My towing mileage sucks!

[midwayfordranger2021]

I've got a '21 XL with factory tow and a 4000 lb. trailer....add in the usual "gear" and I'm probably hauling 4500-5000 lbs. I have towed at 70-75 mph and gotten around 11.5 mpg. Slowing to 65 brought it up to 12-13.5.

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[jflogerzi]

your towing a giant box... drop your speed to 55-60 and just deal with it...

 

[k1w1t1m]

Winter gas will make a difference for the worse too.

 

[Jedadiah]

Yeah, I rage about these ridiculous bans on diesel engines in the US. Everywhere else in the world it’s no issue. Great mileage and durability. But here in the US the nanny laws force us into janky gas engines simply because of negative perceptions that diesel is somehow dirtier than petrol.

I agree that many of the perceptions on Diesels didn't hold up to scrutiny. We can thank VW for killing them though. I had several of their diesel in the past and they were great. The 2015 2.0 I had technically could easily pass the admissions tests, but VW installed a cheat cycle, so that it would look like it could go 10k between DEF fill-ups and be part of the dealer service.

The crazy thing to me is that DI gas motors also spit out gobs of particulate matter. My 2015 2.0 TDI with it's def was putting out way less crap per mile than a comparably equipped Golf with a DI gasoline motor.

I'd have probably ordered Ford's Biturbo 2.0 Diesel if it had been available here.

 

[Jedadiah]

I feel like the frontage matters more than the weight unless you are stopping and starting a lot. I would get worst milage pulling this trailer basically empty than I would a loaded utility trailer with my last Ranger. It was just a 4x6.

 

[Grumpaw]

It IS the "frontage" and side "sail" area that ruins the mpg.
Take a 7000 lb box trailer or camper and compare it to a 2000 lb flatbed with a 5000 lb car on it....
Both weigh the same, but the flatbed/car unit will tow better and get better mpg's. Much less sail area and weight/center of gravity is concentrated lower to road.

 

[dtech]

It IS the "frontage" and side "sail" area that ruins the mpg.
Take a 7000 lb box trailer or camper and compare it to a 2000 lb flatbed with a 5000 lb car on it....
Both weigh the same, but the flatbed/car unit will tow better and get better mpg's. Much less sail area and weight/center of gravity is concentrated lower to road.

yep, if I had to do it over again I'd look for something that is lower, maybe 9' , my NOBO measures 10'6" but also sits 13" above ground - enabling some off road use. Seeing a lot of truck mounted campers of late that can be lowered for travel.

 

[Montana Ranger]

Keep in mind that the owners manual recommends locking out 9th and 10th gear (I actually lock out 8th too when pulling our 6000# travel trailer). It also recommends to tow at 62 mph best I remember (I cruise at 65 mph in 7th gear for 100's of miles on end... get around 10-11 mpg with the TT).

Don't recall reading that. Trailer mode locks out 10. We spend most of our time in 8 or 9 on the flat with no headwind.

 

[Frenchy]

Don't recall reading that. Trailer mode locks out 10. We spend most of our time in 8 or 9 on the flat with no headwind.

I still remember when I had the Ranger. In Tow Mode with no Trailer I could get into 10th with no problems. With a Trailer it would take a lot to even attempt to go into 10th and usually didn't go past 9th

 

[ctechbob]

Don't recall reading that. Trailer mode locks out 10. We spend most of our time in 8 or 9 on the flat with no headwind.

It doesn't, it just super rarely gets used. Might as well consider it locked out.

It would probably use it a lot more towing a flat trailer, but a travel trailer, notsomuch.

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