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Old 06-17-2014, 10:45 AM   #1
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Is 12 mpg an acceptable number?

I keep wondering if my use of gas high or low compared to other? I plan to shed some weight as my trailer came in at 3800# fully loaded plus another 400# tongue weight. Going to slim it down to even 4000# total. My tug is a Ram 1500 5.7 with 24000 miles. My truck bed was also full, maybe another 300 # other than the tongue weight. That too will be minimized for future trips to maybe 150#
I tow in the tow mode which keeps it in 5th gear. Sometimes my average will be as high as 14 and as low as 10.5 but over the entire 6400 mile trip it was 12.1.
I installed a cold air intake as well as throttle body spacer for some extra hp increase to 420 vs stock 390hp.
Just wondering where I am in the overall mix? Thanks for any input.
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Old 06-17-2014, 11:36 AM   #2
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I drive a smaller truck with a (slightly) smaller trailer. I typically get about 17-20 miles per US gallon (12-14 liters per hundred km)
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Old 06-17-2014, 11:48 AM   #3
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With the Toyota FJ Cruiser I get:

- non-towing typically 19-21 US mpg
- towing Escape 19' reduces to 12-14 US mpg

That is tracking fuel consumption over the past 20,000 miles, with probably about 4000 miles of that towing.
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Old 06-17-2014, 11:52 AM   #4
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Hi Jim what speed were you cruising at to get those results.. also how much in your fresh water tank? I see the 21 now can carry 30 gal vs 20 on the 19. 250 lbs right there. And more then 80 lbs more then the already adequate 19 tanks and much more then the 5 or 10 gallons needed when your on the road.. especially if your camping in a serviced site every night ;-)
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Old 06-17-2014, 11:59 AM   #5
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Our (not turbo) Ford Flex has pulled the 19 back and forth over the continental divide numerous times.
Our last trip was through the 8 western states.
Total distance 7910kM or 4915 miles.
Total fuel burnt 283 gal CDN or 340 gal USA or 1287 Liters
Average speed 55-60 miles per hour
Towing more than 95% of the time
Fuel consumption works out to 16.27L/100kM or 14.45 miles per US Gal or 17.3 miles per CDN Gal.
Weight of the trailer during the trip was about 3500 pounds. Car was lightly loaded with only two people on board.
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Old 06-17-2014, 12:06 PM   #6
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Tow mode?

Jim,

I am wondering with that BEAST of an engine if you need to run in tow mode with only 4000 lbs? I believe on my Chevy they say only if 75% of rating. Especially when not in the mountains? Don't know what Chrysler recommends. Even pulling the Casita I drop into tow mode when the going gets rough. I know the Hemi is not known for exceptional economy.
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Old 06-17-2014, 12:33 PM   #7
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Carl,
It is a nice engine and when it roars, it roars. I normally only get about 14-15 around town.
Robert,
I tried to keep it at 60-65 or about 5 less than the limit and in those 80 mph states around 70, I guess slowing down to 100 kph or 62 would be better. Remember this was all on interstate highways and I did not turn the motor off until the end of the day. My tanks were fresh was 2/3 full and waste were both empty starting and 1/3 and 1/3 upon reaching Osoyoos. I did not dump en route. Going home I was 2/3 fresh and waste empty and upon reaching home 1/3 fresh and empty waste as I dumped at my last stop in Indiana.
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Old 06-17-2014, 01:29 PM   #8
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I am towing with a 2007 Toyota Sequoia that has a 4.7L V-8. Driving to Chilliwack without a trailer, but a Yakima roof box, I had varied mpg depending on speed. Across flat and fast Montana I tried to keep it around 80 mph and was rewarded with a 14.3 mpg. Getting on US2 in Washington and crossing Stevens Pass slowed me to about 65 mph and I obtained an 18.0 mpg.

Once the trailer was hooked up we did a lot of two day stops and travelled without the trailer on numerous occasions. It is too hard to determine mileage at that point. Once headed home we drove a conservative 62-63 mph with frequent times at 65. The trailer was an average of ½ full on fresh and gray water. I would estimate about 600 lbs of items in the vehicle and trailer. Jim’s scale numbers are probably pretty close or slightly more to what I weighed. At this time our mpg dropped to a range of 9.5 to 12.1.

Beside the speed, the wind and hills made a big difference in mileage. The lowest mpg was when facing 20-30 mph headwinds. Secondly, I have changed my driving style on hills to drop to a lower gear when climbing. Members of the forum have pointed out it is better to make the engine strain in a lower gear rather than overheat in a high gear. Our speed was pretty consistent so the variation between 9.5 mpg and 12.1 mpg was due to wind and hills.

I would have to admit that I am disappointed in the gas consumption. I believe my 4Runner, with the same engine, achieved better mileage. However, I have never tracked mpg as accurately as on this trip.I used an app called Gas Cubby, my 4Runner mileage was via the calculator built into the vehicle. At the same time I had an opportunity to see a beautiful part of the country, enjoy three weeks with family, and learn to love the features of a 21 over the 19.
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Old 06-17-2014, 01:34 PM   #9
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My thougts on the tow haul in my truck are mixed. I think if you have little mechanical knowlege its a good thing and makes it hard to hurt the transmission, however I find in my truck the tow haul mode is anoying, won't lock up the converter when it easily can handle it and holds onto 2nd gear when it easily can handle 3rd as well. I have heard that the six speeds work much better with the tow haul feature. With our 4 speed it makes it really hard on gas. with out it I can get around 18L per 100 km. I have found cruising speed, hills and wind to be the biggest factors. if I keep it right @ 100 km/hr fuel consumption is pretty reasonable however it i bump it up evenas little as 10km/ hr more milage takes a drastic nose dive. Still dreaming of a diesel 1/2 ton. there are rumors that gm is thinking about it at least. there is a a2.8 l turbo diesel canyon coming in 2015. I suspect it might be a bit under powered for what I want though. A 1/2 ton with a bit bigger diesel would be awesome
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Old 06-17-2014, 01:35 PM   #10
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Good to see others are in the same boat, so to speak….I too have toyed with the diesel option, particularly the new Ram 1500 diesel. But after joining the forum there I found some interesting issues. These clean diesels are clean because they inject urea into the exhaust. It costs like $50 every oil change to fill. For those not familiar with urea, it is what I clean out of my cat's little box every day. I'm throwing it away and others are buying it to burn in their diesel!! The oil change every 10k will run about $150 with the urea fill up. That said there is a $4-6K upgrade up charge for the diesel. I figure with 6-8,000 miles towing a year, it will take awhile to recoup your premium plus there is the premium at the gas pumps. You will save about a 30% of fuel with diesel over gas, you can do the math.
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Old 06-17-2014, 02:11 PM   #11
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I just checked with the Big Oil Companies and they seem OK with crappy milage.
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Old 06-17-2014, 02:30 PM   #12
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Having just finished our 5,000 mile, 8000 km. first trip this is a timely thread.

Just added up all the gas bills and our Ford Ranger 4.0 averaged 15 mpg. The trip was to Utah, Colorado, New Mexico etc. and we were up and down elevation wise everyday.

I use the tow/haul mode button like an electric overdrive. I engage and disengage frequently. When I'm on level highway I'm usually not using the tow/haul mode.

So I'm not too unhappy with the mpg. I notice though that Jim has over twice my horsepower and still got 12 mpg. I'm guessing that he goes up long hills much quicker than I can. So I guess there's always a trade off.

I saw the new diesel Ford Ranger in NZ last year. Sure wish they were available in NA.

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Old 06-17-2014, 02:52 PM   #13
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I get 15 MPG with my 2010 Ford Ranger 4x4 4.0 with a tow package pulling my 17b.
Ron in BC when you say you use a tow/haul button what do you mean? I don't have that button on my Ranger.
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Old 06-17-2014, 03:00 PM   #14
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We just finished our trip from southern Alberta to Prince George to Chilliwack and back to southern Alberta. We managed 15.84 Imp miles per gallon with our GMC 4X4 Crew Cab, 5.3 V8 and 6 speed trans. towing our 19 with a full tank of water and loaded for camping, we were happy with the numbers. Although we didn't like the cost of gas in BC.

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Old 06-17-2014, 03:31 PM   #15
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I don't think you can compare mileage between a 21 and any other of the Escapes, the bigger frontal profile has to have some effect.

FWIW my stick trailer is almost the same dimensions (3" wider) and weight (3700) as the 21 except for square corners and 2 wheels. I went from 15 without, to 10-12.5 with trailer, speed (55-70) determines where we are in that range. This was with my 04 GMC 1/2T 5.3L 4x4. The Ecoboost gets a little better.
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Old 06-17-2014, 04:02 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
Carl,
It is a nice engine and when it roars, it roars. I normally only get about 14-15 around town.
Robert,
I tried to keep it at 60-65 or about 5 less than the limit and in those 80 mph states around 70, I guess slowing down to 100 kph or 62 would be better.
Frankly cpaharley2008, I think you're driving too fast!
But then... YMMV...and it does!
Relax, enjoy the scenery. What's the rush you're on vacation!!
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Old 06-17-2014, 04:29 PM   #17
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I get psyched when towing sometimes, particularly to a rally that has start and end times. I'm hoping as I age gracefully, I will slow down, I try to keep it at 100 kph or 62 and will try harder.
Sometimes being quick has it's benefits, in Osoyoos, I helped save a man from dying by immobilizing him and keeping him awake until the medics arrived. This man, a permanent resident had fallen on a spike which entered his head. He kept trying to get up and I held him down. The nurses called him "Spike" and he returned Saturday with close to 30 stitches. I was covered in blood when I first met Tammy since that was the day she arrived.
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Old 06-17-2014, 04:31 PM   #18
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Wow! Way to go, Jim!
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Old 06-17-2014, 04:32 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin View Post
I don't think you can compare mileage between a 21 and any other of the Escapes, the bigger frontal profile has to have some effect.

FWIW my stick trailer is almost the same dimensions (3" wider) and weight (3700) as the 21 except for square corners and 2 wheels. I went from 15 without, to 10-12.5 with trailer, speed (55-70) determines where we are in that range. This was with my 04 GMC 1/2T 5.3L 4x4. The Ecoboost gets a little better.
Let's wait and compare your new 5.0 TA, I have a feeling it is weight as well as aerodynamics. Too bad we do not have someone who had a 21 and now has a 5.0 TA who can make the comparison. Wait, they could be me!!!
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Old 06-17-2014, 04:38 PM   #20
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The gmc canyon diesel is reported to have a tow capacity in the 7000 lb range, and be able to average well into the 30 miles per gallon ( not towing ). will be interesting to see if this becomes a suitable tow vehicle for some
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