Thread: Hello from NJ!
View Single Post
Old 03-13-2014, 08:28 PM   #2 (permalink)
elhigh
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 49.47 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
Hi, welcome.

Delusional? Not hardly. The biggest gain to be made is in a vehicle that doesn't do well already. And while you might start getting fabulous mileage by switching to a new or new-to-you thriftier ride, you might still wind up in the hole.

Actually I think your return on investment on the electric fan will be pretty positive, pretty fast. You don't have to be going very fast at all before the air flowing through the radiator just from the vehicle's motion far exceeds what the fan can generate.

Everything you mentioned removing is a good idea, with the possible exception of removing the interior bits. Why would you retain the seats but make the inside of the vehicle a creaking, clattering rattling box? Give it a try on the removal, but don't throw the bits away, not for a while. I've had a stripped interior and didn't like it. Weight loss is good for your vehicle in stop and go, but on the highway it doesn't help so much and that's where you spend most of your time.

For a super-quick improvement, consider adding an airdam that blocks off the wind's "view" of your vehicle's undercarriage. It's most of the return you'd get from a belly pan, but a lot less work (and investment and effort) so you can start getting savings immediately.

Read the 65+ ecomods.
Read the 100+ hypermiling tips, too, just to make every drop of gas stretch to its farthest.

You have a pretty chunky ride, not widely known for its thriftiness, but there are other guys on here driving rigs that are nothing like what you'd expect on a mileage site, and they're doing well. You can too.
__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to elhigh For This Useful Post:
UltArc (03-13-2014)