Gas Milage with Camper vs Trailer

[56Nomad]

Hi All,

We've had our 3500 4x4 with a 10' Lance camper
on it for most of the 20,000 miles. The best milage
I've gotten with the camper on is 14 mpg. Average is
about 13 mpg. With the camper, we normally travel
at 65 mph.

Yesterday I picked up a "Weekend Warrior" 22Ft trailer
in Southern California, and drove it 300 miles home at
55-60 mph. My milage dropped to 11.5 mpg after the fill
up. The former owner had a new F--d powerstroke and
said he normally got less than 10 mpg towing the
Weekend Warrior.

[hickcox]

I don't tow much but it seems to me you should get better mileage with a camper mounted to your truck, opposed to actually dragging a trailer behind you simply because the added wheels on the road would create a drag. So what your getting in the way of mileage is correct.

[MaxACL]

I pull travel trailers all the time when I'm not burning your tax money in the sky.

I usually get 10-13 MPG with a large trailer and a stiff wind (Most all my driving is into the wind, can't figure that out) and at least 1200 lbs of fuel in the back and equip to boot. Throw in 30 lbs of cigars and a claen uniform in the back seat... the mileage aint bad.

Mike

[urcndust]

i pull a 25' fifth wheel with a 17' fishing boat behind with the total weight around 10,000 lbs. and averaged 12.1 for 2000 miles both into the wind and with it. Trailer alone, it's slightly better 12.5 aprox.

[56Nomad]

So many variables trying to figger diesel mileage.

The dually and the 4x4 cuts mileage. Overall weight,
camper/trailer design wind drag, head wind, tire pressure
just to name a few.

Over all...... this truck is the best truck I have ever
owned! :D :D :D

[pinehill]

56Nomad,

I'd say that you're certainly in the ballpark on mileage. If your trailer is a "toybox" type with a drop-down ramp in the rear, you (like me) are pulling a huge vacuum at the back of the unit on the highway. I get about 11.5 mpg over a 2000 mile trip (including 200 miles in the mountains) at 60-65 mph.

BTW, that '56 Nomad sure looks sweet!

[bearman]

I pull a 30.5 ft Avion 5th wheel @ 11900 lbs and behind it I pull an 18 ft Tahoe Fish and ski boat @ 3600 lbs do about 11 mpg @ 60 mph, I would say you are in the ball park, mabey a little low.
Cheers
Bear

[NWDmax]

With our Lance 820 camper loaded my gvw is at 9800 lbs plus my 18 ft Nitro bass with trailer at 3000lbs.
I get 10.5 mpg @ 70+ mph in hilly terrain.
Bass boat only 14.5mpg @ 75mph on I-90 (relatively flat)
I thought the mileage was off a little but compared to my old 98 5.7litre gasser I can't complain.I was lucky to get 10mpg with the boat only. Blake

[johns]

2002 3500 D/A 4x4 pulling a 32' 5er on a recent 3800 mile trip. Varied between high 9-12. Seemed to get the best mileage after fueling at Flying-J.

[ 12-11-2002: Message edited by: johns ]</p>

[4x4man]

My buddy got better mileage towing his 5er than his Hallmark hard side slide in. Don't remember the weight of the slide in, but his 5er weighs around 10-11,000lbs. He is all smiles!! :D

Bob