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07-17-2017, 01:21 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Declo
Posts: 4
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16' 24MBH + 17' F-150 3.5 EcoBoost = 5.8 mpg??
Went on a 100ish mile trip last weekend and ended up with an average MPG of 5.8 mpg. This is my second trip with this truck and the first time out it was closer to 10. Wondering if there is anything I should be worried about or anything worth looking at? Sure makes cross country traveling more difficult if I have to fuel up every few hours.
More info in case you need it:
- Truck has max towing package with the biggest gear ratio (3.55?)
- Without the trailer I'm getting 19-21...which is what I'd expect.
- Using an equilizer hitch
- Trailer was pretty much empty (one night of gear and no water). Dry weight spec'd at 5500.
- It rarely wanted to shift out of 8th gear...my first trip out it seemed to use 10th gear on the flats.
- Terrain certainly wasn't flat but didn't go through any mountain passes. Just rolling hills of Southern Idaho.
- Trailer pulled fine. Barely noticed it was there.
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07-17-2017, 01:34 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Cedar Park
Posts: 13
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Dang, 5.8 is pretty bad. I have a 264BHW and TV is a '17 Silverado Z-71 with a 5.3 L V8. I usually get between 10 and 12 mpg when towing depending on terrain. How is the air pressure in your tires? What type of weather were you towing in? Was it windy? I've found that a strong wind can really make you suck gas if you are driving headlong into it.
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07-17-2017, 01:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
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Wind resistance gobbles up lots of fuel. So head winds from Mother Nature and head winds you create by going faster are the first two suspects.
Did you hand calculate the mpg in both cases? Differences in fuel station pumps and different fuel filling techniques may also play a role as well as distance measuring variances.
__________________
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SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
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07-17-2017, 01:55 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,580
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I never went much lower than 8 mpg in my ecoboost, when I did it was going over a mountain pass. 9 to 10 mpg was more typical for us on average.
__________________
2016 27BHS Elite
2012 F-150 EcoBoost / Max Tow (Sold)
2017 'Blue Jeans' 6.2 F-250 Lariat 4.3 gears.
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07-17-2017, 01:57 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Declo
Posts: 4
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Tire pressure was to spec...just filled it before the trip. It was probably around 95 degrees out and a little bit of wind...maybe 10-15 mph?
I'm just going off of the digital mpg display on the truck...but the way it was sucking fuel I'm thinking it was pretty accurate. Around a half a tank for 100 miles. 36 gal tank.
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07-17-2017, 06:38 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 942
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Same here; the worst I ever got was in the high 7's, towing into a strong headwind. Normally it's in the 8 to 9 range while towing. 3.5 Ecoboost, 6 speed and 3.55 rear. The trailer weighs around 6,000 lbs.
I use an app on my smartphone to keep track of the mileage. It's a little more accurate than the lie-o-meter on the instrument panel display.
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Geoff & Jill
& Sierra, the little white monster
2013 Ford F-150 XTR SC Ecoboost
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 24FBS
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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07-17-2017, 06:50 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Newburgh
Posts: 6,307
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I agree with Bansai - I got 10+ most of the time 9 at my worst. Are you going by the dash computer showing fuel economy or are you calculating it yourself? When I towed, my dash readout was never accurate. Just food for thought.
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2022 33RBTS
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2016 28BHBE - (Traded and Missed already)
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07-17-2017, 08:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,580
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I actually did hit 4 mpg for a good stretch of road, but that was climbing from 6000 ft elevation to 11,000 at 65mph mostly. This is one reason, among many, I miss my 3.5... 'It wasn't supposed to be able to pull that much weight up the spine of north america at interstate speed' anyway, I digress.. I never get the EPA's mpg ratings on any of my vehicles thanks to altitude... to the OP, there's something wrong with your truck if you don't have anymore data points to offer... i.e. headwinds, maybe you locked out 5th gear (on purpose or otherwise) 5.8 is really bad otherwise... I think.
I would imagine though that if something really was wrong with your truck, you would have thrown a code (check engine light or something)... Unless you're a gear head, like I aspire to be, I'd take it to the dealer if you see that again and can't logically explain it.
I take it that your unloaded MPG hasn't changed noticeably?
__________________
2016 27BHS Elite
2012 F-150 EcoBoost / Max Tow (Sold)
2017 'Blue Jeans' 6.2 F-250 Lariat 4.3 gears.
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07-17-2017, 08:25 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Gainesville
Posts: 697
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My 2016 EcoBoost runs 10mpg average while towing a 30ft 5th wheel. So I would say you've got a problem. I suppose if you had a brake dragging it would have overheated enough that you would have noticed the smoke.
I'll second the comment about wind - it makes an amazing difference. We went from Texas to the Black Hills a few years ago. The prevailing winds were from the South and VERY strong both going up and coming back. Going up I was running 15 to 18 MPG and thought "Whoo Hoo!!". Coming back against the headwinds I was getting 6 to 8. It all evened out over the trip to my usual 10.
__________________
Buddy Ray - Atlanta
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Jayco 2016 Eagle HT 26.5RLS
Ford 2016 F150 Lariat, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost
Max Tow Pkg, 36gal tank
Reese Sidewinder and Reese Titan 16k hitch
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07-17-2017, 08:40 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Idaho/Arizona
Posts: 5,446
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As mentioned, speed and wind are huge factors for fuel mileage. When I travel West across southern Idaho it seems like the wind never lets up.
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2011 Eagle 330RLTS with just about every option.
2017 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 with tow package. (no, we don't tow the Jayco with it.)
2018 Surveyor 265RLDS well equipped.
Life in the slow lane is still life.
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07-17-2017, 11:31 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 277
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Speed makes all the difference in the world pulling. You're mileage will go down significantly over 70mph. Not sure if you're doing that but worth mentioning
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2015 Jayco White Hawk 28dsbh
2014 Ford F150 4x4 w/Ecoboost
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07-18-2017, 06:41 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: midwest
Posts: 2
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17' 24MBH behind a 13' 3.5EB non-max-tow (3.31) SCrew loaded for bear and averaging about 9.3 over about 800 miles in Ozark hills, running 62-65 mph. Stays in 5th most of the time in tow/haul mode; down to 3rd on some hills. I average closer to 17.5 not towing. Something is off with your setup if you weren't in a wicked headwind or running 70+. I second the opinion to check your trailer brakes. I carry a non-contact thermometer and check the trailer drums when I stop to fuel.
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07-18-2017, 08:04 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,588
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-Fill up with 91 or 93 octane fuel
-Inflate truck and trailer tires to max cold inflation pressure printed on tire
-Tow under 60mph
-Tow on a no-wind day, or if there is wind, note where it's coming from
-Ensure your hitch is set up properly weight is being adequately distributed
Try these things and if you're still not getting at least 8mpg there is a problem.
I tow 7K lb with a slightly lifted truck on 33in tires and get an average of about 9.5mpg
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2013 F-150 EcoBoost MaxTow, Roush tuned (415hp 506tq), lifted on 33s, R.A.S.
2013 Jay Flight 28BHS Elite (Equalizer 10K hitch)
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07-18-2017, 12:23 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Dacono
Posts: 255
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Rarely wanted to shift out of 8th?
I may have missed it, did you have Tow/Haul Mode on? I know I sometimes forget to re-engage it when I start the truck.
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07-18-2017, 12:45 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,588
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Another thought on gearing... Sometimes I get better fuel mileage running in 5th with slightly higher RPMs than running in 6th. It seems like the engine is throwing more boost and fuel into the cylinders when the RPMs are that low, almost like the engine is lugging and struggling to make its power. The 400ish RPM increase towards peak torque makes it a little easier for the engine to expel power. Just a thought. Maybe try locking out the top gears and run in 7th?
__________________
2013 F-150 EcoBoost MaxTow, Roush tuned (415hp 506tq), lifted on 33s, R.A.S.
2013 Jay Flight 28BHS Elite (Equalizer 10K hitch)
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07-18-2017, 01:01 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Declo
Posts: 4
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Thanks for all of the suggestions. Yes, I was probably going a little faster than I should have...maybe 78? Speed limit is 80.
I'm headed out again next weekend on mostly highways (65 mph) instead of interstate. I'll see if that makes a difference.
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07-18-2017, 01:11 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,580
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kjandb
Thanks for all of the suggestions. Yes, I was probably going a little faster than I should have...maybe 78? Speed limit is 80.
I'm headed out again next weekend on mostly highways (65 mph) instead of interstate. I'll see if that makes a difference.
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That made me cringe a little.
Are you running the stock tires?
You've confirmed your tires are rated for more than 65mph? Most of the tires that Jayco puts on are not... I'm not sure about the Good Years they started using recently. I know the China Bombs on my camper will self destruct at those speeds. No offense intended if you already have this covered.. 2 of my friends, both with different campers have had really bad blow outs this year on the interstate and they had no idea they couldn't take those tires faster than 65 without negative consequences.
The worst part though is when these tires go, they usually cause a ton of additional damage to the camper. Just looking out for ya
__________________
2016 27BHS Elite
2012 F-150 EcoBoost / Max Tow (Sold)
2017 'Blue Jeans' 6.2 F-250 Lariat 4.3 gears.
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07-18-2017, 01:32 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Orem
Posts: 113
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Wind and Speed
Wind is always blowing in Declo. Just a matter of which direction and how hard. It is Declo. May have been upwind both directions for your trip.
I try to keep my speed below 65. If I try to go above 70, then the gas mileage drops dramatically. I shoot for 62 MPH but it sneaks up on me once in a while.
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2008 Jayco 24 RKS
2012 Suburban
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07-18-2017, 03:24 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 885
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78MPH! Wow. That will suck fuel for sure. As Bansai mentioned your ST trailer tires are rated for 65MPH max speed. Unless you have upgraded you are asking for a blowout.
Tow around 60MPH and see if your fuel mileage is more inline with others.
Cheers
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2014 Jayco Swift 281BHS, 300W Solar!
2015 F250 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab, Short box, 6.2 gas
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07-18-2017, 04:33 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Clinton township
Posts: 118
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I have a 2017 284bsse and tow with a 2017 f150 I am averaging 9.5 mpg on 3 trips 1 to northern mi and 2 to Beaver Falls pa. I would be concerned about your drop in mpg
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2017 Jay Flight 284 BHSW SLX
2014 F150 XLT 4x4 quad cab
2018 Ford F150 XLT Sport 4x4
2020 Ford F-150 Ltd Sport max tow
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