MPG - Towing

With us gathering tire info and TM weights, I thought I'd ask about mpg.
I'm curious as to what kinds of mpg everyone is getting with their perspective rigs. If you don't mind, can you post what kind of mpg you get while towing, and include some basic stats on your TV (model/engine size/gearing/etc), and what size TM you tow (if it's not already in your signature).
I'll assume most people tow in average or mixed terrain (50/50 flat/hilly) so if you feel most of your towing doesn't fit into this category, please comment.

I know I've seen some individual info posted on this, but I'd like to try to gather as much info as possible to form a good comparison.

My Tundra is an automatic with the 4.7 V8 engine. On all types of trips I average ~13/mpg. The worst I've ever gotten was on US Highway 2 in Northern Monatana, traveling West to East in a strong headwind all day. Got 12mpg that day. The best has been around 13.6mpg.

I get 16 mpg under 65 mph.
15 mpg over 65 mph.

[OneMoBear]

We drop from 20mpg to 15 mpg when towing. Mountains are always involved for us.
Malinda

Our setup is similar to Bfezel. Tundra with small V8 pulling a 3124kb. We average 13 - 14. Worst was 12mpg heading west across Nevada. Best was 16 mpg going downhill out the west entrance of Yellowstone through the Madison valley.

2006 Ford 150, Super Cab, 4x4, 5.4L V8, 3.73 gears pulling a 2003 2720 weighing in around 3500 lbs....14.5 to 16.3 mpg.

Same truck pulling a Surveyor conventional travel trailer weighing in at ~5500 lbs..........10 to 11 mpg.

2001 Durango SLT, AWD, 4.7 L, 3.73 gears, factory tow package. 157K miles. Had about 140K when we bought the TM.

11-13 towing typically in the mountains. 14-17 regular.

[Wavery]

2006 Chevy Silverado, 4.8L V8, auto trans, 3.23 final drive.....towing a 2720.

We've only had the truck a short time and towed with it 230 miles last weekend. Slightly hilly terrain (no mountains) 4 passengers and lots of cargo (including a kayak). We got a shocking 17.7MPG. We filled up when we started out and when we returned, so that is 100% towing mileage. I have no idea what it gets non-towing yet.

We are going on a 800 mile trip next weekend with some mountains and will report back.

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by harveyrv

2006 Chevy Silverado, 4.8L V8, auto trans, 3.23 final drive.....towing a 2720.

We've only had the truck a short time and towed with it 230 miles last weekend. Slightly hilly terrain (no mountains) 4 passengers and lots of cargo (including a kayak). We got a shocking 17.7MPG. We filled up when we started out and when we returned, so that is 100% towing mileage. I have no idea what it gets non-towing yet.

We are going on a 800 mile trip next weekend with some mountains and will report back.

OK.....time to report back after our 800 mile vacation.

Our true mileage (calculated at each fill-up and considering the entire trip) is 16.6 towing. Again, it must be stated that this was going up CA Hwy 1 with lots of hills (including grades up to 10%) and many-many stops. We were also loaded to the max and ran the AC all of the time. Top towing speed 60MPH.

This mileage stuff is far from a perfect science and it has been my experience that mileage can vary greatly with a lot of differing conditions. For instance, the 1st part of our trip north, we were bucking headwinds of 30MPH and our mileage (at fill-up in Monterey) was 15.2. The last part of our trip, we were cruising down CA Hwy101 (no wind) and got 17.9 on the last fill-up (arriving home).

I also found that I am quite happy with our 3.23 gear ratio (I didn't think that I would be). It seems very comfortable for this truck and the amount of trailer that we have. I was concerned about pulling grades but found that it pulled a 10% grade comfortably @ 35MPH @ 3500RPM at the hardest part (part of the time was in 2nd @ 45MPH). It pulls 6% grades @55MPH in 3rd gear(occasionaly down-shifting to 2nd but maintaining 55MPH).

The family that was with us, had a new Dodge RAM Maxi-Cab 5.7L V8 with 4:11 gears and had to go up the 10% grade in 2nd gear (1st gear @35MPH was 4600RPM) and could not keep up with us (slightly heavier travel trailer). When he was forced into 1st gear, he had to slow to 25MPH to keep from over-revving the engine. This scenario was the same going down the other side. I was able to keep it @ 35MPH in 1st gear with moderate braking. The Dodge had to stay @ 25MPH in 1st and didn't dare go down in 2nd for fear of over-heating the brakes.

Having said all that, if and when we move up to a larger trailer, I will change the gearing accordingly.

[commodor47]

2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLT, 4L, V6, 4x4, 3.73 gearing has averaged 15 - 16 mpg towing and 20 - 21 mpg when not towing. The data comes from two winter trips to Southwest AZ with a return via FL then up the East Coast. Each trip totaled approximately 10,000 miles.

Dick