I just pulled my camper 4400lbs dry weight around 100 miles got 7.7mpg with 3.73 gears truck has 3500 miles I expected to get a lot better mpg. The truck was shifting down to 3rd up hills and they were not bad hills. I tried Manual but I did not like it. Tried Tow haul but felt like I did not need it then just set cruise at 70 in Drive.

I think I need to find best method

Does this sound correct?

 

here is a post from 2 days ago.... same subject on here in the 6.2L area.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...g-mileage.html


the short list.. New Truck, going 70, you have 20's ?

 

Slow down to 60-65 and your MPG will improve some. Your trailer tires may only be rated to 65 MPH anyhow.

 

I would slow down. You probably should anyway as I bet you have ST tires on the trailer.

Using tow/haul will help change the shift points and hold the gears longer.

Then put it on cruise control and all that should net you another mpg or two.

 

Mostly just slow down as those (probably) ST tires wont like higher speeds. Also, in the hills, cruise control will ruin gas/fuel mileage as it will try to maintain your set speed instead of you anticipating hills and slowing a bit as you go further up the incline and then will shift accordingly down gears and way up on the rpm. I use cruise only on flat runs.As far as T/H - it changes the gear shift programming and may or may not be beneficial though the hill speed control is fine. It did a great job on my '06 V10 gas truck, not much on the current diesel powered truck. MPG - the V10 was 7-9, the diesel, 10-13.

 

Few things

1. Use Tow Haul

2. 4400lbs dry? Where did you get that number? Was the trailer actually dry? My trailers advertised dry weight is 7700#, empty it actually weighs 8200# and ready to camp it's 12,???lbs.

3. Everyone is right about the speed. Towing 60-65mph I get 9-10mpg, at 70-75mph I get 6-7mpg.

 

I got the 4400lbs from sticker on camper. I slowed to 65mph and got 8.0mpg on the way back.

Next trip I will use TH mode and see if that helps.

 

The yellow stickers on some trailers are way off. My Springdale said #4800 when I bought it, I was pulling the first year with a 4.6 F150 so I had the trailer weighed to actually know what my weight was from the factory. Guess what it came in at a hair over #5200. That was about 10% difference.

 

Yes it does. 3.73's are terrible for towing. 4.30's are the answer. I assume you have a 6.2, I see this complaint regularly and 3.73's are always the common denominator

 

trailer weight tags.. lie....

my trailer has 2 tags.. both 7,500 pounds... 2 different Cat scales say 8,300 pounds.

good thing I have a F 250 with a 6.2L

and Yes, 3:73 can do it.. but 4:30 would be better.
fyi, my last trip.. truck, motorcycle, trailer is 17,000 total pounds and I averaged 9 mpg over 2,000 miles

 

Another thing with a camper trailer is the frontal area makes a much bigger difference than the weight, especially if you start fighting cross winds! Even a slight breeze hitting you at like a 45 degree angle really knocks the gas mileage when hooked to a camper.

 

If you have 15" or below ST tires the max speed is 65, anything over that will cause them to heat up and maybe blow out, ST tire are only good for 3-5 years according to the manufactures, keep your tires close to max inflation, and cover them from the sun when you can

 

I went to 4.10 gears and set my cruise at 60 mph and get 11 mpg on my 5.4. I'm pulling 7800 lbs. The re-gearing made all the difference in the world, also re calibrating the speedometer is a pain on mine.

 

You can use a ScanGauge ll and calibrate that instead of a trip to the dealer. My truck with a bit taller tires is now more accurate and the speedo, GPS and the ScanGauge are all now the same

 

That is true, however I needed to replace the tail shaft bushing and seal on my transmission so I did both at the same time. I'm a retired truck technician so I do all my own work. But you are right on about the Scan Gauge, great tool.