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Old 05-15-2012, 08:48 PM   #21
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That mileage would be great if that is what you get all of the time. I have gotten that kinda mileage according to my ScanGauge on certain flat sections of road at 55-60 mph with no stops and little wind. But that is not what I consider my mileage to be. There are traffic tie ups, hills and mountains, stop lights, hooking up and unhooking, etc. that just eat up mileage. I am very happy when I get over 10.5 mpg, and usually manage that, and up to 11.5 with some fill-ups while towing. Fill-ups is the word, and over several tanks to make sure things average out. You can't just rely on the onboard "lie-o-meter". Even if you filled up over just 75 miles and calculated on that, how can you be assured that the tank is filled to the exact same spot each time ??

If you have an onboard computer showing fuel mileage, compare that to your actual calculated mileage during a bunch of fill-ups. Hopefully your computer is calculated correctly, and that mileage over that particular stretch of road you did is accurate.......great if it was.
I agree whole heartedly, I ave. mine over the entire trip to FL from Concord, NC or where ever we are going. The onboard calculations (GM) is usually anywhere from .5-1.5 better than what it actually calculates out with miles traveled and gas used.
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Old 05-15-2012, 09:12 PM   #22
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Ford man with a Chev pick-up; 2006, 6 l., about 4:12 rear end. When I bought it the mileage readout was off .3 mpg. Last check in 2009 it was off .2. Never got above 15 on the interstate, right now about 12.5 around town, and 9-10 pulling a 6400# dry fifth wheel. Kind of my opinion that pulling in the mountains (interstate where you don't have to down shift of use the brakes and end up at the same altitude) doesn't hurt the meleage. Wayne
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Old 05-16-2012, 06:24 AM   #23
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That mileage would be great if that is what you get all of the time. I have gotten that kinda mileage according to my ScanGauge on certain flat sections of road at 55-60 mph with no stops and little wind. But that is not what I consider my mileage to be. There are traffic tie ups, hills and mountains, stop lights, hooking up and unhooking, etc. that just eat up mileage. I am very happy when I get over 10.5 mpg, and usually manage that, and up to 11.5 with some fill-ups while towing. Fill-ups is the word, and over several tanks to make sure things average out. You can't just rely on the onboard "lie-o-meter". Even if you filled up over just 75 miles and calculated on that, how can you be assured that the tank is filled to the exact same spot each time ??

Oh and I live in the flatest land on Earth...Illinois! I challenge you to find a hill to climb here! lol
If you have an onboard computer showing fuel mileage, compare that to your actual calculated mileage during a bunch of fill-ups. Hopefully your computer is calculated correctly, and that mileage over that particular stretch of road you did is accurate.......great if it was.

I absolutely agree with you. When I picked my TT up a month and a half ago it's the only trip i've made with it and did not fill up so that is why I was judging off the lie-o-meter. I know there will be fudge room on that and will have to figure out actual numbers after ive towed it a few times. I've only made one 75mi trip home from the dealership so far.
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Old 05-16-2012, 06:53 AM   #24
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at one time towed with 92 GMC 454 373 gears, 27 foot TT 4.5 to 7 MPG at 70 MPH the new set up, 08 Cummins 34' wildcat 13.5 MPG at 65 MPH
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Old 05-16-2012, 07:29 AM   #25
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Kind of my opinion that pulling in the mountains (interstate where you don't have to down shift of use the brakes and end up at the same altitude) doesn't hurt the meleage. Wayne
I mostly agree with that. In hill country, you use a lot of gas going up hill, but gain almost all of that back going down the other side.....if you don't have to use the brakes. Still not quite as good as nice level road, but close.

But in true mountain driving where you gotta gear down going up and down the hill, plus use the brakes coming down, then that is a whole nudder ball game.
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Old 05-16-2012, 07:46 AM   #26
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I mostly agree with that. In hill country, you use a lot of gas going up hill, but gain almost all of that back going down the other side.....if you don't have to use the brakes. Still not quite as good as nice level road, but close.

But in true mountain driving where you gotta gear down going up and down the hill, plus use the brakes coming down, then that is a whole nudder ball game.
Chap, that has not been my experience. You spend way more time (due to much slower speeds) at high power settings going UP the hill than you spend at idle going down the hill.

Driving from Bucks County to my friend in Hazleton (a 1 hour and 45 minute drive) in my Buick LeSabre we average 31 MPG RIGHT UNTIL we hit the hill outside of Weatherly (a climb of about 600 feet - then a similar drop coasting (with brake taps) on the other side). That hill causes the Average MPG readout on the DIC to drop 2 MPG for the TRIP.
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:14 AM   #27
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2006 F150 4x4 - 4.6 with 3.55. 18-19 on the trip to the dealer, 11-12 on the trip from the dealer with my new 2109s (~4,500 lbs loaded). That was the average from Ohio to South Carolina (500 miles).
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:18 AM   #28
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2008 GMC Sierra CrewCab 2500HD Duramax w/Alison TRansmission 3.73 gears; towing 9200 pound 5th Wheel Flagstaff on relatively level interstate.

55 MPH - 13.3 MPG
60 MPH - 12.5 MPG
65 MPH - 11.3 MPG
70 MPH - 10.0 MPG

A bit scanty on details there HERK. I would have expected ratings under different wind directions and wind speeds as well as terrain gradient, road temperature, et cetera. I'm sure you must have a chart in your files somewhere.
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:22 AM   #29
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A bit scanty on details there HERK. I would have expected ratings under different wind directions and wind speeds as well as terrain gradient, road temperature, et cetera. I'm sure you must have a chart in your files somewhere.

Dissappointed... I was figuring he'd throw in

1. Tire pressure
2. Tread pattern
3. Barometric pressure
4. Altitude
5. Octane of fuel

Can we change this thread to a new list for Herk?

Nuttin but love Herk....
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:26 AM   #30
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I am amazed how similar my tow numbers are with Lou's (Herk7769). It only encourages me to get 5ver sometime in the future since the weights/configuration are so similar as are the TVs.

You just do not gain all that mileage back on the downside. There are too many components generating drag or other losses to level those mountains.

Later this year, I should have some pretty good mountain mileage driving numbers when the pardette lets me drive. Its not that she is a better driver, its I am a quieter passenger! But it is clear that the diesel in the hills did a lot better than my gasser ever did. I also know a 6 speed transmission does a better job (not lots, but some as opposed to marginal) at managing power over 4-speed too.

Still I find the ScanGauge to be my best management tool I have in the cab. If I use that with speed control I can really maximize my MPG for conditions.
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Old 05-16-2012, 11:44 AM   #31
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03 F350 7.3, CC, 4x4, long bed, quad in the back, 26ft TT (loaded about 5500lbs) and I get.... I don't care, I'm going campin anyway. lol. (about 11mpg)
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Old 05-16-2012, 12:38 PM   #32
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03 f350 7.3, cc, 4x4, long bed, quad in the back, 26ft tt (loaded about 5500lbs) and i get.... I don't care, i'm going campin anyway. Lol. (about 11mpg)

i hear ya!
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Old 05-16-2012, 01:56 PM   #33
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Chap, that has not been my experience. You spend way more time (due to much slower speeds) at high power settings going UP the hill than you spend at idle going down the hill.
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You just do not gain all that mileage back on the downside. There are too many components generating drag or other losses to level those mountains.
Y'all are actually making me feel better. Once I get away from the hills around here and get into some level roads, I might just get better fuel mileage.
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Old 05-16-2012, 02:00 PM   #34
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A bit scanty on details there HERK. I would have expected ratings under different wind directions and wind speeds as well as terrain gradient, road temperature, et cetera. I'm sure you must have a chart in your files somewhere.
Just think how great my MPG would be if I was STOPPED!
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Old 05-16-2012, 09:04 PM   #35
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Average 8.2 to 8.6 pretty consistently, but got 9.0 a couple of weeks ago heading down to the shore (all flat highway). Think I could get closer to 9 all the time, if I could manage to keep my speed at 55 . Normally drive around 60-62 and tell DW to hit me whenever she sees 65 mph on the GPS. Maybe that's why I always arrive at camp with a bruised right arm.
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Old 05-17-2012, 08:16 AM   #36
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The owners manual to my F150 suggests NOT to use the cruise control when towing.

I do it anyway, but wondering if this is just a safety CYA issue for manufacturer -or- if it could potentially harm the TV? Will using cruise control when towing help with gas milage?
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Old 05-17-2012, 08:49 AM   #37
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The owners manual to my F150 suggests NOT to use the cruise control when towing.

I do it anyway, but wondering if this is just a safety CYA issue for manufacturer -or- if it could potentially harm the TV? Will using cruise control when towing help with gas mileage?
It does help me with mileage on long flat sections. I still have "tow haul" on as well.

However, I do not use cruise control while towing on wet roads (or not towing for that matter) or in hilly terrain. Too much work for the electronics I think (no facts just gut feeling and the warning in my manual as well).

Also when on cruise control, if the drive wheels lose traction, the cruise control will try to accelerate to maintain vehicle speed.
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Old 05-17-2012, 08:56 AM   #38
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I seldom use cruise control while towing. I prefer to "feather" the gas pedal so my tranny doesn't shift a lot in OD. Whenever I use cruise, I lock out OD......leading to more gas consumption.
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Old 05-17-2012, 09:56 AM   #39
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Just think how great my MPG would be if I was STOPPED!
Remember to leave the engine off or the MPG will get really bad!!!

The big reason to leave the cruise off in slippery conditions is that cruise can very quickly accelerate the engine should you lose traction. That quick loss of traction might happen if you hit a rather large puddle or patch of ice.

I use cruise in the hills all the time. However, it it gets real twisty and windy I turn cruise off.

When I was driving the old Tacoma, it just did not have the power for cruise to work well in the mountains or up steep grades. The Sierra diesel does not seem to have that problem and cruise seems to keep the speed dialed right in even though I am pulling twice the weight.
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Old 05-17-2012, 10:17 AM   #40
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I trailer mostly in Florida where roads are flat. We get lots of rain in the summer and wouldn't use CC then anyway. I "believe" I noticed TV using mostly 5th & 6th gears when in CC.

Is 6th gear same as overdrive? I would like to ASSume that OD would get best gas milage either in CC or not....
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