I have a 2000 F150 w/4.6 Triton, automatic. The truck is bone stock. I towed my Harley in a U-Haul trailer made for motorcycles (1000 lbs), along with about 300 lbs of stuff in the bed. My wife and I were the only ones inside. The truck spent 95% of the time in 3rd gear, even on the flat roads. I know this can't be normal... any suggestions as to why??? The 9 MPG is tough at these gas prices.

 

Tranny slipping? Don't know what else would do it.

 

Gears? tires? speed? If your driving to slow then your truck wants more power it would down shift. If your have a head wind that might cause this. It might LOOK Flat but you could have been going UP HILL...

 

I'm not sure of the truck's gearing. I have 20 inch wheels, the trans was fully serviced by Ford 2 days before I left CA. Yes, the road my appear to be flat and it could be uphill, but my GPS didn't show any climbing on the roads I thought was flat. Guess I'll take it back to Ford and ask them. Thanks.

 

Yes lotsa factors, gears and speed. Also wind and maybe the trailer brakes were hanging up alittle. Have had that problem before.


Shane

 

OK... I did some research... the truck has the 4.6 L Triton, 3.55 gears, 20" tires... everthing is bone stock. Ford say I have a 6900 LB towing capacity. I only towed, maybe, 1300 LBS total without my wife and I in the cab. Spent most of the trip in 3rd gear. Saw many F150s hauling a lot more weight than me, at a much faster speed. Trans was serviced prior to trip. Guess I'll go to Ford and see what's up.

 

Those 20's are probably heavy. Your tires are probably larger than stock as well. Your shift points are messed up with larger tires and the weight means more gas.

9mpg is low for thatweight and presumably sized trailer, but seems right based on being in 3rd gear mostly.

 

What RPM's are you running in 3rd gear?

 

wow, something aint right. What about a tune up

 

What size tires are on your 20-inch wheels?