Gas mileage feed back

[mark5w]

From "Camping Advisor" article:

RV Rooftop Wind Deflectors
These will work if the situation is just right. The problem with roof top wind deflectors if you are using a pick up truck top pull your 5th wheel is that the wind deflector is too far away from the trailer to work.

Another issue is that the typical wind deflector for a pick up truck is too narrow. It may block some of the wind but the lack of length or width will cause side turbulence.

Studies have shown that the wind deflector needs to be within a few feet of the trailer if it is going to do you any good. The conclusion of those studies stated that the best place for a rooftop wind deflector is on the roof of the trailer itself.

The reasoning behind this thinking is that is where the most wind resistance takes place. Another way to solve your drag and wind resistance problem is to place a rounded wind deflector, called a nose cone, on the front of your trailer.

This option really reduces the drag and other wind issues. But if you are stuck on the roof top, then make sure it sits very close to your trailer and install some gap seals. If you don’t you are probably wasting your money.

[dagst1]

Back in the day I talked to a fellow that had a "wing" on the top of the cab and he hated it. He said only a slight improvement in mileage with the camper but mileage was worse with out the camper. And for the cost it would take years for it to break even let alone pay for it self in fuel savings.

Look at it this way --- If they worked all the trailer delivery companies would have them.

[Yakherder]

Originally Posted by 007matman

A lot of it depends on how you drive. However, I'd really question anyone that says they're getting over 10 mpg with a gasser if they're driving anywhere near the speed limit and have a 30'+ 7k trailer. Maybe some of the newer rigs but even that seems darn near impossible.

I kind'a resemble that post and 007matman you are almost correct.
I have taken three extended with my Tundra 5.7 and ST25RB at 7k.
#1. Winnipeg to Halifax N.S. for 6 weeks distance total travelled was 7821mi and averaged 12.95432 mi/g
#2. Winnipeg to Minneapolis for 5 days distance total travelled was 1457mi and averaged 12.60724 mi/g
#3. Winnipeg to Wyoming for 2 weeks distance total travelled was 2972 mi and averaged 12.63236 mi/g
Purchased truck used in 2018 and distance total travelled is 59,857mi and average 15.44724194 mi/g

I have not kept an individual record for actual trailer time so I can't give the mi/g average for those miles. I know that the lowest has been 8.?? through the mountains and usually around 11.5 or so otherwise.

It should also be noted that our Canadian gallon is a tad larger that the USG so there is a benefit for us there in mi/g but we get beat on the cost.

On the interstate I usually travel around 60 - 65MPH even with good tires all around. I like to take in some of the scenery as well.

I guess if you have any truck pulling a trailer we are all in the same boat for reduced gas mileage. That is the nature of the beast. There are some out there like the Ford turbo that is suppose to be awesome for load capacity and excellent MPG performance but I haven't seen the real specs on that.

[007matman]

Originally Posted by Yakherder

I kind'a resemble that post and 007matman you are almost correct.

I have taken three extended with my Tundra 5.7 and ST25RB at 7k.

#1. Winnipeg to Halifax N.S. for 6 weeks distance total travelled was 7821mi and averaged 12.95432 mi/g

#2. Winnipeg to Minneapolis for 5 days distance total travelled was 1457mi and averaged 12.60724 mi/g

#3. Winnipeg to Wyoming for 2 weeks distance total travelled was 2972 mi and averaged 12.63236 mi/g

Purchased truck used in 2018 and distance total travelled is 59,857mi and average 15.44724194 mi/g



I have not kept an individual record for actual trailer time so I can't give the mi/g average for those miles. I know that the lowest has been 8.?? through the mountains and usually around 11.5 or so otherwise.



It should also be noted that our Canadian gallon is a tad larger that the USG so there is a benefit for us there in mi/g but we get beat on the cost.



On the interstate I usually travel around 60 - 65MPH even with good tires all around. I like to take in some of the scenery as well.



I guess if you have any truck pulling a trailer we are all in the same boat for reduced gas mileage. That is the nature of the beast. There are some out there like the Ford turbo that is suppose to be awesome for load capacity and excellent MPG performance but I haven't seen the real specs on that.

I think my statement is still pretty accurate.

You've got a smaller trailer than I do.. an ST25RB is a 25' box trailer.. total length including hitch is almost 30' but I was referring to box size when I made the statement. Also, dry weight is about 5,714 lbs. You may be right at 7k fully loaded but again, you're at the absolute minimum of what I said in my statement.

Additionally, an imperial gallon is 0.83267 that of a US Gallon. Taking that into consideration and using an online calculator and your rough average of 13mpg (all time) I come up with about 10.8mpg (US).

I'd say that it's a pretty accurate statement. A gasser isn't going to do as well as a Diesel.. it's just physics. However, not everyone needs that.

[Papa-T]

Just saying:

[007matman]

It varies based on where you are.. around here right now Diesel is actually less (or at least it was last weekend when I was out last).

There is also the whole Diesel gets better mileage thing..

There is a reason those semis run Diesel rather than Gas.

[DavisK]

Originally Posted by Yakherder

There are some out there like the Ford turbo that is suppose to be awesome for load capacity and excellent MPG performance but I haven't seen the real specs on that.

Ford recommends premium gasoline for their EcoBoost engines and states on their website that the EcoBoost performance is based upon the use of premium gasoline. Around here premium is more than diesel.

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by DavisK

Ford recommends premium gasoline for their EcoBoost engines and states on their website that the EcoBoost performance is based upon the use of premium gasoline. Around here premium is more than diesel.

When did they start recommending premium? Is this something recent?


This is from my owners manual.

[Rrizz]

It may surprise alot of folks, but I've read many times that there is absolutely no benefit to use premium fuel if your manufacturer recommends regular. I believe it was like 4% of vehicles are recommended for premium fuel.
I know a few friends that will argue all day long that it increases fuel economy, engine runs smoother, quieter, blah, blah, blah. People believe what they want to believe, and I'm ok with that.
If anyone is familiar with the "fuel doctor", just know that someone got rich peddling that bit of snake oil !!!
to each his own, I say

[Papa-T]

Just made the trip from NC to upper Ohio. Gas 6.6 MPG-10.8

[jmnsn57]

RRIZZ, I know this may not be apples to apples but?! I own and have modified a 2006 Mustang 4.6L from 325 to 425 HP with dyno results. After the bolt on upgrades and a special tuner modification to the ECM, my performance and mileage were significantly better with 93 octane. I kept stock mufflers to up the backpressure which helps improve torque but a loss in top end HP. I have increased from 15 mpg to 18 mpg on the highway at 65-70 mph on cruise. That said I tuned for 93 octane which is $.40 per gal higher in Rochester. The math says I save about a penny a mile and can get there much faster. She's just under 12 sec in the quarter and on a long run hits 182 mph.

[Rrizz]

Sounds like fun…. But I don’t think you’re mileage is as good in a quarter at about 115 mph ��

[egrum]

My thoughts are if you're concerned about gas mileage, Don't buy an RV.
2016 Ford F150 Lariat pulling a 2012 Crossroads Sunset Trail and I get about 10mpg, as long as I stay in the 55-60mph range.
Worst I got was coming across the bottom of Saskatchewan, fighting a (30-40mph) head wind the whole time, engine RPM was almost at 3000 to do 50mph (usually just over 2000, to do 50-55mph) I got about 4-5 mpg literally stopped in every town to fill up as I was unsure if the next small farming town had a fuel station open

[TexSon]

I have a 2020 Silverado HD3500 Duramax and pulling a 10000lbs 37 foot bumper pull trailer have been getting right at 10mpg at 65mph. Depends on what you pull and where you go. Pulling a 1-1500lbs lighter Zinger that was about 5 or 6 feet shorter, but a more blunt nose cone, I got about 8 mpg.

[Dallasrules]

Originally Posted by ClintWDecker

What year is your truck and what's your normal mpgs?

2006 dodge 3500 sa 8' bed, crew cab diesel. 21mpg empty. 14 might with my 37' 5th wheel. Who said dodge gets bad mileage???

[Yakherder]

Has anyone used the Bully Dog tuner or similar product to enhance the performance of their engine. I think it's called CHIP your engine. I've heard about them but don't know how well they work on a truck under heavy load for long distances.

[toolman.dustin]

My 32' trailer weights about 8100 lbs loaded.
2016 Tundra, 5.7 liter (gasoline).

At 63 mph, and 91 octane fuel I average 10.3 mpg.
At 63 mph, and 87 octane I average 9.5 mpg.
At 75 mph, and 91 octane I average 9.2 mpg and
At 75 mph and 87 octane I get 8.5 mpg.

When not towing the octane doesn't make any difference, I'll average about 13.8 mpg.
I installed a ScanGauge 2 controller to closely monitor various functions, including transmission temperature.
Speed makes a huge difference in transmission temperature (as well as fuel economy). So I rarely drive over 65 mph, because of transmission temperature. Without the trailer and driving 75 the trans temp is right at 192. With the trailer driving 75 the trans will raise to 124. At 65mph the trans stays right at 203.
Bottom line, I drive the transmission temperature and pretty much ignore the mpg.

My goal is to not exceed 210 degrees, so downshift or slow down. Fairly easy to stay under 218. One time while following a friend in Colorado it got up to 230 for about 20 minutes, I had to back off and let him go. I pick 210 as that's a relatively safe temp to keep from burning trans fluid.

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by Yakherder

Has anyone used the Bully Dog tuner or similar product to enhance the performance of their engine. I think it's called CHIP your engine. I've heard about them but don't know how well they work on a truck under heavy load for long distances.

I had a 2003 2500 Duramax. We bought it new and I had the Bully Dog installed. It had 3 power settings you could choose on the go. I think they were labeled economy, tow, and extreme. Each giving a different HP out put. It definitely made a big difference in mpg, PLUS power.
When the dealer got done installing it he said, lets go for a ride. he had me put the controller in extreme. If you held the brake pedal for a second when you put the gas pedal down, it would smoke all four tires in 4wd.
I found it very impressive!

[Yakherder]

Thanks Lloyd for your post on the Bully Dog experience. Do you recall how it affected your MPG in the three modes, in particular in the towing?

Also, how is your Eco-Boost? I had looked at one before I bought the Tundra but had heard Ford had problems with the Turbos going on them and very costly to replace.

A friend had his Ford F250 4X4 chipped and he stated he could burn rubber with it. That is extreme!

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by Yakherder

Thanks Lloyd for your post on the Bully Dog experience. Do you recall how it affected your MPG in the three modes, in particular in the towing?

Also, how is your Eco-Boost? I had looked at one before I bought the Tundra but had heard Ford had problems with the Turbos going on them and very costly to replace.

A friend had his Ford F250 4X4 chipped and he stated he could burn rubber with it. That is extreme!

To long ago. I don't remember how much it helped the mileage when towing. I do know it improved it. Back then I still thought I was a kid. It was more of a new toy/gadget.

I don't really think it would pay for it's self just by gas/diesel savings. It was just fun.


So far the Eco-Boost is still behaving. No problems---yet. Don't want to jinx myself.
I know one guy here personally that has a twin to mine. I asked him about a year ago about his. He said he had 130,000 mi. on it at that time and no problems.