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Old 03-05-2021, 03:04 PM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
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If I get an old Ford F-150, do I have to resign?



Two or three times a year, my brother and I need to move a ~5500 lbs sailboat + trailer. Not very far (<10 km = mi.), and not very fast (typically <20 km/h = 16 mph, though sometimes up to 65 km/h)

Years ago, we used to use my brother's Honda Ridgeline. Things were a little bit beyond the Honda's towing rating (5k lbs), but it was fine.



(From: Honda Ridgeline MPG vs speed graph: fuel economy with & without cargo trailer )


Unfortunately, someone smashed into the Ridgeline in a snowstorm, and his replacement vehicle is only rated for half the Honda's towing ability. So, no go.

(Not my brother's actual smashed Ridgeline, but pretty darned close to it! White, too.)

Since the Ridgeline's premature exit, we've been begging/borrowing numerous friends' pickup trucks. Always repaid with beer/gas, but we hate asking. We've rented trucks too, but it's $$$, and the local rental company no longer has half-tons available.

Enter crazy idea: the neighbour of a good friend has a running & driving but otherwise beat-up 1985 F-150 that he parked in a field about a dozen years ago.

Something close to this:




Lately I've been watching too many episodes of Vicegrip Garage, so obviously I'm thinking the ideal thing to do is drag said pickup from its field/grave and fix it up to use as our 2-3 times per year tow vehicle.

It'd definitely need a battery, and brakes & brake lines, and fuel lines, & parking brake cables, and exhaust, and probably tires, and a tune-up, and bodywork, and mouse removal, and miscellaneous other repairs, and an air freshener. But it might be a fun project, right?

Probably not. Well, probably initially.

What am I thinking?!

I should be trying to cull the herd, not add to it!

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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