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 hauled across town, then you’re probably first on the list of people your friends will call. But, you might be wondering about towing mpg, and how much towing can affect gas mileage. Keep reading to learn more about how towing impacts fuel efficiency, and how to get better gas mileage pulling a trailer through Phoenix and beyond.
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? How does towing affect gas mileage? Obviously, it will affect your truck’s gas mileage, but how much impact will it have?
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 100 pounds of extra weight in a truck decreases its fuel economy by 2%. So, it’s not hard to imagine that towing a large trailer will create a much larger drop in your fuel economy.
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.
Again, you can expect your gas mileage to decrease by about 2% with every 100 pounds you tow. If you know the weight of what you’re towing, you can estimate how much more fuel you’ll use, and top up your tank accordingly.
Getting better towing gas mileage is easy when you take the following steps:
Are you in search of fuel-efficient vehicles for towing? You have come to the right place. 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. We’re ready to help you find the best towing mpg truck possible.
