Help with milage & Passport 23RB

[Paisano]

New to this and trying to choose between two TT & understand aerodynamics and costs. We're trying to decide between the PASSPORT 23 RB & a FLAGSTAFF 25KS. Similar weight but two different front ends. Could any of you folks provide some milage figures for pulling a PASSPORT 23 RB or similar PASSPORT. I'll be using a F150 ecoboost 3.73 with max tow.

Thanks, Mike

[Javi]

With the F-150 or any other gasser you're gonna get 8-10 mpg with pretty much any travel trailer, hang that boat or ATV trailer behind and you'll lose another gallon or so. It is the nature of the beast.

[camreal]

Went from a 24ft flat front to a Freedom Lite 281RL which has the Passport front and have consistently picked up 1.5 mpg pulling with the Dodge diesel. Around 12 mpg.

[ktmracer]

Originally Posted by Paisano

New to this and trying to choose between two TT & understand aerodynamics and costs. We're trying to decide between the PASSPORT 23 RB & a FLAGSTAFF 25KS. Similar weight but two different front ends. Could any of you folks provide some milage figures for pulling a PASSPORT 23 RB or similar PASSPORT. I'll be using a F150 ecoboost 3.73 with max tow.

Thanks, Mike

I tow a 7x14' cargo trailer, 6k loaded and a 2011 35' outback, pushing 9K loaded over the same routes very often. Huge difference in frontal area and signficant difference in weight. and the cargo trailer has a areodynamic bubble on the front.

Towing with my duramax the difference in mpg is between 1.0 and 1.5mpg. 11ish with the outback, 12 to 12.5 with the cargo trailer.

Personally, pick the trailer you like. the difference in mpg is going to be neglible.

Also, weight basically only plays into the mpg equation when you change speed or elevation. use cruise control to maintain constant speed.

[zuley]

Towing my 23RB 300 km home from vacation last week I averaged 21.5 litres per 100 km 0r 13.12 mpg imperial with my '13 Ram 5.7 litre. I believe though your question asking to compare mileage between one unit verses another is somewhat ambiguous. There are two many variables to consider.
As for my thoughts on the 23RB... We are extremely happy with it. It's a perfect unit for 2 people. I certainly would not consider this model if there was more than two of us. As for quality... No better, no worse than anything else out there in it's class. Other than a couple of minor glitches that I have fixed myself we have had no issues. Would I purchase this unit again? Yes, in a heart beat.

[Festus2]

Originally Posted by zuley

I believe though your question asking to compare mileage between one unit verses another is somewhat ambiguous. There are two many variables to consider.
.

I would agree with zuley. Unless someone with the same truck and the almost same TT has some mileage stats for you, all you can expect are some "ball park" estimates. Even if you could compare apples to apples, there are too many other factors entering into the equation - driving habits, terrain, etc.

[danimal]

Like the other folks have said, there may be minor differences in MPG depending on the travel trailer, but you won't find anything that will get you a significant MPG gain, maybe 2 MPG. The possible exception would be a trailer with a v-nose front. We with gas engines have to accept the fact that we are only going to get 9-10 MPG towing, 11-12 if we are lucky.

[Paisano]

Thank you all for your feedback and ballpark is better then I had. Just trying to understand how beneficial the Passport front end would be and whether the aerodynamoics should affect our trailer choice decision. Looks like either way I'll be pulling a brick but could expect just a little improvement for a rounded front end. I tested my truck with an older rental heavier than what I was considering and with almost a flat front end. I averaged 9.5 to 10 traveling about 300 miles. Which leads up to my questions on front ends.

danimal, I'ld be interested in your insight on the V-nose - better/worse then rounded?

Thanks Mike

[Randy_K]

I recently attended a towing seminar. One of the things discussed was the fact that front end shape and height has more to do with MPG and handling then length < and weight > to an extent.

FYI I love my passport 23RB and would also buy it again. Never figured out my mileage and tow with the 4.6L in my F150.

[Clark]

Just pulled my passport 2510RB 2000 miles chevy 6.2 gasser 10.2 average for the whole trip, That's city, Flats, and mountains, Probably does not get any better than that.

[danimal]

Originally Posted by Paisano

Thank you all for your feedback and ballpark is better then I had. Just trying to understand how beneficial the Passport front end would be and whether the aerodynamoics should affect our trailer choice decision. Looks like either way I'll be pulling a brick but could expect just a little improvement for a rounded front end. I tested my truck with an older rental heavier than what I was considering and with almost a flat front end. I averaged 9.5 to 10 traveling about 300 miles. Which leads up to my questions on front ends.

danimal, I'ld be interested in your insight on the V-nose - better/worse then rounded?

Thanks Mike

Unfortunately I have no specific information regarding the v-nose travel trailers and have never owned one. I was just speculating but it seems to me they would be the most aerodynamic. I did have a v-nose trailer for my harley which wasn't as tall as a travel trailer that had a combined weight of about 2-2500 lbs. I got between 14-15 mpg towing with a 5.4L expedition. The expedition got about 17 MPG solo. With a 5000 lb essentially flat nosed travel trailer I got about 9.5 mpg with the expedition. I haven't checked the gas mileage with my current setup since I really don't care. Once I hit the estimated mpg button while towing and it was 10.2 but the 5th wheel is sky high since my truck is the 4x4 Z71 off-road version, all stock (except the hypertech programmer). Going to Mayport Navy Base next week for 10 days maybe I will check it on the way up. I am curious now.

[Chippewa93]

I'm pulling a 25BH with a 6 cylinder Explorer and am getting 9.5 mpg.

[Ken / Claudia]

With the listed truck. I had a 4400lb in bed camper, 12-13mpg. With boat hooked up 9-10. I now pull the listed trailer 7000lbs and 12-13mpg or boat 3800lbs and 12-13mpg with/without boat covered. This is highway travel 55-65mph, mostly about 60. This is on many of the same roads for comparson. both trailers are dual axle. Why I do not know. You would think lighter trailer would be better.

[RGene7001]

I typically get 10.5-11.5 mpg elsewhere, 9.5-10.5 mpg in Florida due to differently formulated road surface in my state, this is a topic for another discussion. 62-67 mph sustained.
I would definitely prefer Passport front end, based on what I read it can easily improve mpg by 1.5-2 mpg compared to boxier shapes. 1.5 mpg is not a big deal for 30 mpg car but in our situation our means 15% or more. You can easily save $200 just in one trip from Wisconsin to south florida and back. Makes sense, unless the alternative is dirt cheap.

[Waldo_2001]

I have a 2011 F-150 Ecoboost with the Maxtow pkg as well. My 2011 Hornet has a very similar front to the Passport I get 9 to 10 mpg towing in flat North Dakota but usually very windy. If I get lucky and don't have the wind I can see 12-13mpg. Let me know what weight distribution you end up with. I feel I get a-lot of sway in mine with my soon to be replaced Anderson system. I will be upgrading to E load tires next season so that may help. Currently looking for a ProPride or Hensley system used.

[RGene7001]

Originally Posted by Waldo_2001

I have a 2011 F-150 Ecoboost with the Maxtow pkg as well. My 2011 Hornet has a very similar front to the Passport I get 9 to 10 mpg towing in flat North Dakota but usually very windy. If I get lucky and don't have the wind I can see 12-13mpg. Let me know what weight distribution you end up with. I feel I get a-lot of sway in mine with my soon to be replaced Anderson system. I will be upgrading to E load tires next season so that may help. Currently looking for a ProPride or Hensley system used.

Anderson- what a piece of junk! I just can't imagine WD without springs. I don't like sway control which depends on hitch weight as well.
Hensley- this is a " nuclear option". It will always work but cost money, will rob you of precious payload capacity, difficult to hitch especially on uneven surface. Back up camera is a must. Check your weights, I have a feeling that you are overloaded with Hornet.
What I use- see signature and other posts. Simple, straightforward, works great. Good for up to 30 feet of trailer length.

[Paisano]

Thanks for the feed back. Flats, cities, and everything - sure wouldn't mind that mileage.

[thewhitehat]

Regarding the question of a V-nose, I doubt you'll see any consistent and measurable increases in gas mileage by getting a V-nose trailer. There is still drag coming from the back of the trailer. And too many other factors weigh in on mpg, as has been stated already.

In fact, I would not really recommend the V-nose unless you really like the floor plan (that's why I got mine). The reason is, I've found it to be more unstable in towing than the boxy shape, (and engineering theory will back this up). Air will be directed down both sides of the trailer rather than blowing away from it and make it harder to control sway. It's not an aerodynamic design at all

[440justin]

I have a 2012 F-150 Ecoboost with 3.55 and I have gotten as low as 8mpg doing 70mph into a headwind and as high as 10mpg on a 2-lane highway doing 55mph. This is my first trailer so I can't say this is better or worse than a flat front design. But my guess is that the shape of the front does not matter much, the drag really comes from the air dumping off the back of the trailer, that is why you are seeing some many semi trailers now with the read door aero device to reduce the drag as the air comes off the back of the trailer.

[Bob Landry]

If fuel consumption is going to be a major issue, there are less expensive past-times out there. Also, if you hang a boat on the back of your TT as suggested above, you are most likely going to exceed the legal length limit on most states.