Draw Tite hitch... Not wired for 7 way yet, it's running a temporary 4 way to 7 way adapter.
I was shocked that even though the trailer should weigh 1550 lbs, it's a harder pull than my 2370 lbs Honda Civic. The tandem axles also have electric brakes, but I have no brake controller yet, - I have to install one. But of course it's a harder pull because of rear end trailer drag. It is a V Nose trailer, and the body width matches the width of my 2005 DGC SXT. It's just that the top of the trailer extends over the height of my minivan by about 18 inches.
Do you think I'm getting low mpg because the cargo trailer needs a brake in period?
Well gas has a specific energy content per gal. I guess whether you tow by a Ford F150 or F250 you could get the same mpg towing nearly the same thing to tow, if the different vehicles have the same optimized design efficiency.
Oh, since I get around 11.2 mpg and have a 20 gal fuel tank, I need to stop off the hwy every 120 to 150 miles for fuel!
We have a class B Roadtrek with a 318. My guess is 8-10 mpg. It doesn't really matter. It is what it is. If I wanted 25mpg, I'd do motels and tent camp with one of our cars.
When I lived in Houston I took a vacation to New Orleans... On the road I saw a Dodge Grand Caravan towing a Casita... It was a nice setup that I took a pic of.
When I lived in Houston I took a vacation to New Orleans... On the road I saw a Dodge Grand Caravan towing a Casita... It was a nice setup that I took a pic of.
There are a couple of sites for Casitas, they are informative. A number of people tow with vans, but I preferred a strong mid size SUV. A Nissan Xterra worked very well for us.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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15 - 20mpg VR6 Rialta 22' Class C Head wind or over 65 MPH hurts
12 - 18 MPG (Free fuel (WVO)) CTD (cummins 1T 4x4 dually towing up to 30k GCVW) 18 b- 22MPG empty (free fuel WVO)
36-42 MPG (Free fuel (WVO))TDI B4V (Passat wagon towing up to 1000# Teardrop or Motorcycles on trailer. - Height and wind hurts.
48 - 52MPG (Free fuel (WVO)) B4V empty / mini camper w/ HW shower bed, stove, frid, deck for bed. 1250 mile range between donut shops / chinese cafes for free used cooking oil
42- 50 MPG (Free fuel (WVO))1.9TD in Caddy (Rabbit pickup with camper shell)
18 - 22 MPG Minvan (Grand Caravan sport) Towing <1000# Teardrop (Low frontal exposure)
FRONTAL kills minivan economy. If your trailer is taller than 2/3 minivan height, add a 'wing' / fairing to deflect rear airflow UP rather than wind crashing into the front of the trailer. (Turbulence between van and trailer.)
Crosswind (SD and Wyoming) is really tough on minivan while towing (our worst economy... 12 - 15 MPG)
Towing with a minivan (or any light vehicle with auto tranny) Lock out OD, and add a tranny guage and cooler. Fan Assist is best cooler for towing ($120), adding tranny fluid capacity helps too (More volume is ezr to absorb and remove BTU created by tranny, BE SURE to use Synthetic Tranny fluid (OK to 200+temps) Dino tranny oil is not happy above 160F
Last edited by StealthRabbit; 03-27-2017 at 02:30 AM..
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