One Month on the Road w/ 08 F-450

[DesertSailor]

So far:
Been on the road a month now. Spent 10 days in So. Ill. for Dad's funeral and associated duties.

June has been more vacation-like. WA-OR-ID-UT-WY-CO-KS-MO-IL-KY-TN-VA-PA-NY-MA-CT-NH-ME-NB-NS.
Tonight is coastal camping in NB (New Brunswick, Canada).

Total miles this trip - 6312.7 mi
Total fuel - 790.294 gal
Total mileage - 7.987 mpg

Towing mileage has stayed 6.0 - 7.5 mpg by hand calc after each fill up. The computer displays a more optimistic number by 1 - 1.5 mpg...cute.

Have discovered that if you want "bragging rights" you can always reset your computer's display while coasting down an incline in OD for AMAZING numbers!!!! However the start uphill will show reality very quickly! (One hill in Nova Scotia saw a max of 34 mpg!!! I started the top at 55 mph and coasted down lightly feathering the throttle so the auto tranny/engine brake function wouldn't kick in...THAT is weird!)

Noticed today some oddities about mr. 5 speed tranny...tends to downshift when on a grade with no "following throttle" input from your foot. IE: let off throttle and try to coast from 55 mph on fairly good grade will result in downshift to 4th and consequently higher RPMs (NOT when desired!!). Actually saw 3700 RPMs today which scared the crap outa me!!! 70 mph downhill in 4th! Who knew!!

Love the integrated brake system. Love the power. Love the tranny (I think). Love the comfort inside. And the NAV system works pretty darn well for all that I've asked of it so far!!

Dislikes:

1. Mileage...but what do ya expect?? 55-70 (short spurts to 75) mph with essentially a 26,000lb GCWR and a 4.88 rear end...has a cost! 55 mph is the best mpg (8-9.5 mpg) but has a towing kickdown in gear selection vs torque. 65 mph plus stays in OD for most gentle to moderate grades but mpg is reliably 7-8.
2. Heat from exhaust is wrecking my trim on passenger side leading edge of Raptor. In high heat areas the added heat from the exhaust makes the trim soft and allows wind to pull the entire strip loose from the carriage. Not a nice flapper! Duct tape is holding but is weathering.
3. Exhaust heat is high enough to melt mud flaps...front of TH is paying the price for debris kick up.
4. Still wish I'd a gotten a TITANIUM TH. Solid rig AND aerodynamic!!(among other good touches!!)

...and now I gotta start thinking about L/km ???

DS

[ritschner]

A couple of suggestions for your consideration. When towing and once I get to highway speeds, I take mine out of tow/haul. You do not get the constant shifting or the downhill engine braking on small hills. Then when when approaching larger hills or if engine braking is needed, I will reengauge tow/haul. You might want to consider ditching the fancy factory tips and using turndowns, it will help with the heat. Fuel mileage should increase with miles on the truck. I have 4.30's and just finished a round trip to LA (2700 miles) and averaged 9.2 mpg (hand calculated). That was at 25,500lbs at 65 mph.

[DesertSailor]

Thanks U-turn.

Had a similar thought run through my head last night while staring into the firepit (re:tow/haul use)...recalled - on here - folks saying use it while in motion no detrimental effect. Big dummy me, I just punched it in upon hook up and let er go the whole way. Good tip.

The exhaust system though?? I'd like to see FORD come out with extensions or a factory "Towing Down turn" to address the issue. Hell what I'd really like is to OPEN THIS SUCKER UP....but my warranty scares me too much!!! Gotta believe a 4 to 5 inch open pipe would sound REAL sweet and EVERY diesel ever made operates on "SUCK AND BLOW"...minimize restrictions to either and efficiency increases. GREEN machines don't go that way though...and Canada probably is more restrictive in their interpretations of "stock" vs "modified".

[Dieselgem]

Either one of you use an areo-travel or some other wind deflector? I was thinking about putting one on my truck.

[wingnut60]

DesertSailor--don't have an '08, but on my '04 and now an '07--anytime I am in Tow/Haul going downhill, when the computer senses speed increase w/o throttle, it will downshift one gear. If you press the brake, maybe one more gear down. And yes, the rpms can scare you when it goes to 2nd and screams. I find myself using the T/H button to brake, then speed up by turning it off, then brake again.

[clayton1953]

I have thought about wind deflector but have not installed. Everyone that I have talked to that have one, says that it does not increase fuel mileage but it keeps the bugs off front of 5th wheel. I am averaging 8 to 8 1/2 pulling 18k. Am looking at Gear Venders over/under drive to increase mileage. Am running 08 F450 4.30, at 65mph turning about 2100rpm's.

[ritschner]

I do not believe a Gear Vendors unit will help your towing mileage. Your truck is in the power band at your towing speed. It will, I believe, help your empty mileage but will take a long time to recoup the cost of the unit and installation. A more cost effective way to increase mileage would be to shorten the pin-box, if you have the long one used for short bed trucks, and bring the trailer closer to the back of the cab. I did that on the last fifth-wheel I had and increased towing mileage by eight percent. Also, fuel mileage tends to increase with wear on these trucks. I just returned from a 2400 mile round trip to LA pulling an Excel 35FLE and two Jet Skies 25,500 lbs gross and averaged 9.2 mpg (hand calculated) at 65 mph. My truck also has 4.30s and 21,000 miles on the odometer.

[cstones]

Just to add to Dieselgem Aerotravel Wind deflector, It is worth every penny.
It has saved me about 10% in fuel cost as well as keeping the front of our trailer clean when in tow, for those who want to see our wing click this link http://picasaweb.google.com/happycamper64 to view our photos.

It will be one of the first things I install on our new truck. there are three versions of the wing available ours is the aerotravel 2 it has a higher slope (pitch up) for taller trailers you can also get the add on second level wing.

Available in stainless steel or white powder coat (paintable)
Link to web site http://wingmaster.com/

Will post the picks as soon as we get our rig.

Chris

[JimTJr]

WOW,, a Winged Sprint Astro Van!!!!!

[cstones]

Ya! I thought some one would get a kick out of it! Everyware we go with out the trailer we get the looks!!! all kidding a side it serves it purpose.

Now we have to look forward to our new Rig 08 King Ranch 450 DRW I think the wing will look in it's place then!

Chris