So, I got a job distributing free publications (Auto Finder, Apartment Guides, etc) for a company to about 30...ish places in the Irving area of Texas and I got to thinking... What kind damage to MPG occurs when hauling x amount of weight in our trucks?

Based on the surplus I had left over that I recycled for about 15 bucks (361 pounds of paper, + about 100 pounds of phone books which I don't get $$$ for because it is binded with glue).... I would say I had between 2k and 2.3k of stuff in my bed. Obviously I get less MPG with the extra weight, just as having more gas in each tank = less MPG because of the weight) Is there any calculation or basic estimates of the MPG loss per pound?

I would figure it out on my own, but I didn't calculate the miles I went along with how much fuel was used and an exact weight amount I was hauling or any other figure besides that I used between 5/8ths and 3/4s of a tank in a day with distances I would normally only spend maybe between 1/4 and 1/2 with no load.

I'm mainly concerned because my job uses a lot of my gas, so I need to figure out how much I can drive this month before I need to get more gas because this job doesn't pay me for a month after I start work there (2 weeks before I invoice them, then 2 weeks after to get a check for those 2 weeks).

Also (I know I'm saying a lot, but I don't think I'll be getting online for another 10 minutes), I'm wondering do both front and back tanks on a 91 4.9 carry the same amount of fuel (about 15.x gallons) and would they essentially get the same MPG (5th time I've written MPG [6th]) in a vehicle? I seem to be able to go a little less far on my rear tank as the front.

Don't worry! If you read all of this, and you just couldn't get enough of it, I'll probably think of the stuff I meant to add, but couldn't remember and edit this thread in a bit. Thanks for any info

edit: junk in the truck? wtf... I meant junk in the trunk... which I edited.

 

I call BS if you think you had 4-5,000 pounds in the back of your truck

 

2-2.3k (k = 1 thousand) I didn't check to see if i said 2-2.3tons

 

read it wrong, but still that should be well over recommended payload right?

 

If it's a longbed truck, the front tank is larger holding 18~ gallons, if it's a shortbed, the front holds about 15~. Either case the rear is the same and holds 16.5

Normal F-150's are 1/2 ton trucks. As in you can put 1000lbs in the bed as max payload. Putting double that will wear out your shocks in no time and probably bust your leaf springs or mounts. It also puts a lot more stress on parts that weren't designed for it. Your rear tires are not rated for that kind of load, another thing to consider. If it's a standard you're killing your clutch, if it's an auto you could be overheating it.

If he had 4000lbs his truck's box would be dragging on the road because both leaf springs snapped like twigs and the rear wheels popped.

If you really think there is a ton or more in your truck, don't do it any longer if you plan on keeping your truck for long. That or you'd really have to beef up the rear end.

 

Thanks for the info, I guess I need to do some weighing at work. I can't afford another vehicle if something goes wrong.

 

J420N,

How many bolts hold the rear wheels to the axle on your truck?

5 or 10?

-Lance

 

5, I think I know where you're getting at

 

One of the reasons that these companies want to hire someone with a private vehicle to make deliveries is the cost of maintenance and fuel. It saves them a ton of money.

And over the course of time and miles, you don't make as much money as you think due to the cost of fuel and upkeep.

I would go by a scale the next time you are loaded and check the gross vehicle weight. I'll bet you are way over.

I've seen some of the delivery people around here with phone books in the back of 1/2 ton trucks that were on the bump stops. Way overloaded.

So be careful and try not to overload your truck and make for an unsafe condition. Could cost you a bunch of money.

good luck.

 

You are right. It is a 1/2 ton axle.

 

I was on the jury of a case in L.A. where a legal document delivery service paid only salary. The employees paid for their car's wear, tear, insurance, and gas. The pay rate worked out to about $.25/mile. Lots of people got screwed. They ended up poorer with more mileage on their cars.

The owners of the company got sued and LOST, however the profits were already offshore!

-Lance

 

Man... I need a new job, I figure I'm stuck with these guys cause I need money, but they're going to lose me one way or another. Either I leave or my truck dies and I can't do their work anymore.

They give me 4.25 a day (enough to get me to Irving and back w/o anything in the bed) and they're not my 'employer' It's a contract deal for tax purposes according to their paper, and somewhere I read something about no legal trouble.

Maybe I'll take the next load to the paper recycling place and get me $4 for each 100 lbs of paper.

 

I don't know what your mpg is without a load.

Here is what I get:
Highway (empty) = 18 mpg
Highway (towing 3k) = 13 mpg

It would probably be safe to say that you lose 25% of your mpg when loaded.

So effectively, this makes gas cost you 25% MORE because of load.
If the sign says $3.00 per gallon, you're paying $4.00 while working.

 

The IRS allows 48.5 cents per mile for business use of a vehicle. Keep a log book of your miles and claim it on your taxes at year's end. No log book, no way to substantiate the claim if you get audited.

That is probably fairly less than what it costs to actually operate a vehicle. With the recent jump in gas prices, it may be way low. If you're not seeing at least that kind of re-imbursement, you're getting screwed.

Also check as to whether your insurance covers business use of your truck, it may not.