how to increase mpg while towing?

[Sherman]

I am looking for ways to increase mpg while towing a 14000# horse trailer,the truck is an 04 305/555 6sd drw 4. 10 jake,the truck has plenty of power,at 70 mph it gets 10. 6 mpg at 2200rpm good considering the load,and is box stock,after following TDR for a few months there is not a lot of specific info on real mpg gains on all the bombs I read about,lots of power increase info but no real mpg info to go with the power increase,this truck is used for pulling only and in stock trim does a few good job any improvements must have a mpg gain relative to the cost of the change. Any ideas on bombs that produce mpg gains and torgue increases are a bonus!!!!

 

[TowPro]

I know you don't want to here it, but the best thing I have found was to SLOW DOWN. with my big 5er at 64 I get around 10, at 55 I get around 12, at 45 I get around 14, see the trend?

 

[Sherman]

Originally posted by TowPro

I know you don't want to here it, but the best thing I have found was to SLOW DOWN. with my big 5er at 64 I get around 10, at 55 I get around 12, at 45 I get around 14, see the trend?

Can't imagine 45 mph, they will love you on the interstate!

 

[RustyJC]

The only thing that's going to make a significant difference is to slow down. The main thing we're fighting when towing (we pull a 13,500 lb 36' 5th wheel that's 13'2" tall) is aerodynamic drag, and the only way to markedly reduce that is to reduce speed.



Rusty

 

[jeepit]

Try 62 mph. Thats seems to work best for me.

 

[mikel]

I'll have to agree, run less than 70mph and you'll get better mileage. I can make mid 14's with my truck and trailer at about 65mph. I drop to 12's or so at 70 ~ 72.



Mike

 

[BILLYGEE]

Like everybody says: Stay off the skinny pedal. In towing an RV wind resistance is a big factor(whether bucking a headwind or in dead air) as well as the rolling resistance of the additional load. I can pull my 22' travel trailer(older, heavier vintage) and get 12mpg but once I went to SD and after getting into western MN I put the hammer down and got as low as 9mpg. Empty when I go to the cottage, running 70-72 for 2/3 of the way and 60 the rest I get 19-20. Last October I left home and set the cruise at 62 and left her there the whole trip, got 23mpg that trip. All of these are hand calculated as I do so with every fillup. Winter blend would probably get a little less mileage also. Bill

 

[TowPro]

I can't take credit for this work, somebody else posted this on Rec. RV so I put it up on a webserver.



http://mywebpages.comcast.net/towpro/dieselhtml/diesel.htm



Across the bottom are several "tabs" you can click on, look at the one that says HP vrs Horsepower

 

[klenger]

I think the tab for HP vs headwind says it all. It takes twice the HP to go 80 MPH as opposed to 60 MPH.

 

[Okie-Go]

I bought a chicken slide (air dam) for the truck. I was told if I don't get 10% better milage to send it back. I still have it. Look at the over the road trucks, they have one or the truck is designed to throw air over or to the top of the trailer. Next time you fuel at a truck stop ask a driver if he has driven one without the chicken slide. You can tell the difference. It seems like the people I have talked to want one but don't want to spend the money. I can have mine on and tightened down in about 10 minutes. They are a bit pricey but diesel isen't gettting any cheaper around here either.

 

[TowPro]

I hear what your saying about the air dam, but 10% of 10mph is only 1 more mpg. At $1. 69 per gallon you have to drive 24,000 miles to save $370. 00. I guess for some people that would pay for itself but not the miles I tow the camper.



My Terry 5er has a slanted front, about the same angle as that "wing" used on the big trucks.



Another option is to get an aerodynamic camper like a Titanium.

 

[JRMora]

Originally posted by Okie-Go

I bought a chicken slide (air dam) for the truck. I was told if I don't get 10% better milage to send it back. I still have it.

Okie,



I have been looking at these, too, but more for aero stability than mileage. Where did you get yours? I have seen a few (casey Balvert's comes to mind) and I too want something that is easy/quick to remove as I will be driving this truck daily ~100 when not towing.



Juan

 

[RustyJC]

Not to question Okie's experience, but not all individuals who have used these "wings" report the same benefits. This question arises frequently on RVing forums - "What benefit do you actually see from using the truck-mounted wings (air deflectors)?" The most common response is, "Well, it moves the bug line higher on the front of the 5th wheel!"



Rusty

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Only one additional tidbit - run your truck and RV tires up towards max PSI to reduces rolling resistance - also keeps sidewall temps down...

 

[Dkevdog]

Okie are you really seeing a 10% increase in mileage?? If so you are one of the FEW I have spoken to who are. I have the Taylor setup, and, don't get me wrong, I love it. But I have never gotten the mileage increase "claimed" by Taylor. I kept the wing because of the increased stability, which was dramitic (at least for me) and it does do a good job keeping the trailer clean. I have not seen more than a . 5 increase at the most. Mileage while towing a trailer is a difficult task to follow due to the number of variables involved.



All that being said, if you think that your mileage is bad, try towing that rig with a V-10!!:--)



Kev

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I think the efficiency of those wings is very dependent on the angle setting - and even that can vary considerably from one truck/RV setup to another...

 

[Gene Arnold]

I concur with the replies that say slow down. Look at Cummins' optimum economy/power chart and you'll see the hard evidence. I try to hold mine under 2250 rpm and often get above 14 mpg when towing my Airstream. I know it is not always practical to run slow, but just know, the faster you go, the more it will cost you.

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

I think the efficiency of those wings is very dependent on the angle setting - and even that can vary considerably from one truck/RV setup to another...

Gary- that is VERY true. The new Taylor wings bracket allows for fine adjustment through sloted mounting holes on the Wing extension brackets. Even still, I have played with the angle alot, it is pretty much trial and error to get it right on.



Kev

 

[BPINE]

I sold my Taylor wing, all it did is give me one more thing to wash when I got home. O yeah and it cracked my bed rails to. Speed is the only factor I have found that helps with fuel milage.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have the Taylor oversized wing. Like Rusty said a person cant' question it about the milage until you have tried it. I went on avg. from 10-11 to 11. 5 with. If it keeps the bugs off the front wouldn't that mean it is diverting the air over the top of the trailer and therefore giving less wind resistance which will increase fuel milage. I may not be real smart on some things but even I can figure that out. I may just be lucky and have mine with the trailer I have adjusted correctly.