lukewarm
sarnia onatrio canada
New Member
Joined: 05/25/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Thanks for the info. Just curious, thinking about changing to a 5ver
|
ALBE
Kelowna B.C.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/30/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I WENT FROM A 7000 LB tt to a 14600 fiver,rounded nose, hand calc fuel mileage,at 60 mph almost identical,at 70 mph 12 with the TT ,10 WITH THE FIVER.
|
raptor1968
Kansas
New Member
Joined: 11/18/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Dang i get 7.5 with our 5000LB TT behind my 2500 hemi at 65-70mph. I'm also looking at trading up to a 5ver. I wonder if mine would suck more fuel.
|
portablevcb
Tijeras, NM
Senior Member
Joined: 05/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Like I said before, it is effective drag.
If you go from a TT that is 10 ft high to a fiver that is 13 ft then you will probably (and I say probably) get worse mileage and the higher the speed the worse the difference. If you stay with a lower profile fiver then your mileage might increase.
It also depends on what you have in the back of your PU. If you have a camper shell that is nearer the height of the TT you might be getting great mileage (relative). If you tow the TT with an open bed going to a fiver might get you better mileage.
And, like above, there may be speeds where the mileage difference is reversed. It depends on the space between the TT and TV and how the turbulence acts on the front of the TT.
Bottom line, there is no firm answer to your question because of the differences in all the trailers and TV's.
charlie
2006 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab
2003 Skyline Nomad 24ft Fiver
Me and Wife
Maggie the Old English Sheepdog
|
wingrider6
Neoga, IL
Full Member
Joined: 11/19/2003
View Profile
|
I pulled a 30' 8,500# TT with a 2004 F-150, 5.4, 3.73 rear end and with all things being equal (no wind, hills, etc.) I got about 8 mpg. I now pull a 15,500# fiver with a 2008 F-350 V-10 with a 4.30 rear end. I get about 8 mpg. Trailer weights are average loaded for a trip. I should add I run between 55 and 60 mph, where I always get my best mpg.
* This post was
edited 05/25/08 07:30pm by wingrider6 *
|
|
|
Veebyes
Devonshire
Senior Member
Joined: 11/24/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
TT or 5er, the best way to get better milage is to SLOW DOWN. On the mostly level at 60-62mph we can get 11.5mpg with out of our Isuzu V8 6 speed diesel towing a #15,000 plus 5er. There is no free lunch. Want to see better milage? Get yer foor out of the tank, especially now with the price of fuel. We saw $5 plus some deisel today N of Denali Nat Park.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter
RV: slightly pre enjoyed 2006 Alpenlite 34RLR LTD
2006 Chevy 3500 crew cab LT 6.6L Diesel
Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995
|
happynbcamper
Canada
Full Member
Joined: 06/29/2004
View Profile
|
I used to tow a TT that weighed the same as my current fifth wheel (7200). Both were/are towed with F150 5.4. I had 8 MPG with the TT, I now get 9.5 with the fifth wheel. My theory is that a TT may be lower and have less frontal area than the fifth wheel, but it sits far enough back of the truck that the wind hits the entire frontal area of the TT. On the other hand, the fifth wheel is tucked in really close to the truck, so only the frontal area which is above the truck cab gets hit with full wind resistance. The rest of the frontal area does not get full effects of wind resistance as it is protected by the truck. This is just my own theory, it has not be scientifically verified.
2008 F150, 5.4, 3.73, towing mirrors, tow package
2008 Cougar 276RLS
|
fuzzy194
R.I.
New Member
Joined: 04/27/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
IT depends on what your driving too,a gas or a diesel truck.I pull a 40ft 5er with both trucks got 7 mpg with gas, now i get 10 to 11 mpg with diesel pulling same 5er
|
portablevcb
Tijeras, NM
Senior Member
Joined: 05/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
It is a good theory because you're right. That's why those towing a TT with a PU can help by putting on a camper shell to help that airflow.
happynbcamper wrote:I used to tow a TT that weighed the same as my current fifth wheel (7200). Both were/are towed with F150 5.4. I had 8 MPG with the TT, I now get 9.5 with the fifth wheel. My theory is that a TT may be lower and have less frontal area than the fifth wheel, but it sits far enough back of the truck that the wind hits the entire frontal area of the TT. On the other hand, the fifth wheel is tucked in really close to the truck, so only the frontal area which is above the truck cab gets hit with full wind resistance. The rest of the frontal area does not get full effects of wind resistance as it is protected by the truck. This is just my own theory, it has not be scientifically verified.
|
Rawhyde
Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 01/08/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I read "fuel savings towing a 5ver" and almost fell out of my chair laughing!
As others have said, it's all about the wind resistance.
I get about (within 1 or 2 mpg) the same milage towing my 36 foot 17,500 pound 5er as I do with my Lance 915 in the bed.
Others have said that running 55 to 60 mph will save a lot of fuel, I havnt tried that yet, I'm always in a hurry.
|
|
|
