Most fuel efficient TV?

[Pele2048]

Everyone's suggesting SUVs and trucks...

If you're looking to go old school, the Buick Roadmaster wagon was available with a towing package that made it capable of pulling 5000 lbs.

It's lower and therefore on its own (unladen/not towing) should get good highway MPG where wind resistance is a factor.



Other than that, for fuel efficiency while towing, Diesel is the way to go.
I had a Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel that got 18-20 MPG towing or not. And I have a lead foot.

I never put it a full capacity, but it didn't seem to notice a 1500 lb tandem axle with 2500 lbs of car on it and another several hundred pounds of car parts in the bed.

[rickst29]

I have owned and towed my heavily-loaded 2619 with both the V8 and the V6.(Our V8 was rear-ended and totaled at a stop light, by a heavy van traveling at high speed. The van driver had a medical problem and slumped onto the gas pedal as he died.)

For the replacement, I did not and would not buy a V8 version again, because the mileage is almost 25% worse, and the performance is not much better for TM towing in Mountains. On steep grades, you can simply downshift the V6 by one gear, and let the RPMs rev up a little higher. The V6 makes more noise than the V8, but responds beatifully. (BTW, I live in the Sierra Mountain foothills, and exceed 10% going to and from my house.) With the V6, we average about 19 MPG; with the V8, we got around 15 MPG. Towing the TM gets about 17 MPG, but we typically drive a lot of highway miles in towing - along with a few miles of really drastic grades.

For safety and control, they're generally excellent - but be aware that they have some rollover risk if you take corners too fast. Slow down for switchbacks and turns, because the presence of the trailer (which "wants to go straight") increases that risk.

For a family, the back seats are pretty comfortable - which might not be true in other vehicles. But you get only two rows of seats, the rear is strictly storage space.

The only BIG problem with the 4R is the prices: Both new and used, everybody wants them, and you pay a BIG premium to acquire this vehicle.
- - - - -
For garage storage: Measure both your garage depth and the height at the open door, to assure that the top of the air conditioner won't hit the garage door or door frame top joist when backing it in or puling it out. Most garage doors can fit the TM, but some can't - and others need to have the lift motor adjusted to raise the door higher.

[Padgett]

Just an observation but Rick is correct about a 3-4 liter V6, modern ones can turn 6500 rpm and be making 90% of the torque peak there. Able to drop a gear lower than a V8 or Diesel makes up for a lot of the apparent power difference.

ps if you work at it a new 2WD Grand Cherokee Laredo with V6 and towing package can be had for a touch under $30k. With the older 5-speed I get 22-24 mpg on the Interstate, 19 around town, and 17-18 towing the TM @ 65ish.

[Gapopper]

Just for comparison, a full size truck pulling a conventional travel trailer only gets about 9 miles to the gallon. The TM excels in getting great mpg . You are not pulling a parachute down the road like you are with a travel trailer. I tow with a 5.7 v-8. I get about 14 mpg towing.

[dab1950]

Can we hear from the Chevy/GMC owners that have the 5.3L V8
and in the years 2014 and newer? What is your MPG pulling a TM?
The recent engine upgrades include 'AFM'(Active Fuel management),
'VVT'(variable valve timing) and direct injection for best power, torque and
fuel efficiency.

Thinking of changing my TV.

[rmHaar]

Recently got 14 mpg towing a 3023 on mostly flat ground in MN at 65 with a 2018 Honda Ridgeline RTE.

[wrenchami]

I bought a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe new a couple of years ago. This is the full size 3 row seating unit, not the 2 row Santa Fe Sport. I chose it because of the purported power, reliability, warranty and value. Seats 7, 3.3L V6, 6 speed. Lots of power, especially when pushed in the "sport" mode. 5,000 lbs towing. I like it alot. I added the Curt Class 3 hitch, trailer wiring, DC power, braking and 7 pin trailer connector myself. We live in the Sierra Nevada foothills and a week ago travelled to Hemet, CA, NE of San Diego to pick up a new to us 2014 2922KB, a 9.5 hr drive. By the time we inspected the unit and bought it the next morning and set up the WDH, etc. it was 11am and 100F. Heading NE to take the Mohave/Barstow route we hit peak air temps of 116F through San Bernardino. Over the Tehachapi's it was 114F and we kept the pace, falling once to 50mph, only out of caution. If the temp was lower, I'd have pushed it harder. The temperature gauge never budged off of it's regular reading the entire trip. I know that doesn't mean the ATF wasn't too hot, but it is a good indication that temp was being managed.

We got 16.7mpg on the trip home, including the mountain passes and pulling I-80 on the way to Grass Valley. This was in very high heat over 100F almost the whole way, AC running and pretty much maintaining the truck/RV pace on the CA-99 of 63mph. Trans almost always in 6th with the torque converter locked at that speed. On another trip, we recently got 25mpg with no trailer, a full load of people and luggage running AC. I am happy with these efficiencies. The Santa Fe is a VERY quiet vehicle, which made the trip just so much easier.

The Toyotas are certainly an excellent choice, but to me the premium price isn't worth it. This was just one trip, but I am very pleased with the results with the Santa Fe.

[Larryjb]

Originally Posted by dab1950

Can we hear from the Chevy/GMC owners that have the 5.3L V8
and in the years 2014 and newer? What is your MPG pulling a TM?
The recent engine upgrades include 'AFM'(Active Fuel management),
'VVT'(variable valve timing) and direct injection for best power, torque and
fuel efficiency.

Thinking of changing my TV.

We pulled our 2720 from Vancouver BC to Seattle this spring. Mileage is heavily dependent on hills, but I'd say it was in the 17-19 l/100km range. I suppose AFM does better, but a lot of people disable the AFM due to lifter failures causing engine damage.

I'm quite interested in Fords with the new Ecotech motors. The older ones had one set of fuel injectors directly into the cylinders. Consequently, the intake valves would foul up. The never ones have two sets of injectors, one set to keep the valves clean.

[Shane826]

I’m eyeballing a Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. High 20s MPG sounds superb to me, I figure that would translate to low 20s while towing.

[Shane826]

I don’t think Active Fuel Management would kick in much, if at all, while towing... Especially if you’re in Tow/Haul mode.