ARGO Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 I'm contemplating a several hundred mile trip to get a trailer with my VNL. I rarely go very far w/o the whole rig, anybody got a WAG on what mileage they see? I realize every truck is different, but a difference between BT & towing a trailer will get me in the ballpark to see if I should pay a transporter instead. (BTW, boat on trailer from Orlando to Balt) Quote You'd have to see the movie to understand.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 I get 6.5 towing and 9-10 bobtail on the highway. Quote 2007 Volvo 780 Volvo D12D, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteSuccess Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 7.3 towing 9.5 BT. Quote 2006 Volvo 780 "Hoss" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift Bed Build by "JW Morgan's Custom Welding" 2017 DRV 39DBRS3 2013 Smart Passion Coupe "Itty Bitty" "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLghtning Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 My Volvo 610 with Detroit 60 (435/1650) is singled short with no bed 10spd manual with 3.58 gearing. I get 10-11 BT (have seen as high as 12 in the right conditions). I usually avg mid 8's to 9 towing, lowest for me is about 7.5 towing with a good headwind or lots of climbing. Quote Dan (Class of 2017) - 2012 Ram 3500 & 2005 Alpenlite Valhalla 29RK Contact me at rvsolarconsulting.com or Two Wheel Ramblin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifted Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 13 bobtail, 8 towing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollytrolley Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 Almost no difference..... Our toybox is under 10k And our Morgan Cargo box stands at 12'-2" so we have a built in headwind in normal wind conditions..... I flight plan @ 10 mpg but have seen as low as 7 and high as 13.5 with a big tail wind. Cummins has a nice chapter on their website regarding the aero-effects of trucks and various factors pertaining to milage and improvements that can be obtained..... Drive on.....(tail, cross, head.... Winds) Quote 97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 (edited) Wow, you all get better numbers than me. Bobtail 8, towing 6-7. I'm going by numbers displayed. Edited November 7, 2017 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoDirectionHome Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 12+ w/ DD16 @63-65 mph Quote "There are No Experts, Do the Math!" 2014 Freightliner Cascadia DD16 600hp 1850ft-lb 18spd 3.31 260"wb SpaceCraft S-470 SKP #131740 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaHybrid Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 Bobtailing at 70-75, 8.5 to 9.0. Towing at 70-75, 7.0 to 7.5. Trailer weighs 21K Quote 2017 Kenworth T6802015 DRV 38RSSA Elite Suites2016 Smart Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyretired Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 BT 12 Towing 7.5 - 8 ISX Quote Randy 2001 Volvo VNL 42 Cummins ISX Autoshift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARGO Posted November 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 Tks guys. Guess I'm doing good at 38,000 gross. Quote You'd have to see the movie to understand.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 Bob tail- 12-14 at 65mph depending on wind Towing- 9-11 at 65mph BUT our truck is OLD..... M-11 Cummins 10 Speed trans, 2:93 rear end, NO DEF, NO nox sensors, No Cat, No emissions. Quote Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrformance Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 Jim, my Dodge 1 ton was getting 12-14 towing, 18-22 normal driving. Our Volvo seems to be doing 9-10 towing so far, but the slight decrease in mileage is more then paid for with the confidence I have in towing with the 780. Thank you again for sharing the HDT lifestyle with my wife and I, we will for ever be grateful. Michael and Licia Quote 2006 Volvo VNL 780, " Arvey" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2010 Forest River Coachman Freedom Express 280RLS Jackalopee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 I mostly got 5_6, flat country close to 7 with my 2012 Chevy. So truck close to same, some better. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Av8r3400 Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 My truck must be the exception to the rules. I get 9-10 bobtail or towing the 5er. It doesn't seem to make much difference. My LGT Dodge Cummins gets about 18 empty and 7 towing the 5er. Quote Av8r34002012 Volvo VNL 730 D13 iShift & 2021 Grand Design Momentum 397TH I'd rather die trying to live - Than live trying not to die. -Leonard Perry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 What we are seeing is that every truck was set up different.... rear gear, transmissions, power/torque, overall weight, length, design- condo/mid roof/low roof, the design of the 5'er rear- how much drag does it create? If we swapped around trucks, we would see a difference in mileage just on driver behavior/input. How hard do you smash the skinny pedal from a light? East coast flat highway- Florida style with concrete will have better mileage than midwest "flat" that you may be on a slight incline and not realize it. Another item of difference is the tires. Some are a highway long distance tire with very low rolling resistance, some are more regional made for hard turns and scrubbing, some may be better on dirt/gravel. Also the road surface... whats the tension of the surface? Hot asphalt in the summer gives a higher rolling resistance that perfect smooth concrete. Quote Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 Mine geared so 60 is just in power band 55 is in yellow band. Seem to get best mileage at 60 towing. But if in hills, need to run 65 or us 9th gear. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyA Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 7.0 to 8.9 towing at about 62-65 mph depending on speed and terrain (climbing mountains or constantly increasing elevation on a hot day with radiator fan cutting in and out with A/C on = 6 to 6.5 ). Overall average is usually 8 mpg. Bobtail improves about 2-4 MPG with same terrain variables - but I run faster bobtail which subtracts from the economy increase and makes it more like an average of 10 mpg average bobtail. D12D engine 10 speed Meritor, singled. Quote Randy, Nancy and Oscar "The Great White" - 2004 Volvo VNL670, D12, 10-speed, converted to single axle pulling a Keystone Cambridge 5th wheel, 40', 4 slides and about 19,000# with empty tanks. ARS - WB4BZX, Electrical Engineer, Master Electrician, D.Ed., Professor Emeritus - Happily Retired! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDR Posted November 10, 2017 Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 ARGO, Can you ship that for $800 To $900(fuel)? Curt Quote 2001 Freightliner Century, 500hp Series 60, Gen 2 autoshift, 3.42 singled rear locker. 2004 Keystone Sprinter 299RLS (TT) 2 & 4 Wheelers! 2013 Polaris Ranger 800 midsize LE Our motto "4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavymetal Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 DD15, DT12 trans, 3:08 diffs towing 68-72 8.4mpg bobtail 70-72 11.5-12.5 depending on winds and hills. The best mpg towing 9.3 bobtailing 13 mpg. Quote 2016 Western Star 5700xe (Pathfinder) DD15 555hp w/12 speed automatic 3:05 diffs 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire 38RLPK 2 Great Danes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbl0svn Posted November 25, 2017 Report Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) I have been getting 13.8mpg bobtail and 9.8 mpg towing 22k both at 70mph. 2018 VNL730, D13, 500 HP, I shift, 2.93 rear. Truck weighs about 18k by itself, full of fuel, etc. Edited November 26, 2017 by Dbl0svn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaOutlaw Posted November 25, 2017 Report Share Posted November 25, 2017 2005 Volvo D12 and 12sp auto, singled with 3.73 gears. Bobtail = 10.5 - 11.5 mpg at 75 mph. 13 - 14 mpg at 55 mph When towing 20,000 lbs = 7.5 - 8 mpg at 75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyerjf Posted November 26, 2017 Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 Let's throw this into the mix. Because I bobtail pushing 20,000 miles a year, I have seen variations that defy logic. For one thing, although I have a real time mpg readout on the instrument panel ,and mine is fairly accurate, the only way to get it right is to fill up and get the calculator out. Rarely does anyone here bobtail enough to get those quality numbers. The percentage of bio diesel in a given load of fuel seems to make a big difference. One load of fuel might have none, and the next has 20%, the resulting BTU decline has to make a difference. And of course there is no way of knowing what is going in. Even temperatures of the fuel coming out of the storage tanks between fills can wreck the numbers, so called "hot fuel". which Canadian pumps compensate for by law, but US pumps do not. Quote Jeff Beyer temporarily retired from Trailer Transit 2000 Freightliner Argosy Cabover 2008 Work and Play 34FK Homebase NW Indiana, no longer full time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted November 26, 2017 Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 I seem to buy less fuel with the Freightshaker. $100 goes further that the Chevy did. So I can't complain. Now bobtail the Chevy wins but not by a lot. Short trips, town, it burned a lot of fuel. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted November 26, 2017 Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 37 minutes ago, beyerjf said: Let's throw this into the mix. Because I bobtail pushing 20,000 miles a year, I have seen variations that defy logic. For one thing, although I have a real time mpg readout on the instrument panel ,and mine is fairly accurate, the only way to get it right is to fill up and get the calculator out. Rarely does anyone here bobtail enough to get those quality numbers. The percentage of bio diesel in a given load of fuel seems to make a big difference. One load of fuel might have none, and the next has 20%, the resulting BTU decline has to make a difference. And of course there is no way of knowing what is going in. Even temperatures of the fuel coming out of the storage tanks between fills can wreck the numbers, so called "hot fuel". which Canadian pumps compensate for by law, but US pumps do not. When we left North Dakota on Nov 1, all the fuel at the pumps was either No1 or a "Treated" winter blend. Our bobtail mileage dropped a little, our towing mile dropped greatly. Glad to be in warmer territory! Quote Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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