Hey guys and gals: did my first real tow job this weekend with new travel trailer at about 5000#'s. Ran about 240 miles round trip and only got about 11 mpg. Expected better. I admit I did run in OD the whole trip as it was rolling hills and ran 65mph at about 1800rpm. Did shift and run at about 2200rpm just a few times. I guess I was expecting maybe more like 14mpg as I normally get 16-17mpg with mixed city/highway miles. Anything I can do to raise this? Thanks!
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97 F250 SuperCab 4x4. No Mods -- Yet!
you are doing better than me, the highest I have EVER seen is 14 mpg running empty at 60 mph with a tail wind, mostly it is 12 or 13 empty, and towing is about 10.5 mpg.
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1997 F-350 7.3 PSD XLT crewcab longbed, 4.10s limited slip, 4 wheel drive with WARN manual hubs, auto trans, 120,900 miles, (bought in 2004 with 92K) Centurian model except exterior visor removed and tossed, truck leveled by lowering rear leaf springs 3 inches so this old man can climb into the bed, matching topper shell and wrap around KargoMaster ladder rack, front push bar and front hitch, and it goes faster because it is red.
TYMAR air, 3 inch magnaflow down pipe.
sometimes pulling a 20 foot Interstate 10K enclosed car hauler, 18 foot 10K flatbed, or 18 foot boat.
1977 Ford F-250 2wd, 60 K original miles, 400 cid
1988 S-10 Blazer, daily driver
my toy on the farm- 1950 Ferguson TO-20 tractor
11/12 is fair......consider the frontal area of the trailer, normally 64 square feet if it is a tag-a-long. it is like dragging a parachute.
vince
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1996 F-350 auto XLT CC SRW 4x4 off road. Hypermax dp, Hayden aux elect fan, 285/75-16 BFG at's, factory ford locking hubs, 6,900#'s empty.
Integrity: Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. PHOTOS
The worst I've seen is 9mpg towing about 9K lbs. I usually tow around 60 - 65 mph. Anything faster & she really sucks down the fuel. Our previous camper weighed about 2K lbs less & the milage was slightly better, but not much. Compared to the gas powered truck I used to have this is great. If I got 6mpg with my gasser I was excited! Give me a diesel any day!!
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'96 F-350 Crew Cab Dually XLT, E4OD w/sonnex & tricume springs, 4:10 gears, Western diesel down pipe & HX hose. B&M Hi-Tek trans cooler w/fan. DP Tuners F5. Tymar intake & 4" exhaust.
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Hey guys and gals: did my first real tow job this weekend with new travel trailer at about 5000#'s. Ran about 240 miles round trip and only got about 11 mpg. Expected better. I admit I did run in OD the whole trip as it was rolling hills and ran 65mph at about 1800rpm. Did shift and run at about 2200rpm just a few times. I guess I was expecting maybe more like 14mpg as I normally get 16-17mpg with mixed city/highway miles. Anything I can do to raise this? Thanks!
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I get 10-12 with a camper on the truck and pulling a car trailer. I noticed if I really took it easy and only went 60 with a light foot my mileage actually went to 14 on the last trip. On the way back I had a headwind and my mileage was about 10mpg. Keep you rpms lower (like 1600) and don't be afraid to lose a little speed on the hills. Make sure your tires are fully inflated also.
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'97 F350 PSD E4OD CC 4x4
265/75/16, BB shim=73psi, Open Element, 10K with switch on dash, IDM mod, 30K Hayden tranny cooler, 3" downpipe, 4" straight pipe, the usual gauges, Bullydog 6 position chip. Biodiesel as much as possible.
[quote Keep you rpms lower (like 1600) and don't be afraid to lose a little speed on the hills.
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WOOOwwww That's only 54 mph in My truck and I have 3.55 gears! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
And less than 47 mph with 4.10's.
I'm all for saving fuel.....but running that slow on an Interstate is deadly....and getting REAL close to the minimum required speed of 45 MPH that WILL get You ticketed for impeeding the flow of traffic. I'd suggest turning up the wick a bit.... 2000-2100
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Denny
'96 F-250 Reg. Cab 4X4 5-sp POWERSTROKE
294,000 mi & NO Problems, LUK Clutch, and the Cat is buried in the back yard!
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[quote Keep you rpms lower (like 1600) and don't be afraid to lose a little speed on the hills.
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WOOOwwww That's only 54 mph in My truck and I have 3.55 gears! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
And less than 47 mph with 4.10's.
I'm all for saving fuel.....but running that slow on an Interstate is deadly....and getting REAL close to the minimum required speed of 45 MPH that WILL get You ticketed for impeeding the flow of traffic. I'd suggest turning up the wick a bit.... 2000-2100
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Hmmmm....I do 60 at 1600rpms. 285s, 4.10s. I use overdrive until I hit a hill. Not quite sure why your mph is so different.
PS I agree on not going below 60 on the freeway (hills are an exception though but don't go below 50 for sure).
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'97 F350 PSD E4OD CC 4x4
265/75/16, BB shim=73psi, Open Element, 10K with switch on dash, IDM mod, 30K Hayden tranny cooler, 3" downpipe, 4" straight pipe, the usual gauges, Bullydog 6 position chip. Biodiesel as much as possible.
I have a 350 1996 van with the 3.55 gear. Towing a 34 3 axle airstream 10K dry weitht got 15.5 to 16, about 60/65 with OD off. Went to at 25 foot Avion ( an airstream look alike) at 5K lbs and got around 14.5/15 same speed but leaving overdrive engaged. I think the Airstream had a little less resistance to wind even though it was 9 feet longer and 5k heavier I got better mileage
with my experience with my old 96 my dad owned for 8 years and me for 2 getting 11mpg on rolling hills is not that bad. We towed a 29ft prowler about 8000lbs climbing hills and got 9.5-11. This spring before i sold the 96 towing a 14x7 enclosed trailer with 2 four wheelers in it i got 10-12 mpg(but my foot was all in it climbing the hills)
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[quote Keep you rpms lower (like 1600) and don't be afraid to lose a little speed on the hills.
[/ QUOTE ]
WOOOwwww That's only 54 mph in My truck and I have 3.55 gears! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
And less than 47 mph with 4.10's.
I'm all for saving fuel.....but running that slow on an Interstate is deadly....and getting REAL close to the minimum required speed of 45 MPH that WILL get You ticketed for impeeding the flow of traffic. I'd suggest turning up the wick a bit.... 2000-2100
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Hmmmm....I do 60 at 1600rpms. 285s, 4.10s. I use overdrive until I hit a hill. Not quite sure why your mph is so different.
PS I agree on not going below 60 on the freeway (hills are an exception though but don't go below 50 for sure).
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I have 4.10's also with 285 tires but I am running around 2100 at 60 mph.....
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Dont drive faster than your Angel can fly....
1995 F-250 XLT PSD Ext-cab 4X4 4:10 gears, straight pipe, 3" downpipe, shimmed FPR, Tony Wildman 4pos.chip, dash mounted triple gauge, modified EBPV to exh. brake, baldwin PA2818 open element intake, MileMarker SS manual hubs, tru-cool "max" tranny cooler. 200,000mi service included injector job, lift pump & hoses, IPR valve, CPS,MAP,EBP,BARO,ICP sensors, new poly bushings w/extended front spring shackles, and new carrier bearings in the rear axle. used to haul the 11.5ft camper and pull the halibut/dive boat or polaris toy trailer. GVW when ready to go, 17,000lbs. with 4 sets of dive gear on the boat.
90' F-350 crewcab, IDI diesel, dually flatbed w/airbags.
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