CHECKLIST

[owtcast]

And cruise can kill your mileage on hills too. It tries to keep your speed to close to the setting and really hammers it when it has to downshift. When pulling my camper on hills, I use mainly my foot and some pre-thinking. When I see a big hill coming up, I go ahead and ease into it to build up a little speed and maintain the same throttle setting. Even if it does slow a little at the top I don't hammer it. Most times, I will break over the top before it downshifts. Then I can ease out of it since it will increase speed anyway with all the weight going downhill. Also, if you have a boost gauge, you can tell just how much more the turbo is spooling up by going 75 vs. 65. It takes a lot more fuel to go just a little faster.

8 mpg is not totally out of the question depending on your trailer and how you drive but it's pretty low. I'd start checking tire pressures since it's free. Truck and trailer.

[StarDriver]

1.Check your tire pressures and make sure you have a spare and it's ready to go.Also, have a jack or blocks and tools to change a tire.
2. Grease your axle hubs or check the bearings to make sure they are greased.
3.Make sure your brakes are working.
4.Make sure all of your lights are working.
5.Make sure you hitch is tight and locked properly. (I have seen too many trailers come loose because the hitch wasn't locked or the ball was the wrong size.)
6. MAke sure the trailer is balanced properly. Too much weight in the back or front can make it handle poorly.
7. Be alert if it is windy, it will affect the trailer, if you pull a trailer alot, you will be aware of how it pulls, if not, take your time and give yourself room around large vehicles.
8.Make sure your mirrors are adjusted properly.
9.Watch your speed going down the road, again, if you don't pull a trailer alot, keep your speed down and stay in the right lane on multi lane roads. (I see too many people running slow in the center lane and the get blown all over the road because of their stupidity.
10. No matter what people say, there is no reason to pull a trailer over 70 mph. You just burn alot more fuel, it's dangerous, and when it's hot out, most trailer tires can't handle the heat running that fast for a long time.

TAKE YOUR TIME, it's not a race. I see too many trailer accidents where people were pulling a trailer too fast and lost control. It's not worth losing your life or property over just to get there 15 minutes earlier.

Another item, NEVER use your cruise control when pulling a trailer, it's burns more fuel and it's not safe, if for any reason the trailer gets out of control,you want to be in control of it.
Safe travels.