Ranger towing fuel mileage

[BReeves61]

I just got back from a 160 trip towing our 4500 lb camper and got about 10.5 mpg. It was a combination of hills and flat land at 55- 60 mph. Running the ac. Is this a normal mpg for towing?

Thanks!

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[ctechbob]

Yup.

It's (mostly) not the weight. It is the air resistance/speed.

Most modern (gas) trucks get right about 10mpg at highway speeds towing a normal sized travel trailer. We've almost reached peak gas drivetrain efficiency with 10 speed transmissions, direct injection, and turbos, so you'll see most trucks get just about the same mileage whether they be an I4, V6, or V8.

I get right around 10 towing 6000# and 30 feet worth of trailer, a little less if we spend a lot of time on the interstate and are cruising at 70.

 

[Tom_C]

I have a little 5x8 carry-on trailer I use for my ATV and small stuff. I towed it home last week, empty, 150 miles, and mileage dropped from about 24 to 21.5, give or take. So yeah, it happens.

 

[Grumpaw]

Towing a travel trailer, 10-12 mpg is in the normal range for our rigs.

 

[Frenchy]

As mentioned above this is normal. About 3 years ago I did tow my 83 280ZX with the Ranger using a U-Haul Auto Carrier. Total weight war around 5500 LBS but was tucked behind the Ranger fairly well. Yes MPG did go down, but not by much. If I remember correctly I think I was around 16-18?

With a travel trailer you have a big wall to move and that will make it more.fun regardless of vehicle.

 

[Dieseldean1]

I just got back from a 160 trip towing our 4500 lb camper and got about 10.5 mpg. It was a combination of hills and flat land at 55- 60 mph. Running the ac. Is this a normal mpg for towing?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, yes.
The 4 banger uses A LOT of fuel when towing.

 

[brroberts]

4650 lbs 7’ wide RV 60mph we average around 15mpg. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but that’s what I budget for trips even East and West to the mountains. Not sure why folks are seeing 10mph at those speeds. I hand calculate, and have never seen less than 13 for any tank.

 

[David Schuster]

Yup.

It's (mostly) not the weight. It is the air resistance/speed.

I'd have to agree with this based on what others have posted and what I experienced towing my car on a trailer this summer. Wind resistance must be a BIG factor. NW Indiana to NE Tennessee for a car meet. Mostly flat through IN before the hills in KY & TN. Estimated weight was 5,700 for the car & trailer. Below are the trip specs that I zeroed out prior to leaving:

 

[Burnt Money]

I believe it’s wind resistance. I towed my boat 1200 miles round trip and averaged somewhere in the 12mpg range. From Charleston SC to Captiva FL is very flat some small hills here and there. I was running 70mph most of the trip. The boat, trailer and gear weighs right at 3,000lbs. I towed a 16ft all steel dual axle trailer with a load of steel on it and averaged in the high 15mpg range. Not sure what the weight was. But I was way heavier than the boat. I’m guessing in the 5,000lbs range or heavier. I’m curious what the fuel mileage would have been towing the boat at 60mph for the trip would have been considering less drag from going slower? I might do a test of putting the truck on cruise with the boat going the speed limit for 20miles and one going 10 under the speed limit one day. Can’t wait to see my wife’s expression when she ask what I’m doing lol.

 

[HippoTrucker]

Towing a travel trailer, 10-12 mpg is in the normal range for our rigs.

Somewhat related, my biggest disappointment with the 6g Ranger is that they didn't increase the gas tank size. 18ish gallons simply isn't enough at 10mpg. 2024 F150 is standardized on a 36 gallon tank, don't need *that* much but at least 25 in the Ranger would be such an improvement...

 

[notsolinear]

I’ve seen a range between 12-17 mpg towing a 20’ Airstream with 15 mpg being the most common. Don’t go over 65 mph on the interstate.

 

[BReeves61]

4650 lbs 7’ wide RV 60mph we average around 15mpg. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but that’s what I budget for trips even East and West to the mountains. Not sure why folks are seeing 10mph at those speeds. I hand calculate, and have never seen less than 13 for any tank.

how fast do you normally drive on the hwy? I run about 55-60.

 

[socalcaral]

I just got back from a 160 trip towing our 4500 lb camper and got about 10.5 mpg. It was a combination of hills and flat land at 55- 60 mph. Running the ac. Is this a normal mpg for towing?

Thanks!

I'm getting 11.2 mpg for 5000 miles this year towing my 6000 lb travel trailer

 

[Crow_of_judgement]

I have a little 5x8 carry-on trailer I use for my ATV and small stuff. I towed it home last week, empty, 150 miles, and mileage dropped from about 24 to 21.5, give or take. So yeah, it happens.

Lucky you, i pull a lighter weight 5x8 with a zero turn on it and it drops me into the low teens

 

[sn95joe84]

Yeah... I usually get between 9.5-10.5 towing 5,200 27' TT

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