Anything that will haul bikes and get 30mpg?

spagthorpe · 08-05-2011, 10:58 PM

I do mean an honest 30mpg on the highway, at highway speeds, hauling bikes. Not 60mph either. That'll get you killed a lot of places.

I'm contemplating a vehicle swap, and I'm finding both are requirements, but at odds with each other. Seems about the best you can do for a hauler type vehicle is 20-21mpg. Smaller cars will do the 30mpg easy, but I doubt they get that at speed with a trailer.

Am I missing anything? It has to be sold in the US.

NikonsAndVStroms · 08-05-2011, 11:09 PM

30 MPG while towing!? All I can think of are the compact SUV's that can do about 30 without a trailer but with I have no idea how much it would drop with a bike or 2 behind it.

Edit: Just did some research and it looks like with towing at least on the Forester you go under 20MPG.

Crocodile Tears · 08-05-2011, 11:12 PM

2wd 5spd 02+ ranger with the 2.3 DOHC. Probably get 25 loaded. My old one got 30-31 at 70mph using the cruise. I just disliked only having the single cab, good truck otherwise.

Also, this was in michigans upper peninsula - snow tires and 200 lbs over the rear axle (and any idea of how to drive) and you will be fine.

AKjeff · 08-05-2011, 11:22 PM

VW TDI with a trailer?

Chuck289 · 08-06-2011, 12:20 AM

+1. My 07 Ranger 2.3 5spd. I regularly go back and forth between the bay and Mt shasta on I-5 doing about 75mph on average. I typically get about 29-30.5mpg. This is with a ~300lb dual sport in the back. A little better on the return trip because of more downhill.

hugemoth · 08-06-2011, 05:50 AM

My 93 Toyota 2wd, 2.4, 5 speed will do it at 60 mph but not at 70.

Beamklamp · 08-06-2011, 07:01 AM

Just don't do it.

j_rock · 08-06-2011, 07:23 AM

TDI with a trailer works great. Wouldnt go over 1500lbs though. They are rated to tow 600 kg. My bandit 600 was
no problem and I moved a friend from NY to Houston with it as well.

68deluxe · 08-06-2011, 10:17 AM

How much weight are you talking about? We have a Nissan frontier with a 4 banger (auto) and it gets just under 30MPG.

Manuel Garcia O'Kely · 08-06-2011, 10:41 AM

30 on tow? It's not as likely as you think I'm afraid.

We have a Subi 2.5l 5-speed, gets around 28 freeway but when the 1,800 lb trailer is behind it, fully loaded? 19 mpg.

Depends on the size and weight of the trailer - a small three-rail with a single dirtbike is not in the same league as our teardrop.

Question: How much towing do you need to do, that 30 mpg towing is critical? Seems like it would be a lot.

Some say the Sprinter Diesel gets around 30 - can you carry internally rather than towing?

spagthorpe · 08-06-2011, 11:10 AM

I've owned a Sprinter, and it's not getting 30mpg unless dropped off a cliff.

I guess total miles hauled in a year might be around 10% of use. I do have a few cross country, or semi-cross country trips planned, and regularly do 800-1000 mile round trips. Just seems that on those occasions, if possible, I'd like to be up there mileage wise.

I've been driving V6 vehicles for a while now, probably did 35K last year, all at a top of 20mpg, probably more like 17mpg overall. Adds up.

a1fa · 08-06-2011, 12:55 PM

Sucks, and I wanted a Sprinter really bad!

Dukeryder · 08-06-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spagthorpe

I'
I've been driving V6 vehicles for a while now, probably did 35K last year, all at a top of 20mpg, probably more like 17mpg overall. Adds up.

I usually average 20-25K/Year, this year will be my lowest in a long time since I'm not doing any big road trips this year. I've made the drive up the East Coast (I've only been in CA for <1yr) every year for last 10 years and I've only had 1 vehicle that got over 30 MPG and that was a 2.0L Golf (not towing). 18 is average and my newest vehicle a 4.0 V-6 4runner would get 19-20 going 75 mph while towing a Harbor Freight trailer with my Rockster on it.

I think 30mpg towing at 70 mph isn't going to happen in anything but the TDI. The TDI Passat Wagon would probably be the only vehicle that could accommodate passengers and gear.

There was a Jeep Liberty CRD but I don't think it got 30 MPG, I've contemplated trying to find a 4x4 one since my 4runner is 2wd and taking a 2wd SUV into the snow is not fun. We got Bio-D at the pump here which is pretty awesome.

Looks like 25 MPG is realistic average after doing some googling on MPGs for it. I prefer an SUV with higher ground clearance than a wagon. YMMV

Foot dragger · 08-06-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68deluxe

How much weight are you talking about? We have a Nissan frontier with a 4 banger (auto) and it gets just under 30MPG.

Same here,I have a 98 King Cab 4 banger Nissan that will just touch 30 mpg with a bike or two in the bed,maybe not going uphill a lot but it does a great job for a 4 cylinder truck.
Nothing ever breaks on it is what I really like.

scarysharkface · 08-06-2011, 02:38 PM

How many bikes? One?

08-05-2011, 10:58 PM	#1
spagthorpe ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2002 Location: homeless Oddometer: 13,721	Anything that will haul bikes and get 30mpg? I do mean an honest 30mpg on the highway, at highway speeds, hauling bikes. Not 60mph either. That'll get you killed a lot of places. I'm contemplating a vehicle swap, and I'm finding both are requirements, but at odds with each other. Seems about the best you can do for a hauler type vehicle is 20-21mpg. Smaller cars will do the 30mpg easy, but I doubt they get that at speed with a trailer. Am I missing anything? It has to be sold in the US.

08-05-2011, 11:09 PM	#2
NikonsAndVStroms Beastly Photographer Joined: Jun 2007 Location: The Hub of the Universe Oddometer: 27,109	30 MPG while towing!? All I can think of are the compact SUV's that can do about 30 without a trailer but with I have no idea how much it would drop with a bike or 2 behind it. Edit: Just did some research and it looks like with towing at least on the Forester you go under 20MPG. __________________ Motorcycles save lives "It's the game of life. Do I win or do I lose? One day they're gonna shut the game down. I gotta have as much fun and go around the board as many times as I can before it's my turn to leave."

08-05-2011, 11:12 PM	#3
Crocodile Tears The 906 Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Toledo, OH ; Houghton, MI Oddometer: 3,281	2wd 5spd 02+ ranger with the 2.3 DOHC. Probably get 25 loaded. My old one got 30-31 at 70mph using the cruise. I just disliked only having the single cab, good truck otherwise. Also, this was in michigans upper peninsula - snow tires and 200 lbs over the rear axle (and any idea of how to drive) and you will be fine. __________________ “I'm not going to censor myself to comfort your ignorance." 2009 KLX250S 2005 Bandit 1200S

08-05-2011, 11:22 PM	#4
AKjeff Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2006 Location: Carson Valley Oddometer: 4,462	VW TDI with a trailer? __________________ "We can choose to know better or choose to be bitter." OldRoadToad My Airhead Project

08-06-2011, 12:20 AM	#5
Chuck289 Air cooled Joined: Mar 2009 Location: SF Bay, California Oddometer: 2,161	+1. My 07 Ranger 2.3 5spd. I regularly go back and forth between the bay and Mt shasta on I-5 doing about 75mph on average. I typically get about 29-30.5mpg. This is with a ~300lb dual sport in the back. A little better on the return trip because of more downhill. __________________ -Charles "This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell out of here" - Michael Scott

08-06-2011, 05:50 AM	#6
hugemoth Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bend, Oregon summer, Snowbird in winter Oddometer: 2,103	My 93 Toyota 2wd, 2.4, 5 speed will do it at 60 mph but not at 70.

08-06-2011, 07:01 AM	#7
Beamklamp Velvet Burrito Joined: Aug 2005 Location: dook sittee Oddometer: 2,562	Just don't do it. __________________ I didn't surrender, but they took my horse and made him surrender.

08-06-2011, 07:23 AM	#8
j_rock Life Warrior Joined: May 2007 Location: Atlanta Oddometer: 121	TDI with a trailer works great. Wouldnt go over 1500lbs though. They are rated to tow 600 kg. My bandit 600 was no problem and I moved a friend from NY to Houston with it as well. __________________ Today a young life warrior on a bike ride discovered that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are one consciousness experiencing itself subjectivly, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.

08-06-2011, 10:17 AM	#9
68deluxe Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2003 Location: Phoenix AZ Oddometer: 9,848	How much weight are you talking about? We have a Nissan frontier with a 4 banger (auto) and it gets just under 30MPG. __________________ 2010 KTM 990ADV 2004 KTM 250SX

08-06-2011, 10:41 AM	#10
Manuel Garcia O'Kely Back at last Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Central Colorado Rockies Oddometer: 9,995	30 on tow? It's not as likely as you think I'm afraid. We have a Subi 2.5l 5-speed, gets around 28 freeway but when the 1,800 lb trailer is behind it, fully loaded? 19 mpg. Depends on the size and weight of the trailer - a small three-rail with a single dirtbike is not in the same league as our teardrop. Question: How much towing do you need to do, that 30 mpg towing is critical? Seems like it would be a lot. Some say the Sprinter Diesel gets around 30 - can you carry internally rather than towing? __________________ "More than any time in history, mankind now faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, the other to total extinction. Let us pray that we have the wisdom to choose correctly." Woody Allen "enhance not enjoy, gramps mcbuzzkill" - Lemon G.

08-06-2011, 11:10 AM	#11
spagthorpe ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2002 Location: homeless Oddometer: 13,721	I've owned a Sprinter, and it's not getting 30mpg unless dropped off a cliff. I guess total miles hauled in a year might be around 10% of use. I do have a few cross country, or semi-cross country trips planned, and regularly do 800-1000 mile round trips. Just seems that on those occasions, if possible, I'd like to be up there mileage wise. I've been driving V6 vehicles for a while now, probably did 35K last year, all at a top of 20mpg, probably more like 17mpg overall. Adds up.

08-06-2011, 12:55 PM	#12
a1fa Riding Nomad™ Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Oddometer: 12,786	Sucks, and I wanted a Sprinter really bad!

08-06-2011, 02:38 PM	#15
scarysharkface 40-128 Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Lakland Oddometer: 12,355	How many bikes? One? __________________ The road to Hell is paved... Save $5 on a Smugmug subscription when you use my coupon: yBr7OofIPuOP6 KLR takes a circular route to Big Bend '13 http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=887449

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