Hey all,

We've got a F150 SCREW, '17, 3.5 EB, with 36 gallon tank, 3.55 rear gear

Given the above combination, and towing, (we get 10-11 mpg) what kind of range are you folks getting - how many miles do you go before stopping to refill? Ya I know, given the above mileage we should be able to go 300 (+ or -) miles before needing gas. So with a full tank, how many miles do you drive before stopping to fill up?

Just wondering what real world experiences you have.

Thanks, Dave

 

7.5-8.0 running 70ish pulling a 9k TT with a 2011 F-250 CCSB Lariat FX4 6.2L 3.73 rear end in Texas.

Griz

 

I stop for fuel moreso based on accessibility than what's in the tank. My trips tend to involve long approach drives, like Fort Worth to Denver or Nashville, before I split off to differing destinations, so over the parts of the trips where I'm cranking out highway miles I've done a hundred times before I'll plan stops based on what's easy to get into. If I need to be full of fuel to get through the next 300 mile interval because I know there's no good station to get a truck and trailer into (or I know I just don't want to stop in there), I'll stop and fill up even if it's only been 100 miles since the last stop. I'll never go below a quarter, that's to avoid being forced into bad situations with a trailer (access, price, quality, or safety) because I'm out of fuel and have to stop. Once you've been to a few fuel stations and know what good and bad access setups looks like, if you're going somewhere new you can use Gas Buddy to check the prices, then Google Earth to check the overhead for access issues, and build up a rough itinerary that way.

Don't discount the factor even more important than MPG - MPC Your Miles per Coffee range can be significantly less than your fuel range. Rarely is my bladder able to go longer than the fuel tank, and I'm a pretty young dude still.

But part of my MPC range problem is I have an auxiliary tank in the truck usually - 45 or 85 gallon ones that I can put in and add between 500-1,400 miles to my range. Several companies make gasoline aux tanks that you could use in an F150. They have to be Title 49 CFR 393.65 compliant for use with gasoline, so the many diesel-only tanks won't work but they do exist. I think a guy here has a big one in a 6.2L dually. I recommended them because they're all about flexibility - you can make stops much easier when fuel is never the primary concern. If we want to stop to eat at a restaurant, no issue if none of the stations have diesel (my problem, not yours) or are impossible to get in/out of. If all the stations available are nasty hovels then I don't have to risk buying old or wet fuel. If everyone falls asleep and I want to knock out 300 more miles without stopping, I have the extra fuel handy and don't have to stop and wake them up.

 

I have the 48 gallon tank and get between 9.5 and 10.0 MPG. I'm towing through the Rocky Mountains so my engine is a bit more thirsty than if I were pulling in the flatlands.

The closer I get to 400 miles the more I'm looking for a place to fuel up. Unloaded, my range is in excess of 600 miles, maybe over 700. I've never driven that far without my toy hauler.

 

depends on how brave you are... if the gas meter to empty is below 40.. stop and get gas...

I know mine... 2012... a few weeks ago.. I got down to 20 miles to empty... filing the gas tank.. I might have gone 30.... but .... not me.
I went that far... as the gas station at 40 to go was out of business...

I tow 9k trailer.. and get 8 to 9.5 mpg. truck has 166,000 miles ..

 

I have used my 2018 F150 3.5L Ecoboost for several long tows totaling over 3000 towing miles to date. We average right at that 11-11.5 mpg towing our travel trailer. With our 36 gal tank, I plan to run 300 miles between stops (I generally research my stops ahead of time) and end up buying 26 or 27 gal. That gives me a comfortable cushion in case of traffic etc.

 

Just FIY, I read a post somewhere by a guy who claimed he drove the Alaska Highway every year. Fuel on the Alcan is stupid expensive. I've heard it can be as much as $8 a gallon in some of the more remote stretches. Anyway, this guy put a big auxiliary tank in his bed, and claimed he could drive the whole way from the lower 48 to AK without needing to stop and pay Canadian prices.

 

.
at 8 pounds per gallon ( Gas )... plus the fuel tank... just remember you truck capacity

 

Nah, gas only weights about 6.2 pounds per gallon Diesel is just under 7#. My tank is about 700# all in, if I weighed myself fully topped up I think I'd be just over 9000# before any trailer weight. No big deal, can't put an in-bed hitch in anyways with the huge tank and short bed, so I'm limited to the drawbar and won't have any problems coming in around my GVWR of 9800#. The camper isn't very big anymore.

With a 100 gallon aux tank you could do it. ~2,100-2,500 mile range depending on how big your main tank is, or if you replace it with a Transfer Flow or Titan midship tank.

 

Thanks all for the information. Range is about what I expected. In our case the bladder will need attention b-4 the fuel runs out!

 

What pump can you use with gas, my CPI pumps said diesel only. I think the tank did also been too many years.

 

I have a 2018 f150 with the cap less filler neck, Does any know of a gas can that can be used without that stupid little funnel?

 

The Garage Boss GB351 should work for you.

Griz