MPG When Towing

NeilM73
NeilM73 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited September 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi!

I've just done a journey from Looe in Cornwall to Liverpool, towing my 4 berth caravan (weighing about 1000 Kg) with a 1.6 petrol towcar. The car usually averages around 40 mpg when solo, but I managed 30 mpg during this journey, which was mainly A roads
and motorways.

I was just curious to know if that mpg was good, bad or expected.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Neil.

«1345

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2016 #2

    I'd say that was brilliant ...... my towcar struggles to do 30 solo Wink

  • Hallsontour
    Hallsontour Forum Participant Posts: 199
    edited September 2016 #3

    I'd also say those results are really good. When l towed my van the car dropped from around 50 solo to around 28 towing so a larger difference for me. That was with a 2.2 towing a 1300kg van.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #4

    Our 2.0ltd petrol Focus only managed 18mpg when towing.  My CRV 2.2 diesel managed 32.3mpg on our last trip to Europe

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2016 #5

    As a rough rule of thumb, I've found that towing consumption is generally about 75% of solo figures on both petrol and diesels, give or take a couple of mpg.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited September 2016 #6

    That sounds good.

    The best 'ratio' I have had is 20 MPG towing in a car that averaged 28 mpg solo but that was a 2.7 twin turbo petrol ,and no it was not chosen for towing!

    Now with a 2 litre diesel that averages app 37 mpg solo I get between 25 and as high as 32 towing. The highest on a day that was all autoroute at app 55 MPH.

  • Tirril
    Tirril Forum Participant Posts: 439
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    edited September 2016 #7

    I have found that large 4x4s drop less than a conventional car due to the fact that their height shields some of the headwind from the caravan. For example a Discovery dropped from 30mpg to 25mpg whereas a Mercedes E Class Estate dropped from 31 to 22mpg with the same caravan. If you want the best possible MPG I found keeping to about 58 mph on the motorway and not letting it drift up to pass lorries etc.

  • Shoey43
    Shoey43 Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited September 2016 #8

    Our 2.2 litre auto select 4x4 brings in 37 mpg when towing our 1700 kg twin axle. Very pleased with it (and the caravan!). 

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #9

    Our 2.2 litre auto select 4x4 brings in 37 mpg when towing our 1700 kg twin axle. Very pleased with it (and the caravan!). 

    Sorry, don't believe it.

  • Shoey43
    Shoey43 Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited September 2016 #10

    That seems your problem rather than mine.  We have a jeep Cherokee auto which when towing, after zeroing the mpg computer reports 37 mpg from leaving Weston to arriving in Exmouth. 

  • spk
    spk Forum Participant Posts: 406
    edited September 2016 #11

    citroen multispace 1.6 turbo deisel 120bhp ..... Caravan 1275.....50mpg solo 28mpg towing. Never had over 30mpg with any outfit

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2016 #12

    That seems your problem rather than mine.  We have a jeep Cherokee auto which when towing, after zeroing the mpg computer reports 37 mpg from leaving Weston to arriving in Exmouth. 

    is it down hill all the way? Innocent

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #13

    Our Disco 3 comes in at around 21-23 mpg when towing and about 28-29 solo.  I guess I have to expect this with a big car.

    David 

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited September 2016 #14

    Freelander 2 TD4 , Caravan 1400

    Solo 38 to 43 MPG

    Towing 27 to 29 MPG

    Happy with that.

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited September 2016 #15

    MM, thats 'cos it is downhill att the way, Ive looked at it on the map and Exmouth is at least  2 Inches below weston Super Mare.Cool

    The question of Towing MPG relies so much on several variables.  My ML does about 34 on average solo and about 24 towing. But my van weighs over 1600 KGs and isnt that streamined.  Prevailing wind also has quite an effect!

    TF

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited September 2016 #16

    True TF but my figures are over three years in different conditions and averaged out 

  • bigherb
    bigherb Forum Participant Posts: 65
    edited September 2016 #17

    I have found that large 4x4s drop less than a conventional car due to the fact that their height shields some of the headwind from the caravan.

    Same with my campervan 16-18 mpg towing a 800kg van, 20-21 solo, 2ltr petrol with twin carbatoots. With a strong head wind I can even be down to 18mpg solo.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2016 #18

    True TF but my figures are over three years in different conditions and averaged out 

    I don't have figures for the last tank ... let alone 3 years Innocent

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited September 2016 #19

    I'm obviously the same sort of Nut as Fysherman because I keep a running log and have recorded every 10th of a litre of fuel that has passed through my ML since new and every penny that has been spent on it, Maintenance, tyres etc etc.

    Frightening, but interesting neverthess. The fluctuations in fuel prices over five & a half years dramatic. Ranging from a high of 143.9 down to 100.9 not so long ago.  One set of tyres at 35K wiper rubbers every 18 months, Pads at 34K.  Nothing else.

    TF

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited September 2016 #20

    True TF but my figures are over three years in different conditions and averaged out 

    I don't have figures for the last tank ... let alone 3 years Innocent

    That's because you are a lanky whereas I'm a yorkie Innocent

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited September 2016 #21

    I used to like Yorkies but they didnt do them in plain!

    TF

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2016 #22

     .... and every penny that has been spent on it, Maintenance, tyres etc etc.

     ....

    I keep receipts for work done & bits bought. When my Omega went a few years back, I added up all the receipts I had for it ..... £6000+ Surprised though
    it was over 10 yrs! Laughing I (over)serviced it myself

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2016 #23

    True TF but my figures are over three years in different conditions and averaged out 

    I don't have figures for the last tank ... let alone 3 years Innocent

    That's because you are a lanky whereas I'm a yorkie Innocent

    Between 2 Smarts & a R Class I'd not be able to keep up with what went in what Cool

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited September 2016 #24

    My OH says that our Ford Mondeo (and 1300 MTPLM caravan) return over 30 mpg towing.  It's a diesel, and we get really good fuel consumption solo.  These days, as pensioners, it's essential we run an economical car which can still tow, so we've avoided 4
    x 4's which return less MPG.

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #25

    Passat Alltrack 50mpg solo (no town driving) 28-30mpg towing 1,500kg.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #26

    Our X Trail towing 1498 KG's returns at best 29 mpg and in strong head winds as low as 23 mpg. I would say a reasonable average 26 to 27 mpg. Solo on similar runs 45 to 48 mpg. Our 2L petrol Mondeo towing our old van at 1300 KG only returned 22 to 24 mpg
    at best and in adverse conditions was sub 20 mph. Did 37 mpg solo on similar runs.

  • Pauljw
    Pauljw Forum Participant Posts: 55
    edited September 2016 #27

    Peugeot 308 1.6 hid 92 BHP best ever 81 mpg brim to brim , normal average 72 mpg . Towing our abi Dalesman 462 1050kg 42 mpg from Newquay to Carlisle . Ssangyong Korando 2.2 se best ever 61 brim to brim , normal average 54 mpg . Towing our Elddis Affinity
    550 1470 kg 29mpg York to Carlisle.

    Paul

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited September 2016 #28

    Blimey,Gepetto has been busy.

  • gygafo
    gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited September 2016 #29
    I have a Citroen C4 1.6D VTR+ 115 average 65 mpg urban when solo. With 1100kg van and all the other stuff in the car we get 38 mpg - No road tax and the only thing I've done is to fit
    Grayson spring assisters/raisers. Drives, tow's and handles like a dream... Much cheaper than the 4x4 alternative I was considering.



     

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #30

    Our Mazda will easily clear 50 mpg on runs but this drops tp just over 30 when towing. There is no easy way to calculate what you will get when towing as a lot depends on the profile of both the car and caravan and the caravans weight which will vary from
    one combination to the next and the weather and your driving style.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #31

    I tow a caravan with an MTPLM of 1595 with an Audi A6. 2.0. I came back from Devon to Bolton last month fully loaded with 3 people in the car and got 31 mpg.