MPG towing?

[ole matty]

02 ford explorer v6 4.0l pulling a 15ft w. 20 hp. i get the same mpg as without trailer. 17-20 mpg. i usually go 50 mph on county road. 65 on freeway... previous rig was 96 f150 i6 4.9l still get 14-16 mpg compare to my father 2001 f150 v6 40.l 13-15 mpg.

[Bearfan1963]

03' Dodge Ram Van pulling a 16' w/ 60hp Evinrude, boat loaded. Just got back from up North and got about 10.5-11 GPM. Takes a little bit to come off full, but once it does look out.

[97Javelin]

Bass Thumb

I have a 2004 Dodge with the 5.7 Hemi as well. I tow a 97 Javelin that is 17'9" with a 150 Johnson. I drive a little on the easy side keeping cruise between 60-65 and get 15 on average. The best I have gotten is 17 but that is driving on the slow side.

[Wanderer]

Just curious what mpg people are getting while towing their boats. I am very curious in the difference pulling a 14 ft w/25hp vs a 16ft w/50 hp.

Somebody may have mentioned this already, but...

These two boats will make almost NO difference in gas mileage. If you're trying to base a purchase decision on feedback for this criteria, get the one that will fish better!

I pull a 16 ft Lund Rebel Pike with a 50 behind a '96 Chev 1/2 ton 4x4 w/topper and 350 vortec. The difference in mileage from not towing is so small, I don't even bother calculating. I get 13.5 MPG.

When I pull the 18 ft Ranger w/150 (single axle, no brakes), it dips to maybe 11.

The worst mileage I ever got was pulling a tandem axle 19 ft Ranger Fisherman w/150. Had to get gas every 2 1/2 hours.

The second worse is pulling my empty 12 ft utility trailer with the airgate up. It gets a little better when there's something, anything above 2 feet tall on it, life gets much better!

Bottom line: Weight/drag and poor aerodynamics are your worst enemies.

[frogtosser]

I have a 04 F-150 supercrew pulling a 20ft Skeeter with a tandom axel and I get 11 to 12mpg not fun

[PDOGG]

03' Dodge Ram Van pulling a 16' w/ 60hp Evinrude, boat loaded. Just got back from up North and got about 10.5-11 GPM. Takes a little bit to come off full, but once it does look out.

10.5 to 11 gallons per mile I feel bad for you!! Glad I got rid of my dodge if it gets that bad1 JK

[vikinglandman]

98 explorer 5.0 full time 4x4--pulling a older 16 ft smokercraft with a 60 2 stroke---55 mph (17 mpg)--60mph (15 mpg) --65 mph (13 mpg). I don't pull my boat in OD, just don't trust that ford tranny and dont kick out cash to replace it

[berfish]

01 GMC Sierra Ext Cab with 5.3L I get about 15mpg towing a 16.5ft with a 90hp. Without towing I get roughly 18mpg. Makes a big difference if I do 65mph or less. Headwinds make a big difference. I got 12mpg with 4 guys, three snowmobiles and two portables coming down HWY 53 coming back from Rainy.

[davesfriend]

'07 chev suburban, 1750 full windshield sportfish. 87 octane she will do about 11.5 mpg, 91 octane 12.5 mpg, 92 non-oxy 13 mpg. I will not even try the corn stuff, my buddy got 8 mpg. With out the boat the vari cylinder it usually will do about 18.5 mpg. I can get it down to about 2.1 mpg if I want to ..

[PDOGG]

Which engine?

[Grant]

just downsized tow vehicle from a Dakota to an Outback... that should help. (boat is nicknamed the S.S. Bathtub to give a point of reference.... )

[davesfriend]

I believe it is the 5.4l? I am not 100% sure on that though. I figure with what I spent on it and the warr. I will never open the hood on it.

[portageman]

Wanderer =

Thanks for the input

[PDOGG]

It must be the 5.3 it has crossed my mind to trade the duramax off for 1 with that engine with diesel so much more than gas so it's nice to know how it pulls a boat. I think I might wait to trade I just like my truck to much.

[DinkADunk]

2007.5 GMC 2500HD, CC, SB, Duramax/Allison pulling a 2005 Lund 1800 Fisherman, 140 4stk Johnson, 9.9 4 stk Johnson, and 40gal fuel. Towing around the metro area I get 13-15mpg (no cover on, variable driving conditions). Towing from the metro to Cass Lake and back I get 17-19mpg which is roughly 1-2mpg less than I get when I'm not towing. When I'm towing the boat that includes 2 adults, 2 kids, 20 rods, and a bunch of gear. Best for mileage is to use a light right foot, keep rpm's < 2000rpm (diesel), and drive less than 70mph (60mph is just right).

[Bubbadust]

I have a 16' aluminum boat with a 25 horse that I pull with a '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.0L V6). I get 15-16 miles per gallon no matter how fast I drive or whether I'm pulling the boat or not. I'm guessing having full time 4WD has a lot to do with that.

It's bizarre, but true...

[looneyducer]

97 Chevy extra cab, 350 auto, & 07 Lund Pro Angler w/75 Merc 4 stroke. So far this summer it has been working out to a quarter a mile for the truck, and an extra dime for the boat.

[upnorth]

2005 F150, 4.6 v8, 3.55 gears, 1987 17' Crestliner with a 70 horse Evinrude. 17-19 mpg non towing, 14 -16 mpg towing and I tow with OD off. That is towing between 60 and 70 mph.

I am of the opinion driving habits make a huge difference in mpg. If you are in a lot of stop and go or always off and on entrance ramps and accelerating hard all the time, your gas mileage is gonna suffer. Or if you are a lead foot you will pay too.

[MedicDan]

14-15mpg towing 16 foot Lund 198- Mr.Pike and 50hp Evinrude, solid 13.5 towing Crestliner Muskie Edition, with 115hp Envinrude using 2004 Dodge Durango w/5.7L Hemi

[NELS-BELLS]

99 Tahoe towing 1775 pro v 115 yamaha at 60-65 12.5 mpg w/o boat 16mpg.

I got 14 MPG last week in my 2000 Tahoe pulling a 1750 Crestliner with a full windshield and a 115 motor to Namakan L. I had the whole family and lots of gear. I left the OD on and had the boat cover on but I didn't put gas in the boat until I was almost there to keep the weight down. I averaged between 60 and 70 MPH on the highway.

Nels

[Whoaru99]

I'd say around 12mpg with old Bessie...

94 Chev K-1500 ext cab w/5.7L @ 60 MPH, towing a 16ft Sylvan Pro Select with 90hp Merc. BTW, the truck has 200k miles on it so that probably doesn't help any.

[Daze Off]

Not sure how accurate because it was not long tow but got 14.0 according to trip calculator while towing a loaded Lund Explorer 1675 w/ 75 hp on back. Tow vehicle is 2005 Chevy Tahoe with 5.3 liter using towing package.

[Down Deep]

I kept a log on my last trip to Canada and my MPG was 12.92 I drive a 2003 F-250 (gas) and pulled 1750 Lund Exploer with a 115 4s on it. Most of the trip was on 2 lane roads.

[fishinmajishin]

1999 GMC 2500HD 4x4 cab/half 6.0 gas 373 gears Fbglas topper towing 175 Alumacraft Navigator 70 John 4str: 13mpg no matter what drove the same pulling or not.

2001 Chev 1500 4x4 cab/half 5.3 gas 373 gears w/ topper towing same boat: 15mpg/16.5 no tow

2001 Chev 1500 2wd 4.3 auto long box topper towing 14' wide deep Crestliner w/35 2 str John: 16mpg/18 no tow.

I drive the same evrywhere...no hard braking or unnecessary acceleration. Drive as fast as possible without making a scene or getting a ticket. Usually tow at speed limit 65-70 or 61- at 55mph zone.(unless my net-man oversleeps and we need to make tracks!)

[Bearfan1963]

Sorry PDOGG, haven't been on. Yes it is a 5.3 and it is a hog, even when I'm not towing.