TommyB80

Hauled my 500 foreman 4-wheeler on an aluminum trailer from NJ to PA yesterday (about 250 miles 1 way) and got between 11-12 mpg. This does not seem right to me. I kept the truck around 72mph and used cruise whenever I could. For such a light load (I figure around 1k) I thought the truck would do a lot better. It's a stock Eco with 15k on it and 3.31 gears. Any thought as to why it would do so poorly?

11BLKFX4EB

Youre going too fast. Keep it under 65 and youll do much better.....

wwest

Without getting into the "load" range wherein boost begins coming online an EcoBoost/twinForce engine operates in an N/A detuned/derated mode. What that means to you in towing is that simply cruisng will always involved majority operations in boost mode, GULPING fuel rapidly.

opinyawn

I've towed with many different vehicles & many different trailers & found that towing always reduces mileage much more than it seems it should. Often wind resistance is more the problem than weight.

SICKQK

I did just slightly worse with an estimated 4500 lbs from NJ to Florida and back. This was with a tall tandem axle box trailer.

I did find the "sweet spot" to between 60-65 mph, that returned around 12 mpg. 75 - 80 mph was closer to 9.5 mpg. My truck has the 3.73 gear set though.

BigMcLargeHuge

Nope, there is no NA mode. I have video proof. Low load = low boost, high load = high boost.


Wwest is a giving bad advice on this forum.

He'll continue to troll until he is banned.

mechanicboy

That is bad imo. I have done the same thing but with about 1k lbs in the bed of the truck and three people and did over 18, BUT it was at 55.

Kenneth Forbus

Agreed, don't listen to Wwest; there is no NA mode or boost mode. It's turbocharged! That's the only mode. Only true statement is more boost the more fuel you burn.

A example of my truck: At 65 miles an hour I usually run a slight vacuum; if I bump it up to 75 I am at around 1 pound of boost. That alone cuts about 2 mpg off my mileage.

I am also going to say your main culprit is speed. I tow my atv on a similar setup very often and get 18-19 miles a gallon at 60-65. Only difference is I have 3.55 gears. Aerodynamics on short trailers like I use and assume you use doesn't hurt gas mileage to bad. I find it hard to think your speed alone would drop your mileage that bad though. My advice is to use the cruise control and slow down on you next trip.

How's your normal gas mileage with the 3.31s?

BigMcLargeHuge

Agreed. Once you get to a point where drag means your truck isn't 'coasting' so much as 'accelerating while maintaining speed' your mileage will plummet.

I'm more a hypermiler (just to see what I can get out of a truck), and I see as high as 27mpg on a straight, flat road, but it means staying between 55-65 on the highway.

BigMcLargeHuge

Yup, see my post here:

https://www.f150forum.com/f70/how-si...0/#post1778206


I can create as many vids in normal driving situations with the boost gauge hooked up pre-intercooler as anybody cares to watch.