Awesome Trip! Shitty gas mileage!

[HoffmanMark]

Wow! My buddies and I had an awesome trip thru the Gila National Wilderness in New Mexico. Two vehicles and six guys! My 2004 Lmtd with ToyTec Boss 3" lift, 275/70-17 KO2s, RCI Rock rails and Prinsu Roof rack. Buddy Brian has a stock 2018 JL. I was loaded up with a HI-Lift jack , shovel, shower and FrontRunners dual jerry can holder with 2 Wavian jerry cans. Inside 3 guys, one Malinois, photo gear, recovery gear, tools camping gear, compressor, food and 70 qt cooler. Back dropped 1" loaded. from Dallas to Winston, New Mexico got about 15.5 mph, not too bad, but on the return trip it was more like 11.5 mpg. What is everyone else getting fully loaded? Is there a way to improve my mileage? I guess i should add that we kept to the speed limit going and coming back, with a 15-20mph Head/crosswind returning home.

Thanks for the responses!
Mark

 

[Stoked]

11.5 mpg.

That's about what I get, empty and fairly stock. It's all about perspective!

 

[Winterpeg]

Mpg vs SmilesPerGallon

 

[Smileyshaun]

when i take trips I always plan my fuel by the worst economy I get , that way I never run out of fuel money

 

[KYRenegade858]

If you worry about mpg, you need to find another hobby/past time thing to do...

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[Lee Mims]

I pulled a trailer to Orange, TX to Big Bend National Park (800 miles one way). Trip was 2000 ish miles. Averaged about 12.5MPG the whole trip.

The only reason I care about MPG is that better MPG increases cruising range. Gas cans solve that (I see you have some).

It looks like to me you have larger than stock tires. Are you factoring in your increased diameter and the odometer being off? You might have done better than you think.

Also, headwind on the way back could have got you, high speeds cause increase drag, quite a few factors.

I'll agree 11.5 isn't great, but the roof rack, bigger tires, and weight probably sapped the MPG. Either way, I hope you had a great time!

 

[Megadoomer]

I just did a trip from San Diego to North Rim Grand Canyon. About 600 miles each way. I was in my 70 FJ55 with EFI small block. We were pretty loaded with 2 adult males and my 9 year old and camp gear. Got 12.5 mph there mostly climbing the whole way. With a 20 mile head wind 2/3s the way back I still mustered 13.5 mph. I refuse to get an RTT or a rack because it is already is aerodynamically challenged.

I would use a GPS app to check your speedo.

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[smritte]

Woot 11.5 mpg. I get about that highway on my land cruiser with premium fuel, 10 mpg (ish) in my Jeep. All unloaded. Tow rig almost doesn't care if it's loaded or not, 8-11 mpg depending.Off road Toyota does around 6 and jeep about 3-4. All loaded.
Everything I have is modified one way or another. My fuel mileage also varies depending on where I buy fuel from.

Someone once mentioned to me, "most off road vehicles have the aerodynamics, handling and mileage of a shoe box driving down the freeway with an elephant sitting on it."
This is why I carefully plan my fuel stops.

Scott

 

[MazeVX]

I get 19mpg with my diesel wrangler and mt tires loaded or not gets much better with lower speed, I think keeping it light and and not so much stuff on the roof and your gonna be fine.