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Topic ClosedMPG towing R POD - Event Date: 27 Apr 2017

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: MPG towing R POD
    Posted: 27 Apr 2017 at 7:00pm
Originally posted by TheBum

Now, if they'd only engineer a deflector that could stand up to 70-75 mph speeds...

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.
StephenH
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Direct Link To This Post 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.

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Direct Link To This Post 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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Direct Link To This Post 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.Wink
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Direct Link To This Post 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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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 1:47pm
Originally posted by GLBCamper

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.


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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Direct Link To This Post 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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Direct Link To This Post 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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Direct Link To This Post 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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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Apr 2017 at 4:52pm
Zactly, experience tells you when to take control and when to let the vehicle control.
Mike Carter
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