I have an '09 F150 with the 5.4 gas engine. Milage with this truck is pretty good empty. (18-21 hwy). We are considering buying a smaller camping trailer and wondering what towing something like that is going to do.

Trailers I have looked at are about 20-24' and will probably weigh 4,000# dry weight.

Obviously I know mpg's will suffer when towing. Just wondering how much? Will it cut in half or worse? Anybody have a similar set up with actual results?

 

around 13 highway. around 11 in town. at least that is what I get when I tow 6000 pounds. but my trailer is low and doesnt have a lot of wind resistance. Its not a camper. Its a dump trailer.. I haul scrap metal with it.

 

around 9-11 mpg pulling 8000lb

 

9-11mpg with 5k boat and trailer, but I'm also pushing 35's and a 6in lift with the 3.73 gears.

 

Joe Lasch - My old 2004 F150 5.4 gas - 3.73 - 4X4 got 18-21MPG whether I was towing my 4200 LB OFF-ROAD POPUP or not... I'm thinking the 3.73 gears had alot to do with that along with NO WIND DRAG with the POPUP... Guys with the 3.55 were always under powered, the 4.10's sucked up some gas mileage... I just traded for a 2010 F150 with same setup except this one has larger wheels.. Havent towed with it yet - still fighting the OEM electric brakes...

 

10-11 is what i average with my 5.4 towing a 20ft enclosed with it loaded down is around 5000lb.

 

What does it matter? Make sure you use the tow/haul mode or your tranny will burn up eventually.

 

I use mine, it just shifts up and down a lot more, but I guess its there for a reason and it helps.

 

One should expect to use double the fuel (half the MPG) towing a full sized TT of any weight. You may do better, but plan for half. Aerodynamics are the problem and speed greatly impacts it. 6-10mpg is common for gas engines towing them.

I tow about 6500 pounds at 65mph depending on wind I get 6.5-8mpg. My truck never got more than 16mpg empty, though.

 

I get about the same mileage towing about the same weight.

 

x2, I'm also rolling 35's for what it's worth.

 

Here are some of my mileage readings with my 03 Supercrew 5.4 w/3.55 gears pulling a 20' enclosed trailer (about 3000#) with a 2500# car inside plus luggage, tools. Totaling approx. 6000# overall from Chicago to Slade KY and back. The first 3 tanks were at about 62 mph and then the rest closer to 75 mph - -

Mileage---Distance --Gallons--MPG--- Cost---- Cost Per Gallon
61986.9
62150.9-- 164 - - -17.869-- 9.177----71.67--- 4.199
62245.9-- 95 - - - 9.529 - - 9.969 - - 40.01 - - 4.199
62389.7-- 143.8---16.889---8.46---- 68.23--- 4.059
62443.9-- 54.2----7.252----7.473----29.00--- 3.999
62543.5-- 99.6----14.402-- 6.915----57.02--- 3.959
62693.2-- 149.7---19.883---7.529--- 81.50--- 4.099
62812.9-- 119.7---17.861---6.701--- 75.00--- 4.199

Without the trailer on the highway I avarage 19-21 mpg at 70 mph.

I want to buy a new truck, but I can't seem to figure out the best one. The EC looks good and should be better than my 5.4 all around. I drive the trunk less than 7,500 a year and most of the mileage is towing 6000# trailer on vacation and often thru hills and mountians.

Here are some things that confuse me -
1. the EC is not available with 36 gallon tank.
2. done of the new trucks will accept a locking gas cap, and my trunk sits out.
3. Diesel not available in a F150
4. A F250 is not available in a 5'5" bed

Without the car in the trailer, my 5.4 is great, but that 2500# car in the trailer makes a BIG difference.

 

I get 7-11 when pulling my 24ft Keystone Passport. 2010 FX4 screw. My worst was doing 70mph into a gusty head wind at 6.7mpg.

 

I get around 11 towing my 25' ultralite.

 

I have a stock '09 Platinum supercrew 4x4 and generally average around 15 to 16, according to the on board display. The dash display however is consistantly 1 mpg higher that actual. Just pulling my EMPTY 6x12 utility trailer my mpg will drop down to 13 (according to the dash display) and I have to put it in 'Tow' mode to keep it from constantly downshifting. I blame that on those tall gears that come stock in the Platinum. I truly believe lower gearing will help a whole bunch and would actually produce better gas mileage.