MPGs with and without CT

[drcurran]

Did a little testing over the last several weeks. Two weeks ago I drove from home to Williamsburg, VA (about 300 miles) while towing my 6 X 12 Cargo Trailer, and it averaged 12.8 mpg. This past week end I did the same trip without the trailer in tow and averaged 17.6 mpg. So as I figure it with a difference of 4.8 mpg every 100 miles will cost me an extra 2 gals of gas if I'm towing the CT. Having the convince of the CT with me seems worth it to me. OK just thought it was interesting.

Dan

PS - Tow vehicle is a 2009 F-150 small V-8

[Goatdog]

I towed a 5x8 CT from Knoxville TN to Yorktown VA and averaged 11.9. The mountains really eat at the mileage. I normally get over 17, sometimes 18+. I drive an 04 V8 4WD Toyota 4Runner.

[Albie]

I lose about 3 - 5 MPG depending on terrain i.e. 3 on interstate, 5 on small hilly roads when I tow my 6X10.

[dwgriff1]

I have a 6 by 12 I have pulled for the last ten years. I was a small time contractor before I retired and this was my tool rig.

Whether the trailer is loaded or empty does not make any difference that I can calculate, in fact sometimes I do better loaded than empty

I get 11 to 13 pulling the trailer with a Dodge 1500 4.7 V8. Without the trailer I get about 18 or a bit better once in a while.

In the last year and a half, driving about 15000 miles pulling the CT, or a 6 by 15 flat bed, or my teardrop trailer, in and out of town I have averaged 15.2 mpg. That is acceptable -- most of the time!

dave

[b.bodemer]

I found when I towed my 7 x 12 ct, with a 6" + in height, from the dealer to home that the gas mileage was poor.

Before I took my first trip(700 miles +) I put on my truck's side rails and cargo box. What a difference that made.

My ct came with nitorgen in the radial tires. When my truck went in for servicing earlier this month I had the dealer add nitrogen to my tow vehicle's tires.

I'll see if that makes even more of a difference.

Here are 3 benifits to go with nitrogen. I found this posted elsewhere:
(1) Cool fluorescent green valve stem caps which will look sharp with your spinning wheel covers.
(2) Bragging rights. OK, you were behind the curve with cell phones, iPods, thong underwear, etc. Nitrogen in tires is relatively new to the mass market. Now's your chance.
(3) Reduced fire danger next time you land your space shuttle or commercial aircraft, and tell me you won't sleep better knowing that.


Barb

[drcurran]

Did not think about it but my F-150 does have a cap and I'm sure that helps with the MPGs when towing the CT.

Dan

[Partsman]

I run 78% nitrogen in my tires

Don't have a CT yet but if I am hauling/towing ANYTHING my Silverado gets better mileage in drive.

[Wolfscout]

I have a Ford '91 Explorer 4.0. On our last trip to the Lake to camp and carrying a canoe on top of the Explorer, I figured I got about 20-21 MPG.
It's a fairly flat distance for me. I would guesstimate the trailer weight loaded to go at approximately 2200lbs ... trailer is 1200 empty. That's including bikes, and canoe with gear that goes with it.

[zombiedog]

I run 78% nitrogen in my tires

Love it!

As a commercial airline pilot, we do use 100% N2 in the tires. The tires are also about 5 feet in diameter, 3 feet wide and run around 200 PSI, sitting right next to multi disk 3 foot diameter carbon disk brakes that are about 300 degrees C when we pull in to a stop at the gate. The tires have fuse plugs for overpressure relief at about 400 PSI, so if the worst happens the tires act as a sort of fire extinguisher. That is the only reason we run 100% N2.

Bringing 140,000 pounds to a stop from 150 MPH in about a mile does create a bit of heat! In warmer cities like Vegas the ground crews automatically set up those carpet drying fans between the wheels to cool the brakes.

Here is a video of the worst case panic stop in a plane much bigger than mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am392XmYBps Something to think about!

Back on topic: I just ordered a custom built 6X12 tandem axle to pull behind a Sprinter van RV. I will be curious to see the mileage differential behind such a tall tow vehicle. And I will be running 78% N2 as well!

Thanks to all posting their builds. Great ideas, I am looking forward to joining the fun.

[pete42]

zombiedog said "That is the only reason we run 100% N2."

I know he's kidding and he knows that the nitrogen keeps the water
that would be in the tires if it had "air" instead of a mixture from freezing.

I too hold a commercial pilot's license but I never flew airliners
a commercial license is like a truck drivers CDL license it allows one to get paid
or to charge for flying others. A great job if you can get it...........

just don't do this while doing either.

pulling my travel trailer my mileage fell from 15-17 mpg to 9 mpg
yep big ol' flat front of the trailer took it's toll on my mileage.

pete

[zombiedog]

Never really thought about the water vapor freezing issue, Pete42, but you are right. I just assumed the maintenance folks ran dehydrators on all the bottles. It does get pretty chilly upstairs!

Come to think of it, it is a valid reason to run N2 in car & trailer tires as well. I have had to have a car tire re mounted from the water that got inside using gas station air. My car mechanic said it was a real issue (and a source of revenue for him). I did get a dryer for my shop compressor and do my own tire air service at home.

Thanks!

[angib]

I guess Nitrogen gets you around the usual problem of running your tires with the wrong season's air in them - what tire its going to work in the heat of summer if they have winter air in them?

Recommended: Seasonal air

[8ball_99]

2011 chevy 2500My milage drops from 15 to around 12 pulling my 7x24' +2' Vnose Not really sure what the trailer weighs now since I haven't took it to the scale. I'm guessing around 5k-6k. When loaded more like 8k-9k

2008 Tundra 5.7L My milage goes from around 15 to around 8-9mpg pulling the same trailer.. When I had a 6x14 flat front trailer the truck only got around 9-10mpg. So adding 1 foot of width and over 10 feet of length didn't hurt me much at all. I'm not sure how much the V nose impacted it. I've noticed on some trucks that it doesn't matter if your pulling 3k or 5k. The milage takes a big hit to start with and the difference from there is very little. IE I can pull my 24 footer empty or I can stick 2500 Pounds worth of SxSs in it and the milage doesn't change very much. In stop and go it effects it a little. But out running on the highway or interstate it doesn't matter..

As for the N2 in tires. It really is just a gimmick. When I bought this new truck I looked into it a little to see if it was worth the hassle. I have several tanks at home from O2 to Co2 for welding and torches.. I was going to just swap out one of my Co2 tanks for a N2 for airing up my tires. If you tow much you have to be able to either air up or air down your tires. After reading up on it I passed on the green caps.. The only reason for it is so your tire pressure doesn't vary depending on outside temp.. Like in the dead of winter your tire pressure will drop a little. The more moisture in the tire the bigger the swing. To me its never been an issuie. My trucks like almost everything now has on board sensors that monitor the pressure. Heck my 2500 has an onboard air compressor with a 5 gallon tank... I have NP adjusting the tire pressure from time to time. I do it anyway since I add air when towing and remove it when not. Don't use gas station air pumps and you won't have a problem.. Also drain your air compressors tank often..