What I would like to know about gas mileage

[bushpilot]

My van gets crappy gas mileage. Usually in the 11.5 to 12.5 mpg range. $3.00 gasoline has pushed me to find another way to haul my bikes.

I think I would like to use a passenger car to pull a trailer. I would like to know just what kind of mileage penalty you pay pulling a trailer with a car? I can find no help on the net, but I might just be a bad researcher. Can any one help?

Wayne

 

[Wintermute]

We've got a 2wd 5.3L full size chevy pickup and a 16' Wells Cargo trailer. With the trailer we still get about 15 mpg. So basically any newer, non 4wd, non Chrysler bike hauler should do better than you are doing now.

Specific MPG penalties for towing are a little tough to nail down. It depends on the weight and drag of the trailer plus the nature of the tow vehicle. A typical passenger car would probably limit you to one of those light weight three rail type trailers.

In my experience the mpg penalty for a trailer that is scaled appropriately to the tow vehicle (ie not something massive like a 5th wheel or giant travel trailer) will cost about 3-5 mpg.

Wintermute
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Jesus saves, he passes to Gretski, Gretski scores!

 

[xsnrg]

Also, keep in mind that for passenger cars that are not really meant to be towing, there is often a transmision penalty that can erase several years of gas savings!

 

[Wintermute]

Yeah, I discovered that even a good pickup won't necessarily prevent you from paying that penalty (esp. with the junk trannies detroit was cranking out 10-15 years ago).

Big important thing is to make sure that your trailer is as light and low drag as you can. This is critical when using a passenger car as a tow vehicle. Vehicles with tow packages usually have two big items to protect their transmissions. A tranny oil cooler and different rear end gearing ratios.

Bushpilot, depending on how many people & bikes you have to transport., a small or midsize pickup with a bed extender might be the hot setup.

Wintermute
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Klatu Barada Nicto

 

[billtx]

I towed my bike with my Acura TL for a little while - mileage dropped way off on it when I did. I would avoid getting a car for this, but there are a few wagons that have decent towing capacities. Subara and Volvo wagons can tow up ot 2500 lbs. They will get 20MPG+

My Yukon is good also. 5.3L, gets 17 without trailer about 16 with. I have a small utility trailer, can hardly feel it back there.

 

[KDXruss]

This thread reminds me of a picture in Dirt Bike with a guy loading up a new CRF onto what looked like a Toyota Camery right up the trunk and on the roof! Wonder what kind of milage he gets?

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Several years ago we pulled the 6x12 enclosed with the mini-van. At 80, we got 23 without the trailer. At 80 with the trailer, 13. (3 or 3.3 liter V6, I don't remember).

 

[dante]

I knew a guy who towed his bike with a little honda DX... He had a tiny very light weight trailer, that had to be assembled, and it worked fine...

 

[velosapiens]

Also, keep in mind that for passenger cars that are not really meant to be towing, there is often a transmision penalty that can erase several years of gas savings!

that might be an issue with bigger trailers, but little ones are lighter than an extra passenger or two. we tow a harbor freight 4x8 hvy duty trailer with my gf's subaru outback. costs about 1-2mpg it seems. you don't even notice it's back there.

 

[y_a_m_a_h_a_2005]

a 02 ford F-150 gets like 19-23 depends on speed, hauling a 400 pound trailer plus 3000 more lbs we had really good 19-23 highway no clue what city would be.

 

[rickyd]

Several years ago we pulled the 6x12 enclosed with the mini-van. At 80, we got 23 without the trailer. At 80 with the trailer, 13. (3 or 3.3 liter V6, I don't remember).

:ohmy: :worship:

 

[cooldude3552000]

My dad has a 2000 ford taurus wagon with 3l 150hp engine. We got a tow bar and use it to tow my dirt bike around. We use one of those 4x8 flat bed trailers from harbor freight. With me, my dad, trailer and 1 dirt bike you can't really tell a difference in performance but its only like 5miles to the riding spot so we never go over maby 40mph. We can't tell a differene in gas but again only about 5 miles.

His car has a 1,500ib weight limit, not towing capacity, total weight limit.

 

[dirt bike dave]

In California, we have regional air quality problems and we get low energy content 'clean' fuel. Up to 15% ethanol now. Its worse than 'winter fuel' in other parts of the country.

In my experience, larger Fords (like my F150) really suffer a huge mileage penalty on lousy CA fuel. FWIW, last time I went to Reno I got about 3 mpg better on the return trip with Nevada gas. 11.5 to 12.5 mpg is about what I'd expect from a full size van on our lousy gas. Same van might get 15 mpg elsewhere.

If the van is paid for and suits your needs, you are probably better off keeping it. You will pay more at the pump, but less in payments, insurance, registration, etc...and you won't have to buy and store a trailer.

 

[Danman]

If the van is paid for and suits your needs, you are probably better off keeping it. You will pay more at the pump, but less in payments, insurance, registration, etc...and you won't have to buy and store a trailer.

Good advise and its what I'm doing now. My full size chevy gets 15 mpg in the city. It's way cheaper than payments on a second car. I have just put a hitch on it for pulling my buddies trailer. It would have one, but I have no storage options without much cost. It makes it easier than putting all three bike in by bed. We have been car pooling to the riding area. The cool thing is that my regular riding buds all live within a few blocks from me. At about 150 miles round trip its realy been saving money on gas. That and I've been on injured reserve for about a month.

I was thinking of putting out for a street bike to get to work, but most of my gas money comes in getting to ride and back. Work is about 30 miles a day. At that rate it would take riding the bike (every day including winter) for at least 5 years to equal the savings in gas even for a used bike. A DL650 or DL1000 is what I want and about in my price range. I would just move closer to work and ride a bicycle there and back, but the housing is way out of my price range! Too bad as I could realy use the excerise every day :(

 

[MikeT]

Also, keep in mind that for passenger cars that are not really meant to be towing, there is often a transmision penalty that can erase several years of gas savings!

Not really......
I have a 1993 Honda Accord (4cyl) and before I moved to my present location I used to ride at least once every other week. I still have the same trailer and haul my bike with it. I have deduced that since I have a 5 passenger car it should be able to drive around with 5 people who weigh about 200 pounds each. Thats 1000 pounds. When I go riding, I have myself, my bike, the trailer, and my gear. I weigh 195, my bike 216, my trailer, 250, any my gear, 50. That all adds up to about 700 pounds which is less than my car fully loaded with people.

With that rough calculation I figure that I am within the cars design parameters so there shouldn't be a problem. My car can get about 28mpg on the open road with only me in it. Hauling all that stuff, the mileage goes down to about 23mpg. Not bad seeing all it is pulling. I am also not exceeding the cars rated towing capacity.

As far as longevity of the car, it now has 204,000 miles on it and still pulls strong. :cool:

 

[y_a_m_a_h_a_2005]

wow lots of miles on that baby heh?

"honda's last forever"




muhahaha

 

[bushpilot]

I really appreciate your replies. I am sure I can make an informed decision now.

Thanks

Wayne

 

[bikepilot]

Keep the trailer small, light and of minimal frontal area and you'll hardly notice it there. Mileage doesn't suffer a lot, especially if you keep your speeds down. My pick for a bike-pulling car would be the one of the TDI VW's. That little diesel is very efficent and makes a good amount of tq. Getting more power out of it isn't hard either:)

 

[motometal]

regarding the transmission comment, if you happen to have a manual trans. they don't really seem to care what you are towing, regardless of the ratings.

Regarding two or more of you thinking pulling an 800 lb trailer is the same as having an additional 800 lbs of passengers in the car, it doesn't work that way. There is significant wind resistance from the trailer, plus rolling resistance of the tires, etc.

I have owned several trailers, but thought they were all a pain in the arse. You have to find a place to store them, the lights never seem to work right, then there's the concern of a bike falling over or falling out, it's more difficult to park, it's easier to get stuck in snow when towing, pain in the arse to back up, never seem to have the right size ball on the hitch, gotta worry about carrying a spare, axle bearings need care, the list goes on and on...it's tough to beat a full size truck with a full size box if you really want to haul dirt bikes. Close the tailgate on everything and go.