First Long RV trip with 2021 F-150 PowerBoost

[Oxford_Powerboost]

I pull an 18’ tandem wheel trailer with a UTV and ATV. Did a 5,800 mile trip in June and a 3,500 mile trip in late September. Average mileage was a little over 10 mpg both times. Plenty of power in the mountains but mileage really goes down. I don‘t seem to fill up as often as you though, got close to empty a few times With 30+ gallon fill ups.

Powerboost has a 30.6 gallon tank. You were literally on fumes ?

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[Snakebitten]

I'm pretty sure if you do a couple of clicks past the first shutoff you are more than a gallon and likely close to two over the published fuel tank size.
That's not true for every vehicle by every manufacturer, but Ford trucks often aren't nearly as empty as you might think when you pump the published quantity into it at the pump.

And considerable wiggle room considering the fuel gauge and "Miles To Empty" readings. Even the Ford literature discloses that there's still fuel when it indicates there isn't.

Having said all that, I personally don't like to run those in-tank fuel pump vehicles low before fueling. That pump often is relying on the fuel it is submerged in as its coolant.

 

[Just Me]

Powerboost has a 30.6 gallon tank. You were literally on fumes ?

I wasn’t trying to get that low. When the next pump is 30 miles away you can burn through 3 gallons fairly quickly pulling a trailer.

 

[pkinneb]

I wasn’t trying to get that low. When the next pump is 30 miles away you can burn through 3 gallons fairly quickly pulling a trailer.

Been there! My 97 light duty F250 got about 7 mpg towing our 5th wheel I had to start looking for gas at about 180 miles. The second time I ran out of gas we got a MH lol

 

[CaptainAmericaRob]

I'm pretty sure if you do a couple of clicks past the first shutoff you are more than a gallon and likely close to two over the published fuel tank size.
That's not true for every vehicle by every manufacturer, but Ford trucks often aren't nearly as empty as you might think when you pump the published quantity into it at the pump.

And considerable wiggle room considering the fuel gauge and "Miles To Empty" readings. Even the Ford literature discloses that there's still fuel when it indicates there isn't.

Having said all that, I personally don't like to run those in-tank fuel pump vehicles low before fueling. That pump often is relying on the fuel it is submerged in as its coolant.

correct, I was told by a Calibration Engineer, that Ford vehicles are calculated ZERO with 1 gallon in the tank, plus there's between 1/2 and 1 gallon of fuel in the lines themselves.

 

[pkinneb]

correct, I was told by a Calibration Engineer, that Ford vehicles are calculated ZERO with 1 gallon in the tank, plus there's between 1/2 and 1 gallon of fuel in the lines themselves.

True enough but at 7 to 10 mpg when towing that isn't much

 

[Snakebitten]

True enough but at 7 to 10 mpg when towing that isn't much

I concur!
When you are running 10mpg (or less), having an extra gallon ain't saying much!

I remember in my youth that our vans and trucks got 8-10 mpg ALL the time. It's amazing that we thought filling up so often was OK. Lol

 

[rodsterinfl]

Wow! I just ordered a 2022 hybrid. I have a 2017 3.5 Platinum and tow a 25' Airstream. I use Fuelly and average 11 mpg (rounded) towing. I have towed in FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, W VA, TN, KY, OH getting that average. The worst I ever got was 8.23 MPG in the mountains driving around in W VA. This is the same mileage avg. I got on the 2015 Lariat 3.5 and the 2009 4.6LHO. I calculate at the pump and ignore the computer.I have a ProPride hitch and learned to get up to speed quickly with Ecoboosts rather than move laggardly up to speed for better mileage.

 

[SQUANTO]

I pull an 18’ tandem wheel trailer with a UTV and ATV. Did a 5,800 mile trip in June and a 3,500 mile trip in late September. Average mileage was a little over 10 mpg both times. Plenty of power in the mountains but mileage really goes down. I don‘t seem to fill up as often as you though, got close to empty a few times With 30+ gallon fill ups.

I would say your load is considerably more aerodynamic than the OP's TT, hence the better mileage.

 

[SQUANTO]

@machWhat is your loaded tongue weight?

 

[machz]

@machWhat is your loaded tongue weight?

On the scales my trailer was 6480 with my gear and has a 831 tongue weight

 

[Gros Ventre]

On the turbo's: recognize that the engine can be on the turbo's and the dash gauge shows zero. Say the engine is at light to medium load and calling for something like 5" of vacuum. The turbo's will likely be running (maybe just barely, but it will be enough to call for enrichment), so watch the engine & rpm.
Gas tank level: the in tank fuel pump has a bucket it's in, so it will be cooled even when the tank level drops below the bucket's top. But in the end I like 1/4 tank as a minimum because with the long thin tank if you go up or down a steep incline the gas can slosh away. If your pump goes dry, even for just a second or two, its life is shortened. In my experience, if it loses suction it will fail completely within 10,000 miles.

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