[Fot] MPH towing...

Wed May 16 18:55:28 MDT 2012

Volvo truck  combined weight with trailer and two stacked tr4's. Is 43k lbs. 

 Zero grade  @ 55 is 15.5+mpg @1100rpm. . Avg however is 9.8mpg. @ 60 Mph @ 1200 rpm all grades.  150 gal fuel.  About 6 gal/hwy hour.

Motor is dual overhead cam cummins 6 cyl isx 15 liter 430 HP detuned from max  600 HP.   about 1500 ft lbs torque w/ max about 2000ft lbs.  Will do better than 55mph on southbound California grapevine grade @ 1.8mpg @ 35lbs boost.  Will pin the spedo going up the baker grade to Vegas (85+).  Engine weighs 3100lbs. Uses 56 quarts of oil.

Bought this motor not so much for the get up and go  power but the ability of the Jake brakes to slow the truck and trailer. It used to be a very very scary ride down the Calif. Grapevine  before this. 
 The best part is that NO  trailer brakes needed even with trailer fully loaded @ 13k lbs.  I used to have do the trailer brakes nearly twice a year. Now, have not needed trailer brakes in past 7 years.

Parts available everywhere.

Only cost twice as much as my wife's GMC 4500 top kick. 

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

-----Original Message-----
From: BillDentin at aol.com
Sender: fot-bounces at autox.team.net
Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 16:05:05 
To: <fot at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Fot] MPH towing...

Amici...

I towed to and from the MITTY using my 'vintage' tow vehicle.  I tow with a 
1995 Chevrolet One Ton Cargo Van.  This is a low mileage vehicle (just 
turned past 80,000 miles) and has the early 6.5 liter diesel engine.  That's the 
one converted from a gasoline engine, and not Chevy's brightest moment.  
Using a cargo van as a tow vehicle has some nice advantages, and I highly 
recommend it.  The interior has peg board on one side, and shelves on the other. 
 And the center gets packed full as well.  Cargo vans hold all kinds of 
stuff, and do so in a very secure fashion.  This unit has two captain's chairs 
and rides remarkably well considering it is a ONE TON truck.  The downside 
is this unit, when towing, really struggles on steep grades.  It is 
embarrassing in some spots.  I had trouble maintaining 45 mph on some of those grades 
near Chattanooga and Knoxville.  

I am towing my 'vintage' 1990 Pace American enclosed trailer, loaded with 
race gear and my 1956 Triumph TR3 race car.  The loaded trailer tips the 
scales in the 6,500 lb. range.

I recently checked the miles per gallon achieved for the 2,000 mile MITTY 
trip, and found that I got better than 12.5 mpg.  I thought that was pretty 
good.  What do others experience?

Bill Dentinger
_______________________________________________
fot at autox.team.net

http://www.fot-racing.com

Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/fot/gasket.works@gte.net