All this Carl for a 3 hour trip.....you must be bored as hell!!

Heck, ive driven 3 hours for a coffee...Thats not a trip, its a detour

 

Oh, yea, forgot to offer you some advice....do the trip in reverse....I gaurantee you will get better mileage than anyone at the event....

 

Come to think about it, I think the last trip I made on the road that was longer that 3 hours one way, was ten years ago on an RV trip with my parents LOL

Work, school, fishing, and shooting, and wheeling, are all 10 miles away. The casino, amusement park, and detroit auto show is only 80 miles away. That's about all I need, hahaha.

So 3 hours is looong to me, LOL

Anything longer than a couple hours, I just fly if possible

 

this fuel efficiency guide is for class 8s but most of these ideas will work on our trucks....

Fuel Economy


Bob Weber, chief engineer for Class 8 vehicles at International Truck & Engine Corp., says fleets can improve their fuel economy numbers by adhering to the following spec'ing and operating suggestions:

Slow down; use speed governors. “Speed is the largest factor in fuel efficiency because aerodynamic drag forces go up exponentially with vehicle speed,” he says. International offers a programmable option on its engines called Vehicle Speed Limiting (VLS) that caps how fast the truck can travel. Slowing down from 70 to just 60 mph using VLS could yield fuel savings of up to 10% a year.

Spec a fuel-efficient engine. Though engine selection is a matter of personal preference, fleets should be aware of engine-specific fuel consumption patterns.

Gear vehicles to cruise speed. Spec the transmission final drive ratio, axle ratio and tire size to match the OEM-recommended engine rpms for your highway cruising speed. Powertrain optimization can yield fuel savings of up to 10% a year.

Spec roof deflectors. These are particularly beneficial for tractors hauling tall trailers and operating at speeds of 45 mph and above. Estimated annual fuel savings is 10%.

Spec low rolling resistance tires. Assuming optimal tire pressure, they can yield fuel savings of up to 10% a year.

Reduce engine idling. A number of idle reduction solutions are available, including programmed engine shutdown, fuel-fired heaters, and electric air-conditioners.

Spec an automated transmission. Can result in fuel economy savings of 5%.

Spec low engine speeds. Setting engine cruising speed at 1,800 rpm rather than 2,100 will enable the engine to operate more efficiently, thus improving fuel economy about 5%.

Specify cab side extenders. For tractors hauling-sided trailers traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, the addition of cab side extenders can improve fuel economy 3%.

Monitor tire pressure weekly. Could cut your fuel costs by up to 3% a year.

Spec chassis skirts. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, skirts can offer about 3% in fuel savings annually.

Spec a direct-drive transmission: With a final drive ratio equaling 1.0, this can save 2% a year in fuel costs.

Spec aerodynamic mirrors. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 45 mph and above, aerodynamic mirrors will provide about 1% to 2% fuel savings annually.

Spec a bumper dam. For vehicles traveling at speeds of 65 mph and above, a $150 bumper dam can improve fuel economy 1.5 %.


for our pickups:
tonneau covers and camper shells both can improve the aerodynamic efficiency...
the right tailgate spoiler can also help.
improving air intake and exhaust system will also improve mpgs...
a very small improvement in mpgs could result from using HID headlights that use half the current drain requiring your alternator to work less.....

lastly don't let your wife or your dog stick their head out the window while driving a highway speeds

 

Hey that's awsome, Thanks!