I have a 2001 SCrew with the 5.4...140,000 miles on it. Truck runs great and no major isseus....knock on wood!!

I have what may be a strange question. I pull a trailer alot in the winter time, it is a 10' foot cargo trailer full of goose hunting decoys so itt is not real heavy. I can pull the trailer at 65mph's and maintain the same RPM's as when I am not pulling the trailer. So my question is why is there such a big difference in my fuel mileage when pulling the trailer and when I am not? Just wondering if there is something that I can do to fix it or check to see if I have a issue somewhere??

Thanks, Marty

 

what is your fuel mileage? its normal for it to drop when pulling an extral load and added wind resistance..

 

13-14 with ouit the trailer....10 with....just weird how there is no extra load on the engine...as far as the RPM gauge reads??

 

yes there is.

 

correct me if I'm wrong but in adding an extra load you are forced to give it more throttle to keep the same rpm you would normaly see under no load. The rpm would be the same but the amount of fuel it is using would be more with a load.

 

 

 

I think I'll just create more confusion.

 

OK...while some you appear to think my question is funny...I do understand that while hauling I am gonna burn more fuel, the engine just not sound like it is working any harder than without it. I just did not have this issue last year. As I pull this trailer alot from August to Febuary, would a programmer help me at all? If so which one do all you experts recomend.

 

A programmer probably wouldnt help economy much. Gears might. Slowing down whilst towing might. Make sure its running right tire pressure and all that. If you add 2-3 thousand pounds to the truck plus add the extra wind resistance there is no way around loosing some MPG..

 

I personally don't think your letter is funny and most others don't either. I started writing an explanation to your concern but after rereading it I realized I wasn't making much sense and so deleted it to avoid adding confusion. I also pull a trailer with goose decoys (170 field decoys) and there is not much weight involved as they are pretty light. I do notice the truck works a little harder as I have a 4.6 so we use my sons F150 5.4 on long trips. When I used mine I would run it with overdrive turned off as I didn't like the constant downshifting and actually the fuel economy was about the same as with overdrive and I had more power/response while out of overdrive.. Reason being is that while out of overdrive you are running higher rpms but with less throttle. While in overdrive the rpm's are lower but you are running an open throttle as the engine is working harder in the higher gear. Anyway not sure how you are running but that could make a difference for you especially as I see you are in Colorado and are dealing with higher altitudes and hills. A parachute weighs less than any trailer but open one behind your truck and the fuel economy is going to turn to crap real fast. jethat is right about gears and tire pressure and the facts surrounding more weight and wind issues as well. Take care and if you need help in the future ask away, good group of people here.

 

Thanks Dynotech and jethat, ok so if a programmer will not help me while towing....how bout when I am not. Figure if I can save some fuel while not towing might balance out a little better?

 

I have never used a programmer so no experience here. You may want to just invite a few guys with you on these hunts and split the gas costs. Plus you can kill a few more limits of geese as well. I just accept the fact that I need my 4x4 truck to pursue my hunting addiction and with that there is a price to pay in more gas. Can't fit all the decoys, bows, treestands, etc. in my wifes MKZ and paying for a divorce won't work either. Take care.

 

Trust me I do not mind paying for the gas on all my hunts, between elk deer, antelope and waterfowl..it really start to add up, so I figure if I can save a bit may turn into some more out of state hunts or new hunting gear.

 

You may try getting creative like finding a farmer/ rancher in the area you hunt to leave your decoys etc. behind his barn whatever so you can drive a car maybe or at least an empty truck. We have a big group of guys that leave their decoy trailers behind a farmers barn all season so they drive the 100 miles or so with an empty truck. We even sleep in the barn on cots, the body heat from his horses keep it fairly warm in there if you can stand the smell... Come to think of it I believe some of the horses smell better than some of the guys...Wish I could tell you how to get 18-20 miles a gallon with your truck but there are so many variables like outside temperature, wind. altitude, tires, etc. By the way why would you want to hunt in another state? Colorado is a hunters dream come true.