mpg

[rando18]

now what if I went with a 6' wide model? Technically the Rav4 is 6' wide at its widest...I called the 800 number and in their Indiana plant they do make a 6' wide model with the V-nose and the curved roof. Wouldn't that make a big improvement with the drag problem and maintaining control of the tv?

It seems your dead set on pulling an enclosed trailer with a Rav4, even after all of us have
told you our experienced opionions. Let us know how it goes.
Rando

[bigbendhiker]

now what if I went with a 6' wide model? Technically the Rav4 is 6' wide at its widest...I called the 800 number and in their Indiana plant they do make a 6' wide model with the V-nose and the curved roof. Wouldn't that make a big improvement with the drag problem and maintaining control of the tv?

It seems your dead set on pulling an enclosed trailer with a Rav4, even after all of us have
told you our experienced opionions. Let us know how it goes.
Rando

To help you make a more informed decision may I make a suggestion? Go to your local U-Haul and rent the largest cargo trailer that they will allow you to rent. I went online and with a V6 Rav4 the largest you can rent shows to be a 6x12. In my area that would cost you $29.95 for a day. Throw some weight in it to simulate what you would be carrying including allowing for modifications that you will make to your trailer. Tow it on local streets, the interstate, 2 lane highways, and back it into parking spots a few times. Put a couple of hundred miles on it and see what you think about your experience. Let us know how it goes, maybe you will find out that it will work.

[bdosborn]

now what if I went with a 6' wide model? Technically the Rav4 is 6' wide at its widest...I called the 800 number and in their Indiana plant they do make a 6' wide model with the V-nose and the curved roof. Wouldn't that make a big improvement with the drag problem and maintaining control of the tv?

I don't think a 6' wide trailer will tuck in behind the RAV4 slipstream. FWIW, I thought I was pretty smart by making the Boxcar the same width and track as the truck. Unfortunately, as gauged by all the dead bugs on the trailer, about a foot or so of each side of the front of the trailer is solidly in the wind. My conclusion was that the trailer needs to be about two feet narrower than the TV to be in the TV slip stream (which, BTW, the teardrop was and probably explains why it had minimal effect on mileage). Some sort of air dam that manages the air between the TV and trailer would help as SC suggested. Interestingly, my mileage went up a little bit when I got rid of the topper and went with a bed cover.

This is what I thought would be in outside the slipstream of the truck, the little bit of the trailer visible on the upper left.



This is really what was outside the slipstream, see all the dead bugs?:



Bruce

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thats what I was thinking about Scott, asking someone I know to borrow their CT and take it for a long ride on the highway and see how it feels bringin it up to speed and seeing what the fuel use is like, maybe taking it for a weekend and take it up to my friends place in Pa and pull it up a mountain. Of course everything is contingent on selling my lil vardo in the spring.

thanks

deryk

[Deryk the Pirate]

Bruce, I have the same "bug" problem with my lil vardo, I clean bugs off the Yellow trim piece above the door and the 2 purple corner pieces after each trip lol. The problem with most vehcles today they make them slightly aero dynamic and mine tapers in a bit in her ass. I did think about a 5'wide by 6'tall by 12' long Vnose trailer and add a wind deflector to my Rav's roof to help ease the airstream up and over....I dont have a problem addin the aerotabs to the back of the trailer but even though my tv is white i dont know about adding it to her lol

deryk

[8ball_99]

There should not be a difference between pulling a small travel trailer vs a small enclosed.. They are the same size they will pull the same.. As far as what you read on the rav4 forum.. All I can say is take it with a grain of salt.. Be very cautious. I honestly don't know why, but people on forums for a single, brand, model what ever give very misleading information. I have an 08 Tundra with the 5.7l V8.. Great truck and very stout fora 1/2 ton.. That said you go to the tundra forum and people over there would have you thinking it will pull a 15k 11ft tall fifth wheel easily. It won't. Sure it might can pull it.. But your overloaded and putting way more on the truck then you should. My other truck is a 3/4 diesel that is rated to pull that load plus more.. I'm sure if those guys swearing a half ton was enough could jump in my diesel and pull the same trailer they would see they are overloaded with their truck.. I have a feeling those RAV4 guys are the same way.. If I handed them the keys to my Tundra and they pulled their cargo trailer with it then their rav4 they would probably have a moment of clarity.. I'm sure they would never post it on their forum though..

I've checked on the forum for my diesel truck also. Those guys would have you believe it gets 25 mpg on the highway running 70 and can pull 30k pounds safely.. Point is take those people with a grain of salt.. Lots feel the need to build up what they own..

If you have a V6 Truck I would say a 7x14 would be fine.. With crossover SUV you pretty much have a Car with a larger box on the frame.. My dad pulls a 7x14 with his v6 frontier truck. We grew up in the RV business and he has probably pulled more campers then most, Heck I learned to drive pulling a trailer.... He added airbags to his truck and says its a big load for that truck.. He manages fine, But he plans on selling the truck before its out of warranty.. Although the weight is with in spec.. Its still more then that truck should probably be pulling..

[bdosborn]

As far as what you read on the rav4 forum.. All I can say is take it with a grain of salt.. Be very cautious. I honestly don't know why, but people on forums for a single, brand, model what ever give very misleading information.

X2. I never could figure out why my Dodge got such poor mileage compared to what the forums said I should be getting. Then I realized that the guy who plunks down a big bag of money for a brand new truck tends to exaggerate a bit. The bigger the bag, the bigger the exaggeration.

Bruce

[rando18]

There should not be a difference between pulling a small travel trailer vs a small enclosed.. They are the same size they will pull the same.. As far as what you read on the rav4 forum.. All I can say is take it with a grain of salt.. Be very cautious. I honestly don't know why, but people on forums for a single, brand, model what ever give very misleading information. I have an 08 Tundra with the 5.7l V8.. Great truck and very stout fora 1/2 ton.. That said you go to the tundra forum and people over there would have you thinking it will pull a 15k 11ft tall fifth wheel easily. It won't. Sure it might can pull it.. But your overloaded and putting way more on the truck then you should. My other truck is a 3/4 diesel that is rated to pull that load plus more.. I'm sure if those guys swearing a half ton was enough could jump in my diesel and pull the same trailer they would see they are overloaded with their truck.. I have a feeling those RAV4 guys are the same way.. If I handed them the keys to my Tundra and they pulled their cargo trailer with it then their rav4 they would probably have a moment of clarity.. I'm sure they would never post it on their forum though..

I've checked on the forum for my diesel truck also. Those guys would have you believe it gets 25 mpg on the highway running 70 and can pull 30k pounds safely.. Point is take those people with a grain of salt.. Lots feel the need to build up what they own..

If you have a V6 Truck I would say a 7x14 would be fine.. With crossover SUV you pretty much have a Car with a larger box on the frame.. My dad pulls a 7x14 with his v6 frontier truck. We grew up in the RV business and he has probably pulled more campers then most, Heck I learned to drive pulling a trailer.... He added airbags to his truck and says its a big load for that truck.. He manages fine, But he plans on selling the truck before its out of warranty.. Although the weight is with in spec.. Its still more then that truck should probably be pulling..

I feel sorry for whoever buys that V6 Frontier from your Dad!

[David_L6]

I honestly don't know why, but people on forums for a single, brand, model what ever give very misleading information.

That's the truth!

My truck is not my hobby. I've never been one to read car / truck forums until I started researching problems with Chevy AFM motors about 3 months ago. Seems like the guys on those forums almost all get 20 mpg with full size V8 half ton pickups before they get a "tune". After the tune they gain a couple more mpg and run sub 12 second quarters - and they have 4 X 4 crew cabs with 20" wheels and 38" tires....

[BC_Explorer]

Up until recently, my TV was a 2008 Dodge RAM, 1500 Quad Cab with the Hemi and 3.92. Over the summer, pulling a 6x10 V-Nose CT, my gas mileage varied a lot. The best was 14 mpg and the worst in mountainous terrain was down to 9 miles per gallon.

Last week I traded in the 2008 for a 2012 RAM Quad Cab which I got for a very good end of year price. This new truck has the same Hemi and 3.92 gearing but I know the mileage is not going to be any better despite the truck being 4 years newer. Then again, I knew full well before I embarked on the CT conversion journey that not so good gas mileage and subsequent cost is a very tiny investment for the camping and outdoor memories that I will have for the rest of my life...

[bdosborn]

Last week I traded in the 2008 for a 2012 RAM Quad Cab which I got for a very good end of year price. This new truck has the same Hemi and 3.92 gearing but I know the mileage is not going to be any better despite the truck being 4 years newer.

No, you've got that all wrong. Now you'll get 25 mpg at 75 mph and it will go up once you chip it and put big tires on.

Bruce

[eamarquardt]

No, you've got that all wrong. Now you'll get 25 mpg at 75 mph and it will go up once you chip it and put big tires on.

Bruce

Where can I get a new chip for my new Traverse?

Thanks,

Gus

[roadinspector]

No, you've got that all wrong. Now you'll get 25 mpg at 75 mph and it will go up once you chip it and put big tires on.

Bruce

Where can I get a new chip for my new Traverse?

Thanks,

Gus

Same place I got mine. Frito Lay!!

Earnest

[8ball_99]

Last week I traded in the 2008 for a 2012 RAM Quad Cab which I got for a very good end of year price. This new truck has the same Hemi and 3.92 gearing but I know the mileage is not going to be any better despite the truck being 4 years newer.

No, you've got that all wrong. Now you'll get 25 mpg at 75 mph and it will go up once you chip it and put big tires on.

Bruce

lol