Better MPG without a WDH??

[Chuck_S]

Intuitively if my Equalizer (brand) WDH (is this the "E4" referred to earlier?) -- or any other -- is dampening out any trailer fishtailing mechanically the Ford brake/sway controller won't have to do a thing unless the WDH dampening gets overpowered. Regardless I've towed the same trailer with the same Equalizer for 15 years on two generations of Expeditions ('07 and '17) and never experienced fishtailing in all that time. The '07 had the plug-in Tekonsha Prodigy and the '17 has the built-in Ford controller. The '17 seems to get better fuel economy than the '07.

Out of curiosity and in the doubtful event that I remember I'll check rear brake temperature next time but COVID19 hasn't allowed scheduling any trips.

I've seen sway controls built into some trailers in Europe or Australia (I forget which) that cable (or rod) activate one side or the other of the trailer brakes (not the tow vehicle). Interesting concept and completely independent of the truck.

-- Chuck

[jeff64]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Anything is possible, to delusional people.[emoji2957]

X2

Ranks right up there with the much improved mileage claims of those with caps on truck beds and v nose trailers!

[youroo]

Better MPG without WDH,you get this type of talk around a campfire after 12 PM from people who have consumed Lots of Alcohol or Non Prescription Drugs! Youroo!!

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

That is probably a Metric %15....................

Did she wash the rig recently. We all know that increases gas mileage

[garywilson]

I don't was my truck until the mpg suffers. Rain seems to take care of it most of the time.

[babock]

Originally Posted by garywilson

I don't was my truck until the mpg suffers. Rain seems to take care of it most of the time.

Dirty cars actually have less friction than a clean car. Dirty = better MPG. Same reason why golf balls aren't smooth.

[Bhrava]

Well, it is a Tundra, and if it got 8 MPG, another 15% would be 1.2 MPG, so it's possible she got 9.2 MPG and thought it was the hitch, but yeah, I doubt it's the hitch.

As far as the F150 goes, I did have some issues with sway control and the Blue Ox. On two lane roads, semi's going the other way would cause the rig to wiggle. Turning it off stopped it from wiggling. The wiggle was felt in the butt as if the back of the truck was sashaying, which could have been possible that the rear brakes were engaging. Weirdest feeling too.

As with everything YMMV.

[skipatroller]

Is the better fuel mileage a result of driving in a different direction with no head winds ? Driving without the WDH does not make sense that you will get better gas mileage.

For example I live near Buffalo NY, when we drive east across the state I get better mileage than I do when I head back home going west. 90% of the time there is some kind of head winds that reduces my gas mileage.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Anything is possible, to delusional people.[emoji2957]

2x

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Anything is possible, to delusional people.[emoji2957]

Originally Posted by jeff64

X2

Ranks right up there with the much improved mileage claims of those with caps on truck beds and v nose trailers!

Hey, at least there's some science supporting v nose and a bed cover.efficiency.

[Bhrava]

Originally Posted by Tom48

Hey, at least there's some science supporting v nose and a bed cover.efficiency.

I have a topper and tow a V nose. 6 x 12' 6 1/2' tall. My gas mileage is not much better than towing a 28' long, 11' tall 6400 pound travel trailer.

[Chief55]

Originally Posted by Dustyhd

It is possible. Many hitch manufacturers mention turning off sway control on the vehicle because it may fight and work against the sway control of the hitch. What happens is the the TV keeps activating differential braking trying to correct for forces being created by the sway control on the hitch. It creates drag and therefore more fuel consumption. I’ve heard of this happening quite a few times.

Blue Ox recommends that you turn off sway control. "Yes if your vehicle has anti sway control built into it, you want to turn it off as it will work against the swaypro".

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Bhrava

Well, it is a Tundra, and if it got 8 MPG, another 15% would be 1.2 MPG, so it's possible she got 9.2 MPG and thought it was the hitch, but yeah, I doubt it's the hitch.

As far as the F150 goes, I did have some issues with sway control and the Blue Ox. On two lane roads, semi's going the other way would cause the rig to wiggle. Turning it off stopped it from wiggling. The wiggle was felt in the butt as if the back of the truck was sashaying, which could have been possible that the rear brakes were engaging. Weirdest feeling too.

As with everything YMMV.

Maybe your F150 is female and was trying to entice a big hunk.

[Blaupunkt]

Originally Posted by babock

Dirty cars actually have less friction than a clean car. Dirty = better MPG. Same reason why golf balls aren't smooth.

I once flew a plane that received golf ball-like dimples in the form of hail damage all over the top of the wings. It was much faster after, especially when I increased the throttle.

[Bhrava]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

Maybe your F150 is female and was trying to entice a big hunk.

thanks, my keyboard really appreciated that.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by babock

It's not possible.

X2

[nic7320]

All it takes is a slight reduction of speed to account for a 15% fuel savings. Drag is directly related to the square of speed, hence if the performance of your WDH lets you feel safe driving faster, taking it off might unconsciously slow you down just enough to yield more MPH.

[Jon18TO]

Originally Posted by nic7320

All it takes is a slight reduction of speed to account for a 15% fuel savings. Drag is directly related to the square of speed, hence if the performance of your WDH lets you feel safe driving faster, taking it off might unconsciously slow you down just enough to yield more MPH.

I think you nailed it, feeling safer and therefore driving faster with the WDH.

[Chuck_S]

Air resistance is twice at 70mph than it was at 50. Not the only factor in fuel use but a big part of it. Lots of variables. Driving 50mph ground speed into a 20mph headwind is 70mph airspeed. Driving 70mph ground speed with a 20mph tailwind is 50mph airspeed.

Flying light airplanes we had to compute this for all wind angles to make sure we had plenty of fuel on board. Gas stations are closer apart on the highways. But ya can't change altitudes to take advantage of wind speeds and have to follow the road.

-- Chuck

[Gdub2]

Called Equalizer and they recommend if you can turn
off your auto sway to do so. They also said they don't
have alot of data on it but recommend to turn it off.