Hey Slowmover, I never noticed your post before.
Thanks for the encouragement and feedback.
To a large extent I am just "seeing what works", as far as mods have gone. Nearly all of "my" ideas have originated right here on ecomodder, (while avoiding the heavily disputed things like adjusting air intake temperature or gimmicks that violate the laws of thermodynamics like hydro generators). I let everyone else's experience here serve as my test bed. Thank Mallomar for the internet!
But, yes, when actually behind the wheel I pay very close attention.
I drive a 2.5 ton truck, and I want to not run over anybody even more than I want good mileage. I caused a bad traffic accident once in my youth (flipped a midsize pickup with my Civic hatchback) and that forever cured me of reckless driving and speeding. Luckily, the same behavior that keeps me and those around me safe also improves mileage more than any other change (slowing down). So it works out. I try to scan ahead a couple blocks at all times, and smooth out the stops and starts of the random untimed lights in my city. It is frustrating when it fails, fun when successful.
The loads, as crazy as they look, are surprisingly secure. I hold everything down with ratchet straps, just like you'd use on a flat bed (only smaller). I take about 5 minutes to strap everything loose down, larger items to the outside twice, and double check it all. Then, for especially large trips, I stop after driving a couple blocks to re-test in case anything has settled from moving. A little extra time and attention, and two trips becomes just one trip.
I see all the thought it takes to drive (large truck, manual transmission, plus hypermiling with frequent EOC) makes the entire driving process much more entertaining, and the challenge of maximizing mileage takes the place of the challenge of driving at the limits of control and street racing that I used to do pre-accident. It keeps me paying attention to something which is potentially deadly, but with AT, stereos, A/C, smooth suspension, cell phones, etc, is all to easy to start to forget the seriousness of it.
For me, starting at 15mpg and almost doubling it to 30, given the miles I drive and the cost of biodiesel, I'm looking at saving $1500 a year. At mileage around 7, even a 1mpg increase means saving around $5000 per year (per truck). I read on this board about a long haul trucking company that rewarded the driver with the best mileage each year (or was it quarter?) with a brand new Harley. From a purely self-interested economic standpoint it doesn't make sense for mileage to be so far down the list. A driver isn't going to go fast enough by speeding to cover an additional $5000 worth of miles.
The ratings of "3/4 ton", "1-ton" etc don't really refer to capacities, they are just classes. They got their names back when pick-ups were first invented and they just stuck, even as cargo capacity increased. A "1-ton" truck can actually carry alot more than a ton.
I'm not saying I have never exceeded the trucks limit (but I'm not saying I have, either
) but nothing close to 3 times over!
The truck weighs 5500 with no load, but driver, tools, etc. It gets weighed empty everytime I go to the dump, so they know what to charge me (or the recycler, so they know what to pay me).
I'm not sure if the wheels are stock size. They are what was on it when I bought it (3rd hand, at least). The tires are 235/85R16, 3000lbs each - the fender will rub the tire before I go over the tire's weight rating.
I'd say your assessment in the end is pretty accurate.
I'm am honored and encouraged by your suggestion that you could learn by riding with me.
As it happens, I have been toying with the idea of creating a "efficient driving" class recently. Once I have a little more time, I think I'll do it.