Major Towing report

[brobeson]

Well, I have just completed my first month as a RV transporter, towing and delivering RV's all over the US.



Here are a few high lites.



MPG seems to be more speed related than what I tow.



18' horse trailer, 26' 5er, 38' travel trailer, 25' TT all seem to get the same MPG at the same speed.



Yep, I can tow a 26 5er or a 36 5er and get the same MPG at the same speed.



Here is what I get with my 3500 HO with 4. 10s while towing any of the above.



55 MPH = about 14-15 MPG

60 MPH = 13-14

65 MPH = 11-13

70 MPH = 9-11

75 MPH = 8-9



60 to 65 seems the be the best MPG vers speed.

Seems like after 2000 RPM the MPG start falling off pretty fast.



Empty, here is what I get.

55 = 18-20

60 = 17-19

65 = 16-17

70 = 15- 16

75 = 14 - 15



I have tried that Vortex thingy with NO differance. Sent it back after 10K miles of testing.



For all but the heaver loads the 3. 55s would have been a better choice, but for the heavy loads the 4. 10s are perfect.



I am looking for an over drive unit like the Gear Venders or something.



Bob

 

[CLGreer]

Bob, Thank you for the report. I was wondering if you knew what the approximate weights of the various trailers were and if they had a similar frontal area. We get about 14-15 mpg with our little two horse trailer and 10-11 with our big heavy gooseneck trailer on a short route at about the same speed. I haven't taken the big trailer on a long haul yet and was thinking from your post that I might end up with a little better average mpg on a long run out on the interstate.



Chris

 

[Okie-Go]

Good reading and lot's of knowledge, thanks.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I would be curious to hear about speed/power observed when towing a 12,000 lb trailer up a 7% grade, compared to generally the same frontal area with a 7000 lb trailer - once in motion, is there as great a difference in speed capability up a grade as the power formulas seem to indicate?

 

[SWC]

Bob, good information, thanks.

How do you like towing campers? I am looking into this myself. I have talked to two businesses locally. If you don't mind my asking what do you get paid and do you have many loads both ways?

If you want to contact me off the forum my email is jostan@sk. sympatico. ca

Stan Claassen

 

[dmurdock]

I've noticed that the weight doesn't really affect mpg too much as long as your not stopping/starting all the time... for me the wind resistance is the killer (I have 3. 54's)

 

[MikeH]

Bob, Excellent info. Thanks. If you don't mind my asking, who are you leased to and how are they treating you? I'm looking for a lease company as we speak.



As an added note, I don't have the horsepower you have with my stock 12 valve, but I am running a Gear Vendors OD with my 4:10 automatic. It works well, especially running bobtail. It also gives me a nice split between 3rd and 4th under load with the automatic. But be careful if you use an exhaust brake. I understand using the e-brake with the GV engaged will make the GV junk in short order. The U. S. Gear OD might be better for your application.



Thanks again and good luck towing. MikeH

 

[BBean]

Bob, If I could trouble you for the same information that the others are asking for I would appreciate it. I am also interrested in possibly doing this too. I understand that Morgan Drive Away has an office in Oregon, and that they are not to baad to work for. Any ifo would help me. Bob

 

[brobeson]

Towing update.

Yes the MPG are effected mostly by speed much more than size or wieght.



I have towed across the country coast to coast with all sizes and types of trailers and the speed makes the most differance.



I haVE AN ho WITH A 6 SPEED AND HAVE ONLY HAD TO DOWN SHIFT TO 5TH a couple of times, mostly with the bigger units.



The wights range from from 4ooo lbs for the little horse trailers to over 12000 lbs for the larger 5er's. MPG still stays the same at the same speed.



I travel mostly at 70 and get right around 10 MPG reguardless of what I tow.



At 65 I get 11-12 reguardless of what I tow.



Life on the road is fun but you need to be able to do 5-700 Miles a day, figure out how and where to sleep, food, laundry, fuel management and showers, etc.



I work for Horizon Transportation as they have offices in Oregon and Indiana and pay well.



Morgan seems to pay the least, Rad seems to pay the most but don't have much on the west coast.



You need to get a lot done for your truck, from Dot inspections, to mirrors, hitches of all types, fire extingesers, safety markers, mud flaps, extra fuel tanks, etc.



Hope this helps.



Bob

 

[CLGreer]

Thank you Bob!

 

[MikeH]

Bob, thanks for the response. I can see you are busy. I'm class A CDL licensed and my little truck is all set up with the needed hitches, connectors, DOT stuff, tools, etc, etc. I've heard Horizon is a very good company but they don't dispatch from anywhere close to my homebase. I'm working a couple of other leads now.



Thanks again. MikeH

 

[Tilesetter Too]

Bob,

I'm interested in the money end of it too. Would you email me with an average weeks totals. . miles = pay. I looked at horizon but wasn't sure how well they performed on the back end. I would hate to haul home empty. I've driven a 1500 miles a day before (NEVER LOADED) on runs home for x-mas etc, so miles wouldn't be a problem. Shawn

-- email address removed --

 

[CRuD]

Great Post.

My 2500 4x4 gets roughly the same mileage. I can feel the hills when hooked to your 5er it is 12'4" high. On flat ground you can hardly tell it's back there.

Thanks.

See Ya

Chris

 

[brobeson]

delivering RV's.

I have found that most company's pay better out of Indiana than here on the west coast.



towables, (trailers and 5ers pay . $75 per mile and motoro homes pay $. 50 per mile plus a little fuel.



If you drive 2500 (500 miles a day for 5 days) loaded miles a week you can gross over $1800 a week. Out of that you must pay all fuel cost. (at 10 MPG while towing, you will use 250 galons of fuel at $1. 50 a galon your fuel cost will be around $400 for the week), so you can clear, $1400 a week. Also thier will be a fair amount of emply miles, though we have allways had back hauls, you still drive empty to get to it.



My wife drives the motorhomes and I drive the truck with the towables and we grossed over 10 grand our first month out.



I hope this helps.



Bob

 

[SLightfoot]

Bob, excellent posts. It's good to hear from someone who has had the opportunity to tow lots of different loads for many miles.



One question was asked that I was interested in an answer:



Towing uphill (5%-7%) grades, how much difference do you notice with a 7K 5er and a 12K 5er for example?

Maybe you could comment on that a bit. much appreciated information.



Thanks!



Shawn

 

[KB0OU]

Very good report,

Have you been to Alaska yet? Got up there twice last year, hope to go again soon.

I don't get as good fuel mileage as you do, older truck and auto transmission.

Maybe I will see you on the road, look for the gray Dodge with all the antenna on it.

John

 

[SWassermann]

Howdy Y'all, this is my first post! Had my truck since 23 July and joined TDR soon after! Hope you don't mind a couple more questions about trailer delivery... . I'm retiring from the US Coast Guard soon and this thread really caught my attention.



1. When you work for a company, Horizon, Quality, whoever, is it as an employee or an independent contractor?



2. Have you set yourself up with a business license, etc?



3. I know they want "Non-trucking" insurance, did your insurance co start charging you business instead of private rates onyour truck? (comp/collision)



I'm curious/concerned about the taxes/legal/business end of this deal... . otherwise it sounds like an awesome opportunity!



Thanks a million!



Scott

 

[brobeson]

Towing for a living

What's the differance with pulling different size 5er's up hill.



I can not really tell the differance between a 26 ft 5er and a 36 triple slide 5er while going on the flats or up hill.



If the hill is long enough I would have to down shift at about the same time with eighter trailer.



At speed the frontal area of eighter 5er is the same and the MPG stays the same.



Bob

 

[brobeson]

More Answers

1. When you work for a company, Horizon, Quality, whoever, is it as an employee or an independent contractor?



As an independent contrator, you lease back the truck to them.



2. Have you set yourself up with a business license, etc?



I did set myself up in Oregon, others pick Nevada or other tax free states. We talked to a tax consultant first and have been following everything his says.



3. I know they want "Non-trucking" insurance, did your insurance co start charging you business instead of private rates onyour truck? (comp/collision)



No, We had Farmers insurance, but went with Brownand Brown for about the same price but they are a commercial insurance company.



Hope this helps.





Bob

 

[SWassermann]

Many thanks for the reply..... but it raised a couple more questions!

How do ya live in WA (looking at your reply) and have the business in OR?



Is your truck registered in OR?



THANKS!!



Scott