Ahab wrote: We tow a 22' Airstream SS with a Honda Ridgeline. Mileage will vary. Worst case was 10.8 uphill at 7000-9600' with a headwind. Best was just above sealevel with a tailwind, 18.3. A realistic 14-16mpg is easily attainable.
Your numbers seem right on Ahab. Your Ridge has a hi tech 3.5 V6. We too are using the 3.5 V6 Nissan VQ engine in our sedan. In the past 3 years we have averaged 16MPG towing the 23' Airstream and solo the car gets 25 to 30MPG on the highway which is where it spends most of it's time. Note Imp gals.
We have an Aerostar towing a 22' light weight, on straights average 14mpg hills and wind 10-12 mpg solo 24mpg. I have noticed that every time this question comes up the results seeme to be similar 10-14mpg towing. I think you need to look more at what the vehicle can tow and what it will be used for when not towing.
I am towing a Fun Finder T-139 with a Nissan Pathfinder 4 liter. On flat highways at 60 mph with no wind, we get almost 15 mpg while towing. But on hills, or with a headwind, or at altitude, or in stop and go conditions, mpg drops to 11, give or take. When I am not towing, I often get 21 or 22 mpg, under good conditions.
Aside from mpg, though, you have to think about the "beef" factor. Yes, a minivan might do ok. But on a steep downgrade, I want a beefy transmission and good brakes. So although I am towing only about 3000 pounds (and probably less) with an SUV rated at 6000 pounds, I would be very hesitant to use a lighter tow vehicle.
Aside from mpg, though, you have to think about the "beef" factor. Yes, a minivan might do ok. But on a steep downgrade, I want a beefy transmission and good brakes. So although I am towing only about 3000 pounds (and probably less) with an SUV rated at 6000 pounds, I would be very hesitant to use a lighter tow vehicle.
There are advantages to using a lighter vehicle. Many have very good braking systems. The lighter weight is an advantage when going down hills for the obvious reason. Less weight is easier to stop, less braking and tranny resistance effort is required. I am familiar with a number of extreme cases of "small TV/large TT" who have been through the rockies and through many passes without issue. What is needed is the knowledge to select the right vehicle/TT combination and have it set up optimally.
Excellent responses, thanks to all taking the time to post.We visited a few "stealerships" this weekend, and drove a few rigs.They all felt so small! I loved the Ridgeline, and was intrigued by the FJ cruiser. I will have to consider carefully, wheather downsizing my TV could actually pencil out in the long LONG run.Full size pickups are a dime a dozen right now, while a more fuel efficient alternative will not be cheap!.Our 03 Ram has yet to click over 10k miles ,but KBB is beating me up hard on it.The money lost on a sale or trade right now is more than likely going to buy a lot of gas.Also,our truck is payed for,so no monthly payment..maybe take the money that a new rig would cost monthly, put it in a jar and use it to buy gas.... Hmmm, lots of food for thought.
Jeff
I AGREE THAT THE COST OF "LIVING" IS HIGH, BUT IT REMAINS QUITE POPULAR!
2003 Dodge Ram QC 4x4 2500.5.7 Hemi.3.73 9MPG ouch!
2007 Fun Finder X 139t w/all options.
pupsnus wrote: Excellent responses, thanks to all taking the time to post.We visited a few "stealerships" this weekend, and drove a few rigs.They all felt so small! I loved the Ridgeline, and was intrigued by the FJ cruiser.
We have the FJ Cruiser and we absolutely love that vehicle to pieces!!! We occasionally tow our 18 ft Eco (3200 lbs at time of sale - heavier of course when loaded) with the Cruiser; however, the gas mileage is pretty bad, I'd say 8-10. I wouldn't use it to tow in the mountains, just don't think it has enough power, but it is fine in Texas! We use our Toyota Tundra, a pickup I absolutely love too, to tow when we need more power.
We just got home from a 4,500 mile trip through Utah, Idaho and Oregon. We tow an X-210 Fun Finder behind our 2005 Nissan Titan 4x4 Crew Cab.
Based on out travel logs we got 11.8 mpg over the course of the trip which obviously included quite diverse terrain and some strong winds too. Without the TT, we have gotten 15.8 mpg from the Titan since its purchase.
Me,DW & Max the Maltese
2005 Nissan Titan, Offroad Crewcab 4x4
FunFinder X-210
Lots of goodies
I know this is a bit unrealistic for most people on this forum, but just for comparison I have a very small folding Alite trailer (under 500 lbs) that I tow with my 2.2L Subaru. It will get 25 mpg towing on secondary roads through the hills of PA.
I also have a 16 ft FunFinder I tow with a V8 Explorer. Mileage is about 12 mpg at 65 mph on the hilly interstates of PA. The Alite with the Explorer produces no difference in gas mileage from the normal 18-19 mpg.
We are towing with a 2005 Yukon Xl (7 passenger) to tow a 280BH Keystone Passport. We are getting anywhere from 12 to 16 towing from what we have seen so far. Without towing we are getting 16-22.
09' Keystone Passport 280BH
05' GMC Yukon XL
Brian (the driver), Jenn* (navigator and trip planner) and a little dog named Killer (who does not like being left behind AT ALL)
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