12 Valve Tow Mileage

[jimnance]

I just completed a 600 mile run down Californa's San Joaquin Valley with my '93 CTD. Average mileage hand calculated was 20. 8 MPG pulling an 18' pole trailer weighing about 2,000 lbs. Admittedly, this wasn't much of a tow. Even so, I was surprised how well the old 12 valve did considering I was dragging around four extra tires and a ton of weight at 65 MPH. My '07 might get 18 MPG with no load in tow under the same conditions.



Anyway, the trip restores my feelings the 'ol '93 is my best CTD. I may not wish to hook up my 15,000 lb fiver to it, but for general banging around she's hard to beat!

 

[champspa]

11. 8 pulling gooseneck with tractor. goose and tractor weigh 16k

 

[WestTN]

This should be telling you the weight isn't terribly important for fuel mileage. It's the wind resistance and speed that cost so much to overcome.

 

[jimnance]

Return trip was 13. 7 with four tons of steel loaded on the trailer. Weight is important, but I agree that wind drag is very important as well.

 

[McCRam]

Also the terrain is important as well. On one trip I make frequently I get 2 mpg better coming back home than I get going the other way.