How Much Does Towing Lower My Fuel Economy?

One of the best, or worst, things about owning a truck is that people often ask you for help moving. Trucks are known for their power so if a moving trailer needs to be moved across town, then you’re probably first on the list of people your friends will call.

Of course, you probably have a lot of your own things to haul or tow from time to time. When you’re driving around with these big loads, how often do you stop to think about your fuel economy? Obviously, it will have an effect on your truck’s gas mileage, but how much impact will it have?

How Towing Affects Fuel Economy
It’s pretty well-known that the more weight that you need to move, the more energy it is going to take to move it. In a truck, that energy is your fuel, so a heavier load will mean you are getting a lower fuel economy. Estimates say that every 100lbs of extra weight in a truck decreases its fuel economy by two percent. So, it’s not hard to imagine that towing a large trailer will create a much larger drop in your fuel economy.

2019 Ford F-250 on a work site in mud

2018 VW Atlas pulling a trailer

On top of that, there is drag to consider. The wind resistance a truck and trailer create will also lower the fuel economy. It seems like a losing battle, but it’s not all bad. There are some ways to lessen the impact. Diesel engines or more powerful gas engines are less affected by this drop off because they are already generating a lot of power and don’t need extra power to tow. You should also try staying in motion as much as possible, having to start and stop constantly will drain your fuel economy.

How Do I Know My Suspension is Bad?

Trucks for Sale in Mesa, AZ
You can find plenty of powerful trucks in the Mesa area right here at Trucks Only. If you have any questions about our trucks, then give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.