R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Reviews and General Information
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: towing MPG??
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic Closedtowing MPG??
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>
Author
Message
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
bruceb View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 10 Oct 2020
Location: WI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: towing MPG??
    Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 3:56pm
We are thinking of buying our first RV and it may be an RPOD.  I was wondering what you tow yours with and what mileage you get towing and not towing?
Thanks
Back to Top
mcarter View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 4:23pm
Honestly, your gas mileage will be different. It depends upon your driving style and conditions. If you plan to buy a Pod, buy a tow vehicle that is equipped for towing and has a tow capacity of at least 5000. I have towed my 178 with a 2006 Silverado, a 2014 Silverado and a 2016 Colorado, all did an excellent job. Obviously I am a Chevy fan, but all the auto manufacturers make compatible vehicles. You'll need to do research for an affordable tow vehicle, that meets tow capacity, electric brakes and possibly a sway system. Do homework, and talk to folks that have done this awhile. I have seen folks hook trailers to tow vehicles and nothing about it is safe. Improperly operated tow situations are dangerous. For everybody.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 4:44pm
Towing an rPod with a modern fuel efficient vehicle is pretty much independent of what that vehicle is or what fuel economy it gets not towing. That is because the horsepower demand towing at highway speeds is dominated by air drag on the trailer. So, your mileage may vary, but mostly due to the speed you tow at, whether you're climbing hills or not. and if you have a headwind or tailwind. On flat ground with no wind you can expect to get around 15-16 mpg at 55 mph, about 14-15 mpg at 60, and down around 12 at 65 mph. 

So, get a tow vehicle capable of handling the fully loaded trailer that can also carry a realistic amount of stuff in the TV itself, and have a safety margin above that. Forget the trailer empty weight specs. Do not get FWD, and get a tow vehicle that is approved for using a weight distribution hitch. 

My Toyota Highlander fills that bill for the 179 or other similar sized rPods, but I wouldn't go any smaller than that. I tow at 60 and, sure enough, get 14 mpg under flat no wind conditions. I get a little better than the EPA book fuel economy with it not towing, around 19 city/24 highway. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
bruceb View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 10 Oct 2020
Location: WI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 4:58pm
we currently have a 2020 1500 4x4 silverado with the 3.0 liter diesel.  Gets 27 MPG empty and 17 MPG towing our 4000 lb boat.  Can you make any estimate for MPG towing an RPOD?
Thanks
Back to Top
podwerkz View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 11 Mar 2019
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 966 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 5:07pm
More than 10mpg and less than 20 mpg.

If you are camping on a strict budget and fuel mileage will make or break your ability to afford this, then buy a tent and a small car. 

Seriously, there are so many variables when towing...but a good estimate will be in the low to mid teens like nearly everyone else towing r-pods.
r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 5:15pm
Originally posted by bruceb

we currently have a 2020 1500 4x4 silverado with the 3.0 liter diesel.  Gets 27 MPG empty and 17 MPG towing our 4000 lb boat.  Can you make any estimate for MPG towing an RPOD?
Thanks

Its not weight related, its frontal area and speed related. 

Sure, I can roughly estimate it for you, if you provide a bit more info. What speed do you plan to tow at? Which rPod are you looking at? 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
mcarter View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 5:19pm
Bruceb,

Expect about the same as your boat.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
Back to Top
bruceb View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 10 Oct 2020
Location: WI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 5:19pm
lets say its a 192 at 70 mph.  I like to get there.
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 5:52pm
OK I'd estimate around 11-12 mpg for your diesel towing that trailer at that speed. Flat ground, no wind, good pavement.  Your fuel economy is getting killed by the speed. Air drag goes up with the square of the speed so your fuel economy is only going to be about 75% of what it would be at 60 mph.  
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2702 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2020 at 8:10pm
Originally posted by bruceb

we currently have a 2020 1500 4x4 silverado with the 3.0 liter diesel.  Gets 27 MPG empty and 17 MPG towing our 4000 lb boat.  Can you make any estimate for MPG towing an RPOD?
Thanks
Towing a boat there is not nearly as much wind resistance, so I would expect a bit worse than that with an Rpod.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz