Towed From Denver to Moab, UT

[NJ RTX]

Here's some more for you...not sure if you had any stop and go traffic, but I pulled about 220 miles yesterday in NY metro trafffic. Meaning stop and go and speeds ranging from 35 to 65 when we were moving at all. I had a 6 x 12 v-nose behind me totalling out at about 2400lbs. Plenty of hills to deal with as well. Averaged 11-12 mpg. Not much better, but one thing I noticed is that keeping it below 60 kept her from that constant down/up shift you get between 60-65. Not sure if that made the difference or, the 1500 lb differential between our pulls. I have to find a way to get better mpg out of her. I'm going to have to do this on a daily basis and at $65 plus per tank (one days driving), I'll be closing the business soon.

[shovelhd]

The second picture looks SO much better.

[nolaridge]

Originally Posted by vailridge

Hello all

So we just bought a Rockwood Roo 233 to tow behind our RL. The camper dry is 3900. We towed dry, however we added our bedding, some groceries and some other basics. I have not weighed yet but I think we should be way under 5000 lbs. We towed from Denver, CO to Moab, UT. It was 700 miles round trip. The RL did great crossing the CO Mountains. We crossed Eisenhower tunnel at 11,013 in elevation and Vail Pass at 10,662 in elevation. Coming home the RL did drop to 50 mph on the accent to Eisenhower. On our way to Moab when we crossed the CO UT border we had a very strong headwind. I felt like I was towing a huge parachute. During this wind we topped out at 60 mph.
We used 100 gallons of fuel round trip. So if my math is right we only got 7mpg. With fuel in CO averaging $3.50 per gallon we spent about $350 on fuel. Ouch!! So the remainder of our summer trips will be VERY close to home. I would be very interested to see if we had a FULL size tow vehicle what our fuel cost would be.

Thanks for your report on your new trailer. I just bought one that weighs about the same, a Trail-Sport TS25S, and will be traveling from Dallas to Salt Lake City to Yellowstone this summer. I've taken it on one short trip and got about 9.5mpg on flat land with 20mph crosswinds give or take a little. The new trailer replaced a Coyote Sport 180 that weighed about 3400lbs unloaded and right at 4000lbs. loaded. I took this trailer to Alaska and back last summer. I only averaged about 10mpg with this trailer.

One thing you might look into is trying to tow a bit more level -- this won't help your gas mileage, but it is supposed to be better for your trailer as the load will be distributed more equally over the front and rear trailer axle...

[5S Dude]

Originally Posted by nolaridge

Thanks for your report on your new trailer. I just bought one that weighs about the same, a Trail-Sport TS25S, and will be traveling from Dallas to Salt Lake City to Yellowstone this summer. I've taken it on one short trip and got about 9.5mpg on flat land with 20mph crosswinds give or take a little. The new trailer replaced a Coyote Sport 180 that weighed about 3400lbs unloaded and right at 4000lbs. loaded. I took this trailer to Alaska and back last summer. I only averaged about 10mpg with this trailer.

One thing you might look into is trying to tow a bit more level -- this won't help your gas mileage, but it is supposed to be better for your trailer as the load will be distributed more equally over the front and rear trailer axle...

Beautiful new trailer and photos as usual nola! I can’t wait to see you’re Yellowstone shots. With almost 28 foot in length and the slide-out, it must feel like the Ritz Carton in there compared to your ole 18 footer. I am so jealous of that full size bath tub in the back too………Very,

[vailridge]

Update

We did buy a new drawbar that has a greater rise. Now our trailer tows level.

[NJRidge]

I am no expert but it looks like you have some serious tounge weight on your set up or ???
Looks like an extension of some type might level her out a bit. That should seriously help.

[Truckin']

Originally Posted by nolaridge

I . . . will be traveling from Dallas to Salt Lake City to Yellowstone this summer.

You're going to have a blast. Let us know when you're passing through Utah. If it's possible, we'd love to meet you for a meal or a cup of coffee. We're about 40 miles north of SLC. We've gone to Yellowstone the last two summers.