Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
I'm taking a 4x8 utility trailer full of crap down to southern Vermont tomorrow. I bet I still get significantlybetter economy than your truck, despite being loaded infinitely higher than the car is rated for.
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Loading the car to near design limits is part of operator skill. No matter the load, getting highest mpg relevant.
Empty, with driver, is like claiming the downhill MPG. Meaningless.
This truck is “rated” at 20,000-lbs GCVW. I’ve pulled trailers that — alone — weigh more than that. (That any commercial vehicle officer or station will pass as legal And insurance company is fine with. Commercial liability is in another galaxy compared to that for a personal vehicle ).
Does your loaded trailer weigh 2.5X as much as the fully-loaded tow vehicle?(past GVWR; relying on axle limits).
Published shipping weight at new was 6,860-lbs. Truck (solo) I can take it up near 11k.
The above combined rig weights were 32-33,000-lbs. The drivetrain had an “extra” 26,000-lbs to deal with. 3.5X empty truck ship weight.
That’d be for you, what? 10,000-lbs extra?
Given those max loads drop me to 10-mpg on highway (65-mph) on level ground with no adverse winds, are you SURE you’ve beaten me on a ton-miles basis?
3.5X the empty. Non-aero open flatbed. 60% fuel penalty
You might do okay driving my truck when solo (coming somewhat close to my numbers), but lacking experience with it fully loaded OR fully-loaded & pulling a heavy load, the POINT about the different conditions doesn’t change: Skill is highly dependent on experience. “You” (anyone) wouldn’t come close to 10 with those loads. Delivered on a hotshot schedule.
Load up your air-conditioned go kart and find THE OTHER END of solo operation as it will improve ANY OTHER CONDITION under which it’s operated. (Hell, it’s just training).
It’s flat fun to be able to glide along at max. Almost as smoothly. But the inputs to the vehicle are significantly different. (Now, add rain or snow).
But if this activates the
special snowflake TILT-lamp warning & mind disablement feature, just forget it.
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