After hearing your story, I'm thoroughly convinced that no matter what I do, how I drive, or whatever else the case may be... I will continue to average 22 MPG FOR-EVER!!!
| LOST JEEPS http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/ |
|
| My towing experience - 1500miles round trip http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10726 |
Page 1 of 2 |
| Author: | RTStabler51 [ Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | My towing experience - 1500miles round trip |
Well since I bought this trailer This past weekend I drove the 730 miles (Burke, VA to Lobelville, TN) to pick'er up. To prepare I took people's advice and bought this [url]hitch[/url]. However, I went with the OEM wiring harness (PN82207620) from here. Slapped that on and way I went! After my 730 mile drive, which took me 11hours due to traffic, more specifically a semi going off the road into the trees, I hooked up the trailer and motored on. For some reason though, I my way to TN, I only got ~22mpg...I didn't understand it. Usually it takes the Jeep about 1/2 a tank to get into the MPG game, but this time it never did. Pulling the trailer was quite easy! I was amazed at the little TurboDiesel's capability to go up small grades in 5th gear, only for the major grades did I have to kick it out of O/D. I still got ~22mpg pulling the trailer. HOwever, I did add some of that diesle additive in the white bottle (forget the name). I was also surprised that the stock brakes did just fine with the empty trailer. Then, when I got home, I immediately installed my Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller. Very straight forward (however, can't find a good spot to mount my breaker yet). I was amazed how the trailer wire jumped out of the white box you guys talk about. However, I didn't like where I ended up mounting the controller itself in the little cubby hole, but there just isn't any other place to put it! Next weekend tow the Contour SVT (~3k alone) home to Indiana and then my brothers Thunderbird TC (~3300 alone) back to DC. I'll report back then. PS - I never thought I'd like a 'non-performance' vehicle, but I'm liking this little Jeep! |
|
| Author: | Cowcatcher [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Ryan, I mounted my Prodigy on the knee bolster on the right side. Seems to work well but if I slouch my knee hits it. I didn't want it on the console or in the cubby either. If you find a better place please post it. |
|
| Author: | Hero [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
After hearing your story, I'm thoroughly convinced that no matter what I do, how I drive, or whatever else the case may be... I will continue to average 22 MPG FOR-EVER!!!
|
|
| Author: | Taz [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 6:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
I had an interesting experience with MPG this weekend pulling a trailer. I took the KJ on the Freeway for a short trip, first time doing all highway and I got 28 mpg. I later took my trailer to the local lumber yard to pick up some scaffolding, the road to the lumber yard is the same that I drive to work everyday, my trailer has 2 ramps in the back that stick up, I ended up getting 16 mpg pulling the trailer, I usually get 22mpg going back and forth to work. |
|
| Author: | DarbyWalters [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
MPG is going to vary tank to tank, trip to trip, day to day. I do almost all stop and go and would get only 16mpg with my gas 3.7L KJ. (This is before the Lift, Bumpers,Tires,ect) I am now averaging 20.5 with the CRD in the same circumstances. That is a 28% increase in mpg. On the highway at 68mph I could get near 20mpg with my 3.7L KJ...with my CRD I get at least 28mpg ( being pessimistic since I have gotten much better before...up to 33.99mpg )...that is a 40% increase in mpg minimum. I can not complain at all...this is the first vehicle that I have ever gotten consitently better mpg than advertised. |
|
| Author: | RTStabler51 [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Cowcatcher wrote: Ryan, Dave, I was going to mount it on the dash. I first placed it to the left of the cluster hump, but it wasn't deep enough. another nice place is to the right on the dash, but since I don't tow all the time I didn't want the wiring harness poking out all the time, so I said F-it and mounted it in the cubby hole.
I mounted my Prodigy on the knee bolster on the right side. Seems to work well but if I slouch my knee hits it. I didn't want it on the console or in the cubby either. If you find a better place please post it. |
|
| Author: | Cowcatcher [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
RTStabler51 wrote: Cowcatcher wrote: Ryan, Dave, I was going to mount it on the dash. I first placed it to the left of the cluster hump, but it wasn't deep enough. another nice place is to the right on the dash, but since I don't tow all the time I didn't want the wiring harness poking out all the time, so I said F-it and mounted it in the cubby hole.I mounted my Prodigy on the knee bolster on the right side. Seems to work well but if I slouch my knee hits it. I didn't want it on the console or in the cubby either. If you find a better place please post it. Did you know the knee bolster folds down for access? I routed my cable behind this and mounted the pocket to it near the program portI leave the produgy in all the time but if I unplugged it and stored it the harness would not he hard to tuck up behind the bolster. Perhaps I will start removing it as the pocket doesn't stick out too far. Heck, I could probably stow my cell phone in the pocket while charging! |
|
| Author: | bigcanoe [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Was that the only part you needed, did you have the factory 7 plug wiring? |
|
| Author: | RTStabler51 [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Cowcatcher wrote: RTStabler51 wrote: Cowcatcher wrote: Ryan, Dave, I was going to mount it on the dash. I first placed it to the left of the cluster hump, but it wasn't deep enough. another nice place is to the right on the dash, but since I don't tow all the time I didn't want the wiring harness poking out all the time, so I said F-it and mounted it in the cubby hole.I mounted my Prodigy on the knee bolster on the right side. Seems to work well but if I slouch my knee hits it. I didn't want it on the console or in the cubby either. If you find a better place please post it. Did you know the knee bolster folds down for access? I routed my cable behind this and mounted the pocket to it near the program portI leave the produgy in all the time but if I unplugged it and stored it the harness would not he hard to tuck up behind the bolster. Perhaps I will start removing it as the pocket doesn't stick out too far. Heck, I could probably stow my cell phone in the pocket while charging! I found out the part under the steering column folds down, I'm assuming that's the part you are referring too? I use my cubby hole for my cellphone, and I won't tow very often after the next month. bigcanoe wrote: Was that the only part you needed, did you have the factory 7 plug wiring? My jeep didn't have the tow package, so I had to buy the OEM wiring harness. Super easy install, took all of 15 minutes. The most work was removing the panels to get to the taillight.
|
|
| Author: | bigcanoe [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Ok, I had read that I needed to order two parts, the first was a 7 pin plug part, and the second because I didnt have the overhead console/evic. Did you go that route too, or did you do a 4 pin? |
|
| Author: | RTStabler51 [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Ah, nope, I have the overhead computer so I didn't need to go that route. I ordered the one with the 7pin connector. |
|
| Author: | Cowcatcher [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
bigcanoe wrote: Ok, I had read that I needed to order two parts, the first was a 7 pin plug part, and the second because I didnt have the overhead console/evic. Did you go that route too, or did you do a 4 pin?
Nothing in the EVIC that would have anything to do with trailering. You need the 7 pin (or whatever fits your needs), a wiring harness (special consideration here due to the two bulb layout of the Liberty that might make the OEM the best choice) and a brake controller if the trailer is big and heavy. Without the factory tow package you might also need to add a brake wire from the plug to under the dash if you add the brake controller. Ryan, I had trouble finding a place for the breaker too. There is a plastic wiring box of some sort under the drivers side hood firewall. Just above that and to the outside is a ground with several wires leading to it tucked up and out of the way. I removed the nut on that and mounted the breaker there. So far so good! |
|
| Author: | RTStabler51 [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Cowcatcher wrote: bigcanoe wrote: Ok, I had read that I needed to order two parts, the first was a 7 pin plug part, and the second because I didnt have the overhead console/evic. Did you go that route too, or did you do a 4 pin? Nothing in the EVIC that would have anything to do with trailering. You need the 7 pin (or whatever fits your needs), a wiring harness (special consideration here due to the two bulb layout of the Liberty that might make the OEM the best choice) and a brake controller if the trailer is big and heavy. Without the factory tow package you might also need to add a brake wire from the plug to under the dash if you add the brake controller. Ryan, I had trouble finding a place for the breaker too. There is a plastic wiring box of some sort under the drivers side hood firewall. Just above that and to the outside is a ground with several wires leading to it tucked up and out of the way. I removed the nut on that and mounted the breaker there. So far so good! Ah, I'll try that. I saw it and will mount it there. Right now its zipp tied 
|
|
| Author: | Cowcatcher [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Well I have a Limited with the EVIC and it came with the trailer tow package. My trailer brake wire was wrapped up in that hard to get to cover next to the firewall as expected. I have heard others say that the wire is there with the trailer tow package but not without it at least in earlier models. I have never heard anyone claim that the wire was in any way related to the EVIC. Seems to me that some have said that the wire is always there in 2005 and later. |
|
| Author: | jheady [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
This post caught my attention as I was going to post something similar myself. I just finished up a 800mile round trip myself. This was my first extended driving for the libby so I was trying to get a feel for out it would do. I picked up a m416 trailer to pull behind the libby and my wrangler. This trailer was unloaded and light to start with, I couldn't even tell it was behind me if it was the pintle bang every now and then. My questions pertained to fuel mileage and the EVIC accurancy. According to the evic my mileage stayed right at 22 -23 mpg as well. The libby had no real load on it, mainly 68-70 mph @ 2000 - 2100rpm for 95+% of the trip. I was traveling through Ohio and some pretty flat land so the speed and engine were at a pretty constant. I used cruise for the entire trip with a few exceptions of driving through city areas and construction. I have seen 27mpg on short Interstate trips (30mi) so I was expecting better for this trip, but it never produced. The EVIC would occasionally register 24-25 mpg going through city areas, but speed was down to 55 - 65 mph. I even topped off at a half tank with some B10 on the trip up with no change better or worse. Here are some specs: 05 CRD limited, 2k on odometer, fresh oil change to Rotella T 5w40. |
|
| Author: | DragonDiesel [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I towed a 98 VW Jetta TDI on a car dolly from Houston, TX to Farmington, NM. 1100 miles and 5000 feet of elevation later I got 21 MPG average on the entire journey. That is with a failing TC and a clogged air filter! It may also be why the Jeep is still in NM getting a new TC and I am back in Houston... 
|
|
| Author: | RTStabler51 [ Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
jheady wrote: My questions pertained to fuel mileage and the EVIC accurancy. According to the evic my mileage stayed right at 22 -23 mpg as well. The libby had no real load on it, mainly 68-70 mph @ 2000 - 2100rpm for 95+% of the trip. I was traveling through Ohio and some pretty flat land so the speed and engine were at a pretty constant. I used cruise for the entire trip with a few exceptions of driving through city areas and construction. I believe the EVIC is pretty accurate. I keep an excel spreadsheet of all my fuel prices that figures mpg, and its usually comparable to the EVIC.
FWIW, I rolled 16k towing the trailer this weekend, and got 22mpg there (no trailer) and 22mpg back (trailer). I don't get it! |
|
| Author: | bakes [ Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I am keeping track of my mileage and the lowest mileage I have gotten so far is 22mpg and that was towing the 17 foot fishing boat (Lund Pro Sport). The highest I have so far is 27mpg and this is a mix of highway and city. I pulled the boat with no problems at all and the mileage is better than my fathers Z71 which gets around 15mpg towing the boat, best of both worlds. |
|
| Author: | kb61751 [ Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Trip to Colorado |
Ill make this short for now, but I just got back from a trip to Colorado from Missouri. Total trip milage was 2580 miles, I averaged 23.5 mpg towing a trailer with a atv on it. I am guessing the weight to be total of 1000-1500 lbs. Had no problems at any time. |
|
| Author: | oldnavy [ Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Humm, I guess next month I will be reporting on a 700+ mile trip to MI with a 16" car trailer (no brakes) with '94 Dodge Dakota, Queen size bed set, and some tools on the trailer, for total of about 3500 lbs to 3800 lbs max to tow. |
|
| Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|