I am concerned about the amount of diesel I am using towing a 2.5tonne caravan. I have the MY21 Isuzu cab chassis automatic. We recently drove down from Qld to Vic and recorded our fuel usage all the way. We are averaging 18ltrs to the 100k. I have heard some people say that they get as good as 14.5, but I dont see how that could be possible. I dont drive fast and let the car sort out what gear it should be in most of the time. However, there are times it is reluctant to shift up from 4 so I stick shift it into 5.
Wondering what others are getting with similar rigs and what they might be doing to get better if they are.
cheers.
Peter
thomas01 said
07:45 PM Jul 26, 2021
Hi Peter,
We tow a smallish van of about 1700kg with a 2016 BT50 auto. I have read stories of people getting great economy of between 12-14 l/100km going uphill with a head wind. But I'm yet to meet those people so at the moment they are just stories.
Personally, we get on average about 15-17 l/100km. Some days it's 20+ l/100km, other days might be only 12 l/100km. Depends on conditions, terrain and traffic. I reckon your fuel economy is probably about average.
Regards
Robert
Craig1 said
07:57 PM Jul 26, 2021
Pete, do a search on using either s4, maybe s5, extra revs usually translate into better fuel economy, keeps the diesel in its zone.
Hewy54 said
07:58 PM Jul 26, 2021
Mine is the same as the previous post
1700 kg van and 2013 BT50
Averaged out over the last 3 years and 53,000 km towing I have averaged just under 14 l/100km.
Total for the 3 years is 68,000 km at an average of 12.8 l/100 km.
These are calculated figures, not from the car readout.
I find that wind is the main drain on economy. Adelaide to Canberra with a tail wind towing I can get down to under 12, but the return trip with a head wind can bump it up to 16 or 17
( I have done this trip about 10 times in the last 3 years)
dabbler said
08:59 PM Jul 26, 2021
I travel in a heavily loaded 2013 Hilux 3litre diesel, 4sp Auto towing a 1500kg off-road Teardrop about the same height as the Hilux. I drive on cruise a lot of the time and will modify my speed to suit the circumstances (like other traffic moving the same direction). My figures are very similar to Hewey's unless I can stroll along at 85 km/h when it easily drops to between 10 and 11 litre/100km. On a given highway type (traffic volume, terrain, surface quality) my fuel consumption is very predictable. Towing adds about a third to my fuel consumption.
The Toyota Landcruiser test vehicle went from a non-towing, highway cruising fuel consumption of 9 to a staggering 28 (11.62L/100km/tonne) when towing a 2.4 tonne Kokoda Veteran XLi Platinum!
The real benefit of the article is its explanation of how a vans aerodynamics, drawbar length and overall length are significant factors in fuel consumption; weight is only one factor.
oldbloke said
10:47 PM Jul 26, 2021
I have a 20' 2.5t van towed with 2014 Triton 4 speed auto. Best 14.8. Usually about 16-18 Bad day 20
Van tyres 48lb Triton front 44, rear 48lb Speed usually 85kph.
Get best economy on smooth freeways no wind. Surprisingly rough back roads seem to make quite a difference.
P.S. seems to run better in 'sports" mode
-- Edited by oldbloke on Monday 26th of July 2021 10:49:45 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
03:45 AM Jul 27, 2021
Slightly higher rpm on lighter throttle will give you better fuel consumption. Actually easier on engine being single rail turbo !
Mike Harding said
04:06 AM Jul 27, 2021
I have a Holden Trailblazer (2.8L diesel) with 30,000km on the clock towing a van of about 2.8T loaded and it returns 14L to 15L/100km.
I always tow in manual never using 6th gear and never exceed a true 90kph.
My previous 3.5L petrol Jackaroo used 24L/100km when towing!
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:12 AM Jul 27, 2021
Want to reduce fuel consumption?
Reduce speed.
Wind resistance is speed squared.
Cheers,
Peter
Gundog said
10:03 AM Jul 27, 2021
I tow a 25' Jayco 2.7t with 2010 Ranger 3.0 TDI manual, I constantly get low 14l/100k.
Generally I dont exceed 90kph, I do not use cruise control and never change into 5th gear whilst towing, Its easy if you control your rev's and gear changes, as soon as i get my combination rolling I change from 1st to 2nd I then let the rev's build with moderate throttle control to 3000 to 3500rpm before changing to 3rd, likewise from 3rd to 4th.
I never accelerate hard, when approaching an incline when the rpm drops to 2000rpm, I change down, generally 3rd gear will pull me over most hills, but if its a bit steep I'm happy to change down to 2nd, to get over the top.
Petemox said
12:10 PM Jul 27, 2021
Thanks everyone for your contributions. A bit to think about. Still have a few k to go before we get home, so I will be able to play around with some of these suggestions.
cheers
Peter
Clarky 1 said
12:22 PM Jul 27, 2021
Simple formula,
Unless you are operating the vehicle dont believe owners fuel economy claims, and if you must then you can compare their figures with a piece of string theory as every day is different out there in the big road.
Very few people drive the same.
Very few trips are the same with wind direction.
Very few vehicles and loads are the same.
Are We Lost said
01:19 PM Jul 27, 2021
In my 3.2L Ford Ranger towing a tall van and total weight nudging the 6,000kg GCM limit, my average consumption in 20k+ of towing has been 15.2. Headwinds knock it badly, making more difference than the terrain. I got 19.3 in dead flat central Australia when driving into a strongish headwind.
I typically drive at an indicated 95, bumping up to 100 on good highway - so a true 90 - 95. Most of the time it's in Sports mode, with me manually selecting the gear I want. A technique I use is to allow it drop back a bit on the slopes if I am not going to be holding up vehicles behind. This is where cruise control falls short, as it will just apply more power to maintain the set speed.
Unlike other comments on here I also choose lower revs unless power is needed, but never labour it. I know the instant fuel usage readout is not accurate, but I can see usage going up if I choose a lower gear. Maybe next trip I will experiment with using lower gears to check that.
yobarr said
05:03 PM Jul 27, 2021
Clarky 1 wrote:
Simple formula, Unless you are operating the vehicle dont believe owners fuel economy claims, and if you must then you can compare their figures with a piece of string theory as every day is different out there in the big road. Very few people drive the same. Very few trips are the same with wind direction. Very few vehicles and loads are the same.
You may like to familiarise yourself with the all-encompassing word "average"? This possibly would have stopped you suggesting that owners are using misleading fuel economy figures,with your words "don't believe owners fuel economy claims". What on earth do you think owners stand to gain by presenting incorrect figures to a public forum? Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 27th of July 2021 05:08:08 PM
Clarky 1 said
07:36 PM Jul 27, 2021
yobarr wrote:
Clarky 1 wrote:
Simple formula, Unless you are operating the vehicle dont believe owners fuel economy claims, and if you must then you can compare their figures with a piece of string theory as every day is different out there in the big road. Very few people drive the same. Very few trips are the same with wind direction. Very few vehicles and loads are the same.
You may like to familiarise yourself with the all-encompassing word "average"? This possibly would have stopped you suggesting that owners are using misleading fuel economy figures,with your words "don't believe owners fuel economy claims". What on earth do you think owners stand to gain by presenting incorrect figures to a public forum? Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 27th of July 2021 05:08:08 PM
Yobarr, yobarr, yobarr,
You of all contributors on these forums should recognise that most posts are about *one upmanship*
How big is yours, how high can you piss??
You drove trucks for a while, you know how it is.
Unless we all have the same vehicle travelling over the same road on the same time of day or night, then there is no way that these figures can be compared and even if we do compare them, then we may be subject to differing driving styles with each individual driver in the vehicle.
I am not saying that all contributors arent quoting accurate figures in as much is that anyone asking this question needs to take the replies with a reserved view on how accurate the quoted figures may be.
Read the Original Post again yobarr.
One trip, one way does not make an accurate figure. If he drove into a south westerly for his entire ONE TRIP then it is only an average for that ONE TRIP.
Just drive a truck or any vehicle across the Nullabor on a regular basis to note the variation.
Then there is *angel gear* so settle yobarr.
-- Edited by Clarky 1 on Tuesday 27th of July 2021 07:44:52 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
08:53 PM Jul 27, 2021
Figures on dyno tmk . Easy on hills, easy on acceleration!! Some out there think its a race !! The modern ute is the sports car of the 2020s . Even with a van !!
oldbloke said
10:05 PM Jul 27, 2021
Petemox wrote:
Hi
I am concerned about the amount of diesel I am using towing a 2.5tonne caravan. I have the MY21 Isuzu cab chassis automatic. We recently drove down from Qld to Vic and recorded our fuel usage all the way. We are averaging 18ltrs to the 100k. I have heard some people say that they get as good as 14.5, but I dont see how that could be possible. I dont drive fast and let the car sort out what gear it should be in most of the time. However, there are times it is reluctant to shift up from 4 so I stick shift it into 5.
Wondering what others are getting with similar rigs and what they might be doing to get better if they are.
cheers.
Peter
Peter, 18 is in the ball park. Pretty normal from what I've been told asking around. More ore less what I'm getting. Yep, occassionally some do better, but it's more likely their best figure, not average. And there are a lot of variables.
dabbler said
10:28 PM Jul 27, 2021
Clarky, I'll say it simpler. I happily acknowledge that it's not very useful doing *direct* comparisons as we all drive different roads in different ways using different vehicles towing different trailed vehicles and carrying different weights. But that doesn't mean comparisons are impossible. I posted my figures to offer information to the OP not to be called a liar and not to one-up anyone at all. You're the only person who thinks this is a pissing contest and you have actually insulted the OP as much as anyone.
Clarky 1 said
06:52 AM Jul 28, 2021
dabbler wrote:
Clarky, I'll say it simpler. I happily acknowledge that it's not very useful doing *direct* comparisons as we all drive different roads in different ways using different vehicles towing different trailed vehicles and carrying different weights. But that doesn't mean comparisons are impossible. I posted my figures to offer information to the OP not to be called a liar and not to one-up anyone at all. You're the only person who thinks this is a pissing contest and you have actually insulted the OP as much as anyone.
Howdy dabbler,
I would hardly compare a Hi Lux towing a teardrop to an Izuzu towing a 2.5 tonne van.
Old Bloke is saying it as it is in both his posts above..
The OP may take offence if he wants but maybe let him tell me that what I said was not true.
From my observation he is concerned about 18 l per 100 k when, if the truth be known, it is probably quite normal for the conditions of his ONE trip.
Most other contributors to this topic do point out several variations to their driving styles and units being towed.
I am sorry you feel that way dabbler.
-- Edited by Clarky 1 on Wednesday 28th of July 2021 06:53:55 AM
Petemox said
10:22 AM Jul 28, 2021
ALL contributions appreciated. They have given me much to think about. cheers.
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:41 AM Jul 28, 2021
We have been travelling with a 4WD Canter motorhome for some thousands of km. Same roads, same speeds, same wind, same day. They are 4.5T we are 6.5T (full of fuel and water). They are 250mm higher, we are the same width. The Canter is about 1m longer than the OKA. They have a gap between the cab and the camper, we don't. Canter 3.9L turbo charged 4 cylinder, early 2000s, OKA 4L turbo charged Perkins, 1994. We both use the same size and style of tyres. OKA Michelin, Canter Bridgestone. Tyre choice can make a very large difference in fuel consumption.
When we filled with fuel, the Canter typically used 15% more fuel than the OKA. That is a very big difference. We are not sure why.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 28th of July 2021 10:43:47 AM
If you are driving at 100kph, drop to 90kph. You will save fuel and after an hour you will only be about 6 minutes slower.
Headwinds are a killer. From my experience a strong tailwind uses 62% of the fuel to a strong headwind.
After changing to all terrain tyres and a bit wider my fuel consumption when up about 5%.
Remove accessories on the outside or at least streamline it better.
Rob Driver said
11:24 AM Jul 28, 2021
Any modification or fitting of any exterior accessory will have an effect on fuel economy / consumption.
Larger wheels and tyres, bull bars, larger mud flaps, roof racks, tarps as opposed to having an open tray or stylside body, the fitting of boxes, the fitting of a canopy, etc,etc, will all have differing effects and results with fuel use.
Then we could go to engine tuning, servicing wheel alignment and even the viscosity of engine and other oils being used.
In my past life I ran 3 trucks on varying transport runs.
I could identify with one driver consistently recording better fuel consumption than even myself and the other driver. This was regardless of what truck I put him in.
Driver habits certainly are a large factor in the use of fuel in any vehicle.
The figure of 18litres per 100k seems fair to me considering the combination being driven.
Rob Driver said
11:27 AM Jul 28, 2021
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
We have been travelling with a 4WD Canter motorhome for some thousands of km. Same roads, same speeds, same wind, same day. They are 4.5T we are 6.5T (full of fuel and water). They are 250mm higher, we are the same width. The Canter is about 1m longer than the OKA. They have a gap between the cab and the camper, we don't. Canter 3.9L turbo charged 4 cylinder, early 2000s, OKA 4L turbo charged Perkins, 1994. We both use the same size and style of tyres. OKA Michelin, Canter Bridgestone. Tyre choice can make a very large difference in fuel consumption.
When we filled with fuel, the Canter typically used 15% more fuel than the OKA. That is a very big difference. We are not sure why.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 28th of July 2021 10:43:47 AM
Peter,
your OKA certainly looks to be more acceptable aerodynamically than the CANTER.
dabbler said
11:47 AM Jul 28, 2021
Clarky, I never suggested the OP and I had similar setups. My post includes comparison of my setup under varying conditions and circumstances. If others find it useful that's the intention, if not it's easily ignored. Your initial post told the OP not to believe the figures posted by others. How do you expect people to feel when you call them liars ?
Whenarewethere said
12:16 PM Jul 28, 2021
Rob Driver wrote:
Driver habits certainly are a large factor in the use of fuel in any vehicle.
Agree. Other half drives a bit slower than me, not that I'm fast, but she uses more fuel, is on & off the accelerator, makes far more steering corrections. I use the hills and am smoother.
I'm told I am wasting fuel, you can't win!
Aussie1 said
12:18 PM Jul 28, 2021
Clarky 1 wrote:
Simple formula, Unless you are operating the vehicle dont believe owners fuel economy claims, and if you must then you can compare their figures with a piece of string theory as every day is different out there in the big road. Very few people drive the same. Very few trips are the same with wind direction. Very few vehicles and loads are the same.
Absolutely agree Clarky,
Personally I drive according to revs. Always stay under 2000 rpm. That appears to work for me to gain the best fuel economy. Sometimes it is 90 klms per hour and sometimes it is significantly below 90 kph.
For me it has the added benefit of reduced driver fatigue.
Mike Harding said
12:51 PM Jul 28, 2021
oldbloke wrote:
Peter, 18 is in the ball park. Pretty normal from what I've been told asking around. More ore less what I'm getting. Yep, occassionally some do better, but it's more likely their best figure, not average.
No.
My Holden Trailblazer has consistently return 14L to 15L/100km for 15,000km over the past 15 months as an average.
The highest I can recall was around 18L and the lowest around 13L but both these were short lived figures.
Bicyclecamper said
01:01 PM Jul 28, 2021
My car, does 6.5 lL to the 100, without towing, but last month, I towed a Cub 1400kg camper back from Brissy, to Armidale NSW and it used 9.3 l 100km, so it's not a real comparison, but if you tow, you will definitely use more fuel
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Wednesday 28th of July 2021 01:01:56 PM
Hi
I am concerned about the amount of diesel I am using towing a 2.5tonne caravan. I have the MY21 Isuzu cab chassis automatic. We recently drove down from Qld to Vic and recorded our fuel usage all the way. We are averaging 18ltrs to the 100k. I have heard some people say that they get as good as 14.5, but I dont see how that could be possible. I dont drive fast and let the car sort out what gear it should be in most of the time. However, there are times it is reluctant to shift up from 4 so I stick shift it into 5.
Wondering what others are getting with similar rigs and what they might be doing to get better if they are.
cheers.
Peter
We tow a smallish van of about 1700kg with a 2016 BT50 auto. I have read stories of people getting great economy of between 12-14 l/100km going uphill with a head wind. But I'm yet to meet those people so at the moment they are just stories.
Personally, we get on average about 15-17 l/100km. Some days it's 20+ l/100km, other days might be only 12 l/100km. Depends on conditions, terrain and traffic. I reckon your fuel economy is probably about average.
Regards
Robert
1700 kg van and 2013 BT50
Averaged out over the last 3 years and 53,000 km towing I have averaged just under 14 l/100km.
Total for the 3 years is 68,000 km at an average of 12.8 l/100 km.
These are calculated figures, not from the car readout.
I find that wind is the main drain on economy. Adelaide to Canberra with a tail wind towing I can get down to under 12, but the return trip with a head wind can bump it up to 16 or 17
( I have done this trip about 10 times in the last 3 years)
Have a read of this article:-
caravan.hemax.com/Reviews/3479/Fuel_efficiency_test
The Toyota Landcruiser test vehicle went from a non-towing, highway cruising fuel consumption of 9 to a staggering 28 (11.62L/100km/tonne) when towing a 2.4 tonne Kokoda Veteran XLi Platinum!
The real benefit of the article is its explanation of how a vans aerodynamics, drawbar length and overall length are significant factors in fuel consumption; weight is only one factor.
I have a 20' 2.5t van towed with 2014 Triton 4 speed auto.
Best 14.8.
Usually about 16-18
Bad day 20
Van tyres 48lb
Triton front 44, rear 48lb
Speed usually 85kph.
Get best economy on smooth freeways no wind.
Surprisingly rough back roads seem to make quite a difference.
P.S. seems to run better in 'sports" mode
-- Edited by oldbloke on Monday 26th of July 2021 10:49:45 PM
I have a Holden Trailblazer (2.8L diesel) with 30,000km on the clock towing a van of about 2.8T loaded and it returns 14L to 15L/100km.
I always tow in manual never using 6th gear and never exceed a true 90kph.
My previous 3.5L petrol Jackaroo used 24L/100km when towing!
Reduce speed.
Wind resistance is speed squared.
Cheers,
Peter
I tow a 25' Jayco 2.7t with 2010 Ranger 3.0 TDI manual, I constantly get low 14l/100k.
Generally I dont exceed 90kph, I do not use cruise control and never change into 5th gear whilst towing, Its easy if you control your rev's and gear changes, as soon as i get my combination rolling I change from 1st to 2nd I then let the rev's build with moderate throttle control to 3000 to 3500rpm before changing to 3rd, likewise from 3rd to 4th.
I never accelerate hard, when approaching an incline when the rpm drops to 2000rpm, I change down, generally 3rd gear will pull me over most hills, but if its a bit steep I'm happy to change down to 2nd, to get over the top.
cheers
Peter
Unless you are operating the vehicle dont believe owners fuel economy claims, and if you must then you can compare their figures with a piece of string theory as every day is different out there in the big road.
Very few people drive the same.
Very few trips are the same with wind direction.
Very few vehicles and loads are the same.
In my 3.2L Ford Ranger towing a tall van and total weight nudging the 6,000kg GCM limit, my average consumption in 20k+ of towing has been 15.2. Headwinds knock it badly, making more difference than the terrain. I got 19.3 in dead flat central Australia when driving into a strongish headwind.
I typically drive at an indicated 95, bumping up to 100 on good highway - so a true 90 - 95. Most of the time it's in Sports mode, with me manually selecting the gear I want. A technique I use is to allow it drop back a bit on the slopes if I am not going to be holding up vehicles behind. This is where cruise control falls short, as it will just apply more power to maintain the set speed.
Unlike other comments on here I also choose lower revs unless power is needed, but never labour it. I know the instant fuel usage readout is not accurate, but I can see usage going up if I choose a lower gear. Maybe next trip I will experiment with using lower gears to check that.
You may like to familiarise yourself with the all-encompassing word "average"? This possibly would have stopped you suggesting that owners are using misleading fuel economy figures,with your words "don't believe owners fuel economy claims". What on earth do you think owners stand to gain by presenting incorrect figures to a public forum? Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 27th of July 2021 05:08:08 PM
Yobarr, yobarr, yobarr,
You of all contributors on these forums should recognise that most posts are about *one upmanship*
How big is yours, how high can you piss??
You drove trucks for a while, you know how it is.
Unless we all have the same vehicle travelling over the same road on the same time of day or night, then there is no way that these figures can be compared and even if we do compare them, then we may be subject to differing driving styles with each individual driver in the vehicle.
I am not saying that all contributors arent quoting accurate figures in as much is that anyone asking this question needs to take the replies with a reserved view on how accurate the quoted figures may be.
Read the Original Post again yobarr.
One trip, one way does not make an accurate figure. If he drove into a south westerly for his entire ONE TRIP then it is only an average for that ONE TRIP.
Just drive a truck or any vehicle across the Nullabor on a regular basis to note the variation.
Then there is *angel gear*
so settle yobarr.
-- Edited by Clarky 1 on Tuesday 27th of July 2021 07:44:52 PM
Peter, 18 is in the ball park. Pretty normal from what I've been told asking around. More ore less what I'm getting. Yep, occassionally some do better, but it's more likely their best figure, not average. And there are a lot of variables.
Howdy dabbler,
I would hardly compare a Hi Lux towing a teardrop to an Izuzu towing a 2.5 tonne van.
Old Bloke is saying it as it is in both his posts above..
The OP may take offence if he wants but maybe let him tell me that what I said was not true.
From my observation he is concerned about 18 l per 100 k when, if the truth be known, it is probably quite normal for the conditions of his ONE trip.
Most other contributors to this topic do point out several variations to their driving styles and units being towed.
I am sorry you feel that way dabbler.
-- Edited by Clarky 1 on Wednesday 28th of July 2021 06:53:55 AM
We have been travelling with a 4WD Canter motorhome for some thousands of km.
Same roads, same speeds, same wind, same day.
They are 4.5T we are 6.5T (full of fuel and water).
They are 250mm higher, we are the same width. The Canter is about 1m longer than the OKA.
They have a gap between the cab and the camper, we don't.
Canter 3.9L turbo charged 4 cylinder, early 2000s, OKA 4L turbo charged Perkins, 1994.
We both use the same size and style of tyres. OKA Michelin, Canter Bridgestone. Tyre choice can make a very large difference in fuel consumption.
When we filled with fuel, the Canter typically used 15% more fuel than the OKA.
That is a very big difference. We are not sure why.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 28th of July 2021 10:43:47 AM
If you are driving at 100kph, drop to 90kph. You will save fuel and after an hour you will only be about 6 minutes slower.
Headwinds are a killer. From my experience a strong tailwind uses 62% of the fuel to a strong headwind.
After changing to all terrain tyres and a bit wider my fuel consumption when up about 5%.
Remove accessories on the outside or at least streamline it better.
Larger wheels and tyres, bull bars, larger mud flaps, roof racks, tarps as opposed to having an open tray or stylside body, the fitting of boxes, the fitting of a canopy, etc,etc, will all have differing effects and results with fuel use.
Then we could go to engine tuning, servicing wheel alignment and even the viscosity of engine and other oils being used.
In my past life I ran 3 trucks on varying transport runs.
I could identify with one driver consistently recording better fuel consumption than even myself and the other driver. This was regardless of what truck I put him in.
Driver habits certainly are a large factor in the use of fuel in any vehicle.
The figure of 18litres per 100k seems fair to me considering the combination being driven.
Peter,
your OKA certainly looks to be more acceptable aerodynamically than the CANTER.
Agree. Other half drives a bit slower than me, not that I'm fast, but she uses more fuel, is on & off the accelerator, makes far more steering corrections. I use the hills and am smoother.
I'm told I am wasting fuel, you can't win!
Absolutely agree Clarky,
Personally I drive according to revs. Always stay under 2000 rpm. That appears to work for me to gain the best fuel economy. Sometimes it is 90 klms per hour and sometimes it is significantly below 90 kph.
For me it has the added benefit of reduced driver fatigue.
No.
My Holden Trailblazer has consistently return 14L to 15L/100km for 15,000km over the past 15 months as an average.
The highest I can recall was around 18L and the lowest around 13L but both these were short lived figures.
My car, does 6.5 lL to the 100, without towing, but last month, I towed a Cub 1400kg camper back from Brissy, to Armidale NSW and it used 9.3 l 100km, so it's not a real comparison, but if you tow, you will definitely use more fuel
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Wednesday 28th of July 2021 01:01:56 PM