Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Ouch! Friend's Ford F-150 lifetime fuel consumption: 14.7 MPG US = 16 L/100 km

slowmover · 11-01-2018, 08:42 AM

OT

Hersbird,

With fuel topped off at travel center, get a CAT SCALE reading (phone app available). Just you alone and ONLY whatever gear kept permanently aboard (never removed until you sell it).

This TARE weight is the trucks minimum. Compare scale reading against axle/tire/wheel limits. This is what determines towing capacity. That spread from this “empty” scale ticket and any from setting up hitch rigging, etc, is how to understand what’s going on.

It’s also how to set tire pressure. Which is according to Load. These are necessary baseline numbers.

New shocks (Bilstein or KONI only) and examination of bushings critical on older truck. Cheap to fix (use poly for anti-roll bars). Zero steering slop.

Steering & braking are what matter. Not engine power or “Payload”.

The baseline for FE is loaded & hitched for a camping trip. Full fresh water & propane. Three scale passes. First with, and then without weight distribution hitch tensioned. Then drop trailer and scale last time. All passengers aboard.

(Hitch adjustment is essentially that first and third weighings show the same Steer Axle value).

That third pass is part of how to determine “what is the proper mpg for this rig”? It’s the “A” of an ABBA test where B is with the trailer. 40% drop solo in towing is the standard at or under 60-mph. Worse than that needs examination. Same roads and 100% constant use of cruise control; as the actual mpg figures aren’t important, it’s the tightest spread from Loaded/Solo to Loaded/Hitched that matters).

Both vehicles

1). Alignment
2). Brake drag
3). Bearing preset
4). Book maintenance to date.

With the “Camping Weight” recorded , you can duplicate it at any time for testing your new tow vehicle .

MICHELIN LTX or Bridgestone DURAVIS tires only.

All new exterior LED light fixtures. Not just lamps. Headlights deserve study. See Daniel Sterns site and keep copy of headlight adjustment diagram. I dial my headlights up or down a measured number of turns based on first correction, and again when headed out of town first time. (Half tank of fuel). No WAG

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11-01-2018, 08:42 AM	#23 (permalink)
slowmover Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 2,442 2004 CTD - '04 DODGE RAM 2500 SLT Team Cummins 90 day: 19.36 mpg (US) Thanks: 1,422 Thanked 737 Times in 557 Posts	OT Hersbird, With fuel topped off at travel center, get a CAT SCALE reading (phone app available). Just you alone and ONLY whatever gear kept permanently aboard (never removed until you sell it). This TARE weight is the trucks minimum. Compare scale reading against axle/tire/wheel limits. This is what determines towing capacity. That spread from this “empty” scale ticket and any from setting up hitch rigging, etc, is how to understand what’s going on. It’s also how to set tire pressure. Which is according to Load. These are necessary baseline numbers. New shocks (Bilstein or KONI only) and examination of bushings critical on older truck. Cheap to fix (use poly for anti-roll bars). Zero steering slop. Steering & braking are what matter. Not engine power or “Payload”. The baseline for FE is loaded & hitched for a camping trip. Full fresh water & propane. Three scale passes. First with, and then without weight distribution hitch tensioned. Then drop trailer and scale last time. All passengers aboard. (Hitch adjustment is essentially that first and third weighings show the same Steer Axle value). That third pass is part of how to determine “what is the proper mpg for this rig”? It’s the “A” of an ABBA test where B is with the trailer. 40% drop solo in towing is the standard at or under 60-mph. Worse than that needs examination. Same roads and 100% constant use of cruise control; as the actual mpg figures aren’t important, it’s the tightest spread from Loaded/Solo to Loaded/Hitched that matters). Both vehicles 1). Alignment 2). Brake drag 3). Bearing preset 4). Book maintenance to date. With the “Camping Weight” recorded , you can duplicate it at any time for testing your new tow vehicle . MICHELIN LTX or Bridgestone DURAVIS tires only. All new exterior LED light fixtures. Not just lamps. Headlights deserve study. See Daniel Sterns site and keep copy of headlight adjustment diagram. I dial my headlights up or down a measured number of turns based on first correction, and again when headed out of town first time. (Half tank of fuel). No WAG .