fuel mileage

[lbigbadbob]

I am considering getting a pop-up TC about 1450 lbs.(I have a 30' fiver) I have a 2005 Dodge diesel 4x4 long box, get 14 mpg towing and 20-22 mpg solo. What effect will a TC like that have on my mileage?

[RV Roamer]

Good question and hopefully somebody with a similar rig will give a first hand answer.

Wind resistance is the major factor when towing a trailer, so I would expect better mileage with the TC than with the trailer, but less than your solo mpg.

Or were you planning on carrying the TC and towing the trailer too?

[lbigbadbob]

no, I won't be pulling a trailer when I have the TC on, hoped someone who has a pop-up TC would enlighten me with their experiences.

[scmense]

I have a second generation Cummins and a Lance slide in camper.  When completely loaded for a 430 mile trip I got 13.8 mpg.  I broke the trip into two days to visit friends and one day traveling was windy.  I would think with the lighter camper you mentioned, I believe you said 1,400 odd pounds, your mileage would be better, it would be even better if it is a pop up.  The 835 Lance I own is about 2,500 lbs with all options added.

[LindaH]

We have the truck in my signature.  Pulling our 32' fifth wheel which weighs around 14,500# loaded, we average 12.090 MPG (this is the average both pulling & solo).  With our slide-in truck camper (not a pop-up, though...it's a 9.5' Eagle Cap which weighs, loaded, over 4,000#), we average 13.750 MPG (almost 100% with the camper on rather than solo). 

I would think that with a lighter, lower profile camper would give you even better fuel mileage. 

[memmer]

Seems to me that the pop up is pretty heavy.Anyway you shouldn't get much less than you do when running solo.The weight alone shouldn't make alot of difference,it's the wind resistance that hurts the most.With my 95 powerstroke[gone now] and my lance squire camper [2500#]I would normally get 13- 15 mpg. Without the camper but with the same 2500# of weight I would get 15 -18mpg depending on the mountainous region I was in.A friend of mine that has a pop up on a 2003 silverado crew cab 4x4 said that he hardly notices any difference unless he is in the mountains which we have plenty of in Oregon.Hope this might help a little.
Good Luck

[tfconlon]

I recently purchased a 2900# TC and haul it with a GMC 3500 CC 4X4; I am getting 10.8 on average. Before this camper I towed a 26ft TT with the same truck and the mileage I got was 9.2.

[aja72]

when you towing a trailer definitely it decrease mileage with solo mpg. therefor TC is good option rather then Trailer.

[navyshooter]

My buddies got pretty much the same set-up, and his fuel econ is around 16-17 hiway w/ pop-up in the bed. He does have a tuner (Banks econo-mind I believe) which improves h.p. and mileage.
I get about the same fuel mileage in my Dodge (one in pic.) fwiw.