Utility trailer tow/MPG?

[andrewg]

I'm going to be driving a very light utility trailer with a Mercury Grand Marquis. My vehicle typically gets 27mpg's or more on the highway. My question is: How much will towing this light trailer loaded with a total weight (trailer and cargo) of about 600lbs. cost me on the highway in mpg's lost? Can I expect my mpg's to drop below 20 or less? It will be all highway with little hills.
Thanks for any ideas.

 

[oilboy123]

I would not think by a whole lot if you are not driving up lots of hills.

 

[Gene K]

Depends on how much frontal area it adds and how well it tucks behind the car. If its 6' Wide or less and shorter than the car and you need to slow down 10 mph because of sway you may actually gain.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

I used to tow a 6'X 8' cargo trailer with our Subaru on occasion. When I towed the trailer my mileage would drop about 3 MPG on a level highway, and about 5 MPG in hilly areas. That was loaded at a total trailer weight of about 1000 pounds.

 

[antonmnster]

When I add a 5000# utility trailer to my work truck, it's only a 3 mpg decrease. But it drops from 8.5 mpg to 5.5 mpg, which is actually a 30% increase in burned fuel!

But such a light trailer with a low wind profile will likely change mpgs very little.

 

[kelpie]

I think the tailgate has the biggest impact on gas mileage.

 

[andrewg]

Doesn't sound like I'd suffer all that much then. It's a very low profile trailer and the load would not be any higher off the ground than 4 feet. Can't really get it to tuck inside the slipstream any more than it already does. Just a short utility trailer tongue on it. Thanks for the replies.