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Old 07-17-2010, 07:17 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Smile trailer towing

I have a 2001 ford explorer sport 2 door, and a transhual 6x10 cargo trailer which I uses to haul my flea market goods in. I found that towing the trailer drops my gas greatly, from 23 to 17-18 mpg.
Stock engine non mods, looking at aerodynamic changes to improve the milage appreciate any tips or ideas.

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Old 07-18-2010, 01:14 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Maybe you could post some pix.

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Old 07-18-2010, 04:31 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Tires up to max PSI.
Slow down a little.
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Old 07-20-2010, 10:49 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Your mileage is already good. A 40% drop is fairly common as a rule of thumb. If those are IRS deductible miles, then all the better. A 25% drop over 300-miles would cost about $12. It's just overhead added to the cost of goods.

As to mileage, weigh the trailer empty and loaded. Same with truck. Be sure trailer has brakes per law on weight, and/or WD hitch properly set up. Have trailer axle aligned. Brakes/bearings services. Radial tires no more than 5 yrs old. Tire pressures -- all of them -- according to Pressure & Load Tables (+20% if you want, or no less than vehicle manf numbers). Etc. Ck truck for brakes, bearings, etc. Run along just under 60 mph on limited access roadways.
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Old 07-21-2010, 01:42 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Not sure if yours is an enclosed trailer but I have an open 6x12 and I know
from experience there's but so much can be done, at least strictly speaking.

With my truck, straight up, the slower I drive, the better the mpg, plain and simple.

Fuel mileage once we get into weight has less to do with aerodynamics than
just getting it down the road, most of the engine's power simply goes to
PULLING the weight and although air does slow things down at higher speeds,
at 45 and below it's more having to counteract inertia than anything else.

Drive with load, go real light on the throttle, DWB's.

One thing that does help is keeping a minimum 6-8 seconds distance from the
vehicle in front, more so because it gives me time to let off the gas instead of
getting on the brakes, the more time I have to slow down, the better.
Unfortunately in traffic folks will cut you off constantly because of that space.

Ultimately if I know I may have to stop I may slow down a bit prematurely so I can coast into it, the idea being to avoid having to come to a complete stop.
Maybe we should call this Pre-braking

Predict lights, slow down when approaching any intersection also.

Heavy duty tires, definitely radials but I also run 6-ply rather than the standard 4's.

Beyond that things get pricey...

The ONLY thing I know of that definitely and greatly improves fuel mileage
is a full aluminum trailer, by full aluminum I mean the floor too as some
have wooden floors.
Unfortunately a full aluminum 6x12 open trailer new was $3000 several years ago.
There's another problem, few places sell them, and few places service them.

Last edited by 8307c4; 07-21-2010 at 01:54 AM..
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Old 07-21-2010, 09:57 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by forresterscott View Post
looking at aerodynamic changes to improve the milage appreciate any tips or ideas.
You can try building a V-nose on the front using the tongue as a base. Maybe use some plywood sheets? This will probably give you the biggest increase in milage.

Change to rounded fenders if yours are squarish.

Add smooth wheel covers.

Add wheel skirts.

Add fairings behind the fenders.

Make sure the trailer is horizontal when towing (as viewed from the side). If it's not, get a different drawbar that lifts or lowers the tongue until the trailer is horizontal.
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Old 07-21-2010, 04:39 PM   #7 (permalink)
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I'd argue a "V-tail" will give you a bigger improvement than a "V-nose".

And FYI, just as a point of comparison: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...nomy-7552.html



As well, have you seen this thread? Big project-F250 pulling 20x8.5 enclosed trailer - Page 7 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com
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Old 07-22-2010, 08:04 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Darin, you add so much value by cross linking these posts. Thanks a bunch. I'm buying when we meet some day!

Cheers
KB
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Old 07-22-2010, 08:49 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Kamper, buy a winter fairing for your trailer, and also try to keep the car in overdrive. Feel free to get up to 15 mph or so in 1st gear, but immediately overdrive and keep RPMs low.

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