ideas for better fuel milage?

[jimmm]

In June I'll be going from Arizona to Montana and back thru Kansas in my 2004 F-350 duelly with a 9 foot service bed.I'll be towing a 24 foot travel trailer on the way back.Stock wheels and tires. a 400 lb lumber rack on top.About 3,000 mile trip.I'm putting new tires and brakes and an alignment. Plan on keeping the air pressure on the high side, 70-75 psi on load range E tires.Most of the miles are Interstate so I have to go at least 70 or become a road hazzard. I could take off the rack, tho its a pain to do. and I have a 90 inch tool box on one side that could come off too.Not sure it's worth the BS to take it off and put it on. I got cruise control and will use it. I have a SCT tuner with custom tunes, eco, tow, street. Thought I would run street tunes up, then tow tunes back. Any tips or hints to squeak all the miles out I can of the 5 dollar a gallon diesel?

[colo_dually]

My first answer is don't use cruise control. I know on my '07, my highway mileage goes down 1-1.5 mpg when I rely on the computer to keep speed. I have never used cruise while towing. I wouldn't try to keep up at 70mph with that load, unless you really get caught up in traffic. Keep the pressures up, keep the filters clean, and run a good cetane boost (Diesel Klean is what I run). I wouldn't try and cut the weight at all, you won't see any noticeable change in mileage, since its a small percentage that you'll actually be able to remove.

Let us know how that trip goes.

[jimmm]

Wasn't thinking of weight reduction so much as wind load. That 18 in square tool box pushing wind and the rack too.But I don't think whatever gain, if any would warrent the abuse in removing it.I'm surprised that cruise didn't help milage! I was thinking that 60-65 mph would give me the best milage, but on Interstate roads that might be too slow or I risk pissing people off. Maybe I need to dye my hair blue and get a poodle to sit in my lap and cruise at 50.

[elrojo63]

Originally Posted by jimmm

Wasn't thinking of weight reduction so much as wind load. That 18 in square tool box pushing wind and the rack too.But I don't think whatever gain, if any would warrent the abuse in removing it.I'm surprised that cruise didn't help milage! I was thinking that 60-65 mph would give me the best milage, but on Interstate roads that might be too slow or I risk pissing people off. Maybe I need to dye my hair blue and get a poodle to sit in my lap and cruise at 50.

Cruise helps my mileage out on my 97OBS. Crusing at 65 is also worse for me than at 70 especially with some hills. The extra boost I get seems to make it hold the speed going uphill.