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Go Back   WakeWorld > >> Boats, Accessories & Tow Vehicles Archive > Archive through May 08, 2008

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Old     (jeffcanary62)      Join Date: Apr 2003       04-30-2008, 6:35 AM Reply   
The towing with your tower up or down thread got me thinking.

What are some tips for improving gas millage while towing.Leave the cover on, tow haul mode, cruise control? I have been getting pretty terrible gas millage towing with a 2004 Nissan Titian. I was getting about 10mpg towing my Prostar 205 from NY to Va, and yesterday was well under 10mpg towing an x-30 back to blacksburg from Richmond.
Old     (trace)      Join Date: Feb 2002       04-30-2008, 7:02 AM Reply   
I think it would depend on the cover - if it's tight it would help, but if it flaps it would hurt.

Slowing down, and airing up the tires to max pressure will help.

Leaving the walkthru windshield open would probably help too.
Old     (roughrivermike)      Join Date: Apr 2006       04-30-2008, 7:05 AM Reply   
only tow downhill with the wind at your back. JK
I feel your pain. I towed an Xstar from louisville to the middle of nebraska with an 06 titan. I folded the tower down and shrink wrapped the boat. Still under 10 mpg, so I don't think towing with a cover will help much.
Old     (priszkid)      Join Date: Aug 2007       04-30-2008, 7:12 AM Reply   
I've got an 04 titan x-cab 4x4, big tow, pulling a 22' Sanger. no tower, but I'm gettin over 13mpg. Banks exhaust, 2 degree timing advance helped immensely.
Old     (trdon)      Join Date: Sep 2007       04-30-2008, 7:15 AM Reply   
Just as long as it is not detonating under load, it should be fine.
Old     (rallyart)      Join Date: Nov 2006       04-30-2008, 7:38 AM Reply   
The biggest hit is the air drag. Boats are not very aerodynamic and have a large surface area. Drag increases at the square of the speed so you get a huge increase in drag with any increase in speed.
Cruise control will help if you're not on really hilly terrain and towing something as big as the x-30 might be better in a tow mode.
Wheel alignment and tire pressures on the trailer also make a difference.
Old     (trace)      Join Date: Feb 2002       04-30-2008, 9:09 AM Reply   
Boats are REALLY aerodynamic compared to travel trailers, though. Those really suck to tow, even with a dually, and they're downright scary with crosswinds.
Old     (beisbol20)      Join Date: Jun 2005       04-30-2008, 9:21 AM Reply   
drive 55mph!! when i had my 02 f150 2wd 5.4L v8, i could get around 15-17. of course my boat and trailer is less weight than a x-30!
Old     (05elitevc4)      Join Date: Jan 2008       04-30-2008, 9:27 AM Reply   
Air pressure is an easy fix. Make sure the trailer tires are full. And I usually run my back tires in the truck to the max when towing so they arent squated. I have not done it yet but my uncle said that he put radial tires on his trailer and it made a huge difference. My diesel buddies get 20 MPG pulling...but I struggle with my 97 Z71 with the 350 vortec. She gets thirsty especially in the hills. Slow steady excelleration probably wont hurt either.
Old     (phenom_1819)      Join Date: Jan 2008       04-30-2008, 9:40 AM Reply   
SLOW DOWN! I towed my boat about 150 miles yesterday at 55-60 mph (not by choice) and improved my gas mileage by about 3 mpg. I usually tow around 70, but went a different route with slower speed limits.
Old     (bigdave0924)      Join Date: Nov 2007       04-30-2008, 10:25 AM Reply   
Get gas once you get to the lake, not on your way out of town. I think i heard gas weighs 7 lbs per gallon. 40 gallon tank thats 280 lbs.
Old     (05mobiuslsv)      Join Date: Apr 2006       04-30-2008, 10:25 AM Reply   
I agree with you 100% CAl, the speed and towing at the higher rpm's is the big killer.
Old     (wakescene)      Join Date: Feb 2001       04-30-2008, 11:33 AM Reply   
Jeff,
the sheer size and weight difference in between a 205 and the x30 is probably to blame for the decrease. Other than going back to the 205, I doubt you will get much mpg back. I venture a guess that the x30 is 500-700lbs heavier due to boat and trailer.

For comparison, The current 2008 models X-1(same as 205 back in the day) is 3200lbs dry. The x30 is 4100lbs dry.
Old     (trace)      Join Date: Feb 2002       04-30-2008, 4:47 PM Reply   
Oh, and put the tower down!!
Old     (jeffcanary62)      Join Date: Apr 2003       04-30-2008, 7:17 PM Reply   
Thanks guys. Obviously slowing down is the best. I was curios as to what other titian owners were getting. Mine(my dads) is an 04 4door without the tow package. I haven't been able to budge towing mpg from around 10 even with these suggestions. Guess I'm gonna have to live with it or slow down. The titian does tow amazingly for a gas engine

The x-30 is roughly 5500 ish with the tandem axle trailer. My 205 is 2300 lbs plus a 400 pound single Axle aluminum trailer. so looking about double the wight. I know I can beat physics.
Old     (tj_in_kc)      Join Date: Jan 2008       05-01-2008, 7:06 AM Reply   
take your tailgate off. i took that off my dually and the gas mileage is definately better!
Old     (priszkid)      Join Date: Aug 2007       05-01-2008, 7:38 AM Reply   
jeff- if you haven't checked them out yet, clubtitan.org has good links as well as titantalk.com.
Old     (laraujo)      Join Date: Apr 2007       05-01-2008, 10:09 AM Reply   
I am towing with an 05 Armada which is basically the same chassis. I have a cat back exhaust system with the K/N intake manifold. I am in the 11-12 range but I also have 22" wheels/45 tires which don't help. The timing advance sounds like an interesting idea but I wonder how that will play with the smog inspection?
Old     (bill_airjunky)      Join Date: Apr 2002       05-01-2008, 10:13 AM Reply   
I've always heard that the Titans get horrible mileage, especially towing. So I'm not sure how you'd improve it.

I believe Mythbusters busted the old theory about towing with your tailgate down. If your getting an improvement, more power to ya. But I believe they proved without a doubt that a tonneau or bed cover of some kind improves things a lot better.
Old     (mars)      Join Date: Aug 2005       05-01-2008, 3:26 PM Reply   
I have a 4x4 titan crew short bed, big tow with the shorter gears. Pretty much if you let the Rev's creep much over 2K you're throwing $20's out the window.
Titan's tow like champs, particularly with the larger brakes they switched to in later years. The cost of this is MPG. If I try and drive like the trailer isn't there-which the engine has enough torque to do-I get 9-10 mpg. If I drive like I'm actually towing, anticipating stops, building speed slowly, conserving momentum where possible, taking advantage of downgrades the way the 18 wheelers do (it becomes second nature once you get into the groove of it) and above all keeping speeds down I can better that significantly. Funny thing, I arrive more relaxed that way too.
I noticed that my poly sharkskin cover cost me almost 1 mpg while chafing my gelcoat-it stays home now.
Old     (waterfreak)      Join Date: Jul 2007       05-01-2008, 3:38 PM Reply   
taking the tailgate off the truck was disproved by mythbusters. It does nothing to help your gas mileage what so ever.
Old     (bremsen)      Join Date: Aug 2005       05-01-2008, 7:38 PM Reply   
Little phrase they use around these parts....use the draft. Find an 18 wheeler and tuck in behind him. They punch a big hole in the air. If you get one behind you, even better.

My Aramda gets about 12-13 towing hwy, but thats probably more due to the fact that I have a tiny boat on a single axle trailer.
Old     (crushing76)      Join Date: Feb 2007       05-01-2008, 9:26 PM Reply   
ya... get right up there behind a big rig. you'll get better gas mileage, and with the money you save you can pay to have all the rock chips fixed.

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