Towing Mileage in the Wind

Just completed 2041 mile trip towing a 6600lb travel trailer into headwinds and crosswinds most of the way blowing 20 to 40 mph. Low mileage on one tank was 6.5 and high was 10.3 with a 15 mph tailwind. The average for the trip was 8.66 mpg.

 

What sort of speeds were you going? What does the front of your trailer look like?

 

Speed varied between 55-65 depending on wind. Slower speeds were going across Wyoming in 30-35 mph headwinds or similar crosswinds. The front of the trailer is mainly flat and extends about 3 1/2 ft higher than the shell on the truck. Stability in crosswinds was fine.

 

So really not pushing it at all! Mpg’s seem low in that case. Does the truck get decent mileage without the trailer?

If it does, then maybe you have something creating drag on the trailer side (apart from its shape). Sticky trailer brakes or low tires?

 

I pulled our camp trailer last spring through Wyoming and achieved similar mileage. Not unusual, once in my old GMC I got 5-6 mpg in a ridiculous wind storm through a western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming trip.

 

Wind is a major factor. I see a 15-20% reduction in mileage due to wind either on the nose or the side without the trailer. No problems with brakes or bearings. In Tow+ at 60 the engine was at 2200 rpm in 7th gear.

 

I always wonder what the truckers get in some of those winds.

 

Traveling east across Wyoming with a headwind and crossing the continental divide a coupe of times is brutal. The Sisters alone are enough to remind anyone that towing sucks for fuel economy. Elevation and hills suck!!

 

Pushing a barn door going 60 mph into 40 mph wind will burn a ton of fuel.

Just imagine the range with an electric pickup

 

I can tell you that after decades of driving tractor trailers, I've found that windy conditions will hurt fuel mileage as much as anything. 18 wheelers will see a mileage drop approaching 25% in conditions the OP describes. Concerning towing camper trailers, a significant height difference between the truck and trailer will have a big negative effect. The trailer, while not maxing out the capacity of the truck, is hefty nonetheless. IMHO the mileage described here is not unusual.

 

I pulled a 8 1/2 X 24 enclosed trailer, 7,500 lbs, from Phoenix to Charleston (2200 mi) with a F150 ecoboost. I got 8.5-9 mpg.
I had the rig dialed in, weighed 3 times to get the best set up, and could haul ass with it, so I did.
We had planned 3 days and did it in two days, 2 hours. First day was Phoenix to Ft. Worth, second day made Columbia, SC to our son’s house. Next day 2 hours to Charleston. Took a few days for the numbness in my right leg to go away.
Trips like that make you appreciate big fuel tanks so you can make some time.

 

I towed my car from Long Island to Summit Point raceway in West Virginia. My son followed in my Corolla XRS. Tundra got 9 MPG, the XRS got 40MPG.

Ya just do not buy a Tundra for great MPG.

 

I will add that your flat front trailer kills you more than most think.
Case Study: I towed a 7500lb camper to and from Alaska and averaged 10 mpg overall with a 2022 I-Force Max.That was a 10k mile trip. The camper is an Airstream which is aerodynamic & makes a big difference. And yes I did see the wind effect also.
Never exceeded 65 mph during the trip.

 

Low? Not at all. That's pretty standard towing into Wyoming's wind with an air brake behind you. Gas engines, especially small twin turboed ones, use significantly more fuel in these situations.

 

A famous guy named Sir Isaac Newton said an object in motion tends to stay in motion. The rolling resistance and mechanical resistance are the same no matter what the wind resistance. That means it's almost ALL wind resistance. Weight of tires doesn't matter, how high it puts your vehicle does.