Question for those of you with travel trailers.

[Tangle Eye]

I know it depends on lots of factors but I'm wondering just how much of a decrease in gas mileage you get when towing your rig. I just looking for general info as we're thinking of buying a trailer soon.  Does it decrease your regular mileage by half? By 5 mpg? Or What?  Just getting an idea and thanks for the comments.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Like you say, Tangle Eye, depends on lots of factors, and I don't think you're going to get a useful answer.  A lot depends on how strong your tow vehicle is, how large/heavy/aerodynamic your towed vehicle is, how fast you will be towing, whether you're towing over flat country or hilly/mountainous country, etc., etc..  Several years ago I pulled a 24' travel trailer with both a 454 cid GMC Suburban, and a 360 cid Dodge Ramcharger.  The two tow vehicles got relatively comparable gas mileage towing the travel trailer, but the Dodge had a much greater reduction in gas mileage when towing, than did the GMC, and the Dodge had more difficulty with steep grades than did the GMC.

[Will Ketchum]

Tangle Eye, I have a 27ft. Travel trailer which I pull with a Chevy 2500 with a 350.  My gas milage is about cut in half.  I mostly travel in the mid west.  Nio mountains but plenty of hills.  I get better milage if I have empty tanks.  I seldom have fresh water in in the tank when on the road and empty my black and gray water as soon as possible.  This keeps the weight down.

Hope this is of some help.  If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.

Will Ketchum

[Marshal Halloway]

Howdy Tangle Eye,

Marshal'ette and I have the same experience as Will has. We just bought a 27ft 5th wheel and the mileage is cut in half. On long trips and going to a place where you can fill water, we travel with empty tanks except from just a few gallons of fresh water.