9 - 10 mpg

Move rear axle to front.

 

I understand the concept, but that wasn't what the person I replied to was talking about.

 

LEFT LANE driving equals more MONEY spent on FUEL, and eventually more money spent in maintenece. with my driving habits most drivers hate me, lol, but they do not pay my bills! even if driving fast (which i consider over 60-63mph) get's you that extra load a week, it will not balance out your long term maintenece cost for dogging your truck out. If you want your trucks to last a million miles plus then drive it like you want it to last a million miles plus! simple! this means trying to keep your turbo boost under 10psi at all times possible, booking good freight that's light- or evening out heavy loads and light loads, give your self plenty of room to stop so MAYBE you don't have to stop at lights, shift at the right times! dont just jerk your truck around and dog it out like a hot - rod and your truck and all the working componets will thank you! and so will your bottom line & your HEALTH! - for not being so stressed out driving like a maniac! DOES THIS MEAN DRIVE SUPER SLOW LIKE A TRAINEE AT PRIME INC? NO! JUST DRIVE WITH SENSE AND LISTN TO YOUR TRUCK, KEEP BOOST PRES BELOW 10PSI IF YOU CAN AND THAT SHOULD DETERMINE YOUR SPEED (IF THE TIME SCHEDULE PERMITS) (WHICH IT SHOULD)!

 

Lowest cost!

Maximum revenue!


Both camps are idiots only looking at half the picture. It is all about maximizing your net... A guy making $1.30 might maximize his hourly rate at 58mph. A guy making $1.75 might do best at 68 with an otherwise identical truck.

 

I drive the speed limit. I average 6.6 mpg pulling a step deck and 10% oversize. I have 1.3 million on my current truck. I've driven 700,000 of those. I've owned 5 trucks. There is no catch all speed theory unless you drive a governed truck. If I can get a load off a day early, that's an extra day of earnings. If I spend an extra $200 to make $1000 gross, that is still an extra $400 net in my pocket. The goal is to make more money. If you are completely focused on only one aspect of they situation, instead of the complete view, you're most likely leaving money on the table. In your situation, it may not pay to get a load off early. In mine, it usually does. Perfect example is delivering in Denver on a Thursday afternoon vs Friday morning. I have enough time to bounce out to Iowa or KCMO to get a good paying load for the weekend instead of hauling some $1 a mile freight or spending the weekend bouncing out.

 

You guys are missing the point. Leave the rear rear where it is. Put a locking diff single drive unit in its place. Mount a lift in the front drive position. LIFT it whenever you dont need it because the load on the front is low enough. When you do this, you get 20,000lbs on the drive thats down. with the fifth wheel forward as usual, you can get 13-14,000lbs on the front. That is where the mileage comes into play. The lift gets single low pro 22.5 for ultra low RR. You guys need to screw around with trucks for some time before you give out advice. The one about the power divider not lasting locked in, is way off.

 

You are right! But.... I'd have the lift axle on the back, I've spent most of my career driving 6x2 configurations, a rear lift with a locking diff on the drive believe it or not will have better traction than a tandem, of course you need a weight transfer device fitted but it's standard on most trucks now, fifth wheel positioning is everything , a couple of inches behind the centre of the drive is ideal, you get maximum traction without unloading your steers when the weight comes off the tag.

as for fuel savings... I've run with an identical truck with the same loads, mine at the time was tandem and the other a tag, the tag was running 1mpg better

 

that's true to. it's all prespective, ain't nobody gonna rush me, not even the money! lol and the truck is usually always happy about that. most of my backhaul freight can never deliver early.. and my main freight pays good enough to do a 1500mi turn in one week, one stop a day, unloading myself. i guess it's all about what gig you have and how you work it out. it's the amount saved on fuel maintenece and life are priceless compared to running like a dog to get a few extra bucks which will get invested right back into tires, repairs and etc, fuel! hey, when you got your own truck, you do it your own way, that's a true owner operator!

 

I make daily descions based on PROFIT. Not MPG or revenue alone. If I can avg 6.0 mpg for 500 miles and make a drop and a pickup and get a day ahead and gain extra revenue it means more profit. If I have 5 drops and a pickup in 1300 miles and time is not an issue and I avg 7.5 MPG it's more PROFIT. If you own a truck it should be about saftey and the bottom line. Run as you see fit.... I will.