Question for Tab owners - Vehicle and towing MPG

Torres2906tab

We are considering buying a Tab and I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to share what type of vehicle they tow theirs with as well as the approximate MPG towing versus not towing. This will help us factor in the expense for fuel as part of the big picture of owning and using a Tab. We have a 2010 6 cylinder GMC Terrain. Not towing anything we get about 22 MPG in the city and 28 highway in "economy" mode. Doubt we could pull a Tab using economy mode. Thank you in advance. So grateful to have found Little Guy and these forums!

XPADREX

2011 Wrangler JK (2dr). 18mpg norm on winter formulation gas, 14 mog hauling T@b in mix of driving, with freeway speed at 60 mpg,

Torres2906tab

Thank you, Xpadrex. How to you like the T@b? Any regrets?

stanm

2013 Subaru Outback, 4 cyl - 28-30 highway without T@B - 15-19 with T@B, depending on the terrain and hills.

Torres2906tab

Thank you Stan, Neil and LadyArtist for the responses and helpful information. Much appreciated.

belvagillespie

Hey there, Paul and Elaine, welcome. 

We have a 2014 T@B Clamshell with wet bath. T@BbyKay. 

We tow with a 2008 Ford Explorer. We bought it used because my car that I drove when we bought T@B was a Honda Accord. 

The guys on the forum did an excellent job of guiding me/us in making the difficult decision to trade my beautiful beloved Honda for a Truck?/Explorer. 

It is my true belief that these guys/T@B/LG friends saved our lives by not letting us tow with a vehicle that was too weak to tow T@B and stop T@B when needed.

We do not get good gas mileage in the Explorer, maybe 15 -17, at most. We live in a small city and do not drive long distances often. We did track during our recent trip to Austin, TX from NW Alabama. We got 9-10 MPG when towing T@B. We had bad weather, blowing winds and rain for most of the return trip. We also discovered we had a transmission problem with the Explorer as we traveled. We do not expect to do much better with this vehicle. Still under warranty, thank goodness. 

Gas prices are rising everywhere.$3.57 today.  This expense is a big concern for all T@Bbers who have already planned and dreamed of our fair weather adventures. I guess the grocery bill will get trimmed. I am planting my lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes and herbs this weekend in my Tower Garden.That should help. 

Our T@B is the best investment in our lives that we have made. It is fun. Life is short. 

XPADREX

I will say that having towed the T@b, I cannot fathom some of the little cars you see in Europe pulling them. If nothing else, it's a large sail at speed (no where near as bad as "stick and tin" boxy trailers).

I will say this... in the city, and in tight spaces... ...my short wheelbase Wrangler and the T@b are an awesome, go anywhere combo.Fantastically tight turning radius.

belvagillespie

It's because you are cool in your wrangler.

Where is your home base? 

Nobody signs in with a signature anymore. 

We used to sign a sig. with name, TV, T@B, city or location and extras like canopy, visor.

It makes all our current reply relevant to your discussion. 

it is simple, so to signature. 

XPADREX

LOL sorry, I am on the mobile version, and I am lucky I can even post! I do not see signatures even when there.

I live in Ohio, where they make three things: T@bs, Wranglers, and goofy weather predictions!

Torres2906tab

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. If/when we take the plunge and buy a T@b I'm confident our GMC Terrain will tow it and now have an idea of what to expect for MPG will. The reality is there isn't enough cash to buy and do everything, which I suspect is the case for most people who aren't independently wealthy. It's about choices and although I'm a little nervous about making this purchase because I don't really know how much we will use it plus we've never been couple campers before (my husband is a tent camper having spent 27 years in the military/reserves), there is just this intense desire to hit the road and see everything we can. And the T@b is just adorable!!! Nothing else compares. Hard to explain although I suspect those who own one can relate.

Cyclonic

The 2012 Escape, with the V-6, gets about 26 MPG under my normal, everyday driving conditions (or at least what passes for normal in the DC area), while towing I pull in at about 14 MPG.

RZRBUG

My GMC Sierra V-8 currently gets 17.4 MPG when not towing.  I am headed for Gulf Shores Monday and will do my best to determine an accurate MPG while towing there and back and will post next weekend.

Torres2906tab

Have a wonderful trip, Larry. Looking forward to hearing from you when you return. I hear Gulf Shores is beautiful .. would love to travel there myself someday.

RZRBUG

He's baaaaack. )  The trip was nice, the water was blue, the sand was white, and the state park was very nice.  I did not see any other T@Bs, but I did see a Silver Shadow somewhere on the road.  I don't remember where.  I traveled a total of 1,371 miles and got 12.9 MPG pulling the T@B with a GMC Sierra V-8.  I had been getting 17.4 MPG not pulling.  That mileage included the driving I did while there not pulling.  The average price I paid per gallon was $3.55.  I still have a bit of wiggle in the trailer, not what I'd call sway.  I have decided that it must be wind buffeting from my set up.  I have a cap on my truck.  Gotta figure that one out.

Torres2906tab

Welcome back, Larry! Glad you had a nice trip and thanks for the stats. We took the plunge and bought a 2013 slightly used T@b from a private seller in Kentucky. We drove from Michigan to Kentucky on Thursday, about 650 miles, picked her up, camped overnight and drove home Friday. Not towing theT@b, we got 30 mpg with our 2010 GMC V6 Terrain. Towing we got 15.6 MPG. We noticed some play or wiggle in the trailer too. Being new to towing we weren't sure if that was normal or not, but it didn't feel right and at every rest stop we checked for obvious issues but found none. For us it seems to be coming from the hitch.

Wanderoo

Hi, Paul & Elaine -- When I first bought my T@B, someone cued me into something called "hitch slop."  This was fixed by getting a different hitch pin that has a "locking spring mechanism" in the hitch pin thus eliminating the extra space and resulting motion.  Great fix. I have also noticed that by loading the front of the T@B with about 30 lbs. greatly increases the stability of the T@B while towing. 

Larry, I'm glad you are back safe and sound and had a great trip!  I was on the Gulf Coast in Florida last weekend (Naples/Ft. Meyers) for my nephew's wedding and it was gorgeous weather.  I thought about you and how I wished I were towing my T@B instead of having to fly and rent a car.

Torres2906tab

Adding hitch pin with a locking spring mechanism to my "to buy" list. And I wondered if having the spare tire mounted somewhere in the tongue area would provide that 30 lbs. of up front weight. The spare is not currently mounted and we really don't want to haul it around in the trailer or in the tow vehicle but realize we need to have it with us on our trips.

Wanderoo

Paul & Elaine -- I don't think I can weigh in on the discussion regarding mounting the spare on the tongue, but I do know that others have done that. I just put my Cuisinart grill, leveling blocks, and a couple other things near the front of the T@B and it works.  Here is what I bought for the hitch pin. http://www.etrailer.com/Locks/Lets-Go-Aero/63232.html.  Make sure it will work with your hitch. 

stanm

The LG T@Bs have a mount under the back of the trailer.

RZRBUG

This is what I ordered to take care of the slop in the hitch.  http://www.etrailer.com/p-RM-061.html  Hasn't arrived yet, but I have no doubt it will solidify the hitch.  I suppose a square U-bolt of appropriate size from the local hardware store would work too, but may not be as sturdy.  Remains to be seen if it will help eliminate the wiggle.  I already had a locking pin.  Oh, quite sure it will have no effect on MPG.  The best way to increase MPG is to decrease foot pressure on the accelerator.