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Old 10-14-2008, 10:27 PM   #14 (permalink)
Blister
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: GA.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave View Post
Lowering a 4x4 probably is not in the cards.

My recommendations:

Get a flat tonneau cover. Hard or soft. Both work.

Get some low rolling resistance tires. Goodrich Long Trails are excellent in that size. air them up to the sidewall max. I overinflate by 25% but that's for me.

Covering the cab/bed gap is good. Covering the wheel wells, even partially is better.

Towing a heavy load with an automatic probably forecloses any gearing benefits.

Slow down. Drive the limit and no more.
I do practice a form of hypermiling even though I never knew what it was called before I came here (to EM). It's a somewhat hilly area here so slight acceleration in the middle of two hills to reach the top of the second and coasting down hills with no more in front of me is the usual. I don't speed unless I'm coasting downhill and don't want to hit the brakes due to a flat spot or hill coming up after the grade has pushed me over 55mph. With the trailer on, it's actually easier because the trailer will push me quite a long way. My normal speed is between 45 and 55. I try to maintain 55 for the sake of those behind me but if it puts me into OD, I don't worry with it. They can pass me if it bothers them that much.

I tried looking for some premade fender covers online but got a bunch of nonsense... fender flares and whatnot so maybe I should start learning how to bend plastics. Fiberglass would be ok too. I do have a very, VERY small amount of exp with fiberglass. I also have the aluminum stock for structure.

I saw comments about diesels. This is a gasoline powered engine. I had mentioned driving a diesel but it belonged to my dad who lives next door. Until now, that was the only vehicle I had that would pull the trailer. Very inconvenient for both of us. I would schedule jobs and he would take off in his truck. lol. I guess since it was his, that was just my tough luck.
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