Towing this weekend
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 886
Likes: 0
From: NC
Towing this weekend
Hey everyone. I just wanted your opinions to see if I am thinking right here....
This weekend I took my new 6.7 to WV to ride UTV's. Well my truck has done awesome on fuel mileage but this weekend it did horrible. Well I feel it did horrible.
I was towing a 1500 pound trailer with my 1400 pound Can Am Commander UTV. It seemed like it was just a drinking the fuel. I did not use tow haul. I figured it was such a light load for this truck.
Should I of set it back to 5th gear for the whole trip?? Was that 6th gear causing the motor to bog down? My old 6.0 was a 4.10 gear and ran about 2200 to 2500 rpm's up the hill and I feel did way better. This truck was running 1700 rpm's in 6th with the 3.55 gear. If I drop it to 5th it went to 2100 rpm's.
This light load never hurt my fuel mileage on my 6.0 but on this 6.7 it did cause it to drop to 14mpg on a truck that was doing 19. I say my 6.0 didnt get hurt on fuel because it was doing bad at around 12 to 13 PERIOD and was running 2300 rpm's all the time in its top gear of 5th gear.
Also to consider this new tank is smaller than my 6.0. My 6.0 was a 28 or 29 gallon I think and this new one is 24.
I think the truck is doing half was ok on fuel......should I run it in 5th all the time when towing??
This weekend I took my new 6.7 to WV to ride UTV's. Well my truck has done awesome on fuel mileage but this weekend it did horrible. Well I feel it did horrible.
I was towing a 1500 pound trailer with my 1400 pound Can Am Commander UTV. It seemed like it was just a drinking the fuel. I did not use tow haul. I figured it was such a light load for this truck.
Should I of set it back to 5th gear for the whole trip?? Was that 6th gear causing the motor to bog down? My old 6.0 was a 4.10 gear and ran about 2200 to 2500 rpm's up the hill and I feel did way better. This truck was running 1700 rpm's in 6th with the 3.55 gear. If I drop it to 5th it went to 2100 rpm's.
This light load never hurt my fuel mileage on my 6.0 but on this 6.7 it did cause it to drop to 14mpg on a truck that was doing 19. I say my 6.0 didnt get hurt on fuel because it was doing bad at around 12 to 13 PERIOD and was running 2300 rpm's all the time in its top gear of 5th gear.
Also to consider this new tank is smaller than my 6.0. My 6.0 was a 28 or 29 gallon I think and this new one is 24.
I think the truck is doing half was ok on fuel......should I run it in 5th all the time when towing??
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 2
From: Colorado foot hills
Okay, so you're getting 14 towing when your 6.0 was getting 12?
Couple of questions:
How fast were you towing?
What were the conditions; head wind? up hill?
Towing my 8K tt, I get about 12-14 if, and only if, I keep the speed below 65.
The tow/haul mode (according to the book in the glove compartment) is more for the engine braking mode and pulling heavy loads in hills. The manual does say the normal mode will get you better fuel economy.
These things are torque monsters, you don't need to be generating a lot of rpms to make torque needed for towing. Just put 'er in 'D', set the cruise at 63 and be happy!
If you have the cc sb, your tank is a 26. That's what I have and I also feel it is small. My '00 had a 32 gal tank and at times, that was a bit small. I carry a 5 gal gerry can when I'm towing. Just in case
. If you really hate the small tank, Titan and Transfer-Flow both make after market tanks that are around 50 gal.
just my .02
jammer
Couple of questions:
How fast were you towing?
What were the conditions; head wind? up hill?
Towing my 8K tt, I get about 12-14 if, and only if, I keep the speed below 65.
The tow/haul mode (according to the book in the glove compartment) is more for the engine braking mode and pulling heavy loads in hills. The manual does say the normal mode will get you better fuel economy.
These things are torque monsters, you don't need to be generating a lot of rpms to make torque needed for towing. Just put 'er in 'D', set the cruise at 63 and be happy!
If you have the cc sb, your tank is a 26. That's what I have and I also feel it is small. My '00 had a 32 gal tank and at times, that was a bit small. I carry a 5 gal gerry can when I'm towing. Just in case
. If you really hate the small tank, Titan and Transfer-Flow both make after market tanks that are around 50 gal.just my .02
jammer
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 886
Likes: 0
From: NC
Guys I really think I am not used to the smaller tank. I have had two DRW trucks in the past and now I have a SRW short bed 250. I think I am not used to that tank AT ALL is my problem. I just wanted to see if I was thinking right.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, TX
I think you mean 77-78 is more like 75. Most of my speedometers over the years have been 2-3 mph off on the high side. We have multiple speed limit signs in my area with built-in radar and indicators, so I check mine a lot. I also had a cop buddy of mine check my 6.7 with his laser - speedometer says I'm doing 68 when I'm really doing 65 (he used the laser on his F-150 as well - off high by 3 mph). Wife's Honda is also 3 mph on the high side.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
2-3 MPH is what I'm noticing also.
The truck does know what speed you are going but doesn't display it properly with the gauge.
Put the screen into engineering mode and find the speed option and you'll notice what I'm talking about.
I tend to drive 5 over so I feel I'm safe enough.
If DOT wants to give me a ticket for 1-2 MPH over, more power to them.
I depend on my GPS if I need to be exact.
Both my topo and street GPS are similar within a few tenths of a MPH.
The truck does know what speed you are going but doesn't display it properly with the gauge.
Put the screen into engineering mode and find the speed option and you'll notice what I'm talking about.
I tend to drive 5 over so I feel I'm safe enough.
If DOT wants to give me a ticket for 1-2 MPH over, more power to them.
I depend on my GPS if I need to be exact.
Both my topo and street GPS are similar within a few tenths of a MPH.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
When I towed my enclosed car hauler at 10K lbs I never ever locked out any gears. This is a feature that's supposed to get used when the truck doesn't have enough power to pull the load in the top gear, and it will prevent the transmission from hunting between gears. There should be no gear hunting with 3,000 lbs behind you.
Put it in "D" and let it ride.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
Try towing the same load at 62-65. Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially as speed increases. That's the enemy when trying to make MPG.
I can tow my fiver (11,000 pounds +) in 6th up many hills at 62-65 and still make 12+ MPG unless there is wind in my face. If I bump it up to 70 I'll lose at least 1 MPG.
I can tow my fiver (11,000 pounds +) in 6th up many hills at 62-65 and still make 12+ MPG unless there is wind in my face. If I bump it up to 70 I'll lose at least 1 MPG.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Try towing the same load at 62-65. Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially as speed increases. That's the enemy when trying to make MPG.
I can tow my fiver (11,000 pounds +) in 6th up many hills at 62-65 and still make 12+ MPG unless there is wind in my face. If I bump it up to 70 I'll lose at least 1 MPG.
I can tow my fiver (11,000 pounds +) in 6th up many hills at 62-65 and still make 12+ MPG unless there is wind in my face. If I bump it up to 70 I'll lose at least 1 MPG.
But, as far as I'm concerned, it's worth it!
Senior User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Wausau Wisconsin
Wow sorry but we are spending way to much time on this issue. 1st. Leave the truck in Drive 2nd you don't need to use tow hall on a load that light 3rd only use the miles driven by gallons used method to get an accurate fuel millage reading( you will need to fill up before and after your trip) 4th 14 Mpg is totally plausible depending on how you drive and the terrain your driving how many people in the truck,Topper ?, wind, outside temp, etc.also keep in mind the Speedo is off a bit with now way to correct so you
will not be 100% accurate anyway
will not be 100% accurate anyway