Quote:
Originally Posted by p38fln
If you're wondering how I found this place since fuel economy + pickup truck is usually not mentioned in the same paragraph, I was trying to figure out what on earth the pickup had an air dam for.
|
Hey man, there are others out there in the same position. A lot of people are thinking 'fuel economy' these days.
If slowing to 65 is doable for you, then you'll find it to be very beneficial. I'll do some math for you.
If you take 19.5mpg and 20.5mpg (you said it gets over 20mpg at 65mph) and convert to to gallons per 1000 miles...(which I do frequently, because gpm better displays fuel consumption)
You get a difference of 2.5 gallons or about $9.50 at current prices.
If the price trend continues, you'll be saving ten bucks every 1k miles by slowing down 5mph.
Try some basic hypermiling techniques. Anticipate stops and slowdowns, drive with a buffer zone and keep your tires inflated properly. These alone can make a major difference without making you too 'hyper.' I wouldn't be surprised if you could get to 21mpg with these techniques and a more efficient speed.
By the way, is a bed cover an option for you? It sounds like you do a lot of highway driving, but I'm not sure if you carry large cargo and need an empty bed most of the time.
Welcome to the board p38fln.