New to the board here. Ive had my F150 for about 2 months and love it. It is a 1997 Lariat with a 4.6 and 4x4. I race Supersport motorcycles and haul an enclosed trailer. My trailer is a Horton V-nose with dual axles and brakes on all 4 wheels. Trailer weight is 1700lbs. With 2 bikes, tools and gear Im weighing in at 3k pounds give ot take 50 lbs. Problem is the truck STRUGGLES and only gets ~8mpg. I was really hoping for better performance. As for the milage Ive read several posts of people pulling car haulers(loaded with cars) getting better milage. What gives?

Any suggestions on ways to get better power or milage towing? Im starting the think my only other option in diesel

BTW: I tow with OD off.

 

Do you know what rear end gear ratio you have?

As far as gas milage, well, that sometimes depends on how aerodynamic the trailer is, but 8 is a tad low for 3K. I get that pulling 6-7k.

edit: oh, and do you have oversize tires on it?

 

i get 9ish towing an open car hauler at 5k lbs. I have the 5.4 with 3.55LS. I only turn off the OD when in the mountains or the trans starts to hunt. What speed and rpm are you driving at? What is you mpg when unloaded?
Driving style plays apart. ease on the gas, don't follow close so you can maintain speed.

 

Frontal area of an enclosed trailer is a big penalty. How fast are you going when getting 8mpg? 75 vs. 65 makes a significant difference in fuel consumption. The rear gear you have can make a difference as well, as in how much the tranny is shifting.

 

No idea what rear gear I have. Its an automatic and runs 2k rpm in OD when unloaded. I usually run 70mph when on flat ground with the trailer(and OD off). That puts me at ~3krpm with OD off at 70

 

Try backing off a little and running in the low to mid 60's with it and see how that affects your milage. I tow at just below 60 with OD off. I can run OD on, but it'll down shift with any variation in conditions.

As far as performance, well, I've got the 5.4, and with 6500#'s it's not gonna win any races for sure. 60mph is all I feel comfortable pulling that weight on a flat surface. It just works too hard otherwise. I think the 97 is prior to the upgrade in power on that engine also.

edit: wow, my spelling was WAY off the first time around on this post

 

If it will tow in OD without shifting back and forth or locking and unlocking the torque converter, use it. Between not using OD and the aerodynamics of the trailer, that is probably where most of your MPG loss is.

 

I have a 3 horse trailer which has similar aerodynamics as your enclosed (I mainly haul my CBR's in mine also Wind resistance makes the most difference when hauling... on a trip from florida to alaska, I got 4-6 mpg in midwest with mostly headwinds (and also that crappy corn gas). In alaska, I got closer to 9 or 10 mpg, and this was where all the hills were! In the SE US, (ie: flat) I got 6 mpg at 65-70 mph, and 9 at 55-60 mph, and over 10 at 45 mph. Weight has alot less to do mpg than wind resistance with and enclosed trailer (speed).