Gas mileage ?

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Gas mileage ?

Postby Constrictor » Mon Jul 18, 2011 10:58 pm

how much does hauling your tear hurt your gas mileage in reality?
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Postby jhanlon » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:11 pm

This a seriously TV related question. My Chevy 454 Suburbans got 4.8 mpg loaded, empty, towing my 17 ft boat. Colorado mountains or New Braska flats?

9000 feet at my cabin in Colorado or on the beach at Daytona?

Diesel or gas?

TD wider than TV or drafting?

Ton's of variables.
I'd like to know too.

TD weight/dimensions - TV - engine size - altitude - etc.

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Postby jerry101jlh » Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:35 am

We can all agree to disagree to some extent on gas mileage and of course the weight and over all design of a tear does have a direct affect. We tow a Little Guy Silver Shadow with a dry weight of approximately 1000 Lbs. We tow with a 2002 Ford Explorer. No trailer we get a consistent 23-24 mpg. With trailer empty 20-21 and loaded about the same. I'll take that mpg all day long over what some towing other types of trailers get. When we tow with our 95 Nissan Pathfinder slightly under 19 with no trailer, about 14-15 with. I can feel the trailer with the Pathfinder, like its not even there with the Explorer.
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Postby Shadow Catcher » Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:32 am

It depends on the TV and the trailer. My Subaru gets 24 MPG on the highway with the tear which is 6' wide (wider than the car) I get 3MPG less towing at 65 to 70 MPH. Ours is however a grasshopper design which is less aerodynamic to begin with.
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Postby canned o minimum » Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:37 am

I have a 2005 Little Guy 4 wide.. dry , it weighs 785...never weighed it LOADED, but figure I carry at least a couple hundred lbs in the trailer AND car..

I tow it with a 1965 VW Beetle that gits 23-24 mpg and about 20-21 when towing..

The FUN factor... PRICELESS !!

I go to the local mtns. a LOT and the beach as well. Climbing the mtns.I can "feel" the weight behind me, but that little VW will HAUL it and has NO problem .

I've been 85 mph while passing a motorhome or a 5th wheel trailer and it goes straight as an arrow !!
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Postby aggie79 » Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:48 am

I haven't weighed my teardrop but am guessing it is around 1200 pounds. Towing it with my F-150 at 70 mph, I get around 16-17 mpg, which is 1-2 mpg less than not towing the trailer.
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Postby Gary and Cheri » Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:50 am

Tow; 2009 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI 6 speed manual
TD; Pleasant Valley 5X8 1,000lb dry

The TDI is rated at 41 mpg highway. I usually get 43-44 mpg when doing a steady 65 mph. With the tear behind I will get 29-30 mpg at the same speeds.

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Postby canned o minimum » Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:57 am

WOW ! nearly 10 mpg LESS when towing ???

I'm glad "I" drive "vintage" then...
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Postby Mojave Bob » Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:23 am

canned o minimum wrote:WOW ! nearly 10 mpg LESS when towing ???

I'm glad "I" drive "vintage" then...


I think I know what you mean, but he IS still getting 30 mpg towing, while you are getting 21.

I have a Little Guy 4-wide, 750 lbs loaded, and tow with a 2001 Chevy Prizm. We get 37 mpg highway not towing, and 28 mpg towing.
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Postby 07rascal » Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:17 am

We tow our LG Rascal (dry weight of 460 lbs - LOADED, I would estimate it weights about 550 lbs) with a 2006 Ford Focus 2.0L 4 cyl Automatic. Without the trailer at 63-65 mph we get 36-38 mpg consistently. Towing at 63-65 we get 28-30 mpg. The Rascal is no wider than the body of the car.

The Focus tows and handles it just fine on the flat land of the Midwest and also in the Mountains of SD and WY.

Black Hills of SD last fall:

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Postby glenpinpat » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:06 pm

your home built td is 6ft wide and 8ft long weighs about 1000lbs wet. towing with a suzuki grand vitara we average about 23 mpg. It makes no difference if I am towing or empty but I keep my rpms below 3000.
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Postby parnold » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:13 pm

Trailer approx weight is 850lbs loaded. My Hyundai Accent gets 30mpg regular, 24mpg towing
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Postby asianflava » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:19 pm

In general, the larger the vehicle/engine the less it is affected by the trailer. We've towed our extensively with both our vehicles. With my wife's 4-cyl Highlander it drops from 24-25mpg to around 19. My V8 Tundra gets around 17-18mpg drops down to 16.
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Postby Cliffmeister2000 » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:48 pm

I have a 5 x 10 x 5 Weekender, 1,340 lbs.

My Frontier, 2007 SE, 4.0 liter V6, automatic, gets 19-20 mpg on its own, 15 mpg with the Weekender.

My Dodge Ram 1500, 4.7 liter V8 gets 14mpg, regardless if I'm towing the Weekender or not. :roll:
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Postby canned o minimum » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:59 pm

Did "I" mention that I drive rather fast while towing my TD.. round 70mph on average...

Yeah.. I am CRAZY, but then... anyone who knows me.. knows THAT !

How many people do YOU know who drive around with their vehicle all dressed up in sum sorta theme.. with two mannequins in the back seat..

Who loves to pass up motorhomes and fifth wheel trailers at 85mph with a VW honk and a wave..

If ya ain't livin on the edge.. yer takin up TOO much space !
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