Mileage & Fuel use good with 6 x 12 Cargo

[mdvaden]

Figured this might be worth a thread. Fuel Economy. My trailer choice is a 6 x 12 cargo, because I can just pull over anywhere and stand up to change clothes or make coffee on the spur of the moment. My concern at first was that maybe the broad front would cut mileage in half.

My most frequent trips are to the north California redwoods, from Beaverton. I usually fill up in Cave Junction, Oregon, to skip buying at CA fuel prices. But I can get to Crescent City on 22 gallons if needed. Usually 65 mph on the straight. And there is a lot of mountain between Cottage Grove to Grants Pass and Cave Junction to Crescent City.Anyhow, the trip to Crescent City from Portland, is 329 miles. So I'm getting roughly 14.95 miles per gallon.

That's pulling the trailer with about 900 pounds of extra stuff in it. The truck is a 1/2 ton 2008 4x4 with a V-8. And I carry 3 aluminum toolboxes. Best I can tell, the truck seems to be operating 4 cylinders as designed on the flat highway as the engine is designed.So that's where I'm at with fuel economy. Far less fuel than the 18 foot Komfort travel trailer I used to drag around. That was 3500 pounds dry if I recall correct.

How is everyone else doing with their fuel use for various size vehicles and trailers?

[digimark]

I'm pulling my chopped (1') 6x10 with torsion axle behind a diesel Merc ML320 CDI, and while I usually get from 18-21 city, 23-27 hwy, I seem to lose about 4mpg whenever the trailer is attached.

[Gonefishin]

My experience with my v-nose haulmark 6X12 is still very limited. However, I did pull it just over 200 miles on a single non-stop trip on the interstate. I started with a full tank, and then filled up once I got it home, just to see. It had only about 100-125 pounds in it, I'm guessing (Full-size mattress for trailer, and new love seat for my home.)

I noticed a drop from 19 mpg to 17 mpg, at posted speeds of 70-75 mph. I didn't really push the hills hard or try to maintain full speed. it was more uphill than down. No wind. Only one trip though. I'm pulling with a '08 F-150 short bed with a V-8 and tonneau cover over the bed.

I'm thinking about the little wind-foil gizmos (air tabs) that Prem recommended for the rear. That will come later though, once I get some true comparisons with mine over a few trips.

[dwgriff1]

I have a 6 by 12 that is from my days as a contractor.

Pulling with a Dodge 4.7 pickup I would get 12 most days but on a longer run 14 was common.

But I pulled a friend's 28 foot Avion and got over 12.

Go figure!

dave

[edcasey]

My

[BC Dave]

With a 6X10 overheight (ie 6'-2" interior ht) weight 1,300 lbs pulled with a 6 Cyl 3.3 L Nissian Pathfinder; I'm getting about 25% less fuel efficiency;

Highway I get about 450 km's / 60L without the trailer;

With the trailer I'm getting about 350 km's / 60L's of gas.

Ill let you all do the conversions ....

This is also hard to calculate since I'm in BC and when I take the trailer its usually up into the mountains on roads I dont travel on regularly. I do notice that into the Mts it is less efficient than going downhill out of the Mts ... no surprise there.

[Gonefishin]

450 KM =280 US miles divided by 15.8 imperial Gallons (60 Liters), equals roughly 17.7 miles per gallon, US.

350 KM= 219 US miles, divided by 15.8 Gallons (60 liters), equals roughly 13.9 miles per gallon.

You're getting about 4 mpg less towing your trailer, or 60 miles less on 60 liters of gas (15.8 gallons)

[BC Dave]

450 KM =280 US miles divided by 15.8 imperial Gallons (60 Liters), equals roughly 17.7 miles per gallon, US.

350 KM= 219 US miles, divided by 15.8 Gallons (60 liters), equals roughly 13.9 miles per gallon.

You're getting about 4 mpg less towing your trailer, or 60 miles less on 60 liters of gas (15.8 gallons)

.... thx ...lol.

What are you using for the conversions? ... just off the top of my head .... its 1.6 km to a mile .... and 4L to 1 US gallon ... or is it 4.4L =1US gallon ...or is it to an imperila gallon .... i

.... t'd be easier if you all converted to metric! So much easter to calculate things in 10ths! (my 2 cents ...lol)

[Gonefishin]

YEP!
1 mi = 1.6 km
1 Liter = 0.264172052637296 Gallons (US)
1 US gallon = 3.78541178 liters

Courtesy of Google!

And yes, the metric system is SO MUCH easier to work with than this silly foot, inches, yards, miles, gallons, ounces crap somebody came up with! Base 10 is the way, but unfortunately not the US way, eh!

[Senior Ninja]

FYI
It's your money.
The speed limit in CA for ANY vehicle pulling a trailer is 55 mph.
Got yelled at by the CHP's hailer for exceeding 55.
Steve

[Trackstriper]

Looking at these mileage numbers makes me think a newer TV might be somewhere in the future. I have a full size '99 Dodge van with a 318 and loaded with my tools I get about 15mpg at 70mph cruise. With my 6x12 Pace it drops to 11mpg at 65mph...which is about all she'll do comfortably, the engines getting old at 390K. I may have to look at some of the air tabs.

[starleen2]

Heck – the way I see it – If I HAVE to calculate how much EXTRA it’s gonna cost me to pull a trailer and in the end – it’s only a few miles difference between - AND I’m fretting about it – then by ALL MEANS – don’t tow and save your few dollars. Or buy that new TV vehicle – for mileage sake. I don’t see the need to spend $30,000 for a new vehicle just for mileage. We ain’t towing a huge fifth wheel are we? Mileage makes a difference if you are planning a VERY long trip. The last trip I took – my mileage varied by 2-3 miles MPG – so it cost me an extra twenty for an 800 mile round trip to tow my camper. That’s ten buck both ways. I count it as a savings for the whole week - I didn't have to stay in a hotel or go out to eat everynight. it was a cost saver to tow. Plus – I drive a 2006 Jeep , the most non aerodynamic vehicle besides a brick!

[Trackstriper]

Or buy that new TV vehicle – for mileage sake. I don’t see the need to spend $30,000 for a new vehicle just for mileage.....Mileage makes a difference if you are planning a VERY long trip. The last trip I took – my mileage varied by 2-3 miles MPG – so it cost me an extra twenty for an 800 mile round trip....

Scott, you're right about the mileage for the shorter trips, and the trailer will definitely save me money in the long run. It's just that I get a little jealous when someone in a pickup is blowing down the road at 70 with their trailer, i.e. keeping up with traffic, and not having problems going uphill...and they're getting decent mileage to boot. I'll bog down to the high to mid 50's if there is a slight upgrade. I'll be installing a tach to see what rpm I'm running. Overdrive is OK on the flats but is still too tall and the tranny hunts with the least provocation, OD off and the engine sounds like it's running too fast. I may change up tire size and go smaller.... RPM homework first.

That 800 mile trip for me would be a $50 difference and being able to arrive a little more quickly, it's mostly going to be used for business purposes...not so much recreational.

I do hear you about that new tow rig though.

Newer for me is a rig with 100K on the clock. But that's not in the cards at the moment.

Bruce

[meach4x4]

My tow vehicle is a 2008 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited that is lifted 3.5 inches and has 35 inch tires. It gets 14 to 15 mpg at highway speed. I just towed my CCC 600 miles at high altitude with high winds that were predominantly headwinds both ways. (My usual luck!) The cruise control was set at 65 for the majority of the trip, and the Jeep was able to keep it up to that speed almost all the time.

The trailer is a 5x8 V nose Wells Cargo with the 5'6" optional ceiling height that is lifted 4 inches and has 31 inch tires. Since the lift and tires are 6 inches combined, after the optional 6 inches of wall height, it runs about 1 foot higher than a stock height 5x8 cargo trailer on stock tires and spring height.

Obviously, neither the tow rig nor the trailer are designed to maximize highway fuel mileage. They both serve a much "higher" purpose... Getting me camping in the back country.

Gil

[mdvaden]

For the more part, it sounds like most folks just see a small dent in the mileage with the smaller cargo trailers.

I also like the light weight because it's easy to roll the front around in a campground using the jack wheel, for reposition. That means my body gets better mileage too.