Mileage Impact

[marsman]

Originally Posted by WillyB

I recently had to sell my work car (2012 V6 Honda Accord) and I wanted to check the impact on fuel costs since the Honda was great. It averaged between 28 City & 32 Highway even when exceeding the speed limit.

I did a 900 mile test this week on the effect of MPH on MPG on my work trip to Iowa in my 2016 59,000 mile F-150 4-Door 4-Wheel Drive 3.5 EB. 3.55 gearing - truck only - hand calculated - full tank starting both ways.

To Iowa I drove 10 MPH over the speed limit into a very light breeze.
*** MPG = 19.1

On the return home I drove at the posted speed limit into a fairly stiff wind.
*** MPG = 21.7

Most of this driving was straight down the highway on cruise control (75 vs 65 MPH) and showed a nice 2.6 MPG benefit at the slower speeds even with the stiff wind in my face on the return.

This reinforced why I try to drive 5 MPH under the speed limit and not any faster than 62 MPH on the highway when towing our Escape.

Very good tests and I'm not surprised at all. This year I plan on doing even more mileage (perhaps over 10,000 miles) and my plan is to always stay belwo 65 mph; I'll report back on the fuel consumption. An added benefit is that my wife hates travelling at higher speeds so she'll be a lot more relaxed which means I'll be a lot more relaxed

[SageRpod]

Originally Posted by WillyB

I have a F150 which gets about 21 MPG not towing. When towing our 21C, depending on wind & terrain, I range anywhere from as low as 9 MPG to as high as 15 MPG. My last trip was a little over 2100 miles and I averaged 13.7 MPG.

Hope this helps.

Same here. F150 3.5 Ecoboost 10 speed.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by WillyB

I have a F150 which gets about 21 MPG not towing. When towing our 21C, depending on wind & terrain, I range anywhere from as low as 9 MPG to as high as 15 MPG. My last trip was a little over 2100 miles and I averaged 13.7 MPG.

Hope this helps.

Another same here, but because mine is an unlucky 2018 3.5, I also get to have new cam phasers installed every 35,000 miles. At $3k (although the first set was under warranty) I am getting annoyed. I do love the truck, but...

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by marsman

Very good tests and I'm not surprised at all. This year I plan on doing even more mileage (perhaps over 10,000 miles) and my plan is to always stay belwo 65 mph; I'll report back on the fuel consumption. An added benefit is that my wife hates travelling at higher speeds so she'll be a lot more relaxed which means I'll be a lot more relaxed

That’s great. I think I can do that, but that means never stopping for bathroom breaks

[Downsized]

Count on losing half your mileage and be happy when it’s better than that. It’s the same when towing with electric vehicles. Count on losing your range and anything above that is a bonus.

[marsman]

Originally Posted by Downsized

Count on losing half your mileage and be happy when it’s better than that. It’s the same when towing with electric vehicles. Count on losing your range and anything above that is a bonus.

That's what would make the purchase of an electric truck so untenable for us; assuming you cut the range in half or more than that, I'd be stopping every 200 miles or so for an hour? (maybe longer??) That is simply unworkable.

Excited to see what Dodge are coming out with; rumors that their new BEV full size pickup has a range extender....hmmm?

[Downsized]

Originally Posted by marsman

That's what would make the purchase of an electric truck so untenable for us; assuming you cut the range in half or more than that, I'd be stopping every 200 miles or so for an hour? (maybe longer??) That is simply unworkable.

Excited to see what Dodge are coming out with; rumors that their new BEV full size pickup has a range extender....hmmm?

Yah I hear ya. It wouldn’t take an hour though with something like a Cybertruck. 20 minutes on a V4 supercharger or maybe 30 minutes on a V3 supercharger (more common). But yah. Not right for everyone. We are fine with it as we need a break every two or 3 hours. But that’s us.

Safe travels.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Downsized

Yah I hear ya. It wouldn’t take an hour though with something like a Cybertruck. 20 minutes on a V4 supercharger or maybe 30 minutes on a V3 supercharger (more common). But yah. Not right for everyone. We are fine with it as we need a break every two or 3 hours. But that’s us.

Safe travels.

thats just for an 80% charge, right? that last 20% more than doubles the time. So thats 20-30 minutes to go 160 miles, not 200 miles. Thats a big difference when you're trying to do 500+ mile days to get cross country so the fun can begin.

Personally, I think something like an all electric version of the Vixen 21 makes more sense than a truck pulling a trailer. These got 30 MPG out of a 2.4L BMW turbodiesel in 1986, while being able to go 100MPH. 21 ft fully equipped RV had a curb weight around 5100 lbs.

[Downsized]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

thats just for an 80% charge, right? that last 20% more than doubles the time. So thats 20-30 minutes to go 160 miles, not 200 miles. Thats a big difference when you're trying to do 500+ mile days to get cross country so the fun can begin.

Personally, I think something like an all electric version of the Vixen 21 makes more sense than a truck pulling a trailer. These got 30 MPG out of a 2.4L BMW turbodiesel in 1986, while being able to go 100MPH. 21 ft fully equipped RV had a curb weight around 5100 lbs.

Yah maybe. But a tesla cybertruck with the aux pack has an EPA range of 470 miles. I would think 200 miles would be easy at 80 percent charge. And we often start our towing day at 100 percent. . We tow with an EV and the 50 percent range rule is pretty reliable. I’ll bet with something like a 21 escape the loss would be closer to 40 percent instead of 50 percent.

Jmho. Not an expert.

[Chamberman]

Originally Posted by Downsized

Yah maybe. But a tesla cybertruck with the aux pack has an EPA range of 470 miles. I would think 200 miles would be easy at 80 percent charge. And we often start our towing day at 100 percent. . We tow with an EV and the 50 percent range rule is pretty reliable. I’ll bet with something like a 21 escape the loss would be closer to 40 percent instead of 50 percent.

Jmho. Not an expert.

Sure, but the aux pack will almost certainly use up a large portion of the available load capacity of the Cybertruck. There will likely be not enough load capacity for the tongue weight of an medium sized trailer, plus the passengers and their gear once an aux battery pack is installed in the bed of the truck.

As a comparison, My Toyota RAV4 HEV has the 1.5KWH battery in it and weighs approx 3800lbs. The same year model RAV4 Prime PHEV has an 18KWH battery in it and weighs in at 4400lbs (and this model eliminates the spare tire). So +600lbs for an additional 16.5KWH of pack. The Cybertruck aux pack will be in excess of double the KWH of the PHEV so I expect a corresponding increase in the weight and subsequent loss of load capacity.

[Downsized]

Originally Posted by Chamberman

Sure, but the aux pack will almost certainly use up a large portion of the available load capacity of the Cybertruck. There will likely be not enough load capacity for the tongue weight of an medium sized trailer, plus the passengers and their gear once an aux battery pack is installed in the bed of the truck.

As a comparison, My Toyota RAV4 HEV has the 1.5KWH battery in it and weighs approx 3800lbs. The same year model RAV4 Prime PHEV has an 18KWH battery in it and weighs in at 4400lbs (and this model eliminates the spare tire). So +600lbs for an additional 16.5KWH of pack. The Cybertruck aux pack will be in excess of double the KWH of the PHEV so I expect a corresponding increase in the weight and subsequent loss of load capacity.

Yah maybe. But I think it would be alright. Even if the pack weighs 700 pounds that leaves 1800 for cargo. Hitch weights on most escapes are not excessive. But yah. You lose about 30 percent of the box. Might not be the right fit.

Anyway. Have a great camping season.

[DougG]

I have a 2023 Tundra, and a 2010 escape 19. I am getting about 12.5mpg when towing.

[vtskiguy]

I have a 23’ Tundra and I average between 10-13 mpg towing my 21NE. Sometimes worse depending on headwinds and speed. Rarely any better. Pulls great just don’t look at mpg bc it’ll drive you crazy.

[lostskier]

Originally Posted by MoreQuestionsThanAnswers

Any estimates on the mileage impact of towing an Escape 19? My tow vehicle is a 2023 Tundra. I get 17 mpg towing my 1400 lb tear drop. The Escape weight is not an issue, I’m more concerned with aero drag. Any experiences are appreciated.

I have a 2017 5.7L V8 Tundra that gets around 17 mpg when not towing. When towing my 2019 E19, its consistently around 13mph for trips. Doesn't seem to matter if I tow at 50 or 60mph. However, crank it up to 70 and it goes down to 12mpg. Finding that sweet spot is the answer. And I tow in 6th gear in standard. Take it out of automatic and it doesn't cycle up and down much. Don't really feel much wind effect up to 20mph. With equalizer hitch, you could pull it through a hurricane.

[Scambo1]

I have a 2021 tundra. Towing my 5.0 has no effect on my mpg. None and I often tow it at 80mph.

[Radar1]

Don't have a Tundra, but my Dodge Durango (V6) and my Ford Ranger (4 turbo) both get around 20-24 local solo driving, both got around 17.0 pulling our 16' Scamp, and about 14.5 pulling our 19' Escape. Speeds are normally 62-65 towing.
The extra square footage of the Escape vs Scamp, along with the extra weight, plus friction from 2 sets of wheels vs one axle does cost extra gasoline.

[Scambo1]

I’m just going from the mileage and range figures delivered by my tundra’s computer. I was very pleasantly surprised and am well aware of the effects of parasite and induced drag. I just think the tundras happy place is in an rpm band and drive ratio band that isn’t affected by my 5.0.

[jeffhaltiner]

we tow our E19 with a 2021 Telluride (V6)...similar to the Toyota Highlander. Like others, i've noticed a big difference in gas mileage based on how fast I drive. At 75mph, i get about 13-14mpg. at 55mpph, it goes up to about 17mpg (these #'s on flat highway/interstates). The trailer tows/tracks very well at 75mph, but of course, there is a safety issue at higher speeds. The benefit of the higher speed is evident on the days we end up doing long drives (while we try to keep most driving days to 200miles or less, we occasionally end up with 500mile days (SF-San diego). on those long drives, that extra 20mph gains us two hrs of driving time, and allows us to miss rush hour in LA and San Diego. But i will admit that driving 55mph (the legal speed limit when towing) is more relaxing. just my perspective and i realize others may differ.

[Edroy]

We tow our E19 with a 2021 Tundra. On our last southwest trip over a total of some 4000 miles we averaged between 11-12 mpg. We drove long stretches in winter conditions, lots of wind and mountain passes, snow tires on the Tundra.

[CE Vogel]

Speed definitely affects fuel economy. The worse the aerodynamics, the more speed affects fuel use, which is why you see all the skirting and deflectors on modern big rigs. My truck & trailer combo has the aerodynamic profile of an airplane hanger, so speed has a huge effect. At 60 MPH I get 8.5 MPG, at 70 MPH I get 7 MPG, and at 75+ MPH I get 5 MPG. Power is a 14 liter (855 cu. in.) turbocharged Cummins, with a 13-speed manual transmission. Power or gearing are not a concern, but fuel bills are.