Buyers remorse? MPG

[KJRR]

I posted that back in #19, but was a bit more verbal about it.
But it is true....I'd guess that a lot of buyers buy on impulse or instant gratification instead of doing some research into their needs, not just in the now, but for future endeavors.

You did, and I even gave you a like. Can't say it too much though can we? ?

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[Big Blue]

I would disagree about this. economy does matter. but you do have to understand that with any engine, you're going to lose fuel economy with a load, towing or hauling. you might be able to eke out slightly better fuel economy by getting a more aerodynamic trailer or a few other things.

for me, fuel economy while towing matters inasmuch as it relates to the fuel tank size and the range I'm going to get while towing. if I'm dealing with a load in town or going relatively short distances, I don't much care. it is what it is, as you've said. but I start to care more on a long road trip, the sort of thing where my load is more likely to be a TT of some sort. how many fuel stops am I going to have to make during the time period I've set for myself to be driving? extra fuel stops eat up time where I could maybe arrive at my destination a little earlier or put down a few more miles in a day.

now, this thought process plays a role in what I tow as well as what I tow with, among other factors that I consider. since I value fuel economy on long road trips, I'm never going to tow a TT as large or heavy with my Ranger as some do here. I'm going to choose smaller, lighter, and more aerodynamic trailers every time. I'm more likely to tow heavy when I'm getting supplies for projects at the house. those trips will be short, and I won't care what my range is.

I never said that milage "fuel economy" didn't matter. I just said it is the last thing in a long list of things to think about. For most people changing many of the things you brought up is not an option. Yes it probably should be higher on the list when making the original purchases, but there are many other decisions being made at that time. It still falls pretty low on the list. Range is another thing entirely, but again something that is difficult to alter if possible at all.

 

[canyonslicker]

Well again I will stress the OP buddy was probably pulling a fast one on him. Showing kilometers per gallon vs mpg. Calculated out was 16.9 mpg vs 28 mpg. Still great towing mileage and more realistic..

 

[dtech]

I do believe you will still get better performance and MPG's on a large motor that can't tell it is towing a smallish trailer vs a 4 cyl turbo that is working to get it done. . . (A racecar on a flatbed would be light work for a large diesel)

and if we are honest, the interior of a full size truck is more comfy than the interior of the ranger - bigger is better (inside) but driving that pig everyday would suck.

I agree on the larger engine and this is where someone brought up the TFL guys towing with 4 cylinders up to the Eisenhower Tunnel to prove that they can tow like a V8 or bigger displacement engine, in real life tests car and driver found GMs 2.7t not to give stellar mpgs, in fact in their test driving of a Silverado without towing the 2.7T was less fuel efficient than the 5.3 V8.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a25177218/2019-chevy-silverado-1500-four-cylinder-drive/

 

[DaveP]

In short - no. If you bought a truck, or any ICE vehicle with the intention of towing and were expecting publicized fuel economy figures , you’ve been had.

Gas is expensive, and it 100% is ‘pay to play.’ Driving with a light foot yields 25mpg on a good day —-with a tailwind ——at low altitude.

 

[Grandaccess]

I am not in the same tow, I dont have a TT but I do car dolly and flat trailer weekly, my average load is 3500 to 4k and I do that a few times a week, mostly city/Hwy equally and I have never gotten below 17 MPG with a 2k load I am still in the 19 to 20 mpg range and no trailer at all I am 22 to 24 mpg, I am in upstate N.Y I use 92 Non-Eth I have no "engine mods" or bolt ons, for a year now its been a pretty awesome little truck with what I think is awesome MPG
I weigh, at weigh out at the yard about 5100 two guys and a half tank, the most I have had in the bed without trailer is 1200 lbs, the most I have had behind me is 5120, I have had to pull much larger trucks out of fields but no way to tell what MPG I was getting while dragging them through mud LOL
over the year I have never gotten below 17.5 and never seen more than 25 mpg
over a few weeks and 2400 miles my average mpg was 20mpg City/Hwy/Towing
I can actually get that upto 22 by going from 91 oct to putting 93 Oct gas in it, between everyone here we can get a good real world average ....
I say pictures or it didnt happen, I take a lot of pictures for my own head and records and I have a date I can go back to if a scratch shows up or tire ware over mileage

 

[Grumpaw]

I am not in the same tow, I dont have a TT but I do car dolly and flat trailer weekly, my average load is 3500 to 4k and I do that a few times a week, mostly city/Hwy equally and I have never gotten below 17 MPG with a 2k load I am still in the 19 to 20 mpg range and no trailer at all I am 22 to 24 mpg, I am in upstate N.Y I use 92 Non-Eth I have no "engine mods" or bolt ons, for a year now its been a pretty awesome little truck with what I think is awesome MPG
I weigh at weigh out at the yard about 5100 to guys and a half tank, the most I have had in the bed without trailer is 1200 lbs, the most I have had behind me is 5120, I have had to pull much larger trucks out of fields but no way to tell what MPG I was getting while dragging them through mud LOL
over the year I have never gotten below 17.5 and never seen more than 25 mpg
over a few weeks and 2400 miles my average mpg was 20mpg City/Hwy/Towing
I can actually get that upto 22 by going from 91 oct to putting 93 Oct gas in it, between everyone here we can get a good real world average ....
I say pictures or it didnt happen, I take a lot of pictures for my own head and records and I have a date I can go back to if a scratch shows up or tire ware over mileage

I believe your mpg....pulling a low trailer/car load. Not much wind resistance, and once you get up to speed the power needed is not near what it is needed to pull a big square box.
Towing a big square box with all the resistance that is met is the big downfall for us camper pullers. Thats where our mpg goes down the pottie.
Running on a windy day, into the wind, I've seen my mpg drop to single numbers, where yours are probably double mine.

 

[9zero1790]

Pay to play was a great way to say it! No matter one splits it towing costs more

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

I get 15-17 towing at 65-70, 3500 pound trailer, 500-700 pounds in the bed. And I'm running e20

Tune, exhaust, intercooler help I think

It's a pop up trailer though, as some say its not the weight so much as the square of your sail

 

[JesseS]

You would think that, looking for a pick up to do a certain task, a person would do a little homework and search out just what a vehicle is capable of.
That way we wouldn't have members joining just to complain that their Ranger "doesn't tow my 36 foot travel trailer and get 87 mpg....I'm just not happy with it".
You'd think that after 5 years there would be a huge amount of info, as on the forum, that perspective owners could look up. When the truck dosen't live up to their expectations, they blame the truck.....
STOOOOPID !!!

For all future inquires about the Ranger's towing ability and mpg....
WHEN TOWING THE RANGER'S MPG SUCKS !!!
(Be funny if that were a sticky)

Not that it matters, but I agree 100%. I researched the Ranger before I bought it, knew it had low MPG, but I bought it for fun factor, occasional runs to the dump and Home Depot, and towing my M/C on a trailer, all of which it does without breaking a sweat. I also tow the ranger behind my Class A M/H, so its lighter weight was a factor.

 

[Langwilliams]

There was a thread a while back about adding a boost gauge an keeping the rpm out of boost to get the mpg's up. Towing takes it's toll but you might be able to limit it with a boost gauge.

 

[Grumpaw]

There was a thread a while back about adding a boost gauge an keeping the rpm out of boost to get the mpg's up. Towing takes it's toll but you might be able to limit it with a boost gauge.

In theory yes. In reality...no.
When towing, especially a travel trailer/camper, your almost always on the throttle. Only time your not....perfectly flat road, no wind to fight, and speed is usually easily maintained.
Pretty much all other....maintaining speed thru windy conditions, up grades, entering x-ways, starting from a stopped position, ect, your almost always on the throttle.
You need power to move that big box...power=more throttle=more boost.
Again, it's just one of the "pay to play" items that we must deal with.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

In theory yes. In reality...no.
When towing, especially a travel trailer/camper, your almost always on the throttle. Only time your not....perfectly flat road, no wind to fight, and speed is usually easily maintained.
Pretty much all other....maintaining speed thru windy conditions, up grades, entering x-ways, starting from a stopped position, ect, your almost always on the throttle.
You need power to move that big box...power=more throttle=more boost.
Again, it's just one of the "pay to play" items that we must deal with.

Yeah you’re a pus - oops, sorry, wrong thread.

 

[Grumpaw]

Yeah you’re a pus - oops, sorry, wrong thread.

That's with a capital "P" !!!

 

[Friday yet?]

I posted that back in #19, but was a bit more verbal about it.
But it is true....I'd guess that a lot of buyers buy on impulse or instant gratification instead of doing some research into their needs, not just in the now, but for future endeavors.

Yep. I researched trucks for close to two years. F350 DRW right on down to the Ranger. Warden thought I was a bit overboard about it. But I also had to factor in future retirement needs. (Camper type, travel plans, etc.) It wasn't just a "want a truck and want it right now" sort of thing.

As to an offroad camper to tow behind the Tremor??? Currently sitting at three years worth of research and still no decision. But granted the Ranger 5G's 23 MY deadline was top of mind while researching trucks as I did not want the body of the 24. No such issue with my future trailer.

Bottom line, I want zero buyers remorse with big ticket items. Plus with vehicles I really enjoy the research.

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