Towing beast!

[Blmpkn]

It its crazy how some can get good mileage where others don't. But everyone drives differently and on different terrain so it's impossible to get accurate results. I know I was surprised when I got those numbers posted above. We had left my house here in AZ and headed to Durango, CO and the ride up to Flagstaff is mostly uphill then east through a few passes to Durango. Even going from Durango, CO to Custer, SD I still averaged mid 23 going over some pretty big mountain passes. Crazy since I'm lifted with 32's and running the 91-93 performance tune but I'll take it. ?

It's probably your tune helping for sure.

It's wild looking at the live readout while traveling down the turnpike. Flat flat FLAT ground at 60mph and my truck will say 24 or 25mpg... then I'll start up a hill with barely enough slope for a ball to roll down and it'll drop by nearly 10mpg lol. Boost is murder on efficiency.

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[mtbikernate]

The ONLY people getting mid 20s in these trucks are flatlanders.

I've been on road trips with my truck not hauling anything, accelerating like grampa, 55-60mph for its entirety and the highest I've seen is 21mpg.

I wouldn't say that living in the shadow of the tallest mountain in the eastern half of the country counts me as a flatlander, but I will average in the mid 20's in summer driving. Yes, I've achieved my best average fuel economy when I drive from the mtns where I live down to FL (and back up into the mtns, as well). I've hit VERY close to 30mpg for that drive, actually. Using cruise control probably around 72-73mph most of the way (less in the mtns).

I usually get around 20-22mpg while towing my little squaredrop camper. It's hardly pushing any weight limits and honestly the big reason why I have that trailer is because it's light, easy to tow, and doesn't kill fuel economy.

While the Ranger is capable of towing heavy, I wouldn't say that's something I'd want to do for long drives or on a regular basis because stopping for gas every 130mi absolutely sucks. For me, a truck like the Ranger is something I'd use for towing like that for short trips around town mostly, and MAYBE a rare longer-distance trip in a pinch.

 

[gfitzge2]

Some things Andrei says sometimes seem like...I dunno...like "this truck is rated at 24 mpg highway and we've never seen it"....dude, I got over 26 mpg more than once on long trips. But get this, with cold, dense air at altitude and flying down the highway at 75 mph, don't expect to match EPA numbers, especially when towing 1000 lbs over GCWR. Whatever I can get over the EPA rating I consider a plus, but if you want good gas mileage, get a prius!

Now I have this image in my head of a Prius trying to tow
that Suburban.

Andrei videos are usually pretty interesting. Doesn't claim to be scientific, just real world stuff that most anyone could do. (not necessarily Should to)

I am sure he didn't expect great mileage under the circumstances. However most of us know that the Ranger can get the rated mileage under the right conditions. I personally try not to stress over MPG but was pleasantly surprised with this trip. Admit conditions were ideal. Relatively flat, summer, almost all interstate I71 and I75, not many delays or heavy traffic.

 

[Friday yet?]

Idiots towing:

I made an approximate 225 mile drive this morning. Along one section of the interstate I had my cruise on 85. And I was definitely one of the faster people on the road. But at one point a clown in a Suburban rolled right on by me. Definitely doing over 90. While towing a tandem axle UHaul box trailer.

You just can't fix stupid.

 

[Dereku]

Im sure our rangers could tow a fully loaded semi successfully. This is a really dumb test. The GVWR is primarily for safety and what the truck is designed to endure for longevity.

 

[OFC Ranger]

My guess is the towing capacity is like the engine output, low balled for liability and component half life.

I would wager, if done so at proper speed and so forth you can probably safely tow beyond the paper listed capacity the same as we can tune our engines to spit out an extra 100hp and 100tq with minimal risk.

 

[rydfree]

I'm surprised you all trust that digital MPG display , LOL.

 

[AzScorpion]

I'm surprised you all trust that digital MPG display , LOL.

Mine was about 1.5 mpg off when I first got my Ranger. I adjusted it so now it's dead on and still use the Fuelly app to load my gas receipts and confirm. Yea it's funny how he was "shocked" that the dash mpg was off. lol

 

[BS67]

I Think Andre woulda done better on mpgs if he'd filled up with something besides 87 octane. 87 here in Nebraska is 10 if not 15% Ethanol. Alot of weight to be towing for sure and at 5° temp or less those mpgs are gonna stink!

 

[mtbikernate]

I definitely use the best, highest octane gas I can find when I'm looking to tow. I do notice the difference.

I do periodically hand verify my fuel economy as compared to the truck's computer. The truck's computer isn't dead on balls, but it's close enough.

 

[gfitzge2]

I'm surprised you all trust that digital MPG display , LOL.

I know it is not always perfect, but whenever I have checked mine it is pretty close. And I don't stress over MPG, it is pretty much what it is. Not going to change my driving style for a few tenths. It is worth looking at because a major unexpected change would indicate something is going bad.

I think towing a 1000lb over the rating load might qualify as expected drop in MPG. ? ? I bet that video would be different had a DOT officer pulled him over.

 

[JDG]

Now I have this image in my head of a Prius trying to tow
that Suburban.

Andrei videos are usually pretty interesting. Doesn't claim to be scientific, just real world stuff that most anyone could do. (not necessarily Should to)

I am sure he didn't expect great mileage under the circumstances. However most of us know that the Ranger can get the rated mileage under the right conditions. I personally try not to stress over MPG but was pleasantly surprised with this trip. Admit conditions were ideal. Relatively flat, summer, almost all interstate I71 and I75, not many delays or heavy traffic.

Was this achieved with the AT tires in your signature? 265/70 R17 BFG AT KO2

If so, are they LT Load Range C or Passenger Tires?

 

[gfitzge2]

Was this achieved with the AT tires in your signature? 265/70 R17 BFG AT KO2

If so, are they LT Load Range C or Passenger Tires?

Yes LT load range C . It also has the Ford Performance/Fox leveling kit. That raised the front about 1-3/4". Used Forscan to calibrate speedometer for the tire size change. I think that helps the trucks MPG display be more accurate.

 

[Azhang253]

Well, I no longer have any reservations of towing my two dr JK to the trails in Colorado or Utah lol

 

[GTGallop]

Sidebar....
I wonder if it's possible - just as a science experiment to strip the ranger down to reduce as much weight as possible, lower it a little, put on some super efficient tires and wheels, drive highway speeds (55 to 65) for a tank and see what the maximum possible achievable MPG really is. Best case conditions all of the way around. Then we can track how far off of perfection we all are.

Maybe perfect is really only 28 MPG and getting 21 with a fully loaded truck and off road tires and towing isn't that bad.

Or Maybe 42.2 is perfect. We don't really know.

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