Fuel consumption slide ons versus caravan

G'day Kc, most truck drivers will tell you it's easier to carry than it is to tow.

To support that I had a slide-on for thirteen years which I carried on my tray back LandCruiser, sold the slide-on and bought an off-road caravan, (1900 Kg) I suffered an increase in fuel consumption and a big loss of versatility, parking and getting to those out of the way places etc, I know which unit I'd rather.

Rob.

The fuel consumption of our Hilux increases by about 35% when slide is mounted.

hi kc
your fuel figures currently are very good both towing and empty
if you put a slide-on weighing 1000kg on the back of the bt50 in lei of towing the van
you can expect to use at least 12l/100 km's
and everywhere you drive from then on the best you will get is 12l/100 because you will be carrying the weight constantly every km you drive
where as atm when you unhitch your van you are getting 8 & 9l/100km which in my honest opinion is pretty good so your general driving expenses will increase overall

only you can decide if you want and like the independence of been able to park the van and drive around looking at things without it
a van has more room than been couped up in a slide-on
or you have to decide whether you want to lug the whole slide-on weight every inch of the way
your bt50 without slide-on is currently a very easy drive without the van to buzz around looking
think about it it's your decision and your paying
cheers

KC,
The question is if you are happy with the caravan you have then why change? The cost of changing over will far exceed any possible saving. Think of the real cost of the change and then how much fuel that would buy.

This is the same reason why changing vehicles on the basis of fuel saving is crazy. You need to have a reason to change the vehicle regardless.

cheers

A slide-on increases your frontal area substantially as compared to towing a van. Wind resistance is a huge factor in fuel consumption.
They will also make your vehicles C-of-G higher and therefore make for a less stable vehicle.
A 13 ft van has a lot more room in it than a slide-on!
A slide-on floor is much higher than a van floor. This might not seem much initially, but it becomes annoying constantly climbing up and down, and as you become older, this becomes a real hassle.

Your fuel consumption figures are very good, overall, and I'd be very happy with them. It's obvious the "slippery" shape of the new Mazda is pretty effective.
Towing fuel consumption is affected by caravan shape, tow vehicle shape, the closeness of the coupling, tyre pressures, brake adjustment, wheel-bearing adjustment - and even 'van axle alignment.

Hi Kc,
We had five years of being on the road towing a Kedron 20ft off road caravan with an 80 series petrol. The average fuel use over time would average somewhere between 20 to 23 litres per 100 klm. I knew we had a safe travel distance of around 450klm before refuelling.

In 2011 I switched vehicles and went to a 79 series LC ute. On the two occasions I measured fuel consumption it came in around 17lt per 100klm towing.

With the same ute I now have a slide on with an unladen weight of 450kg (so I am told I have not yet weighed it myself). On the one occasion I have measured fuel consumption I think it came in around 15lt per 100klm.

I very rarely take accurate fuel consumption readings, I just know from experience what distance my vehicle can go before refuelling. For example on a recent trip from Brisbane to Darwin and the Kimberly I knew we could go at least 900klm before refuelling with a very safe margin for error . That is not to say that we don't refuel at every opportunity.

So after that long winded answer I guess my answer to your question is that slide ons and towing a caravan will bring similar fuel consumption.

The reasons however of owning a caravan or slide on will bring about a whole new discussion in my opinion.
Regards
Jim

Forumites
As I read these answers above, we must realise that you are comparing two products, one weighing at least 3 times as much as the other

Thanks everyone... you have all given really good replies and great food for thought. To me it seems the van is going to give better fuel consumption bearing in mind it wont always be attached. Van would win on space, though I have seen some really well laid out slideons of late. Slide on would be less maintenance as less wheels on ground. It would be easier to park a slideon combo unless van is unhitched. As always it always seems to be a compromise. My main use of the van is occasional weekends away and holidays with as much free camping as possible, so I am probably leaning the way of the van (which is in excellent condition), but if I did not already have the van it would be a hard call. Maybe I need to win lotto and have both.... add on a winnibago as well.

Regards Kc