Fuel economy when towing?

win308, Mar 25, 8:33am
Hi all,

How much worse is fuel economy likely to be when towing a horse float for example, not with a horse, but with a decent load form moving house! Would it add a couple of litres per 100kms!

mugenb20b, Mar 25, 8:39am
Easy.

dent, Mar 25, 8:44am
My experience of towing loaded trailers is that you can expect 50 percent increase in fuel usage. Of course depends on the vehicle.

johnf_456, Mar 25, 8:45am
Of course

win308, Mar 25, 8:46am
Ford Ranger 4wd 3 litre diesel. Brought it only a couple of days ago and have been moving house. Used about 13 litres per 100kms, fuelsaver reckons 10.4 litres per 100km. Was hoping to get at least 11 when not towing.

cuda.340, Mar 25, 8:47am
my BT50 does 550 kms per tank, towing 1650kgs drops it to 350kms but thats diesel.

mugenb20b, Mar 25, 8:51am
Fuel economy can be affected by many factors, as you know. Like driving style, type of road, tyre pressures, load, weather, etc.

win308, Mar 25, 9:01am
What size fuel tank in your BT50!

win308, Mar 25, 9:07am
I forgot to add its an auto so I'm guessing these are more affected by towing than a manual!

thewomble1, Mar 25, 3:44pm
x1
Should not use any more because the extra 'horse power' in the trailer can be fed hay or oats.

howie69, Mar 25, 5:59pm
Towing and economy are just not a mix in my book, you will always chew up more fuel when towing.
I have towed all sorts of trailers, and caravans for many years. It is how you drive that can make a small difference, but just don't expect economy mileage whilst towing something.

skin1235, Mar 25, 6:25pm
a reminder, that pedal down on the right is like a tap on the end of a hose, the further you push it the more fuel will be used
when towing there are many times you will push it harder due to the increased weight, and many times that that extra weight will push you along - it never balances out to mean equal usage to nothing towing on the back but by careful use of it you can achieve quite good economy
100kph is not a target, and with extra weight behind not recommended to even try to achieve - also with an auto you will gain by using the gears as a manual to some degree, especially on hills, pull it down one or two and ease your way up, don't just punch the pedal and have the engine working harder in the lower speed range of that higher gear, come down one and let the engine work easier = less gas used = slightly longer time to transverse the hill

martin11, Mar 25, 6:32pm
Speed towing is 90km and i find I use about 15% more on my run from chch to picton with 1300kg boat behind a Skyline

socram, Mar 25, 7:50pm
Towing on the flat and then towing up a hill will show you the biggest variance.

I am light footed and drive as economically as I can, but even with a fairly small (1600cc supercharged) car, the fuel usage when going up hill is diabolical once the impetus has slowed and the car has to work.

The Freelander (2.2 Turbo Diesel) to date (about 25,000kms) is 9.2L/100 and even with a 1,000kg car on a trailer, on a flat motorway, economy is excellent but as soon as you hit a hill and it drops down a gear or two, usage is frightening!Starting from rest on a hill at traffic lights for example, usage is even more frightening.

bwg11, Mar 26, 12:09am
FJ Cruiser (4.0 litre petrol) does 13.0 litres/100kms not towing. Towing a 1250kg boat it uses 15.5 litres/100km.

macatu, Mar 26, 12:47am
50 litres per 100 km here and when towing 65 litres per 100 km

thunderbolt, Mar 26, 1:40am
2km per litre when not towing!

What are you driving!

feris04, Mar 26, 3:51am
A Foden I think.

pieman33h, Mar 26, 3:56am
mate you need to get your foden checked! thats very poor mileage!

dent, Mar 26, 5:06am
Anything fright or log truck im pickin,

macatu, Mar 26, 7:36am
45 tonne,,,of cattle made a few look didnt it,,, RUC on top at 60cents a km,,thats only about $1.30, km before any other costsadd tyres at 16 cents a km and r&m and % at $1, makes your range rover look cheap