ECOBOOST towing mpg
11-25-2014, 10:33 AM
#21
That would be nice, but when the interstate is 2 or 3 lanes wide, all loaded with traffic going the speed limit, I'd rather go with the flow than create a roadblock and get passed by every car and semi on the highway. At least that's the way it is going up/down the east coast on I-95, or up through Atlanta on I-75. I feel much better settling in with the rest of the traffic than creating a traffic jam in the lane behind me. .
I'll happily let everyone buzz by me as I enjoy a peaceful trip. Someone cuts me off, it doesn't matter. They are going faster than I am and the gap between me and them is getting bigger and bigger due to the speed differential.
Honestly, after pulling my trailer over 8k miles, it has affected my day to day driving. I tend to drive right at the speed limit now and watch as the crazies go blowing by. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blocking traffic flow. There is plenty of time and room for others to go around me.
And all of my travels are east coast as well. Knoxville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Asheville, charleston, etc.
I won't clutter this thread up any more than I already have, just wanted to air my thoughts.
11-25-2014, 10:53 AM
#22
Senior Member
I also have gained more patience with many long rv trips both east and west from Michigan but never up and down east coast. I find many semi's driving in the 60's and I just settle in. Being retired I can travel in the shoulder seasons when there is less traffic.
11-25-2014, 12:08 PM
#23
Senior Member
Not sure who you are talking to, but yes most trailer tires are rated at 65mph. I don't run trailer tires. I run load range E truck tires on my trailer, Have for years, same as my dad did for years before me. Have way less trailer tire problems. And actually run the Goodyear G series tires on the big gooseneck. They are 14ply rated.
11-25-2014, 07:11 PM
#24
Senior Member
Honestly I don't understand what some of you guys are complaining about. I topped off the 36 gallon take today at $2.49 per gallon and I'm a happy camper! Even at my average 14mpg, the low cost of fuel is equivalent to 20+ mpg over last years fuel cost 
Also makes me kind of sad for all the diesel (my truck is bigger than yours) guys who are filling at 50-cents more per gallon!? Ouch... I'll take my ecoboost and cheap regular unleaded fuel any day...
Also makes me kind of sad for all the diesel (my truck is bigger than yours) guys who are filling at 50-cents more per gallon!? Ouch... I'll take my ecoboost and cheap regular unleaded fuel any day...
11-25-2014, 10:42 PM
#25
Senior Member
Honestly I don't understand what some of you guys are complaining about. I topped off the 36 gallon take today at $2.49 per gallon and I'm a happy camper! Even at my average 14mpg, the low cost of fuel is equivalent to 20+ mpg over last years fuel cost
Also makes me kind of sad for all the diesel (my truck is bigger than yours) guys who are filling at 50-cents more per gallon!? Ouch... I'll take my ecoboost and cheap regular unleaded fuel any day...
Also makes me kind of sad for all the diesel (my truck is bigger than yours) guys who are filling at 50-cents more per gallon!? Ouch... I'll take my ecoboost and cheap regular unleaded fuel any day...
11-27-2014, 12:24 PM
#27
Grumpy Old Man
For the 11+ years I had an F-250 diesel towing an 8,000-pound mid-profile 5er, about 62 or 63 MPH was my max MPG. Slower and the engine RPM was too low for adequate HP, so the tranny downshifted too often to maintain good MPG. And faster, the aerodynamic drag increased to reduce MPG on the plains, from about 12 MPG @ 62 to about 8 MPG @ 75 . So I usually cruised at 62 MPH with that rig.
For the F-150 EcoBoost dragging a 5,000-pound TT for the last ~2 years, the optimum RPM for MPG is still about 63 to 65 MPH. But there are so many variables, including terrain and wind as well as speed, that it's harder to tie down the optimum speed for MPG. I have learned that premium gas will more than pay for the additional cost with slightly improved MPG. Like brulaz, I get about 0.7 or 0.8 MPG better on premium when towing. That doesn't save me any money, but the engine seems to be happier with the premium gas when towing. My MPG varies from about 9 to about 10, depending on wind and terrain, and cruising with cruise control at 65 MPH.
We use our trailer as a travel trailer, not a camper. We need to have our pottie handy at all times, and Darling Wife hates packing and unpacking, loading and unloading suitcases and pillows at motels. For example, next week we plan to travel to Knoxville TN in two long days, dragging our pottie with us, to visit daughter and grandkids. We'll sleep in the trailer one night on that leg, probably around Jackson MS. Then on to Knoxville via Birmingham and Chattanooga. Then we head to the coast on I-95 south of Myrtle Beach SC and spend two days and three nights in an RV park visiting snowbird friends from Canada. Then on down to St Mary's GA and spend three nights at a Navy RV park while visiting my granddaughter and her Navy hubby. Then two or three days home, staying in RV parks on I-10 and I-20. It costs us a bit more for gas and RV park bills compared to Motel 6 bills, but we think it's worth it to not have to look for a pottie when we need it.
11-27-2014, 02:01 PM
#28
Senior Member
Around here, metro Atlanta, GA, Regular is $2.799, Diesel is $3.499 (high taxes here)
$3.499/18.0=$.194/mile
$2.799/14.4=$.194/mile
So any gasoline fueled truck getting at least 14.4 mpg has a fuel cost equal to a diesel fueled truck getting 18 mpg.
My '13 EB gets 24 mpg unloaded at 65 mph and 12 mpg towing a 6700# travel trailer toy hauler at 55 mph. It's close to its GVWR and rear GAWR when towing the camper (but within specified limits), but I am happy with it. It is my only 4 wheeled vehicle, so I don't have the choice of a car as a daily driver. My alternate is a motorcycle. I knew I didn't want a HD truck as a daily driver, so this one fits the bill.
$3.499/18.0=$.194/mile
$2.799/14.4=$.194/mile
So any gasoline fueled truck getting at least 14.4 mpg has a fuel cost equal to a diesel fueled truck getting 18 mpg.
My '13 EB gets 24 mpg unloaded at 65 mph and 12 mpg towing a 6700# travel trailer toy hauler at 55 mph. It's close to its GVWR and rear GAWR when towing the camper (but within specified limits), but I am happy with it. It is my only 4 wheeled vehicle, so I don't have the choice of a car as a daily driver. My alternate is a motorcycle. I knew I didn't want a HD truck as a daily driver, so this one fits the bill.
11-27-2014, 02:08 PM
#29
For the 11+ years I had an F-250 diesel towing an 8,000-pound mid-profile 5er, about 62 or 63 MPH was my max MPG. Slower and the engine RPM was too low for adequate HP, so the tranny downshifted too often to maintain good MPG. And faster, the aerodynamic drag increased to reduce MPG on the plains, from about 12 MPG @ 62 to about 8 MPG @ 75 . So I usually cruised at 62 MPH with that rig. For the F-150 EcoBoost dragging a 5,000-pound TT for the last ~2 years, the optimum RPM for MPG is still about 63 to 65 MPH. But there are so many variables, including terrain and wind as well as speed, that it's harder to tie down the optimum speed for MPG. I have learned that premium gas will more than pay for the additional cost with slightly improved MPG. Like brulaz, I get about 0.7 or 0.8 MPG better on premium when towing. That doesn't save me any money, but the engine seems to be happier with the premium gas when towing. My MPG varies from about 9 to about 10, depending on wind and terrain, and cruising with cruise control at 65 MPH. We use our trailer as a travel trailer, not a camper. We need to have our pottie handy at all times, and Darling Wife hates packing and unpacking, loading and unloading suitcases and pillows at motels. For example, next week we plan to travel to Knoxville TN in two long days, dragging our pottie with us, to visit daughter and grandkids. We'll sleep in the trailer one night on that leg, probably around Jackson MS. Then on to Knoxville via Birmingham and Chattanooga. Then we head to the coast on I-95 south of Myrtle Beach SC and spend two days and three nights in an RV park visiting snowbird friends from Canada. Then on down to St Mary's GA and spend three nights at a Navy RV park while visiting my granddaughter and her Navy hubby. Then two or three days home, staying in RV parks on I-10 and I-20. It costs us a bit more for gas and RV park bills compared to Motel 6 bills, but we think it's worth it to not have to look for a pottie when we need it.
We did the myrtle beach run this fall as well.
11-27-2014, 03:22 PM
#30
Grumpy Old Man
At daughter's house on one of the Tennessee River Authority (TVA) lakes outside Knoxville. She has a coupla acres there. Last time we visited there, we went across town to Dollywood and saw that rodeo/show called Dixie Stampede. Decent food and good show.
http://pigeon-forge.dixiestampede.co...-portal-hero-5