Gas mileage pulling an enclosed trailer

[bushpilot]

Does anyone know how much mileage drops pulling a small
(4X8) enclosed trailer? I have used a van getting at the best 15mpg for a long time. I think I could do much better with a passenger car pulling a small enclosed trailer, but would like some of the groups input.

Thanks

Wayne

 

[lawman]

i can't give you exact #s, but i can tell you that the height of the trailer makes a big difference. the v-nose option will help too.

 

[Smit-Dog]

I have a 6x12 v-nose that is fairly tall (6' interior height). Curb weight is 1,500lbs, and I haul approximately 500-600lbs worth of bikes, gear, etc.

My Chevy Venture mini van has a V-6, and normally gets around 20-22 MPG highway. Pulling the trailer at 70-75MPH, the engine struggles and is frequently downshifting. I am pulling the trailer at the van's maximum rated capacity. Doing this, I get around 7-9 MPG.

I plan on getting some type of SUV that's more suited to pulling a trailer. It pulls fine at around 60-65MPH, but the engine really struggles and the gas mileage really drops if you try to stay around 70MPH.

 

[Bandit9]

The height does matter. So does the width. Smit-Dog is right on. If you are going to pull an enclosed trailer, you need some HP and you still will never get great mpg. Maybe if you pulled a 5x8 w/5ft ceiling with a Power Stroke or Cummins Diesel you would get 16/18 mpg, but you are not going to get great mpg pulling an enclosed trailer with a car. Even a 5ft high enclosed trailer would have so much wind resistance it would feel like a parachute holding you back. As far as the V-nose fronts, I have read mixed results on them, but they have to help some. I have a Tacoma 4cyl w/a Leer shell on the back and have test pulled about every 5x8, 6x10 or 12 combo there is and it just doesn't work. Need to have a big truck, SUV or Van with a V-8 to do it comfortably. I could be wrong, but that is my opinion. If I could, I would love to have an extended van. I think that is the ticket for a 1 or 2 bike setup. No trailer, and room towards the front for sleeping.

 

[FritoBandito]

I pull a 6X12 with the 6 ft ceiling. I first pulled it with a Mercury Mountaineer with the V-8 305 and it got about 10 MPG. It struggled at 70MPH. I then traded to a suburban and it still gets 10 MPG but is way more comfy for the traveling. So I would say that the only way to increase MPG is to go with a deisel pickup for the towing, but you would need to put a lot of miles on to justify the large price tag of a truck like that. I think that a trailer that would had a roof that would extend up when you needed it would be a great idea if some trailer company could make it as an affordable option.

 

[taraker]

Man, you guys are making me feel pretty good about getting my V10 F250, :) oh wait, gotta go to the gas station, again..... :whiner:

 

[bushpilot]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I keep the van and try to improve it's mileage.

Wayne

 

[lawman]

i have a trailer with a roof that extends up when i need it, so i can offer some info on that. i have an old towlite camper trailer. it is a hard-shell tow-behind that raises & lowers on a hydraulic system; lowered, it is maybe 5' tall. it is i think 21' long, so it's much heavier than an enclosed, but of course lower. i pull it with an f-150 with the 5.4l & tow pkg. w/o the trailer, at 75 mph, it gets about 19mpg. with the trailer, with a bike in the truck & all the gear + generator & ramps, it gets 12-13 mpg at 75mph. at hiway speed, i can't even tell it's back there, i have to concentrate to remember to leave room for it when passing. i can feel it pulling off from a stop or up a hill at low speeds, but that's about it. so the height makes a difference!

 

[Jonala]

I have a Pace Cargo Sport 5 x 10. It has an overall height of 6'5". I tow it with a Toyota Tundra, 4.7L V8. It gets 16.6 mpg. It is no problem for the Tundra to pull.

I had a 95' Toyota 4 Runner with a 3.0L V6. It got 15-16 mpg towing the same trailer. Total trailer weight including toys 1500#. The V6 was OK up to 60mph. 60+mph meant drafting semi's or strong tailwind. Headwinds or the slightest postitive elavation would require dropping out of OD.

 

[Vytas]

I have a 2002 Excursion with a PSD that will get about 16-17mpg at 70+mph.  When I pull my 7x16 enclosed that is 99" tall my mpg drops down to about 10.  There is no problem pulling the load, but I am pulling a huge air brake behind the truck which kills the mpg.  I need to play around with my wind deflector to see if I can get the miles up a bit.

 

[Tony Williams]

Summing up (below) the thread, it doesn't pay (mpg wise) to get a marginal tow vehicle. Second, there is a huge difference is weight and aerodynamic drag between even seemingly subtle differences between trailers.

For instance, a 5x10 is reported at 1500 pounds with the toys, and my 6x12 weighs 1350 empty. A 7x16 trailer is alot heavier.


1. Mercury Mountaineer V-8 305; 6X12 w/ 6 ft ceiling; 10 mpg, struggled at 70MPH
2. Suburban; 6X12 w/ 6 ft ceiling; still gets 10 MPG; more comfy
3. Toyota Tundra, 4.7L V8; trailer 5 x 10 overall height of 6'5"; 16.6mpg
4. Toyota 4 Runner with a 3.0L V6; trailer 5 x 10 overall height of 6'5"; 15-16 mpg, kinda struggled. Total trailer weight including toys 1500#.
5. Ford Excursion with a PSD; 7x16 enclosed that is 99" (????) tall; 10mpg pulling; will get about 16-17mpg at 70+mph unloaded

 

[Tony Williams]

I guess I can add my vehicles:

Trailer 6x12 6ft tall, loaded typically with 2 bikes plus gear.

Chevy pickup, 5.3L (327cid), 1/2t,automatic 14.5mpg unladen, 12 - 13 loaded.

Chevy Suburban, 7.4L (454cid) 3/4t 4x4, automatic, 8.8mpg empty, 8.6 loaded.

 

[KenR]

6. GMC 2500HD Duramax diesel; 8.5x20 enclosed 100" tall; 10mpg pulling loaded with toys (haven't weighed it yet) at 60mph. At 70-80mph pulls it no problem, but 7mpg. Mileage drops dramatically if held above about 1800 rpm (peak torque I think).

 

[FritoBandito]

I guess I feel OK now that I see that everyone gets poor MPG with just about all tow vehicles. One thing that I think is kind of strange is that I used to have a 27ft. 5th wheel camper and I got the same MPG pulling that, but it was bigger and was taller. Thats why I thought that a little dirt bike trailer wouldn't even be noticed behind the truck. I was wrong, not very many times am I wrong, but don't ask my wifes opinion on that!

 

[Tony Williams]

Originally posted by KenR
6. GMC 2500HD Duramax diesel; 8.5x20 enclosed 100" tall; 10mpg

That's one heck of a trailer. I'm thinking of the Duramax pickup w/4 real doors, or a new Suburban 3/4t. Has anybody put a diesel in the new Suburban yet?

 

[KenR]

As far a a Duramax in a Suburban, I've heard everything from "Never" to "in 2005". If you're interested in this engine, I recommend the following forum that has lots of good information:

http://forum.62-65-dieselpage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

We've got 46,000 miles on our '02 crewcab 4 x 4 2500HD and it hasn't given us one problem. Regularly pulls 6% grades with the aforementioned trailer at 70+mph.