Towing 5600# with 100-series...

[bamachem]

2000 Cruiser...

I'm going to be flat-trailering a vehicle for 300 miles. The trailer is 2100# and the vehicle is ~3500#. I'll be pulling the trailer empty for the first 300, then the loaded on the way back home.

I'm assuming that this will be OK. Trailer has electric brakes. I'm usually getting about 16.5 to 17 MPG unloaded, so I'm planning on about 12-13 MPG on the way up unloaded and then 10-11 MPG loaded (@ about 65-70 MPH).

Sound reasonable?

 

[SC Joe]

I recently pulled my approx 4000# boat about 600 miles round trip and got about 8-9 mpg in my '99 100

 

[Tinkerer]

You'd better rethink the mpg estimate.

I got about 7 or 8 mpg last time I pulled ~ 3000lb-, mostly highway with speeds around 60 to 80mph, mostly flat to rolling terrain.

MPG = very speed-dependent, methinks, on flat terrain, when pulling something with lots of air drag (high Cd) at highway speed: The load from drag increases exponentially with speed over ~50mph.

 

[Morty]

Myexperience is that mileage will be 8 mpg or less when the trailer is loaded.

 

[bamachem]

thanks.

the reason for the estimate is to calculate the difference for renting a trailer here and towing it both ways vs renting one there as a one-way.

ONE-WAY: at 16 MPG then 8 MPG, a 600-mile round trip is approximately 56 gallons of 93 octane - currently at $3.09/gallon.

ROUNDTRIP: at 12 MPG unloaded and then 8 MPG loaded, the same 600-mile trip is approximately 62 gallons.

the difference in fuel costs is approx $18.54. compared to the difference in rental fees of $138 for one-way and $49 for round trip, it's a NO-BRAINER.

 

[wngrog]

You will get 8 mpg if you treat it nice. Keep it in DRIVE and have fun.

 

[bamachem]

copy that.

actually, on the way home w/ 5600#, it will be in Drive and w/ the OD off and i'll be taking my time. possibly just do 60 or so and don't sweat it. it's pretty hilly here.

 

[Tinkerer]

copy that.

actually, on the way home w/ 5600#, it will be in Drive and w/ the OD off and i'll be taking my time. possibly just do 60 or so and don't sweat it. it's pretty hilly here.

Hehe, just noticed your location. Enjoy those semi trucks jamming side-by-side and blocking everyone else at 20mph below the limit going uphill, and the crazed reactions of everybody else adding to the risk. Especially if you drive west out of Chattanooga on I-24. (I wouldn't want to tow a trailer there...)

 

[justinh]

What did you buy Andy?

 

[bamachem]

I bought a 1995 Acura Legend GS. Original owner and receipts back to day 1 including the original window sticker. It's in Dayton, OH, so I'm heading north on 75 thru Cincinatti.

 

[Augie]

Why not just drive it.
Rent one way rental airport to airport.
The guy/dealer selling the car would should be able to pick you up at the airport.

 

[Just4Fun]

Or go to budget and do a one way car rental, I've done it and it only cost like $80 or so!

 

[bamachem]

I've done that before, and typically, it's pretty affordable. However, this time it's right at $120 with taxes + gas in the rental car for the one-way trip. The trailer is $50 + about $50 in extra gas. It's a wash, but this way I have a ride back home if it isn't what they say it is. If I had a rental, then I'd be stuck w/ another one-way rental to get back.

 

[jmarlo]

I get about 10--11mpg towing my 4500lb boat with my 2002 LX with average speeds of 70mph, using cruise control whenever possible. Hope this helps.

 

[bamachem]

trip is done. 640 miles round trip. 340 there (had to take a bypass loop in cincinatti) and then right at 300 back home.

pulling the 2100# trailer up and over the cumberland mtns, i got 12 MPG, maintaining 70-75 the whole time. after that, thru the hills of kentucky and thru the traffic of cincinatti, i got just a hair under 15MPG - doing between 75 and 85 probably 90% of the time. with the car on there, it weighed out right at 5600#, and i got just under 14 MPG doing about 70-75 until i got to the mtns again. i topped off, and then i got right at 10 MPG, but that's with the OD off most of the time going up steep grades and maintaing at least 65 the whole time.

i didn't use cruise at all. i didn't push it hard to maintain constant speed on the continuous grades. i think that helped alot as well. when going up a grade, i'd keep it at 70-75, and then going down, i'd let it coast up to 80-85.

the car is pretty short, and even on the flatbed it's profile was still below/right-at the roof of the cruiser. that helped alot. it was pretty much drafting the whole time, so additional air drag was kept to a minimum. the only additional strain was the weight.

the cruiser pulled it like a champ and never once disappointed me. it pulled much nicer than anticipated.

 

[LXPearl]

Great information and better than anticipated. Thanks for sharing.