Panamoka_Bassin Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 So, at the end of last year, I broke down and bought a new/used truck, a 2004 Ranger with the 4.0 v6 and an extended cab. Since I was travelling 300 miles to Vermont every other week or so, I thought it would be a good idea to have a reliable 4x4. What I didn't realize was that I'd be getting only 15mpg, whereas with my old '93 Ranger (4 cylinder) I was getting nearly 22mpg. While I was up in VT, I got a bed full of snow and decided to get a tonneau cover, or a sliding cover to go over the bed. Since then, I've seen the mpg in this truck go up to close to 20mpg. I'm sure it has to do with cutting the wind resistance on the bed, but I never imagined I'd be getting that much more. The tonneau was a bit expensive, around $1100, but if my math is right, I'll have saved that much in gas before the end of the summer, and after that its all gravy. Just a little help so the gas pump doesn't sting quite as hard. BTW, the cheapest gas up here that I've found is $3.07/gal... Quote
Bass Smacker Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 feel lucky. I have a Bronco that gets 14 mpg going down a steep hill with a 50mph tail wind ;D No it gets 14mpg going up hill down hill in the city or free way. Iv tried every thing still 14mpg and gas here is $3.45 a gallon and climing.. So I wont be going on meny trips this summer. Quote
tipptruck1 Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 Right now I have a 96 mazda protoge. It gets like 35 mpg. Now the bad part iam like 6'2". I swear I need a shoe horn to get out of that thing. So right now iam looking for a truck. But I have had trucks in the past. I had a 94 f-150 that got like 15 mpg. The gas suking didn't bother me at all. I just view it as you buy it you cvan aford to feed it. Quote
bassboy1 Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 Ya can't call it a truck if ya put a tonneu cover on it. ;)Skid steer loader cannot dump in the two tons of gravel, or 20 crossties with one in the way. You can't take a full load to the dump, and when you go to the scrapyard, they can't unload with a magnet. It ain't no truck. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 Try these also. Each one can affect gas mileage and are relatively cheap to do. Properly inflated tires Regular oil change New air filter, I'd go K&N Injector cleaner Clean the motor all of these help the motor run more efficient. Efficient= better gpm's. Quote
HUNTER19 Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 feel lucky. I have a Bronco that gets 14 mpg going down a steep hill with a 50mph tail wind ;D No it gets 14mpg going up hill down hill in the city or free way. Iv tried every thing still 14mpg and gas here is $3.45 a gallon and climing.. So I wont be going on meny trips this summer. omg i thought 299 was expensive man im sorry!!!! Looks like i should invest in a bike or something!!! Quote
Bass Smacker Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 feel lucky. I have a Bronco that gets 14 mpg going down a steep hill with a 50mph tail wind ;D No it gets 14mpg going up hill down hill in the city or free way. Iv tried every thing still 14mpg and gas here is $3.45 a gallon and climing.. So I wont be going on meny trips this summer. omg i thought 299 was expensive man im sorry!!!! Looks like i should invest in a bike or something!!! I know isen't insane I was looking at msn autos and in southern ca it already $3.999/10 a ga I'm thinking about a motercycle for work... 8-) Quote
TheBigWelsh Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 feel lucky. I have a Bronco that gets 14 mpg going down a steep hill with a 50mph tail wind ;D No it gets 14mpg going up hill down hill in the city or free way. Iv tried every thing still 14mpg and gas here is $3.45 a gallon and climing.. So I wont be going on meny trips this summer. omg i thought 299 was expensive man im sorry!!!! Looks like i should invest in a bike or something!!! I know isen't insane I was looking at msn autos and in southern ca it already $3.999/10 a ga I'm thinking about a motercycle for work... 8-) I too am thinking of getting motorcycle for the gas savings. I drive a 3/4 ton chevy truck everywhere and it gets expensive at 12mpg. anything 4wd will suck down the gas. Quote
Cephkiller Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 Hah! My fishing truck is a '92 Chevy 4x4 with a 350 and I get 11 mpg! Can anyone beat that? Huh? Anyone? Bueller? Quote
Bass Smacker Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 Hah! My fishing truck is a '92 Chevy 4x4 with a 350 and I get 11 mpg! Can anyone beat that? Huh? Anyone? Bueller? I would be afraid if they did Quote
frogtog Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 Let the tail gate down or take it off and you will see anywhere from 1.5 to 3 mpg increase in your gas mileage. Add another 1 mpg by cleaning it out and keep it washed. Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted May 1, 2007 Super User Posted May 1, 2007 Hah! My fishing truck is a '92 Chevy 4x4 with a 350 and I get 11 mpg! Can anyone beat that? Huh? Anyone? Bueller? I would be afraid if they did I had a 79 bronco with 44,s on it when gas was 1-10 a gal an dthat truck got 6 mpg and i hated it then even,I could actually see my gas hand move every 3 miles Quote
Ninerman Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 I have a 76 bronco with a 10 gallon tank and that bad boy gets 10 MPG...I drove it from NC to CA and stopped for gas 32 times....and ran out twice luckily I had 2 plastic 5 gallon cans in the back...that was a few years ago when the gas wasnt so bad. Quote
Super User fourbizz Posted May 1, 2007 Super User Posted May 1, 2007 I used to make non stop (except gas) high speed runs between colorado-california and wyoming-california when I was in school. Taking the tailgate off made about a 2 mpg difference. My truck gets the best fuel economy at 85-90 mph due to gearing. SWEET! One trip i was trying to set a PB (if you will) from Laramie wyoming to salt lake city utah, INCLUDING 2 stops for gas and a 15 minute stop at subway I averaged 93 miles per hour. I was then "detained" by the Utah Highway Patrol for about 2.5 hours and averaged about 78mph the rest of the way to california ;D Aw to be young and dumb again...wait...I am still young..................and dumb. My other baby: Quote
Super User Redlinerobert Posted May 1, 2007 Super User Posted May 1, 2007 I am pretty sure I have you all beat. I have a 2006 Hummer H2. I had a Supercharger installed, increasing hp to ~500. Let's just say it tows the boat with NO PROBLEM. Gas mileage? What is that? How does 9.6 mpg grab you? Not to mention that since it is supercharged, I have to use premium unleaded! Quote
Super User Root beer Posted May 1, 2007 Super User Posted May 1, 2007 Hah! My fishing truck is a '92 Chevy 4x4 with a 350 and I get 11 mpg! Can anyone beat that? Huh? Anyone? Bueller? My cousin has a '92 chevy silverado 1500 4x4 with v-8, 5.2 liter I believe. And he said he gets 8mpgs. My truck gets around 10-12 mpg. But I'm about to get a another one, a used one that in better shape then my truck and I'm clean the engine to death, new oil filter, etc. Quote
Super User Alpster Posted May 1, 2007 Super User Posted May 1, 2007 On the Lake Fork trip, the Bassbuss (2002 Chevy Express Cutaway RV) averaged about 8.5 mpg all highway miles. 5.7 liter V8 w/automatic overdrive. Ronnie Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 I am pretty sure I have you all beat. I have a 2006 Hummer H2. I had a Supercharger installed, increasing hp to ~500. Let's just say it tows the boat with NO PROBLEM. Gas mileage? What is that? How does 9.6 mpg grab you? Not to mention that since it is supercharged, I have to use premium unleaded! You dont pass up many gas stations do you? Quote
fishbear Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 I watched a Myth Busters episode on this subject. They found that for a pickup with an open bed, the best gas mileage was gotten with a cargo net for a tailgate. And that with the tailgate just opened and laying flat, the truck actually got worse mileage than with it in the up and locked position.. The Cargo Net across the back actually increased fuel economy by like 10% I think. I drive an 04 Ranger Edge. I get 17 driving back and forth to work and 24 on freeway driving,,, I am not going to complain about that. My brother just sold one of his Mustangs and bought a Focus, with a stick. He is getting 39-45 mpg with it going back and forth to work. Gas in the Pacific Northwest is over 3.00 a gallon as well. He parked the F250 Superduty, until hunting season Quote
Super User Catt Posted May 1, 2007 Super User Posted May 1, 2007 Don't you guys watch Myth Busters? According to their research putting your tail gate down does nothing, in their research their truck with the gate up got better gas mileage. I also have a 2004 Ranger Edge 4dr SuperCab with a 3.0L OHV 12-valve V6 & I get 22 mpg in town & 28 mpg on the highway. I drive with my cruse control on as much as possible this will increase your gas mileage. Quote
Guest avid Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 I have an '05 Toyota Tacoma with the 245HP 6cyl. I really don't know what the gas mileage is, but it's not too bad. I only put about 10 k miles per year on it, so even though gas prices are through the roof it's not a major monthly expense. I use premium. The owner's manual was a study in ambiguity. It said something to effect that " Your new tacoma does not require premium unleaded fuel, but using lower grade will decrease power and efficiency" HUH???? Either it needs premium or it don't. I figure it needs premium but Toyota put in some anti knock technology so you think you are doing ok on regular. Quote
Panamoka_Bassin Posted May 1, 2007 Author Posted May 1, 2007 I wouldn't worry about gas grades, avid, my manual specifically states that 87 goes in the tank (there's a nice big picture of an 87 on a pump so even I couldn't get it wrong). I was talking to a friend who has a '03 Rousch Mustang (VERY SWEET!) and he only puts 87 in there. Todays engines are much better than they were 10 years ago, and the "lower grades" of gas seem to be the preffered gas. If your truck is turbo or super charged, then you'll need the more expensive stuff, but otherwise, save a couple bucks and buy the (laughing) cheap gas... Quote
Pond Hopper Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 Man you guys with the rangers are killing me, I have a 2000 3.0 L V6 Ranger and it gets about 17 mpg in town and maybe 20 on the highway, and I drive alot with the cruise and dont floor it or slam on the brakes. I also have the K&N filter, run injector cleaner, keep tires inflated, all of that good stuff. Any other suggestions from the guys with the Rangers? Corey Quote
Cephkiller Posted May 2, 2007 Posted May 2, 2007 I am pretty sure I have you all beat. I have a 2006 Hummer H2. I had a Supercharger installed, increasing hp to ~500. Let's just say it tows the boat with NO PROBLEM. Gas mileage? What is that? How does 9.6 mpg grab you? Not to mention that since it is supercharged, I have to use premium unleaded! Since I'm a nice guy I'll trade you even and save you some jack at the pump. Just PM me and let me know where we can do the swap. You're welcome ;D Quote
justfishin Posted May 2, 2007 Posted May 2, 2007 I pull the boat with 3/4 ton Chevy Conversion van with a 350. Its not pretty. Gas around here, as of yesterday, was 2.99pg. I was on a little below a 1/4 of a tank and it took 47.00 to fill her up. I live 25 miles from town. Yes, I am a real country boy, and a gas poor one,lol. If you are ever around here, I am the guy sitting on the porch swing ( we call them Davenports ) playing the banjo with the big ears and big grin,lol :'( P.S.- Does anyone else call a porch swing a Davenport? or is it just a Western Maryland thing? Quote
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