Thread: Fuel Consumption - Towing TDV6 2.7

My TDV6 has a rooftop tent - 265 70 17 maxxis bighorns (mud tyers) and I get around 13lt /100 driving around. I know not very good. When I hook up the 12 ft offroad van 1800kg, highway mileage is about 18.5/ 100
Unless its dead flat on the freeway it drives in 5th gear - i can drop it into 6th manually but as soon as there's an incline it pops back into 5th so I don't worry anymore and let the computer work it out.
I reckon that when you tow it increases by about 50% - looking at the posts in this thread that would be pretty close.
I towed a fairly heavy tandem empty recently for 4 hours in my MB Vito van with the 3lt turbo diesel. Normally get 8.2 empty. With the tandem on the back - got about 11.8 HOWEVER on my return trip with 3 pallets up around the 2 meter mark the consumption only increased to 12.5.
The main cause for increased fuel consumption is that you're towing SOMETHING. Size and weight don't seem to have such a dramatic impact - if you're towing - it'll use the fuel.

dj

Originally Posted by Disco4SE

Here is a photo I took whilst driving home on the Ballarat freeway when I had the D3. Had filled with fuel about 20Klm's back down the road. Had the ECU upgrade done at that stage.

Towing my 2 Ton boat, I was getting around 13L per 100Klm's (as per car puter)
Cheers, Craig

D3 TDV6 stock STD towing 2300kg Shark Cat at 110km/h getting 14.5l/100km

Towing a nearly 2t camper, I get 13.5L/100k's.
That is also with 265/70/17 Mickey Thompson MTZ's, roof rails & cross bars.
Cheers

Dragging up an old thread but could be interesting with the newer vehicles.
I have a 2014 D4
Best 9.5/100 on highway at 110
With roof rack 11/100 highway
With 3.2t caravan behind 18/100 @ 100
I use cruise control quite a bit though

Not a tdv6, but my RRV tdv8 used 13.2 lt/100km towing 1.5-2.0t camper trailer. We were doing 100-110km/HR.

Wind is the biggest factor for me, our van is tall so a headwind will make a big difference. 2.7t van loaded but with no water on board (as it normally travels) best of about 14 and worst of about 18.5 L/100.

AT tyres and bullbar now, plus the roof rack will be loaded when we head off in a couple of weeks so best guess long term will be at the higher end, maybe an average of about 16-17.

Originally Posted by strydes

Wind is the biggest factor for me, our van is tall so a headwind will make a big difference. 2.7t van loaded but with no water on board (as it normally travels) best of about 14 and worst of about 18.5 L/100.

AT tyres and bullbar now, plus the roof rack will be loaded when we head off in a couple of weeks so best guess long term will be at the higher end, maybe an average of about 16-17.

100% agree with you Strydes, Having done the east west rtn trips a number of times now, without towing anything and just a roof pod on, getting the roaring forties assist, the fuel economy runs around 8-9ltrs/100 but push into it for 1000k's and the D3 runs around 12-13. However like John {Rocky Lizard} if you have the time, just drop in behind the road trains and get the easy 8/100 and let them sort out most of the hazards LOL.

In preparation for a longer trip we have done a 300k small trip to test our towing 3.3t van. On that trip, including some very hilly areas, we averaged 16l/100km. Our read out sometimes showed 50 or 60 for a few seconds! The weather was very poor and windy, and our general speed was in the mid 90's.
We are expecting 16-17 l/100km for a longer trip with a mixed bag of highway and hilly conditions. Our van was not towing level, and I have recently corrected that. It now feels better, so possibly that may also improve fuel consumption.