Why the long Hoods?

My 2003 Pete 379 w/550 CAT pulling a dry van grossing 76k was averaging 6.5 mpg. I have driven this truck 1.1 million miles .
The worst fuel mileage I ever saw was hauling a heavy load from Dallas to Denver (that is gaining elevation) in the winter with a headwind and idled some. The result : 4.3 mpg.

The general opinion is a big hood can cost 1/2 mpg. But aerodynamics are less important the slower you drive. So at 55 mpg there may not be a lot of difference. Furthermore, I read somewhere that the trailer is responsible for 75 percent of the aerodynamic drag ( the article didn't mention what type of trailer).

I did once meet a driver at a truckstop with a 379 that said he was averaging 4.5 mpg and said he liked to go fast and thought it was funny. I did take the time to point out that his bad fuel economy was costing him big money. He quit laughing.

 

The twin turbo ACERT CAT is not known for great fuel economy.
And yes , you will need to learn how to maneuver that big truck. If it is a Pete, I recommend opening the door when backing at an angle.

 

2 mpg ???? Really ??

 

OK. I am beating a dead horse. The difference between an aero and a hood will be a few tenths of a mile/gallon.

I was leased to a big fleet that was mostly company owned trucks. They had Prostars (maxxforce) and Cascadias (Detroit). 10 speeds w/ 3.42 gears. They have electric apu's. Very little idle time. Governed at 62 mph.
According to my fuel tax reports, the fleet average was about 6.3 mpg. Similar to what my big hood was getting.

 

Why did this turn into yet another mpg thread?
Missed that post I guess...

Martin

 

I'm sure everyone has different taste some may actually like the look of the aero trucks. I admit I have seen some kenworth T800 and T600 that were sharp. But that whole fuel milage deal is a rouge most taunt because they don't have a hood. You know they will never admit it. My case in point, I have a nephew that just started in a shop for a company with 100 trucks 80 of them are 05 up columbia or cascadia but they have 20 Mid 90's 379 petes with 60 series and 9 speeds. He said every body ask in the shop what do I have to do to get in line for one of those petes.

 

My plastic truck after whacking Bambi two days after deer season opened. I tied a chain to a light post and pulled the bracket off the tire. No big deal although it could have been worse, I'm sure. I'm also sure that a "real" truck would have faired about the same with a similar impact.



A larger animal square in the center could have taken out the plastic grill or worse. On a W900 the A/C condenser would have been the first to go in that situation.

 

None of them can take a hit IMO plastic or real If that would have been one of our petes I'm sure I would be painting a fender and hucking it on soon.

 

My point, exactly.

 

I've hit three deer with my current bumper on my 379 and if I hadn't told you ...you wouldn't know by looking. Yes the last one I had to pull it out and straighten the license plate mount but I replaced nothing.

I do have a new one sitting in the shop but haven't needed to use it yet. I buy parts on sale for when I need them.