Whats pulling your RPod |
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geneowens
Groupie Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 99 |
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I bought my 171 with my new Toyota Highlander, V6, 4x4, 5k towing in mind. However, I needed to get wiring done on the Highlander and a brake controller so I used my 07 Tundra, 5.7, 4x4 to pick up the 171 and I'm continuing to tow with the Tundra. Its a longbed with ARE topper which provides lots of covered storage space and still has room for as many as 6 people to ride. I'm getting 11 to 12mpg and have plenty of power when needed. Based on readings on this site, I began thinking the Highlander may get no more MPG than the Tundra so why make the change - the only problem is finding parking spaces for the Tundra - its a few inches over 21 feet long making the combination approx 40 feet.
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Poddie
Groupie Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Status: Offline Points: 89 |
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We tow our 171 with a Ford Ranger w/ tow package. I believe we are rated to pull 4,000 lbs. The truck has no problems on level ground, but you can definitely tell you're pulling something up long hills. Tachometer goes from 2k rpm to 3k uphill.
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I'd rather be Podding. :)
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Snooper
Newbie Joined: 19 Sep 2009 Location: Nova Scotia Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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Snooper
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geneowens
Groupie Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 99 |
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Snooper,
Your reported MPGs is the best I've seen for anyone towing a Pod. I guess your math is right, right????? I found my best MPGs with my Tundra was using the manual shift mode as well but that was only 12 to maybe 13. |
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kevang1
Newbie Joined: 17 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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2005 Nissan Crew Cab 4.0 V6.
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Snooper
Newbie Joined: 19 Sep 2009 Location: Nova Scotia Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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Hi Gene.
The MPG that I quoted was in Imperial Gallons, so without doing the math, I'd say that would probably work out to about 12 MPG U.S.
Doug
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Snooper
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throttle96
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Location: Summerville,SC Status: Offline Points: 113 |
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2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. 4 liter V-6. Automatic. 2wd. Class 2 hitch. I love our Sport Trac. Half truck , half sport utility. It pulls our RP-175 just fine, even with a load of split wood in the bed. |
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Bigbit
Senior Member Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Location: So. California Status: Offline Points: 142 |
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My tow vehicle is a 2009 Buick Enclave CXL FWD with 3.8L V6, tow package. Here's a pic:
The two vehicles are well matched. The R-Pod is comfortably within the tow range of the Enclave (4500 lb), and the weight (4700 lb) and length of the Enclave make it a very stable tow rig. I've had no need for a sway bar or WDH and I've taken the pair through 60 mph + wind gusts and towed the trailer up to 7200 feet altitude.
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Regards,
Bigbit 2010 Trailmanor Elkmont Tow Vehicle: 2009 Buick Enclave CXL (Cliffy) |
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gmandual
Senior Member Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 470 |
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Just this summer started towing with my 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. If hybrid computer thing is to be believed.
12mpg average at 55 on flat road while towing.
18-20mpg when driving 30-40 on back roads.
Got 8mpg climbing a 6% grade and 34mpg coasting down the back side. :)
27-30mpg driving around down when not towing.
3.3L engine in hybrid is only 200Hp, which "feels" a bit underpowered. Tried towing the pod with a neighbors 3.5L non-hybrid and you don't "feel" the trailer load as much at highway speeds. Unlike the regular highlander, the hybrid is basically a FWD vehicle (gas/electric on front) and electric only to the back (no mechanical connection to engine from back wheels). Rear axel motors are high torque but generally low RPM, so they help you get going and make you accelerate strong from a stop. But rear axel/motors doesn't appear to do anything much at highway speed. So off the line vehicle has about 270HP, but about 40MPH you can feel the drop in power as rear electrics turn off, which is also about the point where the pod starts building its wind resistance.
Good handling, starting and stopping. Regenerative breaking makes driving in hills much less work then pulling with my pickup. Just downshift to "B" and don't even have to touch brake pedal going down hill. Would recommend a WDH with this setup, to help make sure you keep good weight on front wheels where the power it put to the road. Keeps vehicle from getting squirrely on bumpy or ice roads.
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retired Roxy
Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Location: SoCA, Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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Just got back from Yosemite last night. I tow my 172 behind a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 5.2 liter engine which came with a tow package and up country suspension and I recently added a trans. oil cooler.
I drove 400 miles in one day to get there Climbing my computer said I got 5 mpg. Downhill with the cruise control on was 16-17 or so mpg. Without the cruise control I took my foot off the excellerator pedal and would hit 30-40 mpg. Cruise control would keep trying to keep me at 55-60 and 'coasting' my milage was great! As soon as I tapped the pedal when I needed a little speed my gas milage DROPPED! Going I avg. 9 mpg. Haven't checked my coming home amount yet. I avg 14+ mpg in the jeep, pulling the trailer-9mpg. So would I say "I used 40 % more gasoline, lost 40 %, paid 40% more for gas? Roxy |
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