Simple Ways to Improve Caravan Fuel Efficiency

By Pitch Perfect: Setting Up Your Caravan on Site
Comments 35
16 Sep 2026

Simple Ways to Improve Caravan Fuel Efficiency

Why Towing Drinks So Much Fuel

Hitching up the caravan and heading off is one of the great pleasures of a British summer, but there is no getting around the fact that dragging a large white box behind you changes the economics of a journey. A typical car that returns 45 mpg solo might drop to somewhere between 22 and 30 mpg when towing, with the exact figure depending on the outfit, the weather and how heavy your right foot is.

The reason is straightforward physics. You are pulling perhaps 1,300 kg of extra weight, and you have roughly doubled your frontal area, which means aerodynamic drag rises sharply. Above about 50 mph, drag becomes the dominant force, which is why motorway speeds are where towing really hurts your wallet. The good news is that a handful of simple, low-cost habits can make a genuine difference of 10 to 20 per cent over a season's touring.

Keep the Weight Down

Every kilogram you tow has to be accelerated, dragged up hills and stopped again. Lighter outfits are safer as well as cheaper to run, so it is worth having a ruthless sort-out before your first trip of the year.

Empty the water system before travelling. A 40-litre onboard tank is 40 kg of dead weight, and you can fill up at the site tap on arrival.
Leave the awning at home for short breaks in settled weather. A full awning with poles can easily weigh 35 to 45 kg.
Travel with one gas bottle rather than two if it suits your trip, and only top up the one you need.
Watch the extras — the second leisure battery, the heavy tool kit, the extra chairs. They add up surprisingly quickly.
Respect your nose weight and payload as stated on the caravan's plate and in your car's handbook. Getting this wrong is unsafe, not just inefficient.

As a rough rule of thumb, every extra 100 kg in the van can add around 1 per cent to your fuel consumption, so a good clear-out genuinely pays.

Check Your Tyre Pressures Properly

This is the single most overlooked item on the checklist. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, generate heat and wear out faster, and on a caravan they can contribute to a blowout.

Check all tyres — car front and rear, and both caravan wheels — when the tyres are cold, before you set off.
If your car's handbook lists a higher rear pressure for towing, use it. Many owners never do.
Caravan tyre pressures are usually specified on a plate near the door or in the handbook, and often sit in the 40 to 65 psi range. Inflate to the figure for your actual load.
Have a look at the date codes. Caravan tyres often perish from age before they wear out, and anything over five to seven years old deserves attention.

Correctly inflated tyres roll more freely, run cooler and give you a more stable tow — three benefits for five minutes of work with a decent gauge.

Drive Smoothly and Slow Down a Little

Towing rewards a gentle, anticipatory style. Look far ahead, ease off the accelerator for junctions rather than braking late, and let the outfit lose speed naturally on downhill sections.

The biggest single saving is speed. Dropping from 60 mph to 55 mph on a motorway can cut fuel use noticeably, and sitting at 50 mph on a quiet dual carriageway is better again. You are limited to 60 mph on motorways and dual carriageways, 50 mph on single carriageways and 30 mph in built-up areas, and frankly there is no rush when you are meant to be on holiday.

Use the highest gear the engine will comfortably pull in, and let the turbo do the work rather than revving hard up hills.
Be cautious with cruise control. It will fight to hold speed up a long drag, burning more fuel than a relaxed driver would.
Avoid idling while hitching up or waiting to check in — switch off.
Take the roof box off the car. If you are already towing, a roof box in addition to the caravan is a serious aerodynamic penalty.

Plan the Route, Not Just the Destination

Route choice matters more than most people expect. Motorways and smooth trunk roads are usually the most efficient for a heavy outfit, because you keep rolling at a steady speed instead of constantly stopping and starting. Twisty A roads with steep climbs and tight bends will cost you dear.

Think about timing as well. Setting off very early or later in the evening means you avoid the worst congestion, and less time in queues means less fuel wasted going nowhere. A satnav or app with a caravan or towing profile will steer you clear of narrow lanes, low bridges and awkward weight restrictions, which saves both stress and unnecessary braking.

Do a little homework on the route in advance, note where the hills are, and aim to break the journey somewhere pleasant. A relaxed two-hour stint beats a frantic dash every time.

Look After the Car Itself

An efficiently running tow car is a frugal tow car. Keep the service schedule up to date, change the air filter when it is due, and use the correct grade of oil. Dirty oil and a clogged filter both quietly cost you money at the pumps.

Check the tyre pressures on the caravan and car regularly through the season, not just once in spring. Remove any bike racks or other accessories you are not using, keep the windows closed at speed, and be honest with yourself about whether you need the air conditioning on every mile of a mild day.

None of this requires special equipment or a change of lifestyle. Load sensibly, inflate properly, drive gently and plan ahead, and you will find your touring budget stretches further — leaving more for the things that really matter, like a cream tea on arrival.

Towing

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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