Towing MPG?

[Rod240sx]

Hi Guys,

My name is Rod and I'm new to the forum. I recently purchased a 2006 Ford Expedition limited and love the truck.

I wanted to ask you guys what kind of mileage you all are getting during towing conditions? I participate in small racing events across the east coast and decided to invest on a better truck and trailer setup this year thus purchasing the 06' Expi with the tow-package and a 20ft enclosed trailer. However, this weekend I towed for the first time and was shocked to see that I was averaging 7.5 MPG!

I installed a K&N intake kit and the prodigy P-3 brake controller. I also had a tune-up done at a friends shop right after I purchased the truck and had the spark plugs replaced (a nightmare and a 4 day job), fuel filter, new belts, and the works...

The trailer is a 20FT enclosed - weight is appox 4,000lbs. The car weights 2,600lbs - so total weight of about 7,000 rounding it up.

With the car loaded on the trailer I was averaging 7.5 mpg and with the empty trailer i was averaging 9.5.

Are you guys seeing similar MPG's? Any tips or suggestions on improving gas mileage? Would one of those piggy-back computers like the EDGE or Superchips be of any help?

Without the trailer and a combination of city and highway driving; I'm averaging 13.5 - 14 which isn't great either...

Many thanks again in advance for any insight you can provide.

Best,
Rod

 

[KWT2000]

no really compareable to what you are towing but i get 10 with my sled trailer with 4 sleds on it and it drops to 9 with my boat...

anything heavier i use my powerstroke it does much better

 

[Racenut]

You are on the right track with putting in the K&N kit, now you need to open up the exhaust a bit. Put a good " free flowing muffler " like a Flowmaster or Magnaflow in there and it will really help. I recomend getting rid of the factory Y pipe and going with a Dual In / Single out muffler as this really helps a lot.

The Edge is also another great investment. Not only for the tune, but for the ability to " bump up " you shift pressures! It will make your trans shift more like a truck, and when towing this is important to prolong the life of the trans.

I run both of the above on my 2002 EB with the 5.4L ( I have also deleted my rear cats but I belive your '06 only has 1 per side unlike us 1st gens that had 2 per side ) and when towing a 7,500 - 8,000 # load I am averaging around 10 -11 Mpg and when I have the empy 18' car hauler ( 2,000 # )behind me I get about 14Mpg.

When I am unloaded ( No trailer ) I am averaging about 19Mpg on premium.

 

[walnuts4x4]

I'm right around 9 mpg towing my 17ft bowrider around.... otherwise I am in the 12s for regular MPG.... with the 37s...... but the edge is well worth the money if your looking for improvement.... the stock "towing" tune is great but if you look into a "custom tune" it will help out a lot... I read a lot about custom tunes on f150online... otherwise all my info is from here...

 

[imported_sdaviddr]

Constantly tell yourself " I love my expedition,its pulls my trailer great, the ride is awesome" and don't think of the mileage....thats what I do..

 

[walnuts4x4]

" I love my expedition,its pulls my trailer great, the ride is awesome" and don't think of the mileage

 

[KWT2000]

just sayin you don't buy an expy for gas mileage in any way shape or form

 

[DF5.4]

Mine pulls our 30' TT great. At least 7000 lbs. Superchips Cortex tuner I get 8-9 MPG at 65 mph.

 

[Soldier777]

I am in the 9-10 range pulling a old 64 15ft Travel trailer.. that thing is heavy as hell

 

[jacks3am]

trade up for a diesel! JK but even diesels arent much better than that towing, and the expy weighs 6K so it aint light!

 

[alaskanexpy]

god i wish i got some of ya'lls MPG normally! and i dont tow! haha

 

[Rod240sx]

Thank you for all the great feedback guys - much appreciated!

I bought the truck expecting a gas guzzler - didn't know it would be this bad

RACENUT - that's great towing mileage! I'd be happy with an average 10-11 mpg's towing. I'm currently getting 7.5 mpg which is depressing.... I will definitely look into making some of your recommendations starting with a programmer.

WALNUTS4X4 - Thanks for the feedback mate, definitely going to try a programmer.

Are we able to tune these programmers ourselves or does it require a tuner with a dyno? I've been reading about programmers and the EDGE seems to be the clear winner over Superchips - how do you guys feel on the 2 systems?

Thanks again!

(I love my expy, I love my expy, I love my expy)

 

[FtLaudBlkGT]

Yes, gas mileage is bad.. Also the more the ethanol, the worse your mileage will be..

 

[walnuts4x4]

to put a programmer on your expy they simply plug into the OBD2 port and follow the on screen directions... really easy...

 

[2000eb]

i recently moved back home (arizona) from tenessee i used a uhaul car trailer(not the dollie) to tow my 07 corolla. i loaded up the corolla then packed it from floor to ceiling then i loaded up the expy i could not see out any back window and on top of that "litterally" i put a car topper on top of the expy and loaded it down to give you all an idea the trailer tongue was around 6 inches to the ground. my weigh station ticket said i was around 14 k total i do believe. i averaged 10-12mpg but i tried to keep a halfway decent foot on the pedal, the truck was already struggling. o and less then a week after being home i replaced all 4 cats they where all rattling, dont think the trip helped them, all i had at that time was a k&n drop in and a 40 series flowmaster

 

[Sven]

I get 18-19 on the hwy 59-63mph, slow accel and long deccels. 17 if I`m on the freeway going 70.

I tow a 4 place sled trailer, with 2 ATVs and a sidebyside everyfall. I get 10-11 pulling 60. 8-9 going 65.

If I drive like I did 10 years ago I get 14mpg unloaded.


Driving habits make or break your MPGs. Add a head or tailwind and its that much more.

My personal best was a 180 Miles trip AVG speed was in the 60 mph ranch with some freeway driving. I recorded nearly 21 with a stout tail wind.

 

[jacks3am]

12-14 on the highway, going 60, no faster!

 

[Sven]

12-14 on the highway, going 60, no faster!

You got something wrong or, you at where I was 10 years ago. Which would have put me at 16yo.

You can go no faster than 60 but it still dont help if its wide open to 58mph coasting up to 60 lol.

 

[jacks3am]

You got something wrong or, you at where I was 10 years ago. Which would have put me at 16yo.

You can go no faster than 60 but it still dont help if its wide open to 58mph coasting up to 60 lol.

Oh, I dont do the towing, my dad does, but its my car to drive. I dont go WOT when I tow, im conservative with my driving habits, this expy just gets this bad of mileage in general, in town its around 9-10, I have the oldest and least powerful 5.4

 

[80z28]

normal gas mileage i average 14.7 mpg

with car and open trailer approx 7000 lbs I get 11

with enclosed 28 ft and car approx 10000 lbs I was getting 9

05 expedition