So I just got done putting 1,435 miles on my truck since last Wednesday on a trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Myrtle Beach, SC. This was my first extended trip since I got my truck.

It wasn't our first choice to take my truck, but my girlfriend's sunfire has been having some overheating problems lately and just had the thermostat replaced last week, so we didn't want to chance it taking it on such a long trip in hot weather.

First things first...gas mileage. I averaged 18.11 miles per gallon throughout the entire 1,435.8 miles. That's not all that bad in my book. For the extra comfort of the trip from being in the fiddy as opposed to a sunfire, I'd say it was worth it.

Total cost of gasoline: ~$233.81
Average price paid per gallon: $2.95.
Total gallons consumed: 79.26.
Total estimated gallons that would have been consumed in a 2.2 sunfire: 51.28
Total cost for those estimated gallons: $151.30
Difference in price (F150 vs. sunfire): ~$80.00
$80 was worth feeling safer and the comfort.

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The best leg we got was 22.4 miles per gallon...and 22.3 another. But most were right around 17 or so. I stopped and got gas 6 times just because you never know when another station is coming up...better safe than sorry.

Gas mileage tips: keep those RPM's down below 2k if at all possible, while cruising. That seemed to make a big difference. Also, travelling in the morning air seemed to bump up the mpg's maybe because it was colder, who knows. Also, instead of jamming on the throttle to make a pass, tap coast a few times, fall in line and wait until the coast is clear and resume your speed to make your pass slowly...that seemed to help also.

Another thing to note, on the way there, I was in a bit of a hurry, so I was travelling pretty fast. Probably around 10-15 over in some areas and according to the GPS, I picked up all of about 9 minutes. That's really not worth it to risk a ticket in my opinion.

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Anyway, I'm happy with the way my truck performed and handled. I don't know how I lived without cruise control until now...although I guess it's not that bad since you don't know what you're missing.

It was bike week down in Myrtle Beach so there were trucks everywhere with trailers. I got a nice picture of a F150 with some nice wheels, but haven't put them on the computer yet.

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Total estimated bugs killed: ~124,934

It's probably going to take me a good 2 hours tomorrow cleaning my truck inside and out. It's literally caked with bugs...everywhere...and on the inside is some sand and of course I put the pretzels in the center console to snack on for the ride home...wouldn't you know ALL the salt came out when I grabbed them, so that's everywhere too.

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Oh well, I got pics and stuff, so I'll post a few up when I get them all situated.

 

I did the exact same trip 2 years ago and averaged the same as you. Got 17 mpg through the mountains of WV/VA and 19 mpg in NC/SC where it is flatter. So about 18 average.

 

Sounds like you had a good time.

I have never seen in the 20's, but on 2 trips to houston, I have made the 400 mile trip avg high 17's. I agree not too bad for these trucks.

I have the 35.7 gallon tank, so thats nearly 600 miles if I cruse down the interstate and dont get stuck in traffic (dont want to go all the way to empty).

 

whats the price of gas down in myrtle im thinking about going down there for a week or two and want to know how much driving i would be able to do because i herd there is quite a bit of nice things to do down there withing an hour or so of the beach.

 

The prices ranged...I was surprised. We were on the southern part...but right on King's Highway, the Kwiki Mart or whatever was like $2.95 and then right at the end of that street, there's BP's selling for $2.85. As far as how much driving you can do...if you drive to myrtle beach, I don't think you should worry too much about the extra 100 or 200 miles you'll put on while you're there heh. Everything was within 10-15 miles of our hotel.

What surprised me the most was the price of diesel. The price of diesel was ranging anywhere from $2.49 a gallon to $2.99 a gallon. The one place that had it for $2.99 had regular for $2.99 also.

 

I picked my truck up from the dealer in late June of 2005 and only have 1122 miles on the odometer as of last night........:o

 

lol...yeah I only had 1200 miles on it in the past 2 months of ownership. I really hate putting miles on my truck, and now I'm sitting at 3k.

 

actually it was helping me decide on taking the truck or trans-am right now in the city the trans-am just sucks gas so i dont want to spend a god awful amount on gas just driving to see attractions.

 

I got you guys beat on the week trip...

On my trip to Texas we put 3200+ miles on the truck... and that was in one week

But we averaged good MPG around 17.5 adding it all up... On the drives more than 300 miles we averaged 21 MPG...it was a very comfortable ride too... Much better than a H1 throwing you around the seat

Bought her in Nov of 06... so just a few months old... but I don't plan to sell so I don't mind the miles

 

$2.95 per... thats would be nice here.
I live in the desert of So Cal. $3.59 per right now at Cheveron...

 

i got that beat i added 3200 miles to my truck in a week and didnt leave the state, needless to say i quit that job

 

I do lots of 500 mile trips back and forth to Miami from Tampa. Yea..it is very flat, but the best milage I have gotten was just short of 20 MPG. No BS...however, you will have to find a semi and travel about 2 truck lengths behind it. DO NOT BE A AH and draft 10 ft behind, it is not necessary to gain the benefits of drafting.

Here is what I would do....reset you computer when you are behind him and see what the MPG is registering. If you are lucky, there will be lots of trucks/busses out and you will follow one for 100+ miles.

Consider when I pull a heavy trailer and get 9 MPH. My average is also coming in about the same as everyone without the drafting or trailer.

 

lol...I had a lady in a Corolla behind me for like 60 miles...I think she was drafting me. I would purposefully head toward the rumble strip, and she'd follow...then I'd correct and she'd go right over the strip. That's how close she was, couldn't even see the lines, just my truck.

She didn't stay that close the whole time, but that was annoying. Every time she got close, I'd do that and she's throw her hands up in the air lol.

I'm not sure I'd draft a semi...I like to see what's infront of me. No doubt it would work though...

My truck holds 67mph on cruise control down a steep grade and doesn't get any faster...actually, if I let the cruise off, it will slow down...that's how non-aerodynamic these trucks are.

 

Oh yeah, thought I'd mention...I was fighting a nice head-wind a good bit of the way back through South and North Carolina...

I think WV and PA are set up better for that. There are natural wind blockers on both sides of the road which really has to help the mpg's.

 

i did about 1800 miles in 27 hours back in november... i drove from boston to houston, only stopping 4 times for gas


just thought i would brag