Fuel Tips

Chosen One and WTM, what HP? gears? tranny? trailer? load weights? primary terrain?

WTM don't you have a new driver running the N14? Have you tried swpping drivers? Probably tick them off but the bottom line is, its your bottom line.

 

The cummins truck is geared a little higher I dont remember the ratio but it runs a little less rpm at the same speed. All the loads have been the same yes the cummins has a new driver its always got around 6 loaded. Im really not that suprised more suprised at how good the detroit gets. The cummins is 370/435 and the detroit is 430/500.I am going to get some more accurate #s when I bring them in and tally up all the miles.

 

WTM, i am going to guess that your international is a 3.70 ratio or higher based on the fact it is a former ryder truck. What is the freightliners?

KH

 

Too be honest Im not sure. They both run right at 1700@ 70mph the international has 11r 22.5s and the freightliner has lowpro 22.5s on it. I would guess the international has 390s and the freightliner has 370s, Both are 10 speeds.

 

i'm considering moving my rear drive axle up to the front and putting a tag on the rear position thus making it a single axle drive. should be good for a fair amout of fuel mileage increase but i'm being warned if I do it I need to get a bigger 23k axle for it and not use mine as it will eat the bearings.

 

Interesting idea. Is your thoughts that the tag would weight considerably less thus giving better MPG's.

 

less weight and considerably less drag. Most people don't realize how much power the power divider robs from you. That's why they eat bearings on the lighter axle because there is allot more tourque making it to the axle.
The down side is with the front drive you loose traction on every pebble you runn over.. lol You have to have it set up to be able to dump the rear axle, I want a liftable rear axle so when empty or light I can raise it and not be running those tires on the ground.
MVT runs these setups. they are on the forfrnt of fuel milage and have trucks averaging 10mpg with light automotive freight

 

and to be perfectly honest..... the original reason I started thinking of this was that it's one less axle I have to rebuild.

 

As long as u stick with light loads that would be ok but that single will not hold up long term running 70-80k. We used to setup straight trucks that way. I still have a 1974 ford f750 with 2 speed axel 3208 cat airride tag in the back. It will haul 36k and pull mt.eagle at about 10mph lol. I have the control valve for the bags in the cab so if the tandem is heavy we would jack the tag up and shift about 1500lbs to the front to get across the scales then let her back down. The axels tranmisson and motor came out of a wrecked truck. There are still alot of leople around here using those setups for their own businesses.

 

Like I stated you need to run a heavier axle in this setup, not the standar 20k lbs axle. the 23k pound axle has disproportionatly larger bearings in it.
also may want to consider a locker equiped axle