210WBS towing MPG

lendad45 · 09-17-2012, 11:19 AM

I've had my new 210WBS for a month - like it a lot. I tow it with a 2012 Lincoln MKT - with the Ecoboost twin turbo (355 HP, 350 Torque). At 60-65 mph I get 9 mpg, which I'm not at all happy with (the same car gets 25 mpg @ 75 mph when not towing). The MKT has power to spare, so its not an underpower issue. Maybe I'm expecting too much as to gas mileage.

What I'd like to hear from members is their real world average towing gas mileage using different tow vehicles.

The 210WBS is 7.5' wide, so I'd like to hear from owners of:

210WBS
X210
210UBS
214WSD
215WSK

...which are all the same width.

Thanks in advance.

Ashman · 09-17-2012, 12:43 PM

I tow a 210 WBS with a 2012 Explorer with tow package. Best mileage I got was going about 65 MPH and averaged 11.5 MPG. Most times I am right at 10 MPG. It is simply that you drive down the road with a big wind brake behind you. My boss tows with a tundra (Biggest engine package-don't remember spec's) and a trailer that is only 1000 #'s more than mine and gets essentially the same. I do miss my Mini cooper clubman with a livinlite getting 26 MPG, but I'm way more comfortable and set-up quicker at the end of my journy

**LJAZ** · 09-17-2012, 12:50 PM

9 mpg sounds about right. I doubt you'll find a huge disparity between the different trailers either. They likely all get somewhere between 8-12 mpg on average. Towing downhill or on level ground and/or a good tailwind will bump it up closer to 12. Conversely uphill and headwinds will decrease mileage closer to 8. Besides the extra weight you're pulling, even at 7 ft wide vs 8 ft, the front area of the trailer is still like dragging a huge sail at 65 mph.

webslave · 09-17-2012, 04:39 PM

What the others say... It is the wind effect on the "sail" that you are dragging behind you. My 210WBS on the back of my Jeep Commander was 9.5 to 10.5 for an average (low of 8.5, high of 12) and that same trailer hanging off the back of my RAM 2500 CTD, was, you guessed it, 9.5 to 10.5 for an average. My mpg for a 12,000 lb, 35' 5th wheel? Actually a tad better, this trip the average has been around 10.7 to 11.4 mpg. The diesel is now broken in and I've found the "sweet spot" in the speed range, but, all in all, basically the same for 14 more feet and twice the weight. I did get a "low" of 8.6, but, that was coming across Kansas with a 30 mph "full on" headwind gusting to 40 mph for the whole day. The wind was so bad, that, had it been any higher or higher and broadside, I'd have sat it out and waited another day. I was actually looking for a tractor-trailer rig to tail gate so they'd break the wind for me

As LJAZ said, what I've found, despite the "fish tales", most folks towing an RV with a suitable vehicle will get 9-11 mpg as an average "range".

lendad45 · 09-17-2012, 04:56 PM

Thanks for the input; love to hear from others also.

hrhvulcan · 09-18-2012, 02:16 PM

We pull our 210WBS with a 2012 F150 FX4 Ecoboost. We get between 10-11.5 pretty consistently. Previously pulled with an 09 F150 5.4L. It got about 10, but didnt have the power the Ecoboost has. Trailer pulls much better with the new truck. Without the trailer, I am getting 17/21 with the truck. Love the trailer brake and menu setup.

Will be getting a bigger trailer in the Spring (264RLS or Enterra 314 RES) and have no reservations about the added weight. Coworker pulls a fifth wheel with his and has gone across country from Maine to Arizona and has had no problems. I am just not comfortable with the pin weight to do the 5th wheel route. With the short bed (5.5 ft) the special hitch weighs too much and puts it close to the limit.

Good luck and enjoy the Funfinder. We have loved it.

hrhvulcan

Eagle · 09-18-2012, 07:35 PM

Overall, I'd say average is about 10-12 mpg with my setup.

M&M · 09-19-2012, 03:54 PM

During the summer, we logged several thousand miles on 3 trips pulling our 210WBS, and averaged 9.5, 9.8 and 10.2 mpg. We don't go much over 60 or 65 miles per hour.

runner421 · 09-19-2012, 06:51 PM

Towing with a Titan. Did a 6,000 mile cross country trip this summer. Averaged about 12mpg. As low as 8mpg going over the mountain ranges, 10mpg @70-75mph, 12mpg @60, 14-16mpg going downhill

.

roy · 09-20-2012, 04:53 AM

Pulling the big XT276 loaded you won't be seeing double digit mileage. Recent 3k mile trip I averaged a solid 9 mpg. Several tanks!! best tank was 11.1 mpg worst was 7.8 mpg coming across New Mexico on I-40 with a 25+ mph head wind. I can live with 9 mpg, got no choice really I mean it's a brick you are pulling down the road. I weigh in loaded at 7500#'s no water in the tanks. I usually run 60-65 mph but have zipped along at 70-75 mph with the wind not pushing me backwards. My truck generally stays in 5th gear OD with an occasional 6th gear OD on very flat ground but that is rare. 3rd and 4th gear on the mountain passes and I have seen 2nd gear in CO on a long up hill pull but I maintained the speed limit

webslave · 09-20-2012, 09:22 AM

FWIW...

All those "zipping along at 70-75 mph"; your ST tires are only speed rated to 65 mph. High heat (hot days or desert climates) and high speeds (excess of speed ratings) are leading contributors to tread separation and catastrophic tire failure. Your trailer being a "come along" behind the driven vehicle is subject to constant vacillations (sway; even if it isn't noticeable, it is there) and those vacillations lead to sidewall flex and heat generation. The faster you go, the faster the vacillations and the sooner the tread gives up and separates.

Just so you know.

I've towed almost 100,000 miles (several trailers) and done it on those "cursed Chinese made tires" and never had a catastrophic tire failure.

Tire longevity and safety:

1) Keep air pressure at maximum as stated on sidewall of tire and check every 3 days or sooner if it looks like one is going down. All tires loose air and after a bit, you'll learn what your tires do. I check mine weekly when on the road; check tires, lube hitch points, check nuts and bolts, check LP level. Every week.

2) Don't overload your trailer. Simple to say, but, especially with toy haulers, not so easy to prevent.

3) Keep your tires covered when not towing. I don't cover mine while on the road, but, when done with the trip, the covers go on.

4) Keep your speed below 65 mph. You'll get better mileage; both mpg and wear on your tires.

Those are the most important...there are other "little things"; try to avoid "sharp" turns (you'd be amazed at the stress a sharp turn puts on tires and suspension) and, of course, pot holes and curbs. The suspension on your trailer doesn't handle pot holes as well as your TV and rubbing a curb frequently is a good way to have the already stressed sidewall start bubbling away from the cordage.

There you are...if you are an "old hand"; just a reminder and if you are a "newbie", things your RV dealer didn't mention when you had your PDI

Eagle · 09-24-2012, 08:57 AM

Great info webslave. Thanks.

roy · 09-24-2012, 12:52 PM

I already do all of the above including 70-75 mph. Sometimes you just have too. I am a religious tire checker, it comes from riding motorcycles my entire life. I replace trailer tires long before they are worn out.

montanacamper · 09-26-2012, 08:04 PM

I get about 10-12 with my F150 Crew Cab ecoboost. I did find that I get better milage if I lock out 6th and just run 5th at 65mph. This keeps the engine further into the torque curve and thus more efficent. Also there is less transmission hunting and it stays cooler. I also have 3.73 gears and have heard that the 3.55 gear set will tyically get lower milage.

oejeffrey · 10-09-2012, 06:50 PM

Well I know it is not the same camper but the wife & I have a Tundra with the 5.7 liter motor and we have a 189 FBS. I would say on a good day down hill in a hurricane we might get 12 MPG.

Good gas mileage is just one of those things you give up when you get a camper. We did have a Honda Pilot but it did not have enough power to make us feel safe like the Tundra does. When you have a camper on the back you have a air brake on the back...just a fact of life. I wish it was better.

I think someone up above asked about power specs for the Tundra and if I remember correctly it has 381 Horses.
If that is not enough power for ya Toyota does offer a supercharger that is installed by Toyota so you do not void warranties that gives you 501 horses and 550 Foot pounds of torque.

Godzilla in a Toyota body !!!