While the term towing fuel economy seems like an oxymoron, like military intelligence, there are some things you should do to get the most out of a tank of fuel.

If you tow a trailer for your job, you know that fuel mileage drops precipitously when you hook up and head out. This might be a necessary evil that you have to face, but you don’t have to face it alone. Here are some tips that can help you understand what to expect and help you get the most out of the gas you put in your tank.

1. Set Appropriate Expectations

When you pull a trailer, you’re increasing the weight of your vehicle, the wind resistance, and the size of the vehicle. These factors translate into a dramatic drop in the number of miles you’ll get out of a tank of gas. In fact, you should expect your fuel mileage to fall by up to 40% compared to when you drive without the trailer. Because of this, you need to expect a lower return and should only pull the trailer when absolutely necessary.

2. When Did You Last Replace Your Trailer Tires?

We often think about the tires on our trucks and SUVs, but what about the tires on your trailer? If you only replace them when they go flat, you’re losing some of the fuel mileage you deserve. If you want to maximize your towing fuel economy numbers, it’s a good idea to consider replacing the tires on your trailer every three to five years. If you tow your trailer daily, you should probably look at the three-year mark to replace these tires.

3. Keep Your Speed in Check

It’s never a good idea to pull a trailer at high speeds. You’re asking for disaster with the added wind effect that could push your trailer and truck off the road. In addition to being a wind hazard, pulling a trailer at high speeds significantly decreases your fuel mileage. It’s common knowledge that you’ll lose some efficiency when driving over 60 mph without a trailer. That impact is exponentially increased when a trailer is added to the equation. Keep your speed in check; the right lane is your friend.

4. Put the Features of Your Truck or SUV to Work

Many trucks and SUVs equipped to pull trailers also have both overdrive and cruise control to help with this function. You can improve your towing fuel economy by utilizing these features. The overdrive decreases the RPM required of your engine to pull the load. The cruise control allows you to set a consistent speed, which helps save your engine from unnecessary wear and tear. Using these two functions will result in a smoother ride and a better experience when pulling a trailer.

5. Is Your Trailer the Best for The Job?

If you’ve got to pull a trailer for many miles every week, you want a trailer that complements your work instead of hindering it. This could mean you need to replace the trailer with one that cuts down on the wind resistance. You can add wheel skirts to your trailer to reduce the airflow around the tires and add fairings wherever you can. Installing a weight distribution hitch balances out the load and ensures an even workload for your truck. If you’re upgrading your trailer, consider a V-nose model, which cuts through the air much easier than a flat trailer.

6. Your O2 Sensor is a Huge Factor in Fuel Mileage

Whether you’re driving without a trailer or trying to maximize your towing fuel economy, if you have a bad O2 sensor, you’ll end up using a lot more gas than you should. In fact, this item is so important that you could experience up to a 40% drop in fuel mileage when you have a bad sensor. Make sure this item works right, and then check your air filter as well. That air filter could cost you up to 10% of your overall fuel mileage.

7. Its Time to Become a Smooth Operator

When you’re driving with a trailer, you need to leave extra room for stopping and plan to take off slowly from stop lights. Pretend you have an open cup of coffee on the dashboard that can’t spill, or else you fail. Doing this will help you imagine taking off smoothly and slowly from a stop and slowing down smoothly and with plenty of room when you’re approaching a red light or stop sign. The smoother your drive, the better your fuel mileage will be.

8. Tire Pressure Makes a Huge Difference in Towing Fuel Economy

Actually, the tire pressure of your vehicle makes a huge difference in fuel mileage when you’re not towing, but when you are, it’s even more important. You should expect to lose a little air every month and should check your tires regularly to make sure you maximize your fuel mileage. Check the tires in your trailer as well so that you’re not towing a trailer that feels like it’s riding on bricks.

9. Brakes are an Important Part of Fuel Mileage

Check the brakes on your tow vehicle and your trailer to ensure they aren’t worn out or misaligned. If you have bad brakes, it takes more time and distance to stop, which can eat some gas when it shouldn’t. You want your brakes to work properly, especially when you need to tow a trailer every day. It can be very costly if you have a set of brakes that doesn’t work right at all.

Get Out There and Get the Most Out of Your Gas

Now that you know what you can do to improve your towing fuel economy, you can get the most out of a tank of gas when you need to tow. These simple tips can make things much easier and make sure you don’t have the stop and fill up as often as you would if you didn’t pay attention to your tow vehicle or trailer.

Which of the towing fuel economy tips makes the most sense to you? Will you put all of these tips to work for your towing enjoyment and money savings?