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Reply to: Tow Vehicle - What do you drive, what do you pull, what type of mpgs?

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[quote=turbohobo]I just delivered my P18 to buyer down in Hot Springs, AR, a 7 hr drive, drove through the Ozark Mountains and averaged 18 mpg at 65 mph towing with 2010 Chrysler T&C with a 4.0L motor. Conditions were perfect though, I was traveling south and the wind was slight, out of the NE, so it pushed me down. July Last year I started out for FL with the P18 but hit a 10-15 mph headwind, fuel consumption dropped down to 10 mpg, so I dropped boat off at a buddies place.

When I used an ethanol mix, which has been mandated here in the MidWest on both 83 and 87 octane fuel, I got 24-26 mpg fully loaded, when I used non-ethanol mix in other States, I got 28-30 mpg, on that same trip down to FL. So you have to factor that in as well.

When I used my 95 Ford F-150, 4.9L straight 6, to pull my P18 I was getting 10-12 mpg.

I have now downsized to a G-Cat 5.0, trailer and boat are much lighter, I also picked up a 94 Buick Le Sabre from my neighbour for $800, it has a 3.8L motor, I have ordered a class II hitch for that which I will install and will use this vehicle to pull the G-Cat.

Because I trailer everywhere to go sail, mpg has become a big factor in my life of sailing, from my place to the lake is a 1.5 hr drive, 80 miles, and I would use an entire tank of gas to go sailing. So I'm hoping that this change will be for the better, I will know pretty soon and will post the results here. My only other option is to store my boat up at the lake but that would cost me $80 a month and that's not even a secure storage area. Price used to be $50 a month but I guess because of rising fuel costs more people are looking to store their boats near the water so marina owner made full use of the opportunity.

I have always wondered if trailering a cat with the tramp on increased mpg, the tramp would act like a sail behind a vehicle increasing drag, I'm almost positive that if the tramp was removed, the drag factor would be eliminated increasing mpg......?[/quote]

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