Struggling with interstate mileage in 2000 Jeep Wrangler with oversized tires.

[bondvagabond]

I've got the perfect solution for you. Sell the jeep in a year, and if you really like the open top, get a suzuki samurai! I just traded for one for my hypermiling homestead project vehicle that I've posted about here. I got 31.54 mpg with it on the first big 260 mile road trip with 4 mountain passes to go over. Mine is a carbed model with "oversize" 225.75.r15 tires that the previous owner put on. I am also 6'5" 230lbs, another myth about the big guy needing a big pickup :-)

[Wonderboy]

haha Better yet, get a suzuki x-90! lol



I always thought they look like a loony toon that just got bopped in the head with a hammer and has a growing bruise. Like a lot of suzuki stuff, ugly as hell but small, dependable, and easy to work on... I dare you to drive an x-90 around. Doing that definitely takes a bigger man than any kind of oversized tyro rig.

[bestclimb]

I would second a samurai for a fuel efficient off roader. The ones I have owned have been unstoppable. I have pulled a couple full size rigs out of ditches, and yanked one out of snow up to his axles he broke through a crusty layer and I just floated atop it(He hung his head and asked me not to tell anyone...hehe)

An x 90 is the same drive train and chassy as a Suzuki sidekick/geo tracker. It is very stout for it's size. Though a swb tracker has a great deal more room inside than an x 90 I have seen x90s with a bunch of lift, lockers, 31's and bull bars with winches. Actually looked kinda neat.

[bondvagabond]

I was thinking samurai so that he could have a soft top still, something he mentioned was his main reason for getting his jeep.

The samurai weighs so much less than a wrangler that I bet the power to weight ratio would be similar to a 4cyl wrangler.

Oh, and that 31.54mpg I posted for my last samurai trip was to drive it home after I traded for it, so that is without a tuneup/ airfilter change/ etc.
and it is using google maps for distance travelled since speedo cable needs replaced, so no tire size /mpg inconsistency. take that jeep wrangler :-)

[baldlobo]

4 cylinder jeeps have 4.10 gear ratio, stock; does your jeep have a lift of any kind on it? have you checked to see if your speedo is accurate?