2021 PowerBoost and Towing... Terrible MPG while towing

[machz]

I finally had a camping trip this weekend, so I adjusted my hitch setup to match yours and it handles WAY BETTER! Much more stable, sits nice and level, and if there was no wind, I could use the lane centering....

Unfortunately however, my MPG did not improve as I would have hoped/expected. I towed between 70-75mph, no real wind out and still averaged about 7mpg on the 300mile round trip. But I powered my trailer all weekend off the powerboost, I loved how it drives...just not happy with the MPG. It's not about the cost of the fuel, it's the need to stop so frequently, especially if you're boondocking with the powerboost, you'll want a fairly full tank for the weekend.

Next step is to check my tongue weight and make sure there's nothing off with that, or it's a matter of driving slower. I'm curious for those that report getting 10mpg towing, what speed are you towing at?

I had the same problem on my way from NH to FL and back. If I ran 70+ my MPG suffered and was in the 7 MPG range. If I stayed 65 or less I was at 9 or better and managed a calculated 8.9 for the entire trip.

The biggest problem for me was also having to stop for fuel too often. For next year I purchased a 15 gal flofast tank. My thoughts are to fill up when we stop at rest area's instead of having to find gas stations that I can fit with the trailer so often.


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[matrix311]

I finally had a camping trip this weekend, so I adjusted my hitch setup to match yours and it handles WAY BETTER! Much more stable, sits nice and level, and if there was no wind, I could use the lane centering....

Unfortunately however, my MPG did not improve as I would have hoped/expected. I towed between 70-75mph, no real wind out and still averaged about 7mpg on the 300mile round trip. But I powered my trailer all weekend off the powerboost, I loved how it drives...just not happy with the MPG. It's not about the cost of the fuel, it's the need to stop so frequently, especially if you're boondocking with the powerboost, you'll want a fairly full tank for the weekend.

Next step is to check my tongue weight and make sure there's nothing off with that, or it's a matter of driving slower. I'm curious for those that report getting 10mpg towing, what speed are you towing at?

I'm basically the same MPGs maybe a tad worse since i have a lot of mountains to deal with here in Arizona. I came from the 36 gallon tank and now have the 30 gallon PB and i agree, the frequent spots for towing sucks but i do like the added power and added benefits of the onboard generator which makes up for the smaller tank. We just boondocked 4 nights as well using my truck to power everything in our RV, after we got setup i drove 15 miles into town to top off the tank and i was good to go for the entire stay since we are not needing to run our AC it barely uses any fuel.

 

[don.mullins]

My travel trailer dealer is 71 miles from my house, so it makes a decent sample for MPG runs while changing various parameters. My trailer is 30’, weighs #7580 with a tongue weight of 720#.

As others mentioned, aerodynamics is a huge factor in towing trailers. Another caveat I will add is trailer tires are typically speed rated @ 65MPH. Due to this, my maximum tow speed is 70MPH, or the posted speed if lower.

In standard tow/haul mode at speed, I tend to get 9MPG. If I limit the transmission to 1-8, I get 10MPG. I know backing off speed will make a big difference in MPG, but I am comfortable with the balance of travel range time-wise vs. fuel range at 10MPG.

 

[mj1angier]

I noticed something this weekend that might account for lower mpg when towing TT. I have a large auto refrigerator that I have use in the bed when going to our cabin 3 hrs away. this is the second time that I used it. I filled up and reset the avg for trip 1 for the trip. I got about 19.3 by the on board computer on the trip up. I left the refrigerator at cabin ( wife get to stay all week, lucky turd lol) and driving same trip back I got 21.6.
90% was highway with some slow downs for construction but it was about 98% the same trip other than the genny running on the trip up.
So I guess it takes some mpg off running the genny

 

[sccaldwell]

Speed and acceleration are huge factors. There's a lot that goes into improving towing fuel economy.

Hi, I'm new to the forum, but just wanted to share a tip someone gave me last week, in case it helps someone else. I'd been lurking on the form, trying to find answers to my crappy mileage while towing (2021 F-150 PowerBoost Platinum), and finally have something to add to the discussion.

Apparently, the "Trailer Sway Control" feature on the F-150 counteracts sway by selectively applying the brakes individually. For example, maybe the passenger rear for a millisecond, then the front driver's side for a millisecond to counteract detected sway of the trailer.

According to the guy who told me this, if your trailer already has a sway control bar (or a weight-distributing hitch with anti-sway design), the F-150's sway control winds up essentially fighting with the anti-sway bar, causing a ton of unnecessary (though very brief) braking.

His explanation makes perfect sense, so on our trip back from Savannah, Georgia (to central NC) I turned off the F-150's Trailer Sway Control (under the "Towing" section on the screen). I got 11.2mpg on the drive back up, whereas I had averaged 8.6 on the drive down TO Georgia.

That's a huge difference!! I didn't change anything else about driving style, etc, so I'm hoping that makes a permanent increase. I can live with 11 or so while towing, given that I *have* been getting around 24 when not towing!

Hope this helps someone else!

Thanks,

Craig

 

[dannko58]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, but just wanted to share a tip someone gave me last week, in case it helps someone else. I'd been lurking on the form, trying to find answers to my crappy mileage while towing (2021 F-150 PowerBoost Platinum), and finally have something to add to the discussion.

Apparently, the "Trailer Sway Control" feature on the F-150 counteracts sway by selectively applying the brakes individually. For example, maybe the passenger rear for a millisecond, then the front driver's side for a millisecond to counteract detected sway of the trailer.

According to the guy who told me this, if your trailer already has a sway control bar (or a weight-distributing hitch with anti-sway design), the F-150's sway control winds up essentially fighting with the anti-sway bar, causing a ton of unnecessary (though very brief) braking.

His explanation makes perfect sense, so on our trip back from Savannah, Georgia (to central NC) I turned off the F-150's Trailer Sway Control (under the "Towing" section on the screen). I got 11.2mpg on the drive back up, whereas I had averaged 8.6 on the drive down TO Georgia.

That's a huge difference!! I didn't change anything else about driving style, etc, so I'm hoping that makes a permanent increase. I can live with 11 or so while towing, given that I *have* been getting around 24 when not towing!

Hope this helps someone else!

Thanks,

Craig

Read similar on an Intech owners group, if using a WD with sway the F150 sway must be off or it can cause all kinds of chaos. I don't have sway bars on my WD so I assume I would be safe using the sway control on the truck.

 

[Mostlyok]

Very interesting. Great explanation of what it does.
We have an Andersen WD hitch and the manual says turn off the Onboard sway control.
It has always been part of our start up. ignition-Tow Haul-turn off Sway.
Would like to hear from others to see if they has their sway off while towing.

 

[uavmx]

I noticed something this weekend that might account for lower mpg when towing TT. I have a large auto refrigerator that I have use in the bed when going to our cabin 3 hrs away. this is the second time that I used it. I filled up and reset the avg for trip 1 for the trip. I got about 19.3 by the on board computer on the trip up. I left the refrigerator at cabin ( wife get to stay all week, lucky turd lol) and driving same trip back I got 21.6.
90% was highway with some slow downs for construction but it was about 98% the same trip other than the genny running on the trip up.
So I guess it takes some mpg off running the genny

There isn't a separate generator, the engine running is what's producing power... Not sure this makes sense unless it's some additional draw on the system so you lose some power. I also run a small 110v cooler in the bed while towing, and don't get good towing numbers.... So maybe you're onto something

 

[Jakk]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, but just wanted to share a tip someone gave me last week, in case it helps someone else. I'd been lurking on the form, trying to find answers to my crappy mileage while towing (2021 F-150 PowerBoost Platinum), and finally have something to add to the discussion.

Apparently, the "Trailer Sway Control" feature on the F-150 counteracts sway by selectively applying the brakes individually. For example, maybe the passenger rear for a millisecond, then the front driver's side for a millisecond to counteract detected sway of the trailer.

According to the guy who told me this, if your trailer already has a sway control bar (or a weight-distributing hitch with anti-sway design), the F-150's sway control winds up essentially fighting with the anti-sway bar, causing a ton of unnecessary (though very brief) braking.

His explanation makes perfect sense, so on our trip back from Savannah, Georgia (to central NC) I turned off the F-150's Trailer Sway Control (under the "Towing" section on the screen). I got 11.2mpg on the drive back up, whereas I had averaged 8.6 on the drive down TO Georgia.

That's a huge difference!! I didn't change anything else about driving style, etc, so I'm hoping that makes a permanent increase. I can live with 11 or so while towing, given that I *have* been getting around 24 when not towing!

Hope this helps someone else!

Thanks,

Craig

I just turned my anti-sway switch to off, but I imagine this tip only works if you are using anti-sway bars?? Thoughts?

 

[wayne b]

Wanted to add some information to this thread. this is PB towing a 23', 6klbs trailer in tow mode the entire time. This was mostly flat highway, though the first 20 miles it was slight uphill grade into wind and it was hovering around 9-10mph. Speed limit in CA is 55mph for trailers and we followed it. I had 89 octane. Reading some of the other posts, I see a pattern of speed being a major factor in mpg.

 

[kmayer]

Wanted to add some information to this thread. this is PB towing a 23', 6klbs trailer in tow mode the entire time. This was mostly flat highway, though the first 20 miles it was slight uphill grade into wind and it was hovering around 9-10mph. Speed limit in CA is 55mph for trailers and we followed it. I had 89 octane. Reading some of the other posts, I see a pattern of speed being a major factor in mpg.

That’s pretty darn good. you are right, speed is the main thing we can control that influences it. I get similar results with our 25’ Airstream, but I don’t have enough towing miles for statistically reliable data.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Wanted to add some information to this thread. this is PB towing a 23', 6klbs trailer in tow mode the entire time. This was mostly flat highway, though the first 20 miles it was slight uphill grade into wind and it was hovering around 9-10mph. Speed limit in CA is 55mph for trailers and we followed it. I had 89 octane. Reading some of the other posts, I see a pattern of speed being a major factor in mpg.

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[UGADawg96]

How does Dora sound on the unleashed sound system?

 

[wayne b]

How does Dora sound on the unleashed sound system?

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[UGADawg96]

we listen to the "spotify discover" mix, where it suggests new music every week and it was this song:

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