Fuel consumption

[nuthermug]

I have recently ordered a campertrailer and just assumed that towing a it would be easier on the fuel tank than towing a caravan witch we allso have.

A friend rocks up yesterday and tells me he has sold his camper ( after 1 trip ) one of the reasons are that it is no cheaper to tow than his caravan, and a whole heap of otherstuff that sounded just as lame.

does anyone have experiance towing both if so is there anoticable differance.

Thanks themug

[KevinD4D]

A lot of factors come into this. What you towing and what you are towing it with.

My experience with my Prado D4D at 100kph

Not towing and not loaded 8.5 - 9L/100km
Towing old camper trailer at around 1000kg and car fully loaded - 10 - 12L/100km
Towing Goldstream Wing camper around 1500kg with car fully loaded - 13 - 15L/100km
A friends 18ft caravan weighing around 2200kg - 18 - 20L/100km

Camper was far cheaper to tow...

[cancan]

I can't see it as a caravan is normally heavier and bulkier although I will know after monday when I tow our caravan  but doubt it will be more economical than towing the camper trailer

[Wandering Tassie]

Towing our camper with a Pajero around 16 L per 100k,s. Towing the 17'caravan about 17. Yep not a lot of difference but we take the camper places we can't take the caravan.

Trevor

[dazzler]

Our prado TD uses 1/2 litre per 100ks more towing

[nuthermug]

Thanks for those replies, My mate has an 18ft caravan and the c/t was an chalenger off road have to be lighter than the van and less drag.
He tows with a d40 navara and is lucky to do over 80 ks an hour.

I allso have a navara but a d22 and allso tow an 18 ft van and will be getting a heavy duty offroad trailer but I thought with a lower profile it would make a bigger differance. But I bought it so I could go places my van cant and feul economy was not even a consideration.

[KevinD4D]

Its never a consideration for me either. At 80kph you may not see a huge difference but at 100 you will certainly notice as the van is about as aerodynamic as a brick at that speed...

[Jeepers Creepers]

Fuel consumption has never really bothered me, thats why we got a jeep.... sigh...

[Malcolm Tugless]

The windage and weight of the caravan would on all accounts amount to a greater fuel consumption on the tow vehicle.

One point to consider though is throwing a couple of kayaks or a boat, even a bundle of surfboards on the roof-racks will drastically increase the gas guzzling effect.

And yes the speed factor can make a huge difference.

The best way to counter the added fuel cost when towing is to have an employer that is more than willing to pay the bill ... 

[HEM19X]

Thanks for those replies, My mate has an 18ft caravan and the c/t was an chalenger off road have to be lighter than the van and less drag.
He tows with a d40 navara and is lucky to do over 80 ks an hour.

I allso have a navara but a d22 and allso tow an 18 ft van and will be getting a heavy duty offroad trailer but I thought with a lower profile it would make a bigger differance. But I bought it so I could go places my van cant and feul economy was not even a consideration.

Assuming that his driving style was the same, you can presume that there were some other outside factors - how long was the trial/test period? If he has only had the van for a short period, maybe you should ask him again in say 12 months.

[speewa158]

Dont worry about it to much . With you acconadation prepaid  & prebooked where ever you end up
seems to be a small price to pay .Your motel on wheels works for me . So it costs 2 or 3 liters per 100 KM , to settle beside the vally view , or beach , or bush . Move on   

[cancan]

Fuel consumption has never really bothered me, thats why we got a jeep.... sigh...

ditto.....Fuel consumption and hemi don't go together....although I found it cheap to run while it sits in the garage

[Scolers]

We've had a CT, windup, pop top and now own a dirt/offroad van. The CT cost next to nothing in fuel in comparison to both vans.

If you're bothered about fuel costs just stay at home and watch the TV. That way there's an extra camp spot somewhere.


Scol.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[Jeepers Creepers]

ditto.....Fuel consumption and hemi don't go together....although I found it cheap to run while it sits in the garage

Our boat burns 40-45 litre an hour, so it makes the Jeep look really, really good. 

[D4D]

A lot of factors come into this. What you towing and what you are towing it with.

My experience with my Prado D4D at 100kph

Not towing and not loaded 8.5 - 9L/100km
Towing old camper trailer at around 1000kg and car fully loaded - 10 - 12L/100km
Towing Goldstream Wing camper around 1500kg with car fully loaded - 13 - 15L/100km
A friends 18ft caravan weighing around 2200kg - 18 - 20L/100km

Camper was far cheaper to tow...

My consumption is about the same. If you fit a spare tyre to the roof you can also add 2L/100klm

[nuthermug]

Thanks again for your replys,

The point of the question was the p*** poor exscuse  after 1 trip! he went to Kunnanarra via the Buchanan highway and I recon the dirt road scared him.

It was his first tme on dirt he normaly is a caravan park person and I recon he was looking for an excuse.

I normaly drive at 100ks hr and what ever the fuel costs I shutup and pay Thats why I have never checked to see how moch I use.

[2003gxl]

I notice a difference towing the jayco outback dove compared to my old oztrail 7 camper trailer. But the extra comforts are worth it and I don't have to pack everything in the car and unpack as its all in the jayco now. Just have to add beer the fridge.Oh and the missus likes to take some food as well which she insists on putting in the fridge so I need to leave a bit of room for that LOL.

As the others have said you shouldn't let fuel consumption come into it as long as you are camping $$$ shouldn't come into effect.

[Scolers]

Thanks again for your replys,

I normaly drive at 100ks hr and what ever the fuel costs I shutup and pay Thats why I have never checked to see how moch I use.

It's the best way ... otherwsie you just stress out too much and don't enjoy the trip.



Scol.

[TOPNDR]

My old 3 litre Patrol averaged 17l/100 towing a 1.5 tonne Kimberley Kamper.

My 200 Series, TTD Cruiser, averages a tad under 17l/100 km towing our 2.2 tonne Quantum, which has far more windage, than did the KK, and sits about 300 ish mm higher than the vehicle..   

[99disco]

We went on a small trip in February, headed down south for a couple of weeks did 2500km. Crd Nissan patrol normal driving at home 14/100km on the trip we towed our windup offroad camper about 1000kg at 105km/h with the cruise set and returned 17/100. I think I could have gotten that down by not using the cruise and driving a lot gentler, but your on holidays bugger it set the cruise and enjoy the drive.



Shane

[carinya]

I completely mis- understood the question.  I thought you were talking about the old bloke I saw in Mt Isa at the rodeo a while back.   He was drinking av gas.  05Triton  in town 11 - 12 L/100.   Towing the CT average tar and dirt gets near 15L/100.

[Blueboy]

Towing a 21.5 foot Jayco Stirling around OZ for 2 years full time with our DID Pajero we averaged 17.1 l/100kms.Have been towing an Aussie Swag on and off since 2008 and averaging 12.8l/100kms.

[Barrabart]

My FZJ105 (Petrol 100 series Auto Cruiser) can get down to a 14.9 l/100klm not towing and night highway driving at 90klm/hr....... can get up to 24.5l/100klm when towing and pushing the pedal on the highway in traffic keeping at 100 - 110klm/hr.

[cancan]

I just towed the caravan from Brisbane to Roma...had cruise control set to 104 and avg was 24lt/100km.
Economy was looking good until the Toowoomba range but I didnt think that was to bad towing a 2.5t van....and I wasnt taking it to easy

[r0ssrg]

I just towed the caravan from Brisbane to Roma...had cruise control set to 104 and avg was 24lt/100km.
Economy was looking good until the Toowoomba range but I didnt think that was to bad towing a 2.5t van....and I wasnt taking it to easy

Ouch CanCan ... That'd give you just a 300km range unless you have long range tanks.

Rossco