2025 Summer Trip Just Got Expensive

[ISP-FL]

We had been planning a 2 month trip out of Florida to include Illinois (family visits), Black Hills, Colorado, southern Utah, then back to SW Florida. This trip would be towing the TG in our trailer as opposed to riding it between destinations.

Since we are going with another couple towing their TG, we decided to do all AirBnB rentals. We reserved all our places early and overall; those expenses weren't too bad.

But then I loaded up the Trike into my dual axle 14' steel enclosed trailer and we towed across Florida for a short weekend test. My new ride is a KIA Telluride which has the tow package and is rated to tow 5,500 pounds. My total weight with the Trike onboard was under 4,000. I averaged 9mpg and the KIA only has an 18 gallon tank. Not happening.

I went to a new trailer dealership that just opened up in Punta Gorda. They were running a special on several new 6x12 enclosed single axle aluminum trailers (Alcom brand - Stealth). These are really great looking units and only weigh 950 pounds empty. To my surprise they ended up trading me for $900 difference, which I could live with. Along with the deal they took two of my higher ply tires off my trade-in and installed them on the new trailer.

My test tow with the new trailer (TG loaded) resulted in just under 14mpg. That may not sound like a lot, but averaged over a 6,500 mile trip it will save me around $700 in gasoline. It also increases my maximum range from about 160 miles to over 250 miles.

 

[Notgrownup]

Heck yeah it makes a hell of a difference

 

[TwistedKarma]

That's a nice increase, I'm running a 400 sbc, in a square body, and 24' box. Yes, original 15 ish gal fuel tank. Wallet murder. Looking into bigger tank soon

 

[N8DC]

Wow 400 and a square body ? Like 8 MPG off a cliff with a tail wind ! GM never cared about mileage way back then.

 

[Ray55]

I have a '21 Chevy 1500 Trail Boss 6.2 ltr. and last fall towing a 7X14 trailer and my bike to the east coast, I got 9 mpg running the interstate. Don't know how much gas I used on the trip, but it was a lot.

 

[N8DC]

I have a '21 Chevy 1500 Trail Boss 6.2 ltr. and last fall towing a 7X14 trailer and my bike to the east coast, I got 9 mpg running the interstate. Don't know how much gas I used on the trip, but it was a lot.

I have a 15 GMC 2500 with a 6.0. Mileage sucks also but we just plan for it . Thats about all you can do. I pull a 26 foot toy hauler /travel trailer so we do camp which saves on boring motel rooms. Were good till we run out of money !

 

[Sodakcelt]

We had been planning a 2 month trip out of Florida to include Illinois (family visits), Black Hills, Colorado, southern Utah, then back to SW Florida. This trip would be towing the TG in our trailer as opposed to riding it between destinations.

Since we are going with another couple towing their TG, we decided to do all AirBnB rentals. We reserved all our places early and overall; those expenses weren't too bad.

But then I loaded up the Trike into my dual axle 14' steel enclosed trailer and we towed across Florida for a short weekend test. My new ride is a KIA Telluride which has the tow package and is rated to tow 5,500 pounds. My total weight with the Trike onboard was under 4,000. I averaged 9mpg and the KIA only has an 18 gallon tank. Not happening.

I went to a new trailer dealership that just opened up in Punta Gorda. They were running a special on several new 6x12 enclosed single axle aluminum trailers (Alcom brand - Stealth). These are really great looking units and only weigh 950 pounds empty. To my surprise they ended up trading me for $900 difference, which I could live with. Along with the deal they took two of my higher ply tires off my trade-in and installed them on the new trailer.

My test tow with the new trailer (TG loaded) resulted in just under 14mpg. That may not sound like a lot, but averaged over a 6,500 mile trip it will save me around $700 in gasoline. It also increases my maximum range from about 160 miles to over 250 miles.

Hello from the Blackhills of South Dakota. If you would like to see the area off the tourist route let me know. My email sodakcelt@gmail.com My wife and I would love to take you around the hills. Will you be here during the rally?