9+ MPG Class 8 5 Axel Trucks with Trailers

I guess you overlooked the previous posts.... Henry usually runs around 65 mph. On a challenge, he recently slowed to 60 for a while to see if that made a big difference. But it was running at 65 mph that he got the over 8.5 mpg average in almost 200,000 miles. No dedicated runs and I am sure he hit some winds once in a while like everyone else. It was running at 60 recently, he broke 10 mpg on a run.

When he got into this with Freightliner, he wanted the numbers to reflect real world stuff. So he had the truck spec'd for operating at 65 mph. It shows that Henry knows how to really spec a truck.

What I find amazing is that many want to blow off what Henry has proven instead of learning from it so they can be more profitable. But that is normal for truckers.

 

I will agree that many here have not put Bruce's advice into practice. But that is the group that is on here. There are plenty of people who are not on this forum that are putting the stuff into practice. I am going full bore with "Bruce's tactics" in a glider kit truck I just ordered. I have only dabbled a little with some of the mods up till now. When the glider shows up, the 500 hp 12.7 Detroit will get the ported and coated manifold, a Borg Warner 171702 AirWerks S400SX4-75 non waste gate turbo, PTP turbo blanket, heat wrap on turbo flange pipe, Walker Megaflows on the stacks, etc. Will have a Eaton 18 speed tied to 2.79 rears so that most of my pulling will be in 16th (direct drive), with occasional use of 17th over. Just like having an older single overdrive 18.

It ought to be fun. Now, just have to wait for Freightliner to deliver the glider.

 

oh that kind of work

here 4.7-4.9mpg with 4axle tipper dead weight 33000lbs legal 70600

real weight i dont know but maybe 80000lbs

route in one direction have 5milles so round trip 10milles through the city, many traffic lights you have to be fast to not disturb traffic , hundredths of gearchanges during day...lot of idle

3hills on route one very steep and high other two not too big

on loading spot it is steep ramp as well , on unloading spot also ( you have to use full throttle and rev it to 2000+rpm

also truck is quite robust (big bi-turbo v8, 700-800lbs gearbox with 16speeds, big hub reduction axles ....)

 

Thanks I couldn't remember. I must be thinking of someone else?

 

This is what I've been waiting for.

Dice1 when I first started reading your threads about your fuel mileage, I was under the impression that you were always light, then you started to talk about all the mods to the truck and drivig manners and that got me convinced, but must of times when some one comes to me with a better than good average on mpg, it could be two things, either they're awfully light or they don't know how to figure mpg, and it was hard for me to finally understand how many drivers don't know how, but there's many.

 

My bad... for not correcting my post. I checked your link after I wrote it. Very impressive I must admit considering all the facts. I guess aerodynamics matter a lot. I have side skirts on my 53ft. reefer and I have the trailer up to the truck splash-guard. Planning on installing side extensions on my cab. That way I can completely conceal the gap between my truck and trailer.

 

Ok... Henry is running light, I guess. I really don't know. So that explains his great mpg figures.

But how about this one... Randall Corlee, who lives in Oklahoma, tanks fuel, is running a Pete 389 glider truck (a brick), typically cruises at 70 mph using an 18 speed tied to 2.64 rears and running in 16th (direct). 600 hp C-15 6NZ engine. Average MPG? 7.5 to 8.2 mpg.... documented.

http://www.pittsburghpower.com/support/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=849&sid=d69c58870367a327c637c92b71f99fed

Maybe Henry is not running the same stuff as the rest of us and can pull off good MPG numbers, but it is a tough sell to try and say pulling fuel like Randall is doing is pulling light. And he is not driving like Grandma with this truck. Makes me feel better all the time that the glider I just ordered will have a 500 hp DDEC IV tied to 18 speed with 2.79 rears. I won't run as fast as Randall, so I should be able to pull off as good or better numbers on a consistent basis.

 

Yeah Randall may not be running "light", he is more than likely running 50% or more of his miles empty. Since that is the typical of a fuel hauling operation. That alone equated to a big difference in MPG compared to a normal linehaul truck. I'm not trying to put down different guys operation/equipment, but you have to compare oranges to poranges to get a good idea on what changes can be made for MPG progress.