Over the weeked we took a cruise to our favorite boat camping island. The ramp is about 80 miles from my home, where we keep the boat. About 30 miles of it are suburban roads, and although the traffic was lite, there were a lot of stoplights. So it was 45 MPH to 0 to 45, you get the idea. The rest of the trip was mostly divided highway, and I tow at 55. Previous trips averaged 8 MPG.
This round trip of 167 miles used 19.2 gal for 8.7 MPG (rounded).
I needed tires on both the SUV and the trailer, so I got Michelin Lattitude Tour radials for the SUV and "E" range (2850# capacity) radial trailer tires, which are inflated to 75#. They are Carlysles, however, they are made sateside. Does not say Made in China on them) The old tires were rated at 60 which is what I ran them at.
The SUV is an Expedition 4X4, 5.4 H/D tow package, and both air conditioners were running, as it was 93* on the way back. The trailer is a magic tilt with radials, and tortion suspension (yes, its set up to be level). The Expy has 94000 miles on it.
Granted, Florida is not hill country, but I think 8.7 MPG for 14,000# gross weight in hot weather with a gas engine is very good. That weigh is from a certified public scale. The boat/trailer is ~7800#, the SUV is ~6300#. These are real world weights, with 1/2 tankage, etc, the way we usually tow.
Previous tow vehicles:
1980 Ford 5.9L 6 cyl, 2.73 axle towing 6K #= 9 MPG
1984 Ramcharger 4X4, 318 2 BBL carb, 3.23 axles same as above but 8 MPG
1991 Ramcharger, 5.9L 4X4, factory H/D tow package throttle body injection 9 MPG on that boat,
7 MPG on the 2452 I am towing now.
The post is to advise that better tires and proper inflation make a differemce, and its not a "My XXXX is better than yours" post.
This round trip of 167 miles used 19.2 gal for 8.7 MPG (rounded).
I needed tires on both the SUV and the trailer, so I got Michelin Lattitude Tour radials for the SUV and "E" range (2850# capacity) radial trailer tires, which are inflated to 75#. They are Carlysles, however, they are made sateside. Does not say Made in China on them) The old tires were rated at 60 which is what I ran them at.
The SUV is an Expedition 4X4, 5.4 H/D tow package, and both air conditioners were running, as it was 93* on the way back. The trailer is a magic tilt with radials, and tortion suspension (yes, its set up to be level). The Expy has 94000 miles on it.
Granted, Florida is not hill country, but I think 8.7 MPG for 14,000# gross weight in hot weather with a gas engine is very good. That weigh is from a certified public scale. The boat/trailer is ~7800#, the SUV is ~6300#. These are real world weights, with 1/2 tankage, etc, the way we usually tow.
Previous tow vehicles:
1980 Ford 5.9L 6 cyl, 2.73 axle towing 6K #= 9 MPG
1984 Ramcharger 4X4, 318 2 BBL carb, 3.23 axles same as above but 8 MPG
1991 Ramcharger, 5.9L 4X4, factory H/D tow package throttle body injection 9 MPG on that boat,
7 MPG on the 2452 I am towing now.
The post is to advise that better tires and proper inflation make a differemce, and its not a "My XXXX is better than yours" post.
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