Travel Trailer Towing

[Braumeister]

I frequently tow a 25' travel trailer (2013 Nash 23 D) Tongue wt approx 530# Gross Wt Approx 6500#. Anyone have experience pulling a trailer akin to this one? I currently have an '08 Tundra 5.7 Double Cab w/hiboy truck cap. Am experiencing range from mid 7's to 10mpg. No problem pulling trailer but it hasn't met a gas station it doesn't like. Definitely looking for improvement. I'd appreciate your input.

 

[BoostN]

Welcome Braumeister!

I'm not a travel trailer guy, but we have some here that are. I'm sure they will chime in.

 

[John]

Welcome! You should average 12-15 MPG with your trailer.

 

[Braumeister]

Thanks for response. Anyone else with detailed experience towing travel trailers?

 

[Michel]

2 trips from Canada to Florida and SC made in 2014 (4,700 miles) and 2015 (3,000 miles). Average of 9.8 mpg with a RAM 1500 HEMI (5.7L), gross weight about, 5,500. A 4,300 mile trip to Newfoundland in 2016 with the same trailer but a 2015 Ecodiesel Ram: 16.8 mpg.

 

[Retired Bones]

I have towed a 6400 lb travel trailer about 5200 miles according to the "trailer connected" screen on the screen between the Speedo and tack.
I have expressed satisfactory performance and competent towing mostly!
I have also expressed concern with totally inadequate engine oil cooling!
Being retired I now plan grade climbing for early mornings. I am seeing the mid-250 to low 260's when climbing in the mornings when outside temperatures are in the 30/40's. When I had to work I saw 274 degrees on the summit of the pass between Oregon and Caliifornia on I-5.
There are fixes out there, but I have seen nothing that FCA has done within warranty limits to address the temperature issue
Speak up guys if Fiat Chrysler has a fix.

 

[Benito]

I frequently tow a 25' travel trailer (2013 Nash 23 D) Tongue wt approx 530# Gross Wt Approx 6500#. Anyone have experience pulling a trailer akin to this one? I currently have an '08 Tundra 5.7 Double Cab w/hiboy truck cap. Am experiencing range from mid 7's to 10mpg. No problem pulling trailer but it hasn't met a gas station it doesn't like. Definitely looking for improvement. I'd appreciate your input.

The key is your speed.
I hauled a similar load for 900 hilly miles (From SC to central PA) and I averaged 19MPG but I kept my speed at 55 miles/hour

 

[Retired Bones]

The towing at the Ashland summit is only 4400' , I have always observed the 50 mph speed limit both up and down that grade. It is steep and winding with numerous 45 mph corners, 274 degrees happened with a stiff tail wind and a 90 degree afternoon outside temperature north bound going up.
Like I said, I had to work. I live in north west of Washington. I still had three hundred miles to travel. I learned on that trip that using the cruise control on the down hill provides some speed control via the down shift features and some back pressure by the turbo. Brakes still get some use but the back pressure from the turbo tends to keep overall speed to liveable levels.
It still needs a factory fix!

 

[Stan Laurel]

Benito is right. I tow a trailer similar to yours, about the same weight. I was seeing 9-11 mpg until I slowed down from 65-70 to 55-60. Now I see closer to 14-15. Takes a little longer to get there, so bring a little extra music.

 

[Braumeister]

Any issues with temps? We're in the mountains of western Montana. Most jaunts we take are over mountains. Kinda hard not to go over them to get anywhere.

 

[Retired Bones]

That is exactly my point. Absent an outside engine oil cooler. This is the first diesel that has not handed mountain climbs as well as it handles 9/10this of the issues.
The transmission keeps the engine in its sweet spot. The engine oil cooler/warmer, plus the turbo lubrication in my history has supplied way more heat than I have ever seen in engine oil temperatures.
This is my third diesel truck.
This is also my first "Chrysler" vehicle that has even remotely shown an excessive heating tendency in over 52 years of ownership of their products. I challenge FCA, where is a factory fix..?
You built it, fix it within the warranty.
I do get an average 13+ mpg when towing. I'm concerned because I'm not big on being stranded.
I have family in Virginia, southern California, Iowa and New Mexico. There are mountains in every direction I choose to go!

 

[John Abbott]

I have a 2016 Ram 1500 in the 3.0 Ecodiesel. I have had the same experience as Retired Bones. Going up the Twain Harte grade out of Sonora, CA, which is steep but relatively short, the oil temp climbed steadily to about 3/4 over. I do not know when or whether it would have stopped climbing--the grade ended. We are planning a trip to Yellowstone this summer, and I would consider installing an after-market oil cooler if such could be had. Does anyone know whether such a creature exists?

 

[Retired Bones]

To maintain the warranty on the engine, No.
There is a company in Indiana (D&G Diesel) that sells a conversion of the oil/warmer to a traditional fan powered cooler/radiator for the engine oil at $995.00.
I have not gone that route with my truck because of FCA and our warranty.
Anyone at Fiat Chrysler have an engine Oil "Cooler" when the motor oil heats up?


.

 

[Tow Happy]

I tow a 25 foot Surveyor, about 6500lbs. Averaged 14.7 mpg on last trip to Kern River. Oil temp got up to 253 on the grapevine, once I hit the summit, down 35 degrees. I have never had an issue on any grade yet, But I don't push it hard either. I'm retired, no hurry to get anywhere.

 

[Tc_027]

I'm unfortunately in the group of people who are still waiting for the EPA to give FCA the go ahead to start selling the ED's again...
For now I'm using a 2011 Ecoboost (please don't hate me...) to tow my 26' Tavel trailer (7000lbs) and I'm getting between 7-9 mpg travelling mainly flat areas. I tow at between 50-65 mph depending on speed zones and trafic. 55 seems to be my usual speed.
When I read about people getting 15-19 mpg I become even more anxious to get one...
Lol

 

[BoostN]

I'm unfortunately in the group of people who are still waiting for the EPA to give FCA the go ahead to start selling the ED's again...
For now I'm using a 2011 Ecoboost (please don't hate me...) to tow my 26' Tavel trailer (7000lbs) and I'm getting between 7-9 mpg travelling mainly flat areas. I tow at between 50-65 mph depending on speed zones and trafic. 55 seems to be my usual speed.
When I read about people getting 15-19 mpg I become even more anxious to get one...
Lol

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Randy Hammond]

I have a 2014 eco and have towed a 23', 6K lb trailer and routinely average 15 mpg. I now tow a 25' 6.5K lb trailer and avg 14.5 mpg. I see pretty high oil (250 deg) and coolant (230 deg) temps when towing up hills, but usually comes right down when the hill is done. I'm told this is normal.

 

[Mic Tod]

I have a 2016 Ram 1500 in the 3.0 Ecodiesel. I have had the same experience as Retired Bones. Going up the Twain Harte grade out of Sonora, CA, which is steep but relatively short, the oil temp climbed steadily to about 3/4 over. I do not know when or whether it would have stopped climbing--the grade ended. We are planning a trip to Yellowstone this summer, and I would consider installing an after-market oil cooler if such could be had. Does anyone know whether such a creature exists?

If it does, you will likely find it on YouTube, along with a video on how to install it. I plan to use the instructions I found on there to install a Cold Air Intake (S&B) on my eco diesel. Friends are saying they saw a 3-4 mpg increase after the install. We'll see ~

 

[Davie 1]

I frequently tow a 25' travel trailer (2013 Nash 23 D) Tongue wt approx 530# Gross Wt Approx 6500#. Anyone have experience pulling a trailer akin to this one? I currently have an '08 Tundra 5.7 Double Cab w/hiboy truck cap. Am experiencing range from mid 7's to 10mpg. No problem pulling trailer but it hasn't met a gas station it doesn't like. Definitely looking for improvement. I'd appreciate your input.

I tow a Cougar X Lite 26rl fifth wheel and I tow fine with my 2016 1500 Eco Diesel. Approx. 16+ MPG average. I use an Anderson hitch and towing is a breeze. No bucking or chucking, turning is easy. Normal around town mileage is combo 19 to 24 w/o trailer

 

[Mic Tod]

That's what I'm hoping for with my tow. And my trailer is lighter, around 4000# loaded (18' Retro). If I can get 16-18 I'll be delighted.