Towing MPG, empty deckover vs carhauler

[dkhntr04]

I'm looking to purchase a 10-14k trailer in the coming months. I plan on either a bumper pull deckover or a car-hauler style equipment trailer. Both styles of trailers have pros and cons for me and I have not yet decided which one would suit my needs best.

On of the major unknowns right now is the MPG difference when running empty. The way I will use this trailer will probably involve many unloaded miles going to pick up machines, materials, or equipment. Empty fuel economy is a concern of mine.

I have towed both styles of trailers before and know the MPG I got on those trips, but there were several variables that could have affected my results. I'd like to get a larger sample size of data for making a decision on.

Who has towed both car-hauler style trailers and deckover trailers (include goosenecks too) with the same truck, and what were you results?

For the record, my tow vehicle is a 2007 NBS Chevy 2500HD 4x4, 6.0l gas 4.10 rear.

Thanks!

 

[bigtiller]

I have not met your parameters with the 3 trailers but I can't imagine the difference in gas mileage would even buy a cup of coffee. :thumbsup:

 

[zzvyb6]

I submit that the kind of tires and the pressures run in them, on the truck and trailer, will produce more of an effect on mileage than any aero effects of the deck platform.

But, you can measure the difference yourself if you can get hooked up to both types of trailers. Your truck has a very accurate fuel monitoring system and like my 2007, probably has the Eaton 'Displacement on Demand' cylinder management system where it can run the motor in 4 or 8 cyl mode. (I forget what the commercial trade name of this system is).

You can run the same course on a flat level road and watch the instantaneous and overall average fuel economy during the route AND, you can watch for the speed in which the DOD system switches in and out of 4 cyl mode.

In my truck, the change in tire pressures from 35 to 45 psi cold gives me about an 8 - 10 mph speed increase in 4 cyl mode. This translates to a change from 17 -19 mpg to 22 to 24 mpg on the display computer. The trailer empty is not much of a player. But loaded with hay bales, the 4 20" tires are really a drag at 25 psi and undetectable at 45 psi.

 

[two_bit_score]

I have not met your parameters with the 3 trailers but I can't imagine the difference in gas mileage would even buy a cup of coffee. :thumbsup:

With the three configurations mentioned it would seem weight of the trailer would be the biggest factor.

Edit: after reading zzvyb6's post above I amend this to include "assuming properly inflated tires".

 

[RickB]

I agree with all that posted before me. I'd be concerned with buying a trailer that performed for me while loaded.

 

[Diamondpilot]

With the two and that truck its not going to make much of a difference but a car hauler will do better than a deck over.

Chris

 

[treman]

Ive hauled empty and loaded a 14k goose deckover, a 10k equipment/car hauler and a 5k car hauler. as it was said tire pressure plays a big part but the biggest will be trailer weight. I know there was at least a 2-3mpg difference empty between the 14k and 10k trailers in my 07 srw duramax. the trailers are about 1500lbs difference in empty weight.

 

[dkhntr04]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'll elaborate a bit more on why I am asking what seems to many of you to be an odd question.

I tow my 7k V-nose 8.5 x 16' deckover enclosed snowmobile trailer on a regular basis. I use it for moving my compact tractor, hauling a Willy's Jeep, and anything else I need to move that will fit inside. It doesn't matter if I am empty, or the truck and trailer are loaded, I get 9-10 MPG regardless. The last time I moved long-distance I hauled the same trailer with my 7.3l F250. I made 2 750 mile round trips. On the return runs I averaged 11.8 MPG. On the loaded runs grossing about 15-16k I got 11.8 MPG. I also pull a 6x12' wheeled fish house (ice fishing shelter) which weighs under 2k but has a large frontal area 1500-2500 miles per year. I average 9-11 MPG. With this data, I figure weight does not have as much to do with towing MPG as does aerodynamics, or the lack there of when towing on fairly flat terrain.

I once rented a 16+4 14k deckover to haul my Farmall M home from the auction where I bought it. The trip was about 300 miles each way. The trailer had ramps that stood straight up when folded. Running empty I made about 9 MPG.

I've used an 18' 7k car trailer to haul a bunch of miscellaneous machine parts and furniture. This was about a 650 mile round trip with half the trip running empty. I averaged around 13 MPG for the entire trip.

I also pull my boat and my ATV trailer with 2 wheelers which both weigh about the same as an empty car hauler style trailer and get around 13 MPG with those setups.

Here is what I am getting at. I've used a deckover once and got very poor MPG. I have no idea if it was a result of the weather, wind, the terrain, etc. I am looking for others' experiences to find out if poorer mileage with a deckover is normal, or was a function of some type of variable on that trip.

 

[dkhntr04]

Ive hauled empty and loaded a 14k goose deckover, a 10k equipment/car hauler and a 5k car hauler. as it was said tire pressure plays a big part but the biggest will be trailer weight. I know there was at least a 2-3mpg difference empty between the 14k and 10k trailers in my 07 srw duramax. the trailers are about 1500lbs difference in empty weight.

Thank you!:thumbsup: That was exactly the type of info I am looking for.

 

[56FordGuy]

I have an 18', 14k rated non-deckover trailer. I can't speak much to the MPG differences, as it's the only trailer I regularly tow right now. Most of my mileage is towing or hauling anywhere from 2 to 10k, so my numbers are fairly inconsistent.

That said, the one gripe I have about my trailer is the width, or lack thereof. I can't fit a dually on it unless I remove the outer wheels. I can't fit my utility tractor on it, unless I adjust the front axle in. When I'm moving round bales, I can only get a single row down the middle, instead of being able to go two wide. In addition, I have to be careful to avoid hanging the fenders on the trailer with the loader on the tractor while loading. Likewise, I can't load it with a forklift directly over the axles, which is usually where I'd like to put the most weight.

Fuel mileage may be worth considering, but I would give up one or two MPG for the extra utility that a deckover trailer offers.