beemerphile1
I'm only 57, I'm not yet a
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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2009 Aliner Sport 2,000# fully loaded
2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L with four speed automatic
Towing = 22 MPG average for about 7,000 miles
Car alone gets 30+ highway and 27+/- city
* This post was
edited 02/06/12 08:52am by beemerphile1 *
Tim
If you aren't paranoid, you aren't paying attention! 
2006 Weekend Warrior FK1900 towed by 1998 Ford E150 4.6L = 8 MPG
2009 Aliner Sport towed by 2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L = 22 MPG
1996 BMW R1100GS
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AlamsoaBorn
Colorado
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Joined: 02/11/2009
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Coleman popup (3000 lbs) and Toyota Tacoma V6. 16-17 towing at 65 mph max. 20-23 solo depending on the speed. This is mountain driving in Colorado.
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MKish
SF
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Joined: 09/01/2011
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I get better mileage towing than not because I drive slower.
About 18 mpg highway without trailer (~75 mph) and 25 with (~60 mph). That's with a 2008 Ford Edge AWD and about 2100 lbs of popup. It's an older, narrower model which probably helps, but it does have a 12.5' box.
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RoyB
King George, VA
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Joined: 04/13/2008
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My setup shown in my signature constantly gets 20-21MPG runing around 60mph...
I drive very smooth with no jump starts or hard braking or anything like that... Always ease up on things...
I dont see any difference in my gas mileage whether I am pulling the 4200lb POPUP or not... I guess my truck doesnt know its back there... The trick of course is no wind resistance with the POPUP hiding behind the truck...
For some reason I get my best gas mileage using SHELL gasoline...
Momabear wants me to get a regular trailer with hard walls... That would reduce my gas mileage down to around the 10-14MPG I would imagine...
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - PM/EMAIL me
Roy and Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
"We always have a PLAN B"
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
POPUP PHOTOs-Pg53
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red31
Bryan
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Joined: 08/04/2008
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My Colorado gets 15-17 in town, 19 towing <2000 lb PU (mainly highways), 22-24 non towing highways.
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bondebond
Searcy, AR
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Joined: 07/16/2008
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To Mike's first response, I will offer this observation about how close you are to the limit of the vehicle's engine, even though it is outside of your request.
I have a Jayco pop-up that is about 1,750 lb. empty, closer to 2,000 lb. when loaded up. Actual GVWR of the PUP is 2,300 lb.
I originally pulled it with a 2002 Ford Explorer V6 4.0L (one might argue that's a large V6 - "my mileage varied"). The tow rating capacity was 3,500 lbs. It would get about 18-19 MPG not towing on the highway, and drop to 12-13 MPG when towing on the highway, roughly driven at the same speeds. That's a 3 to 7 MPG drop, depending on all of the variables.
Now I pull the same pup with a 2007 Toyota 4Runner with a 4.7L V8. Yes, sorry, I did say V8 and I know you're interested in 4 and 6 cylinder vehicles but let me continue. It's rated towing capacity is 7,000 lbs. I get 17-18 MPG on the highway not towing and get 14-15 MPG when towing. A difference range of 2 to 4 MPG, again, depending on a lot of variables not mentioned. But one major (and I mean extremely large) difference is I have a lot of reserve power in the tow vehicle and am able to keep up with my in-laws as we drive through the Colorado passes. Your needs and purposes are most likely different. I do get to live with my choice of having a vehicle that gets gas mileage in the mid to upper teens. I wish it were not so, but that's where I ended up in life.
At least in my experience and hearsay from others, the closer you are to your particular vehicle's max towing capacity, the greater the negative impact on MPG and felt performance of your vehicle. Obviously, your mileage may vary - this is just my observation.
I do understand that you probably have your "tow vehicle" already and are not looking to change that, and are trying to match up the right options for your "towable". That's where I started out. I had the Explorer without ever the intention of pulling something some day down the road.
* This post was
edited 02/07/12 01:55pm by bondebond *
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RWDIII
Casa Grande
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Joined: 10/19/2010
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When I had a chalet I got 16.5 towing with A 4WD tocoma v6 with 4.10s.20mpg empty.When I had aRanger 4cyl 2wd got 21,empty 29.It was a small trailer about 1500 lbs
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retiredtraveler
Woodstock Il --- GO HIKING!!!!
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Large pup with GVWR of 3450. Actual loaded weight for me is about 3000 pounds.
TV is Nissan Xterra, 6-banger (comparable to Nissan Frontier truck). It's rated for 5000 lbs.
Only gets about 19mpg without towing. I only lose 1-2 mpg towing (which always surprises me, but has been consistent for 5 years).
No less than 17 mpg for highway driving while towing.
However, I have a 6-speed stick. I can tow at 65 mph (if road is reasonably flat) in 6th gear revving only at about 2400 rpm. Don't know what mileage would be like with automatic.
Pup: 2007 Jayco 1206 w/slide-out + shower
surge brakes, 54w solar panel
TV: 2005 Nissan Xterra 4X4, manual trans
25 years tent camping, 4000+ miles of hiking, lots of biking
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sushidog
Abita Springs, LA
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Joined: 08/02/2007
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I tow a 1,700lb loaded Aliner LXE with a tow modified 2.4l, Automatic 4 cyl Chevy Cobalt SS.
I average between 22-25 mpg towing depending on speed and grade.
I get between 33-37 mpg highway when not towing (about 30 mpg combined city/hwy)
This means I lose a good 10 mpg towing! However to put things in perspective, I get better MPG towing than most get when not towing! Plus, when I drop my camper and tour the area I have a 30+ mpg vehicle to do so. How many can say that? Towing with a new high mpg pick-up with a couple scooters in the bed would save a little on fuel, but registration and maintenance of 3 extra vehicles would cost more in the long run. A TDI Jetta or Golf would do a little better towing, but the higher cost of diesel fuel would eat up most of your mileage gains.
Chip
2006 Aliner LXE
2006 Chevy Cobalt SS
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Desert Captain
Tucson
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Joined: 02/19/2011
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As most folks here will attest, regardless of what you are towing or what you are towing it with you lose around 1/3 of your non towing mileage. Some lose more some lose less but that for me at least is a reasonable barometer of mileage. Keep your foot out of it, the proper tire pressures (TV &TT), load lightly and intelligently and things can get better quickly. With the way fuel prices are going I think just about everyone (with half a brain), will be slowing down. As always.... opinions and YMMV. 
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