i was wondering if anyone might know what mpg i might expect pulling a 3000# 21' travel trailer with my truck: '03 dodge 1/2 ton 4x4 crew cab with the 287 4.7L 5spd auto with 3.92 gears. according to trailerlife.com my towing cap is 7250#, my city mpg is normally around 13, on the hwy i avg 17 on my last trip to texas. or if someone knows of a website that can calculate for me that would be great also...i havent pulled much, just a few cars out of the ditch in the snow
mpg pulling travel trailer
- Thread starter mmsubs
- Start date
Bama
Well-known member
Just a wag but id say around 12. Alot of it depends on if you can use the overdrive? hills? hard acceleration?clean filters?type of gas? tire pressure? weather?
To many varibles to give you anything other than a wag.
To many varibles to give you anything other than a wag.
I think I can use the overdrive I'll check on it first. I have to go through a couple mountian passes but I'll be taking the same route that I did before and had 17mpg avg. I don't drive my truck hard I try to squeeze every mpg i can out of it. I keep my filter clean. what's the best type of gas/tire pressure to use when towing? and I haven't mastered the art of controlling the weather yet so I'll have to take what i get. It will be in late april or early may though.
Have you towed this trailer before with this truck? I think you are going to be disappointed in its performance. A 21 foot bumper pull is a decent load for a 1/2 ton PU. The tail will wag the dog.
I estimate MPG's to be around 7-8 MPG at best and suspect it will not pull it in overdrive.....
I estimate MPG's to be around 7-8 MPG at best and suspect it will not pull it in overdrive.....
no havent pulled it before im going to rent one on base which is pretty cheap compared to what the rv dealerships off base want. i have my budget figured for 5mpg just to be safe. i might just go with the 19 footer. either way it will still be cheaper than staying in hotels like we did last time.
mmsubs":1q0hjxpe said:
And more fun also. My estimate is based on my experience with a F150 with a 5 liter motor, auto, pulling a light weight fifthwheel trailer. I used to get 7MPG and it wouldn't pull it in overdrive. I'm sure they have made gains in towing and HP but I think I'm close. Be sure and let us know how you make out with the MPG's. Be safe.
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greenwillowherefords
Well-known member
flaboy":i7oxu170 said:
In the late eighties-early nineties models, you would be better off towing with the old 300 inline six. More lowend torque. My uncle pulled a bumper pull travel trailer 23 feet long with the 300 six cylinder with fuel injection, and got 12-13. May have been a five speed stick though.
yeah my first truck was a '85 f-150 with the 4.9L 300, 4 spd with the low granny gear. i towed quite a few loaded hay trailers with it and it was my first truck when i was 16 so you know i drove it pretty hard but it held up quite well. it had around 320k miles on it when i got rid of it. was a great truck.
sidney411
Well-known member
I don't know a whole lot about Dodges but I can tell you that you will probably do more harm then gas saved pulling that thing in overdrive. I've always been taught that if you care about your truck (and your wallet) then never use overdrive if you've got something hooked up to it. I also think you will be sorrily disapointed pulling that trailer with a 1/2 ton truck. Not saying it can't be done, but your MPG will probably average out about 1/2 your reg. highway driving on that long of a trip.
