10 Proven Tips to Get Better Gas Mileage When Towing a Trailer
Neighbors TrailerJan 13, 2023 635 7 min read towing a trailer
Content updated March 2026.
Towing a trailer takes a real toll on fuel economy. Depending on your trailer size, load weight, and driving habits, you could be burning 20–40% more fuel than you normally would. For anyone renting a trailer for a move, a job, or a weekend project, that extra fuel cost can add up fast — but most of it is avoidable.
These 10 tips will help you get the best possible gas mileage while towing a trailer, whether you're hauling equipment on a flatbed, moving furniture in an enclosed trailer, or clearing debris with a dump trailer rented from Neighbors Trailer.
1. Balance Your Load Properly
How you load your trailer has a direct effect on fuel consumption. Weight that's too far back creates trailer sway and increased drag, forcing your engine to work harder. The general rule: place 60% of your cargo weight in the front half of the trailer, ahead of the axle(s). This distributes tongue weight correctly and reduces aerodynamic instability.
Keep heavy items as low as possible and centered side-to-side to minimize rolling resistance and sway. A well-balanced trailer tracks cleanly behind your vehicle, reducing the constant small corrections that drain fuel.
2. Slow Down — Speed Is the Biggest Factor
Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of your speed. That means driving at 70 mph creates nearly twice as much drag as driving at 55 mph. When you're towing a large, blunt-faced trailer, the drag penalty is even more severe. Reducing your highway speed from 75 to 65 mph can improve your towing fuel economy by 10–15%.
It's not always practical to drive slowly, but on long hauls, even a modest speed reduction pays off in meaningful fuel savings. Set your cruise control at the posted speed limit and resist the urge to push it on open highways.
3. Check and Maintain Tire Pressure
Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which forces your engine to work harder and burns more fuel. This applies to both your tow vehicle and the trailer's tires. Before any towing trip, check the pressure on all tires — including trailer tires, which are often overlooked.
Refer to your tow vehicle's door jamb sticker and the trailer's tongue sticker for recommended pressures. Towing with properly inflated tires also reduces heat buildup, which extends tire life and improves safety.
4. Match Your Vehicle to the Trailer Size
A vehicle towing near its maximum rated capacity burns significantly more fuel than one operating well within its towing range. If your vehicle is rated for 5,000 lbs and you're pulling 4,800 lbs of loaded trailer, your drivetrain is working at maximum effort the entire trip.
When renting a trailer, choose a size appropriate to your task — don't rent a 16-foot enclosed trailer for a job that would fit in a 10-foot one. The extra empty trailer weight and larger frontal area add fuel cost without adding any utility.
5. Use Cruise Control on Flat Roads
Manual throttle control is inconsistent. Most drivers unconsciously speed up on downhills and slow down on uphills, creating a fuel-wasting accordion effect when towing. Cruise control maintains a steadier speed and generally improves fuel economy by 5–10% on flat or gently rolling terrain.
Important caveat: turn off cruise control in hilly terrain, heavy traffic, or slippery conditions. On steep grades, manual throttle management allows you to build momentum on the descent to carry through the climb — something cruise control doesn't do efficiently.
6. Minimize Unnecessary Weight
Every extra pound you're towing costs you fuel. Before loading up, audit what you actually need to bring. Empty your tow vehicle of non-essential gear — roof racks, unused toolboxes, extra equipment — and only load the trailer with what the job requires.
If you're hauling debris or landscaping material, make multiple smaller loads rather than one overloaded haul. You'll save fuel on each trip and reduce wear on your tow vehicle.
7. Reduce Aerodynamic Drag on the Trailer
Open flatbed and dump trailers create significant aerodynamic drag. If you're hauling cargo on a flatbed, cover loose items with a tarp or cargo net — not just for safety, but to smooth the airflow over the load. A tarp-covered flatbed can meaningfully reduce drag compared to an open load with items sticking up into the wind.
For enclosed trailers, a front wind deflector on your tow vehicle (if available) helps redirect airflow up and over the trailer nose, reducing the pressure wall that forms in front of blunt trailer faces.
8. Drive Smoothly — Accelerate and Brake Gradually
Hard acceleration from a stop is one of the most fuel-intensive things you can do, especially with a loaded trailer adding inertia. Bring the throttle up gradually and allow plenty of stopping distance so you don't have to brake hard. Smooth driving dramatically reduces the number of acceleration events and keeps your average speed higher with less fuel spent.
Look well ahead when towing. Traffic slowdowns that a solo driver might ignore require early, gentle braking when you have a loaded trailer behind you. Anticipating stops rather than reacting to them saves fuel and reduces wear on your brakes.
9. Keep Your Tow Vehicle Well Maintained
A tow vehicle running at peak mechanical efficiency gets better fuel economy under every condition — especially when towing. Before a towing trip, check that your engine air filter is clean, your oil is fresh, and your spark plugs are in good condition. A clogged air filter alone can reduce fuel economy by 10%.
Make sure your transmission fluid is at the correct level and in good condition. Towing puts extra heat load on the transmission, and degraded fluid forces it to work harder and less efficiently.
10. Plan Your Route to Avoid Hills and Traffic
Elevation changes are extremely costly when towing. Climbing grades consumes far more fuel than flat driving, and the extra weight of a loaded trailer amplifies the effect. If your route has an option between a hilly mountain road and a flatter highway route of similar distance, the flatter route will almost always be more fuel-efficient.
Avoid peak rush-hour traffic when possible. Stop-and-go traffic while towing is the worst-case scenario for fuel economy — you're burning maximum fuel for acceleration while covering minimal distance. An extra 20 minutes of driving time on a lighter-traffic route often saves more fuel than the time it costs.
Fuel Economy Impact by Towing Factor
This table shows how much each factor typically affects your fuel economy when towing:
| Factor | Typical Fuel Economy Impact | Difficulty to Control | Priority |
| Driving speed (75 vs 65 mph) | 10 to 15% improvement | Low, just slow down | High |
| Proper load balance | 5 to 10% improvement | Low, takes 10 minutes | High |
| Correct tire pressure | 3 to 7% improvement | Very Low, 5 minute check | High |
| Smooth acceleration/braking | 5 to 15% improvement | Medium, driving habit | High |
| Reducing trailer weight | 2 to 8% improvement | Low, pack less | High |
| Vehicle maintenance | 5 to 10% improvement | Medium, requires prep | High |
| Use of cruise control | 5 to 10% improvement | Very Low | Medium |
| Aerodynamic improvements | 2 to 5% improvement | Medium | Medium |
| Route planning | 3 to 10% improvement | Medium, requires planning | Medium |
| Right-sized trailer | 5 to 15% improvement | Low, choose at rental | High |
Fuel Economy Improvement by Driving Speed
This chart illustrates the fuel economy gain you can expect by reducing towing speed:
NeighborsTrailer.com
Tow Smarter, Spend Less at the Pump
Getting better fuel economy when towing doesn't require expensive equipment or major changes to your plans. The biggest wins — slowing down, balancing your load, checking tire pressure, and driving smoothly — cost nothing and take minimal effort. Combined, these habits can improve your towing fuel economy by 20–30% compared to driving without attention to efficiency.
When you rent a trailer through Neighbors Trailer, every booking automatically includes NT Protect — our built-in coverage program at just a few dollars per day — so you can focus on the job instead of worrying about what might go wrong on the road.
Want to go deeper on safe, efficient towing? These related guides have you covered: