1,516 miles towing with my Gladiator, 11.2mpg

[mr. cob]

Howdy All,

I have been using my Gladiator, Rubicon with 3.6 gas engine to tow my 16 foot, tandem axle enclosed trailer to haul my CAN AM SxS, total weight, trailer, SxS and needed camping gear 5,200/5,500 pound depending on how much extra gas and water is being hauled.

I found within a few miles that the only way to tow efficiently is to drive the truck like it has a manual transmission, letting the transmission do the shifting results in lower fuel mileage and excessive engine RPM need to do the job. I live in western Washington, can't go anywhere without crossing mountain passes and the traveling I did while towing those 1,500+ involved crossing MANY passes. Long story short, for my needs, I am happy with the way the truck performs and the mileage it gets while towing.

Dave

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[Jaxmax]

Sounds about right Dave, I get 12.5 towing a 23 foot long travel trailer but weight is at about 3800lbs. I am also happy around town and highway mileage is not bad and a big improvement over my Suburban I had. Sort of the nature of the beast when towing with a six cylinder......Jack

 

[Labswine]

I get around 13 (+/- 0.2) MPG towing my trailer (pictured below). It's 27' long and right around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need to take with us.

Manual shifting is a MUST as letting the transmission shift itself, it wants to scream along in 5th at like 4K RPM to maintain speed.

I don't let mine get over 2,500 RPMs (occasional 3K to get up to speed from a traffic light) when driving along. I typicaly upshift at 2,500 RPMs. I can cruise at around 65 MPH in 7th at right around 2,100 RPMs.

All my towing is east coast so, relatively flat. I get better mileage going south than I do going north ? ??

 

[DavidBT]

That's about what I averaged doing a 2000 mile round trip to Komiefornia and back over the 4th of July weekend. Quite a few mountain passes between South East Arizona and Sonoma County, Komiefornia. I tow a 26' travel trailer that weighs 5,500 lbs.

 

[Jaxmax]

Well I live close about an hour North from Labswine and have been going to Poconos last three trips , next two are surf fishing in Delaware and Cape Hatteras, should be “flatter” and I’ll do the manual shifting thing more, I keep speed to about 68 at most . So I guess I accept the challenge to see if I can get up to 13-13.5! First trip to Delaware for a surf fishing Tourney is 10/8-9 with Hatteras being right after Thanksgiving for week or so…..Jack

 

[Labswine]

We’ll I live close an hour North from Labswine and have been going to Poconos last three trips , next two are surf fishing in Delaware and Cape Hatteras, should be “flatter” and I’ll do the manual shifting thing more, I keep speed to about 68 at most . So I guess I accept the challenge to see if I can get up to 13-13.5! First trip to Delaware for a surf fishing Toureny is 10/8-9 with Hatteras being right after Thanksgiving for week or so…..Jack

We just got back from Hatteras last week. It's an easy drive. Go through Delaware, Del. Rt.1, down 113 to 13 in MD, and then across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. I averaged 13 MPG on that trip.

 

[rigger 17]

This week iI towed my camper to a local campground . At 55 mph I see 6 gear but when I was on the x way doing 65 mph I was in 5 gear seeing 5500 rpm . The camper weights 4,200 lbs . This is strange to me . I felt uncomfortable having the engine up at that RPM . Needless to say the instant MPG was below 10 MPG on the x way . 12 plus MPG at or below 55 mph . Maybe i should shift manually ??

 

[AmishMike]

That's about what I averaged doing a 2000 mile round trip to Komiefornia and back over the 4th of July weekend. Quite a few mountain passes between South East Arizona and Sonoma County, Komiefornia. I tow a 26' travel trailer that weighs 5,500 lbs.

Careful, someone got banned for using that state name.

@Jaxmax 13mpg, yes at 65 mph or less. I did manage 16+ at 75 mph when drafting. It is all about the drag, not weight. I am going to look for one of those old wings to deflect some air.

 

[Labswine]

This week iI towed my camper to a local campground . At 55 mph I see 6 gear but when I was on the x way doing 65 mph I was in 5 gear seeing 5500 rpm . The camper weights 4,200 lbs . This is strange to me . I felt uncomfortable having the engine up at that RPM . Needless to say the instant MPG was below 10 MPG on the x way . 12 plus MPG at or below 55 mph . Maybe i should shift manually ??

Yes, you should definitely be shifting manually.

You'll be in 7th at around 2,100 RPMs most of the time cruising at 65 mph. You'll need the occasional flip back to 6th when speed drops below 60 MPH to get back to the 65 MPH cruise or up some hills but even then, you won't be much over 2,500 RPMs.

Go back and read my above post

 

[JT1219]

I am finishing a trip today from Ohio to SW Arizona, highest elevation was about 4900, I let the transmission do the shifting though when it seemed like it was stuck in 5th, I shifted to manual and dropped it into 7th for a minute or so and went back to auto and it pretty much stuck there till we hit a little incline. To date a 2050 miles it has averaged 12.2mpg, last tank was the best but most of that was coming down from the 4900, I got 14.2. My little trailer is 15' single axle and weighs about 2400, but I am also carrying about 350 in the bed of the truck. Will try the manual shifting on the last 200 to see how it does although we are still about a 1000' higher than destination. I will report back today or tomorrow as we are leaving in about an hour. Oh I dont exceed 65 with this trailer and its little 13" wheels, but its a good safe speed for the most part.

 

[XJADDICTION]

I’ve towed a lot this year and shifting manually is the trick to better fuel mileage and easier on the truck.
DEFINITELY keep checking engine and transmission temps. You need to stay under 220 for the transmission.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I guess no one really understands modern engines...........
It's not doing the engine any favors to try to keep it 2500 or less. In fact you are in low-lift mode where it makes the LEAST power.
3,000 RPM is nothing. Heck, that used to be the normal highway speed for a typical engine and now people freak out over 3,000 RPM in an engine with superior bearings, superior balance, superior everything for that matter.
The only reason to shift manually, as the manual says, is to reduce hunting - constant shifting by the transmission. The constant up and down, up and down, causes heat and wear.
But for our territory around here, I've found almost no difference at all in mpg shifting manually vs. automatic. I only ever use automatic to keep the RPM UP as specified in the book and to prevent hunting in our hills. It's really hilly here.
Towing I actually found better mpg with it shifting itself - until or unless it started to hunt and dropped the RPM too low.
Sub-3,000 rpm is actually not a friend of engines under a load.
But the non-mechanics will argue that they think the engine is better off at lower RPM. Sorry, it's not. In fact, the Chevy guys told me directly "let 'er rip" - it needs the higher RPM.
For one thing - better oiling of the engine, higher oil pressure moving oil through more quickly keeping the oil and the parts cool. If you let it run slow the oil is under more pressure and stress.
But the non-mechanics win, I guess, over science.

 

[Lynn_F]

Nice rig! I haven't taken any super long trips but pull mine 100-200 miles at a time with a lowboy on fairly flat terrain. I pulled the same rig with my 3.6 and now my EcoD. I didn't have any issues with the 3.6 and the MPG dropped to around 10. The EcoD handles it much better with ~15 MPG.

 

[DavidBT]

Careful, someone got banned for using that state name.

@Jaxmax 13mpg, yes at 65 mph or less. I did manage 16+ at 75 mph when drafting. It is all about the drag, not weight. I am going to look for one of those old wings to deflect some air.

I just received a point and a warning a couple of days ago for using it.

 

[Aceman8772]

I pulled 6500lbs. from San Diego to Washington State. I kept the speed at 62mph. The 3.6 got 14 mpg. The squat was obvious but she drove straight and I never felt uncomfortable. I don't care to go 7650 in my max tow though.

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