Urriellu
Full time through AZ, NV, UT, CO, ID, WY, MT
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Hello, I have a Ford Ranger 2019 that does 18-21mpg on the highway at around 65mph. I have just purchased a GD 17MKE which is a 21', 6400 GVWR, travel trailer.
I expected to go from 18-21mpg not towing down to maybe 11-13mpg while towing.
Unfortunately I'm doing 8.5mpg at 65mph or 7.4mpg at 75mph.
My brake controller seems to work. RV tires are at 60psi, truck tires at 40psi.
Does this seem reasonable?
Thank you!
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Jack_Diane_Freedom
Burlington Ontario Canada
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That is what you will get towing. Perfectly reasonable.
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Lwiddis
Southern California :(
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Towing at 75 may be legal but it isn’t “fuel wise” nor is it safe. Two panic stops in the last two years. Thankfully both were at 55.
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MFL
Midwest
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Welcome to the forum!
Yes, sounds reasonable, for the speed. I would not tow 6K more than 65 mph with that truck. While some of the new trailer tires are marked M, or N for speeds of 81 mph or more, most RV ST tires are rated to 65 mph.
If your ST tires show 65 psi max, I'd run them at that. Not knowing your tongue weight, or what you have for truck tires, hard to say on that.
Jerry
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afidel
Cleveland
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Yup, welcome to the world of towing. I got 11.1 mpg at 68mph average speed with my first trailer but it was 7' wide and 9' 3" tall. My new trailer is more standard 8' wide and 11' 2" high and now I get 10-7 at 60-65 depending on how much elevation change is involved. I don't have as much experience with the new trailer (only 2 long trips and a half dozen weekend trips) but it looks like 8.5-9 is going to be my "new normal", though I have to plan on 7 for fuel range between gas stations.
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Terryallan
Foothills NC
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Urriellu wrote:Hello, I have a Ford Ranger 2019 that does 18-21mpg on the highway at around 65mph. I have just purchased a GD 17MKE which is a 21', 6400 GVWR, travel trailer.
I expected to go from 18-21mpg not towing down to maybe 11-13mpg while towing.
Unfortunately I'm doing 8.5mpg at 65mph or 7.4mpg at 75mph.
My brake controller seems to work. RV tires are at 60psi, truck tires at 40psi.
Does this seem reasonable?
Thank you!
Sounds about right. However you are more than likely out running your tires. There are only about 3 ST tires that are rated for more than 65MPH. And the manufacturer probably didn't spring for the extra money. Plus 75 is awful fast to be towing 6000lb with a small truck
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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MFL wrote:Welcome to the forum!
Yes, sounds reasonable, for the speed. I would not tow 6K more than 65 mph with that truck. While some of the new trailer tires are marked M, or N for speeds of 81 mph or more, most RV ST tires are rated to 65 mph.
If your ST tires show 65 psi max, I'd run them at that. Not knowing your tongue weight, or what you have for truck tires, hard to say on that.
Jerry
Most radial 14” ST tires are now rated >65mph. Even the Maypops.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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OP, welcome!
Yes that mileage seems reasonable. Especially given your stated location(s). It ain’t like towing eastbound with a tail wind through the flat-lands.
You are wringing just about every last HP out of that tiny (but impressive) motor and basically using all the rated capacities of the truck to their fullest.
The fact that it will pull that trailer at 75mph is impressive, but you can’t expect fuel economy to be any more than dismal while doing it. Not you, not the truck, that’s just how it works.
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time2roll
Southern California
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Normal. Try 58-62 if you want a little better efficiency. 75 is too fast anyway IMO.
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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Yep, sounds about right.
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