How long inline trailer needed to fit 4 163 sleds? Ecoboost owners chime in also!
- Thread starter projectprox
- Start date
I've been sledding for a long time and ridden in Duramaxes, Ford 7.3, Ford 6.0, new Dodge diesel, and my experience has been they rarely (actually, probably never when I've been along) get more than like 11-12, running 1000 miles of 75mph Interstate. I'm generalizing here, because 11-12 would be pulling 2 place open and we've also pulled 4 place opens and 4 place enclosed. Pulling a 4 place open I'd be surprised by anything more than 10 and enclosed 8-9.
We got around 8.5 with this 2014 6.0 over New Years heading from Iowa to Togwotee. The trailer is a 8.5x29 stealth that we got at Haydays. We changed it over to a fifth wheel so it would pull better. Made a couple of trips with it so far and could hit 75-80 no problem unless you get in some serious wind but other than that you couldn't tell it was behind you.
Now if you programmed it you could be as special as a magic diesel
Why spend money on an over rated Eco boost??
Just drove a friends '13 Ecoboost back from the Bighorns last week. 3 guys and one sled in the bed of the truck. Cruise set at 80 MPH. Averaged 12 MPG....not too good.
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We have a RR 7.5 it's 29' and we can fit five but the half ton truck don't like it. But my point is 7.5' inline Is a good option gives you a little more room.
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We ran to the snowies from Milw. WI in a 13 ford 6.7 tuned, with a 29' inline with 4 long tracks it pulled like a dream. we got 12.7mpg out with averaging 75-80 mph. we had the same avg on the way back adding another sled in the truck bed....which i thought was good, on our next trip we took the deck and 2 long tracks out and only got 13.5mpg I really thought we would have got around 15, with the tuner i average 19 empty. My buddy was pretty excited about our mileage though, compared to a 6.0 gasser that averaged 5.5 with a 23 gal tank and we stopped every hour and a half. Other guys eco boost from south dakota only gets 10-14 unloaded hyway hes pissed about how bad it is, so ill take the diesel extra cost for the power and so far better milage than ive gotten in other vehicles ive owned and towed out west with.
I'm not made of money by any means, but when it comes to heading to the mountains I don't care about mileage. I wanna get there as fast as possible so I can relax and enjoy my vacation for the maximum amount of time. I've been interested in the eco boost, but can't give up my diesel. You can't beat setting the cruise at whatever speed you want and letting it go.
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bboll
Member
Ecoboost with a open Floe
Just made the trip from MN to Island Park with a 2012 ecoboost crew. It has the max tow package, 3.73 gears, HD tranny cooler, stock tires, fiberglass topper, air bags, stock intake and exhaust. We had 4 guys, 15 gal of race gas, a lot of gear & tools, pulling a open Floe 4 place with the small tires, covers on the sleds, and no salt shield.
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Took 94 across ND with about a 15 mph cross or head wind on the way out most of the time. We ran 70 in western ND as the roads wouldn't allow any faster and ran 75 everywhere else. The truck got 10 mpg over the 1100 miles out, never going below 5th gear and the trans never got above 202 degrees. <O
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Same way home with a cross wind and a head wind in eastern MT. Guys voted for speed in place of mileage. We ran 80 in 6th gear 90% of the time with some 85's on the down hills. We got 10.5 on the way home.<O</O
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I was surprised how well it handled the trailer and that it didn't want to shift constantly. I ran premium gas which was around 3.20 - 3.60 a gallon on most stops compared to diesel around $4.00. BTW 36 gallon tank usually meant that the guys wanted to stop before we had to stop for gas.<O</O
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Just one honest report. Not a diesel by any means, but solid.
Just made the trip from MN to Island Park with a 2012 ecoboost crew. It has the max tow package, 3.73 gears, HD tranny cooler, stock tires, fiberglass topper, air bags, stock intake and exhaust. We had 4 guys, 15 gal of race gas, a lot of gear & tools, pulling a open Floe 4 place with the small tires, covers on the sleds, and no salt shield.
<O
</OTook 94 across ND with about a 15 mph cross or head wind on the way out most of the time. We ran 70 in western ND as the roads wouldn't allow any faster and ran 75 everywhere else. The truck got 10 mpg over the 1100 miles out, never going below 5th gear and the trans never got above 202 degrees. <O
<O
</OSame way home with a cross wind and a head wind in eastern MT. Guys voted for speed in place of mileage. We ran 80 in 6th gear 90% of the time with some 85's on the down hills. We got 10.5 on the way home.<O
</O<O
</OI was surprised how well it handled the trailer and that it didn't want to shift constantly. I ran premium gas which was around 3.20 - 3.60 a gallon on most stops compared to diesel around $4.00. BTW 36 gallon tank usually meant that the guys wanted to stop before we had to stop for gas.<O
</O<O
</OJust one honest report. Not a diesel by any means, but solid.
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maxitout77
Well-known member
2011 Cummins 6.7 3.73s - Fully deleted running a Smarty on 30hp tune.
Towing a large 2 place inline (hybrid setup) and a sled on the sled deck.
3 sleds, 3 guys. Lots of fuel and gear.
5100 miles round trip from VT to CO - avg speed 70-80.
13mpg avg for whole trip (inc lots of running around town, idleing in the morning to warm up, etc). worst was 10.6, best 18ish.
Id say if your getting 12-13 with the Ecoboost towing, your doing just fine (esp on a stock tune)
If I/we drove like an absolute grandma, I could maybe have averaged 15. Its already a 36 hour drive, going 60-65 aint gunna happen. I would also get better mileage running the 90hp tune, but I dont like to push my truck, I want it for longevity.
Food for thought.
Towing a large 2 place inline (hybrid setup) and a sled on the sled deck.
3 sleds, 3 guys. Lots of fuel and gear.
5100 miles round trip from VT to CO - avg speed 70-80.
13mpg avg for whole trip (inc lots of running around town, idleing in the morning to warm up, etc). worst was 10.6, best 18ish.
Id say if your getting 12-13 with the Ecoboost towing, your doing just fine (esp on a stock tune)
If I/we drove like an absolute grandma, I could maybe have averaged 15. Its already a 36 hour drive, going 60-65 aint gunna happen. I would also get better mileage running the 90hp tune, but I dont like to push my truck, I want it for longevity.
Food for thought.
D
Drewd
Well-known member
I have a diesel Grand Cherokee and haul a 26' 6,000 lb travel trailer with it. At 65mph, I get 17 mpg. At 70mph, I get 13mpg, at 80mpg, I get 11mpg. My Cherokee has a hot tune which allows it to put out 442 ft-lbs of torque.
According to studies backed by the department of energy, the average car will be at its advertised MPG at 55 mph. But as the speed increases:
- 3% less efficient at 60 mph
- 8% less efficient at 65 mph
- 17% less efficient at 70 mph
- 23% less efficient at 75 mph
- 28% less efficient at 80 mph
Although trailer tires aren't rated for speeds higher than 65mph, cold weather temps really help with tire heat buildup.
Towing my 2 place open with 2 sleds, I get 22mpg at 75mph....I love my diesel. Towing same setup with my 2.8L Jeep Liberty Turbodiesel, I get 17mpg because I have to drive it harder to maintain highway speeds especially up mountain passes...should get better once I fix my &*(*& boost leak.
According to studies backed by the department of energy, the average car will be at its advertised MPG at 55 mph. But as the speed increases:
- 3% less efficient at 60 mph
- 8% less efficient at 65 mph
- 17% less efficient at 70 mph
- 23% less efficient at 75 mph
- 28% less efficient at 80 mph
Although trailer tires aren't rated for speeds higher than 65mph, cold weather temps really help with tire heat buildup.
Towing my 2 place open with 2 sleds, I get 22mpg at 75mph....I love my diesel. Towing same setup with my 2.8L Jeep Liberty Turbodiesel, I get 17mpg because I have to drive it harder to maintain highway speeds especially up mountain passes...should get better once I fix my &*(*& boost leak.
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Define "fit" ... You can do it with a 28' V-nose, but its going to be a lot nicer with a 31' V-Nose
I know quite a few guys who come out west from MN in Ecoboost trucks that get a lot better mileage than that .... The wind has a lot to do with that.
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prairiebound
Member
ecoboost fuel milage
After 2 winters of pulling sleds with ecoboost motor I can tell a few things. the power and torque are unreal compared to other gas engines. tranny temp. stays pretty low for as hard as it gets worked. 195 to 210 degrees. pulling a 12 ft. triton enclosed I get about 12.5 in 2 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive lose about a mile to a gallon. I pulled a steel enclosed trailer that weighed 3700# empty 1200 miles. got 6.5 in winds up to 50 mph. diesels got 8 mph in our group. on the way home almost no wind and some 4 wheel drive it got 8.5mpg. if you got your foot in it and the 4 wheel drive turned on and lot of hard wind it will pull the trailer but it will suck a lot of gas. I don't think there is no gasser that pulls hard and gets good fuel mileage. stock pickup. 350 something gears. I know it is isn't the 3.73. I am very happy with the pickup. does everything I need it to do. I have air bags on the rear. run 17 lbs. with the 12 ft. trailer and 80 lbs. with the steel trailer. It you are towing with a half ton pickup put airbags under it. I don't commute with this pickup. I only use to pull trailers or haul something in the box. So it is not a diesel with the power they have but it works well for me.
After 2 winters of pulling sleds with ecoboost motor I can tell a few things. the power and torque are unreal compared to other gas engines. tranny temp. stays pretty low for as hard as it gets worked. 195 to 210 degrees. pulling a 12 ft. triton enclosed I get about 12.5 in 2 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive lose about a mile to a gallon. I pulled a steel enclosed trailer that weighed 3700# empty 1200 miles. got 6.5 in winds up to 50 mph. diesels got 8 mph in our group. on the way home almost no wind and some 4 wheel drive it got 8.5mpg. if you got your foot in it and the 4 wheel drive turned on and lot of hard wind it will pull the trailer but it will suck a lot of gas. I don't think there is no gasser that pulls hard and gets good fuel mileage. stock pickup. 350 something gears. I know it is isn't the 3.73. I am very happy with the pickup. does everything I need it to do. I have air bags on the rear. run 17 lbs. with the 12 ft. trailer and 80 lbs. with the steel trailer. It you are towing with a half ton pickup put airbags under it. I don't commute with this pickup. I only use to pull trailers or haul something in the box. So it is not a diesel with the power they have but it works well for me.
I have a 13 F150 FX4 with Eco and 3:55 gears. In January I went out west from central Mn to snowies pulling my 22ft Aluma open 4 place. Had 162 m925, a 162 1100t, and 2 Polaris pro 155's. On way out got 6.5 mpg trip avg hand calculated but was fighting a 35-40mph NW wind that felt like it was hitting the front passenger corner. 80 mph with very little downshifting. On way home with no wind got trip avg of 10.6 doing same 80mph. Truck is bone stock. I too have been out with every truck/trailer combo including a stacked/tuned duramax and nothing I've been in has ever gotten better than 10-11 loaded doing hwy speed for 900 miles
