Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[Grumpycat]

I have been pleasantly surprised by my Prius and Tesla on hilly routes. The Prius really loved the hills of the north Ozarks, and north Alabama/Georgia cutting cross country to Atlanta. The Tesla also loved that route. Sure, sucked power going up 300' to 800' but then somehow made up for it on the way back down. Not really supposed to be able to make up for it that well, regeneration is said to recover only 30% of the energy consumed to bring the vehicle up to speed. But, "real world experience trumps theory."

 

[JPRambo]

I took a drive to Florida a few weeks ago. About 650 miles of way. Gas up just out of town on the way. Reset trip and mpg gauges. The entire trip was1450 miles. 20.5 mpg on gauge and by calculations. 71 gallons used. I usually tow my camper (at around 11 mpg) but this time did not need it. I was pleasantly surprised. (2013 silverado w/ 5.3)

 

[Dftodd]

Well, it hasn't been all poor, thankfully, but I guess I could blame not knowing the intricasies of the English language on being an import and consequently unaware of many things.

To me, "resemble that remark" was simply similar to people saying "could of" instead of "could have". Or "I could care less" when they mean "I couldn't care less".

We have a friend from Northern Africa.

My wife met him when he started working with her as a nurse in a nursing home. Hes the same age as our kids and pretty much adopted us.

Most of the employees wouldn't help him since English is his 4th language and he has a thick accent.

He started asking my wife for help if he had trouble understanding something, or was new to a procedure.

This also led to some awkward conversations when a patient said some colorful phrases to him and he wasn't sure of the meaning

 

[BravoXray]

Read the comic Garfield, it's in practically every newspaper everyday. It will help your english and it has a little sarcasm thrown in occasionally to make it funny.

Personally, I miss Calvin and Hobbes.

 

[WinterDeere]

...my V6 Challenger doesn't get quite the mileage it should (in my mind) even though I drive it a bit slower.

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

Bottom line, it takes a fixed amount of energy (fuel) to accelerate 4300 lb. of steel and iron from 0 - 60 mph in a given time. One engine may be a few percent more efficient than another, but that's all secondary to mass, speed, time.

 

[Dftodd]

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

Bottom line, it takes a fixed amount of energy (fuel) to accelerate 4300 lb. of steel and iron from 0 - 60 mph in a given time. One engine may be a few percent more efficient than another, but that's all secondary to mass, speed, time.

The Ford Mustang LX with a 4cy engine is a good example. 94hp

The V6 or V8 probably got similar or better gas mileage since the 4cyl was so under powered you had to keep it floored everywhere you went

 

[Too many Kubotas]

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

Yep. I wondered a few months ago if the V6 Challenger would get better mileage with a 5.7.

But that would mean giving up the AWD, which I didn't want to do.

 

[ericm979]

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

A smaller engine will have less internal friction. Friction is a major part of the wasted energy in an engine. A six will have about 3/4 the friction of an eight cylinder.

Smaller engines will need more throttle to do the same accelleration or maintain the same speed. Having to suck air through a barely open throttle is less efficient than operating with the throttle open farther.

These factors don't change the car's aerodynamic drag or weight which are the two largest factors for fuel economy. But there is an effect. When you compare cars that can be had with different engines, the one with the larger engine usually gets worse mileage. Sometimes the effect is masked if the car with the bigger engine gets a better transmission.

 

[Grumpycat]

Personally, I miss Calvin and Hobbes.

Is still available as reruns.

Today on Calvin and Hobbes - Comics by Bill Watterson - GoComics

www.gocomics.com

 

[WinterDeere]

The Ford Mustang LX with a 4cy engine is a good example. 94hp

The V6 or V8 probably got similar or better gas mileage since the 4cyl was so under powered you had to keep it floored everywhere you went

Yep. I've actually owned the same vehicle with different engines before, and routinely saw the smaller engine getting worse mileage around town, but better mileage on the highway. The reasoning seemed to be driving the engine way past its peak efficiency when trying to accelerate in town, versus ericm's noted friction factors on the highway.

Yep. I wondered a few months ago if the V6 Challenger would get better mileage with a 5.7.

But that would mean giving up the AWD, which I didn't want to do.

I was totally bummed when they stopped making the 5.7L AWD version ca.2016. Even more so when they didn't move the Magnum into the latest body style. If they'd made an AWD Magnum with any V8, my wife would be driving one of those today, instead of the Durango R/T.

A smaller engine will have less internal friction. Friction is a major part of the wasted energy in an engine. A six will have about 3/4 the friction of an eight cylinder.

I think there's some very small truth in this, but probably only comes into play as a measurable factor in highway cruising, where produced horsepower versus engine RPM is minimized. For regular around town or country road driving, where acceleration represents the majority of fuel consumption, I can't imagine this factor is large enough to matter much.

Smaller engines will need more throttle to do the same accelleration or maintain the same speed. Having to suck air through a barely open throttle is less efficient than operating with the throttle open farther.

These factors don't change the car's aerodynamic drag or weight which are the two largest factors for fuel economy.

Exactly.

When you compare cars that can be had with different engines, the one with the larger engine usually gets worse mileage.

Not true! See above. I have made this comparison on more than one vehicle type (2.8L vs. 5.7L Camaro, same body, and 4.3L vs. 5.7L pickups, same body), and the smaller engines seem get the same or even worse mileage around town. Highway miles are where the small engines shine, and that must be a big factor in the manufacturer's published numbers, when they show smaller engines getting better mileage.

Sometimes the effect is masked if the car with the bigger engine gets a better transmission.

Good point!

 

[Renze]

$80k on a poser truck vs $50k on a practical EV?

Very few trucks haul anything more than an 80" TV in their lives.

In the states, yes. A half ton truck is a ridiculous poser object, it doesnt have the suspension to tow anything useful, just like the 2.8 ton (gross) Sprinter we get in Europe (but you guys dont) even if you use it to just haul styrofoam, it still doesnt have enough suspension stability to stay on track in crosswinds.

My neighbour, a farrier, bought a HiLux to haul his 2.5 ton trailer day in, day out, 40.000km a year. A FWD VW van takes too much of a beating in the long run. Though that van would be a much more practical choice to keep that 80" TV out of the rain.

In America with its dirt cheap gas, city folks can afford pickup truck culture without having a need to haul anything

....and when i see people buying an SUV, i always tell them they malinvested into a pointless vehicle, when it comes with 4x4 but doesnt have a trailer hitch.

 

[Renze]

LOL! Again. Your spite for trucks is hilarious. At least the folks making fun of EVs have reasons to do so.

You must live in the city.

Not exactly impressive loads. I haul that with my V70 diesel. Last week i picked up a stranded medium family car of my mates BIL. Blasting past a row of big rigs at 120kmh in 6th gear, at 30mpg.

 

[Renze]

If you resemble it, does that mean you usually wear high heels?

Anyway, I'd get a tractor and fix the driveway so I wouldn't need a lifted pickup to traverse it.

Haha this reminds me of two old bachelor neighbours 30 years ago. Their farm was full of nettles and my father warned me not to comment on that as a 7 year old when we brought them the hay we sold them
They traded their JD 2250 for a 6200. When asked, Gerhard said "yes, we needed 4wd because we couldnt get into the cow barn anymore with this mud"

 

[BigBlue1]

Not exactly impressive loads. I haul that with my V70 diesel. Last week i picked up a stranded medium family car of my mates BIL. Blasting past a row of big rigs at 120kmh in 6th gear, at 30mpg.

Not trying to impress anyone. Just showing that most trucks do work and aren't 'poser' vehicles around here. Context, context...

Though I would love to see the pics of your V70 loaded up with 3000# of concrete or LVL flooring...

 

[Renze]

A smaller engine will have less internal friction. Friction is a major part of the wasted energy in an engine. A six will have about 3/4 the friction of an eight cylinder.

My brother had a Ford Mondeo 1.8 diesel, 70hp. To keep up with traffic he had to rev it high. It did 15mpg on short runs, where my 2.5 TDI with double the horsepower, upshifting at 2000rpm, did 30mpg.

A smaller engine only has less friction if you can keep the RPM down at the same level.

 

[BigBlue1]

In the states, yes. A half ton truck is a ridiculous poser object, it doesnt have the suspension to tow anything useful, just like the 2.8 ton (gross) Sprinter we get in Europe (but you guys dont) even if you use it to just haul styrofoam, it still doesnt have enough suspension stability to stay on track in crosswinds.

My neighbour, a farrier, bought a HiLux to haul his 2.5 ton trailer day in, day out, 40.000km a year. A FWD VW van takes too much of a beating in the long run. Though that van would be a much more practical choice to keep that 80" TV out of the rain.

In America with its dirt cheap gas, city folks can afford pickup truck culture without having a need to haul anything

....and when i see people buying an SUV, i always tell them they malinvested into a pointless vehicle, when it comes with 4x4 but doesnt have a trailer hitch.

Those are some odd preconceived notions.

A half-ton truck typically (in the last 15+ years) has about a 10,000# towing capacity. That's capable of a mid-size skid steer. If that's "not enough to tow anything useful" then I'm confused. And you're going on in the next post about all you can carry/tow with your V70 and its 1800kg tow capacity?? Huh.

Also:
"In America with its dirt cheap gas, city folks can afford pickup truck culture without having a need to haul anything"

That's the most stereotypical pile of horse doo doo I've seen in a long time. Gas, while not as high as Europe for sure, is over $3 a gallon which isn't exactly cheap. And again, most folks with pickup trucks I know are using them regularly for hauling and towing things a car could not. Or at least not nearly as comfortably and safely.

Next:
"SUV ... a pointless vehicle, when it comes with 4x4 but doesnt have a trailer hitch"

Never seen an SUV here (and I'm not talking about crossovers like a RAV4 or Highlander, though many of them have hitches too) without a tow hitch. That's just standard.

Your understanding of the state of things in America is way off. Where do you get these odd stereotypes?

 

[Renze]

Though I would love to see the pics of your V70 loaded up with 3000# of concrete or LVL flooring...

Why would i do that ? Thats what trailers are for.

 

[BigBlue1]

Why would i do that ? Thats what trailers are for.

Same question I'd ask... Why would I use a trailer when it fits in my truck bed? Different strokes for different folks. Not everyone thinks the same. Maybe less judgement...

 

[Grumpycat]

....and when i see people buying an SUV, i always tell them they malinvested into a pointless vehicle, when it comes with 4x4 but doesnt have a trailer hitch.

My $50k Tesla is AWD and has a trailer hitch.

Today my F-150 hauled me to the pharmacy, McDonalds, and picked up 3 gallons of gasoline for the lawnmower.

By and large the used trucks on dealer lots here have no scratches on the truck beds or signs a drawbar has disturbed the rust on the hitch receiver.

 

[Grumpycat]

Same question I'd ask... Why would I use a trailer when it fits in my truck bed? Different strokes for different folks. Not everyone thinks the same. Maybe less judgement...

Height. Loading an ATV or mower on a low trailer is much easier and safer than in a high truck bed.

I got very practiced at loading 2 dirtbikes in the back of a 4x4 SuperDuty. Knew where to tie the ramp. Had a painter's step for myself, walking beside, drove the dirtbike up (engine running, slipping clutch). Much harder with friend's Rekluse equipped KTM 300 than my Husaberg FE450 with traditional clutch.

For example I have a Yamaha FJR1300. I would not run it up the ramp into the back of the truck. I would if I had a loading dock at both ends of my route. My Kendon Dual Stand Up trailer is very low to the ground and has hauled everything up to a GL1800.