fuel mileage when pulling trailer?

[bj66]

I ride an 08 RSTD. I just made a trailer to pull behind my bike. Up here in SD, we usually run about 70-75 mph out in the country. My trailer weighs about 130 pounds empty, loaded about 185. Anyway I normally avg about 36-38 mpg. I did a test pull with the trailer the other day, putting about 80 miles or so on it. I did some in town pulling, so it wasnt all highway miles. I avg 27 mpg. Is this about right? Or should I try and stay out of overdrive and keep the revs up a bit more to keep from lugging the motor? I am a little disappointed in the mileage, but i knew it would drop. I figured that the trailer isnt that heavy so maybe id be ok. What is everybody else getting pulling a trailer? thanks in advance. Since the trailer is new and Im not used to it yet, im packing everything on the bike. The trailer is gonna have to wait......

[sarges46]

I dont think its the weight so much as the surface area that is causing wind drag. I pull a big camper and my mileage suffers to the same tune as yours does. But this camper is wider than the bike and square so it does catch the wind.

 

I did alot better towing the piggy backer cargo trailer...its wide too but much more streamlined.

[buddy]

04 Midnight is my ride...

Stay (out) of 5th gear unless your on flat land for many miles pulling a trialer. I stay in 4th gear most of the time pulling the trailer with no problems, lugging the motor is the worse thing you can do to it, let that XVZ motor rev.up:happy34:it wont hurt one bit. matter of fact these motors love to rev.up..

my trailer is 140+lbs empty and loaded down it is around 300-350lbs get around 35-36mpg no problems at all..........

[bj66]

I was kind of thinking that 5th gear was kind of a no-no until I got well up into the powerband, I did feel it lug a few times for sure. I think the box is 28 x 36. but most of the time i am running flatlands. Here is the trailer....

[Dave77459]

I ride an '06 RSTD. I got mileage very similar to yours, at speeds similar to yours. That was true two weeks ago in SD when I passed through (the terrain was much nicer than I expected). I rode down I-29 from Fargo towards Omaha.

 

However, I've discovered that my trailer wheels are toed out... I've scrubbed off the tread twice in 4500 miles. I'm hoping that when the wheels are true, they will roll and I'll get better mileage.

 

Dave

[Brake Pad]

We live in South Florida, the Flatest of Flat lands.

the trailer pictured.

we have a 2007 with Matrix rover trailer, trailer goes in at 193lbs.

loaded, 2 up, 34-36 mpg, but we ride at 65 mph

[bj66]

I ride an '06 RSTD. I got mileage very similar to yours, at speeds similar to yours. That was true two weeks ago in SD when I passed through (the terrain was much nicer than I expected). I rode down I-29 from Fargo towards Omaha.

 

However, I've discovered that my trailer wheels are toed out... I've scrubbed off the tread twice in 4500 miles. I'm hoping that when the wheels are true, they will roll and I'll get better mileage.

 

Dave

 

Heck you were about 80 miles from me when you came through

[Dave77459]

Heck you were about 80 miles from me when you came through

The worst part of this trip was knowing that I was riding right past so many VR members. That day I was going from Minneapolis to Omaha, and had to be there by dinner. So, of course, I went via Fargo.

 

Dave

[BuckShot]

I ride an 08 RSTD. I just made a trailer to pull behind my bike. Up here in SD, we usually run about 70-75 mph out in the country. My trailer weighs about 130 pounds empty, loaded about 185. Anyway I normally avg about 36-38 mpg. I did a test pull with the trailer the other day, putting about 80 miles or so on it. I did some in town pulling, so it wasnt all highway miles. I avg 27 mpg. Is this about right? Or should I try and stay out of overdrive and keep the revs up a bit more to keep from lugging the motor? I am a little disappointed in the mileage, but i knew it would drop. I figured that the trailer isnt that heavy so maybe id be ok. What is everybody else getting pulling a trailer? thanks in advance. Since the trailer is new and Im not used to it yet, im packing everything on the bike. The trailer is gonna have to wait......

 

Don't let the trailer sit--load it up and go. Just ride a little more defensively and give yourself more space in between and more distance to stop. You will get used to it in no time.

[dave_wells]

My RSTD Pulling my trailer running at those speeds -- 25 - 27 mpg

There have been days I have hit reserve at 110 miles

 

I have been riding it easy with the trailer 65 max speed just filed today 33 mpg

 

I run 4th gear till I am on on some flat roads then 5th no point in wasting fuel

 

Be safe

[E-Fishin-C]

I was really disappointed on the mileage on the 2001 Venture I got between 35-38 mpg imperial (CDN) travelling at 110 kph

My trailer is streamlined , I was running 35 psi in the tires recommended by the manufacture and weighted and loaded the trailer to the max of 200 lbs, Now Im 250lbs and my daughter 200 +or -

[dray]

I was really disappointed on the mileage on the 2001 Venture I got between 35-38 mpg imperial (CDN) travelling at 110 kph

My trailer is streamlined , I was running 35 psi in the tires recommended by the manufacture and weighted and loaded the trailer to the max of 200 lbs, Now Im 250lbs and my daughter 200 +or -

 

 

I was disappointed in your mileage too! i had to keep waiting for ya to fill up What You need gas again i still have over half a tank:stickpoke:

 

 

 

and that last bit may get ya a woopin + or - a black eye or two:7_6_3[1]:

 

 

dray