MPG towing R POD - Event Date: 27 Apr 2017 |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Calendar Event: MPG towing R POD Posted: 27 Apr 2017 at 7:00pm |
There is one. The Wingmaster Turbowing Air Deflector. It is very nice looking and since it is made of metal, would stand up to high speeds. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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podrunner
Senior Member Joined: 30 May 2013 Location: Draper, UT Online Status: Offline Posts: 106 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 12:04am |
Using premium fuel seems to have increased my mpg by about 20%. It is worth the extra cost.
Happy trails.... |
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2010 R Pod 151
2017 4runner 2006 Honda Metropolitan |
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ToolmanJohn
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 5:32am |
A reasonable calculation would be to divide your normal highway mpg by 2. That result will be typical. (example: 22mpg highway not towing, would be 11 mpg highway towing ). A diesel would not be much higher, but a diesel will tow with less effort, especially in hilly terrain. The diesel usually have considerably more torque at lower engine RPM's.
Newer turbocharged gas engines are becoming impressively more powerful. The 3.5 twin turbo ecobooost is really amazing. Not sure what fuel economy would be but it's powerful. My 3.0 liter diesel gets 29 mpg not towing on highway, and I was getting 15 mpg towing a 177 from Connecticut to northern Vermont (240 miles each way through very hilly highway). On relatively flat highway sections (RARE in Connecticut) I would see 22 mpg towing on I-84 east for 20 miles. The nicer thing about a diesel is setting cruise and leaving it in Drive. No hunting for gears even at 65mph. |
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
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RichC
Groupie Joined: 24 Feb 2017 Location: Chicago Online Status: Offline Posts: 70 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 12:42pm |
Just back yesterday from our second 171 shake-down trip. Last time with a heavy cross wind much of the way and, not familiar with towing this trailer (I have an enclosed utility trailer, have driven semis and all kinds of work trailers)
we got 12.25 mpg with our Toyota Sienna.
This time, with somewhat less wind, going 60 we got 12.8 mpg. The main difference between first trip and this was that on trip one I tried to use cruise control at 65+. Toyota was shifting like crazy. This time cruise control worked great -- 60 was the sweet spot. Plan to make next trip with a good tail wind.
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2017 RP171
2018 Ford Explorer |
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GLBCamper
Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2015 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 274 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 12:51pm |
I have read (actually I think in my Taco manual) to never use cruise control while towing. Not sure why that is, but I don't use it.
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Old: 2014 177 HRE
2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
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TheBum
Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 1:47pm |
Probably because it's hard on the transmission. The cruise control has no way of knowing that there's a hill coming up, which means that it won't start trying to compensate until the vehicle is already on the hill. In its attempt to catch up, it may violently downshift. That's been my experience anyway. |
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RichC
Groupie Joined: 24 Feb 2017 Location: Chicago Online Status: Offline Posts: 70 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 4:11pm |
Yes, I agree, and probably would only use it in ideal conditions. I was told by my mechanic that the frequent shifting meant "turn it off" -- hill wind or flat.
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2017 RP171
2018 Ford Explorer |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 4:17pm |
It all depends upon conditions. If you have 100 miles of flat road, why would you not use the cruise, nothing is changing. Really about how much control you want, based upon terrain. If I am in an area with hills and valleys , I want to anticipate the drive. Cruise doesn't do that.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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RichC
Groupie Joined: 24 Feb 2017 Location: Chicago Online Status: Offline Posts: 70 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 4:40pm |
I was using cruise driving 60 with tach steady between 1800 - 2200 --not searching for gear. Worked fine. Felt comfortable.
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2017 RP171
2018 Ford Explorer |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 4:52pm |
Zactly, experience tells you when to take control and when to let the vehicle control.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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