Mileage Per Gallon

Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic

   There's been a lot of discussion regarding how many mpg's we all get when towing our Pods.  What I am curious about is this:

For those of you that have had other types of trailers prior to your Pod, both larger and smaller, did you get better or worse mileage towing them?  Or was it about the same?

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
P&M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13 Aug 2012 Location: Spokane, WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 454	Topic: Mileage Per Gallon Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 2:22pm
	There's been a lot of discussion regarding how many mpg's we all get when towing our Pods. What I am curious about is this: For those of you that have had other types of trailers prior to your Pod, both larger and smaller, did you get better or worse mileage towing them? Or was it about the same?
	P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500

hogone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1060	Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 2:43pm
	This is the first camping trailer I have had, but did have a 6X12 enclosed motocycle trailer. Weight of trailer around 1200 pounds, add two bikes add another 1300 pounds; some gear 200 pounds; total 2700 pounds; got around 12-14 MPG, same as the pod.
	Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD

hogone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1060	Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 2:49pm
	I guess I should indicate this is with the same TV; F-150 V8-4.6L 4X4
	Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD

Kickstart Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Location: Ocean Shores, W Online Status: Offline Posts: 267	Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 4:31pm
	1. 1991 Aljo 17'/1992 S-10 4.3 v6-10-14 mpg S-10 best non towing mpg tank was 28 mpg (35 mph day around Yellowstone) 2. 1994 Layton20'/1992 S-10 4.3 v/6 and 1997 F150 4.6 v8/9-12 mpg F150 best non towing tank was 17.9 mpg 3. 1998 Arctic Fox 22'/F150 4.6 v8/8-11 mpg 4. 2005 Chalet 18' foldable hardside (low tow height)/F150 4.6 v/8 & 2007 3.7 v6 Dakota/10-15 mpg Dakota best non towing tank was 22.6 mpg 5. 2010 RP 175 2007 3.7 v6 Dakota/ 9-11 mpg 3 trips only 2006 4.0 Toyota Tacoma v/6 10-12.5 mpg 18 trips over 1.5 yrs 2012 4.6 Toyota Tundra v/8 10.5-14.3 mpg 20 trips over 1.5 yrs Tacoma best non towing tank was 22.8 mpg Tundra best non towing tank was 23.7 mpg All Pod trips have been from 2 to 7 days in length. Notice that while towing the Pod, the bigger the tow rig I had, the better the towing mpg. That may not be a constant for everyone, but that's what it has been for me. I have hand figured nearly every tank of gas for the past 44 years of driving, and that's not nearly as anal as my mom. She still has notebooks covering date, gas purchased, price, and mpg for a LOT of driving years. Oh, Mom! Just about time to take away the keys.
	'10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time!

hogone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1060	Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 4:42pm
	wow, great stats
	Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD

dsmiths Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Location: Southern Ind Online Status: Offline Posts: 866	Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 10:01pm
	I have not made any long pulls, most of our trips are close to home (both still work) trips are 70 to 100 miles round trip. I used to pull at 70 mph and got about 10 or 11 mph, then dropped to 60, now I try to keep it at 55mph and in the right lane. 45 up steep hills. We did a 80 mile round trip last week and I got 14.7 but kept it down to 55 or lower. when you double the velocity the drag goes up by 4. when I hit 60mph it feels like I am pulling a parachute. t.v. is a 08 chevy trailblazer 4.2 in line 6 , 295 hp.
	Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller

2Peas-n-Rpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Location: Nampa, ID Online Status: Offline Posts: 96	Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 10:55pm
	I have a Ford f150 5.4L V8 4x4. We have towed a Pod and a 26 ft. Prowler with this truck, and both were about 8-10 mpg. Like dsmiths said above, if I keep the speed 55 or under, I get around 10-11 with the Pod. With my little 6X10 1200 lb. utility trailer in tow, I get around 12-14, mostly stop and go traffic in town with it. Best mileage for this truck is about 17-18 mpg.
	2011 R-Pod 182G Hood River Edition "Ribbitt" Pod (now sold) 2000 Ford F150 5.4L V8 TV

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 10:58pm
	Prior TV, Toyota Sienna: 23 mpg commuting 16 mpg towing popup which weighed close to 3500 pounds loaded 8-12 mpg towing pod which is close to 3000 pounds loaded (8 mpg was with a severe headwind, usually closer to 12) Current TV: 17.5 mpg commuting 14 mpg towing utility trailer loaded with 3500 pounds 9.5 mpg towing the pod, so far
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

TIDALWAVE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Location: MINNESOTA Online Status: Offline Posts: 315	Posted: 22 Jun 2013 at 9:09am
	From computer simulations another guest and I ran independently a couple of years ago, mpg while towing depends little on weight (in non-hilly areas). The most important factor was the frontal area of the trailer. The gap between the tow vehicle and the trailer also was a factor. R-Pods are about 11 feet high and 6 feet wide. From member responses, the size of the tow vehicles engine does not seem to matter much for mpg. The variations tend to be from 10 to 14 mpg. The rounded shape of the Pods does NOT contribute to increased mpg...the rounded frontal shape produces a much larger spacing between the tow vehicle and the Pod. This allows air rushing behind the tow vehicle more room to 'swirl' and thus produce more drag. You may notice the fiberglas sheathing behind a big rig semi cab and the trailer, decreasing the distance of the open gap between the two. The rear 'clearance lights' spoiler will do little to increase mpg. It is just too small. A 'pop-up' trailer, of the same weight as the Pod, will deliver a significant increase in mpg because its frontal area while being towed is much smaller than a Pod.
	TIDALWAVE

David and Danette Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1223	Posted: 22 Jun 2013 at 10:03pm
	I watched a video of a radius shaped front trailer same weight and same length as a trailer with a V shaped front towed by the same TV and using same gas from same pump traveling identical routes wind direction and speed the same. The V shaped trailer had the better MPG. but not by much. I don't know if any of the trailer manufactures test there trailers to have the best shape for MPG as the automobile industry does. Perhaps that will be something commonly done in the future as fuel prices get higher. It would be a good competitive selling point. Lite weight is a popular selling point now for best MPG. David
	2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab