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I was under the impression that having the trailer nose-down caused excess pressure on the front axle of multi-axle units and increased the chance of trailer sway. Nose-up for trailer was supposedly the "safer" condition when level was not attainable.
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Your point about front axle loading on the trailer is correct and with too much you will see the result in overloading the front axle as compared to the rear.
But nose slightly down is better than nose up. In a condition where trailer begins to push the truck (going downhill for example), nose up can result in an upward vertical component or lifting force on the rear of the truck. This condition can go bad quickly from a vehicle dynamics perspective. So level or nose slightly down is the way to fly.
Again your point about too much nose down should be avoided.
Can I suggest that the trailer might just be a bit heavy for a short bed 250 rear suspension? A really long trailer with a relatively short wheelbase truck can be tricky. You can only dial out so much rear squat with a weight distributing system without causing unintended issues. How about the simple step of adding some air bags or overload springs? Then the WD hitch is just fine tuning the combo for correct attitude and control, not making up for the easy-to-squat F250 rear end. I bet the ride would be much improved, too.
That seems low. My 7.3L got 21 highway empty (Highway Gears installed. Towing the 12,000 5th wheel I got 12 average with really good on flat freeway, but most of my driving was two lane and curves or hills. With the camper and towing I got 13 average and with the small 5th wheel and towing I got 14mpg. Something isn't right here.
My '95 F250 weighs in at about 9200lbs, and I get about 5.5 MPG with my 460, so don't feel so bad. The transmission is dying which I bet adds to my extra fuel consumption.
Originally Posted by KW7DSP
That seems low. My 7.3L got 21 highway empty (Highway Gears installed. Towing the 12,000 5th wheel I got 12 average with really good on flat freeway, but most of my driving was two lane and curves or hills. With the camper and towing I got 13 average and with the small 5th wheel and towing I got 14mpg. Something isn't right here.
How heavy is that camper, and do you have suspension upgrades? Also, you can tow a trailer behind a trailer in Oregon?
The worst I ever got with the train in my sig is 12.5 with 10-20mph headwinds. I have been averaging 13.5 most times with it. I have seen 14.5 a couple times. This is all off the overhead display which I have checked to be accurate within .2mpg on my rig.
'05 2 valve V-10 EX 4R100 4.88s (with 35" tires for a 4.39 effective ratio) Banks headers 5Star tunes (87 & 89 Performance tunes used for all towing) 4" lift pulling a '14 Jayco Eagle Premier 338RETS at 11,000lbs 41' long using a Hensley Arrow hitch. I tow at or within 5% of the posted speed limit and average from 8 to 9.25 MPG depending on weather and terrain pulling all over the Eastern states and New England.
Hi There. Yeah I just realized a necrothread a post over a year old regarding a 7.3 Diesel engine. What does this mean? Well the grey matter between the ears was not functioning fully and I meant to reply to a thread pertaining mileage of a 6.2 Gas not a 7.3 diesel. On top of this, I was using the phone and thought I clicked on the thread in which it was suppose to be replied too. Back to your regularly scheduled programming....
The way I figure it, when the gauge reads 1/4 I stop and fill up. It doesn't make a hill of beans how far I went since the last fill-up! What am I gonna do about it? I sure ain't gonna quit pullin' the 5er! I sure didn't buy this rig to talk about mileage bragging rights!!
I am in the same boat regarding mileage. I do loosely track it as a rough indicator of how my truck is doing, but losing sleep over small differences is not on my calendar.
