I see people throw up towing numbers that often just seem either REALLY poor, or unrealistically high....I think we all can agree that there are SOO many parameters that can affect towing performance of any given rig combo on any given day that without a complete picture, the numbers are pretty meaningless...
so before my trip this last week i kept a little "log" of exactly what was going on and how it related to my mpg at the end of the trip....since i make this same trip a few times i will be able to see extactly what and how much is affected by different variables...
So many times i get people asking me "how that new ford pulls" with all the exhaust restrictions blah, blah, blah.....i AM running a tune on mine, but it STILL has ALL factory exhaust and egr components intact!! so here is my data....just for grins and something that shows the WHOLE picture...
Truck- 2012 f250 crew cab, 4x4, 2.5" icon lift, 3.55 e locking rear. (minimax tuner, with kem green tunes) 20" wheels/tires (75psi)
scale weight as loaded for trip (truck only)
8920lbs
Trailer- 2012 lacrosse 318bhs.
scale weight as loaded for trip ( trailer only)
9298lbs
so total rolling rig combo weight
18218lbs
TRIP THERE
Drove from lubbock tx(3256 elevation) to arlington tx (602 elevation) so net 2654ft downhill ....
winds were out of the sw at 30-35mph the whole way....which equates to from the front right to left rear of truck...
cruise was set at about 68 whole way and my avg mpg at camp site arrival was
9.6mpg...mind you this was bucking the 30-35mph wind almost the entire way....hand calculated it was 9.52mpg
ON WAY BACK
winds were light to none 0-5mph from west which equates to left to right
total elevation climb was 2654 uphill
avg mpg on arrival was
11.4mpg via dash.....11.26 hand calculated.
As you can see, the wind makes a huge difference. I made this trip with my father in law who was hauling a 29ft jayco with his 2011 f250 2wd, with 3.31 rear...he saw 9.9mpg going and 11.2mpg coming back...i believe his total rig weight was 15370lbs.
(note, i WAS using 4oz of ford cetane boost in every tank)
so for those of you wondeing real world towing numbers and variables....there ya go!