Well my 2200 mile round trip to fl and return trip back to New Jersey. Pulling the 30 ft toy hauler with both big 4x4 lifted Arctic cat ATV's. The truck did well. I averaged between 7.2 and 11.5 mpg could of been better but what i was pulling i will deal with it. Trans temp average was about 155 i did hit 180 but it quickly went down i did keep O/D off 95% of the time and the truck really did not shift much at all i did a average speed of 60-70 and the tack was running between 2200 and 2600 and that was with the 35 inch tires. I did reprogram my speedo over the summer when i put the tires on. I will say i will pull it again that distance and more and not think twice. If there are any other questions i can answer just ask.

Mark

 

Did you happen to hit a scale anywhere along the line and weigh that trailer?

 

This might sound really stupid, but would you get better mileage with O/D on? When I turn O/D OFF the engine goes into 4th gear, and revs higher, am I just stupid?

 

FD,

No i did not stop in any weigh stations.. It crossed my mind but i did not. The hauler empty weighs 5500lbs the quads weigh close to 1000 lbs a piece plus the weight of our gear and the food and a little of this and that.

PMurray,

With it in O/D the trans shifts to much and i did not want that. it stayed in the gear i needed it to and i was happy.

Mark

 

What is the make and model of your toy hauler. 30' seems really heavy for an F150. Did you have to go through any mountains. I'm just courious because my Weekend Warrior has a GVW of 6500lbs and thats about all I would want to pull up a 9% grade.

 

Its an 2009 adrenaline blast it is really 29 and a half foot long. So i call it a 30 footer. You can do a search on line and find what one looks like. I have no reason to make up anything i typed. Wife was with me the whole trip and can back it all up. I know your not saying i'm making any of this up. I am clearly just stating what i did and my results. As for mountains there were some hills in Va but nothing to much to handle. I'm really happy with this truck.

Mark

 

I've driven down 95 S from New York to South Florida and the only hills I could think of was in VA, but nothing like the mountains out west.

 

Thats awsome. I would love to have a rig like that.

 

Not stupid at all...

IF your truck will pull it in O/D, yes, you will get better MPGs there. If it won't you'll just be beating up your tranny as it tries to shift in and out of O/D while you're towing.

I like to keep it in O/D on flat ground when I can, just to save gas. I then switch it out of O/D when I get to hilly areas.

BTW...O/D is 4th gear...with the O/D off you are limited to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

 

Next trip is to TN.. Sometime in the spring... I do belive there are more mountains that way... So will see.

Mark

 

Not much
The "mountains" on this side of the country aren't quite what they are on the West Coast. I wouldn't hesitate to pull something oversized and overweight here because it is pretty flat in most places.
On the west coast it is different when the "low" mountain passes are 6-7000ft. Not only are they long and steep hills that start at/near sea level, but the air is thinner up there and the power and cooling suffers.

That is good to know that it pulls okay with 35's and stock gears though, since I should be getting my 35's tomorrow!

 

With 35 inch tires and pulling a 30ft trailer, OD is useless.

TO the OP: Is your truck with OD off close the the same RPM cruising as OD on and stock?

Mike

 

Mike,


At the same speed 65 with O/D off my tach was at 2300 and change and with it on it was at 1700 and change...

Brian,

You will be happy with your 35's.

Mark