Gladiator towing range

[Fcmalie]

Wasn't really sure where to place this thread as it has to do with a few different topics.

I'm debating on a spare tire location auxiliary fuel tank to extend my range. We will likely be taking 2 vehicles when doing any long distance trips and I don't want to have to stop twice as often to fill the truck as my wife does with the JLU.

Considering hanging the spare tire from the bed rack, or just doing a delete altogether. I thought about Jerry cans, but I figure more than 10 gallons and it weighs as much as the spare tire. So putting that as low as possible and moving the spare is the better idea.

Curious what opinions here are. I know quite a few people with Wranglers do a spare tire delete, and my truck will likely never see rocks, so was considering that too to just get rid of the weight.

Sponsored

 

[Labswine]

I get about 13 mpg towing. I only let it get to a little less than 1/4 tank (about 18 gallons used) which is around 200 miles or so.

Towing, I really appreciate that bit of a break whilst filling up. A chance to stretch out and stretch out the body kinks gained from other asshole drivers who are pissed that I am only doing a max of 65 mph and slowing their journey by a minute or so

Not towing, I get (on the highway in the summer) 23 or so mpg which over 18 gallons is around 400+ miles. Not towing, I can easily do that in one sitting.

 

[Fcmalie]

Makes sense, at least for now we have to stop every couple hours to feed the youngest anyways, so I guess the range isn't too big of a deal.

Once we start taking the camper off the beaten path for longer trips the extended range will be nice to make sure we can get back to civilization.

 

[Josh00333]

I would just budget 10 and plan on that.

I’ve thought of an aux tank, have one planned but not sure I’ll do it. Be 18 gal in the bed.

 

[sarguy1941]

I picked up a new trailer yesterday in NC. Averaged 10.5 gpm on the trip home with it empty (1200# 5x8x6' cargo). I think it will really depend on what you were towing and where. I thought about an aux gas tank also but I have a 5000 mile trip planned for July and am not going without a spare tire. Most likely plan to bring 2 Jerry cans and hit every gas station I pass ! Sure do miss my 6L SD with a 60 gallon tank

 

[jsalbre]

I’d suggest going with jerry cans unless you always need to have that extended range or they won’t fit in the bed.

With the aux tank you’re always having to carry around the extra weight even when you don’t need it. With jerry cans you can take them out when not necessary, and if you find yourself with someone else that needs a few gallons you can help out there.

I’m in the process of building some mounts for a pair of 5 gallon steel Wavian NATO cans. An extra 10 gallons will get me 100-120 extra miles when towing, and about 150 off-road.

 

[Labswine]

I picked up a new trailer yesterday in NC. Averaged 10.5 gpm on the trip home with it empty (1200# 5x8x6' cargo). I think it will really depend on what you were towing and where. I thought about an aux gas tank also but I have a 5000 mile trip planned for July and am not going without a spare tire. Most likely plan to bring 2 Jerry cans and hit every gas station I pass ! Sure do miss my 6L SD with a 60 gallon tank

I think your fuel economy will improve if you shift your auto trans manually.

When I am towing my 5,300 lb. 27' trailer, I shift manually. I do not go above 2,500 rpms for each gear on acceleration, and find it can move out quite well doing this. Besides, I don't give a shyte what anyone else thinks...I drive my own drive, not theirs!!! So, they can go eff themselves if they feel I've delayed them by a few seconds on their journey.

Once I hit my desired speed (highway is NOT more than 65 mph) then I am pretty much in 7th at around 2,000 rpms. On level or down grade I can shift to 8th. When going up grade and my speed drops below around 58 mph, I drop back to 6th, keeping the rpms at 2,500 or so until my speed builds back to around 62 mph or the grade is over then back to 7th. Doing this, I was getting 13 mpg.

 

[Undecided]

I think your fuel economy will improve if you shift your auto trans manually.

When I am towing my 5,300 lb. 27' trailer, I shift manually. I do not go above 2,500 rpms for each gear on acceleration, and find it can move out quite well doing this. Besides, I don't give a shyte what anyone else thinks...I drive my own drive, not theirs!!! So, they can go eff themselves if they feel I've delayed them by a few seconds on their journey.

Once I hit my desired speed (highway is NOT more than 65 mph) then I am pretty much in 7th at around 2,000 rpms. On level or down grade I can shift to 8th. When going up grade and my speed drops below around 58 mph, I drop back to 6th, keeping the rpms at 2,500 or so until my speed builds back to around 62 mph or the grade is over then back to 7th. Doing this, I was getting 13 mpg.

Thank you for this. Just got our first “real” camper.
I’ve seen this idea mentioned a few times but this is the first explanation I’ve read for what to do. I will be trying it.

 

[sharpsicle]

What's the advantage of having extra Jerry cans for highway towing? You still need to stop and fuel up, so why not just do it at the station and avoid all the weight and hassle of the cans in the first place? Only way I see this being beneficial at all is if your extra fuel storage is connected to the fuel tank so you don't need to stop moving.

In fact, using Jerry cans on a road trip increases your stopped time as you have to stop to fill up from the cans, then you have to stop again at the pump anyway. Jerry cans are great insurance off the beaten path, but on road trips they're just accessorizing the Jeep.

Lastly, remember as someone else said that an aux tank that will actually provide the benefit you seek is a decent added weight at all times. That reduces your available payload and can be quite significant. If you don't really need it, I'd let the gas stations keep the fuel and you keep your payload.

 

[jsalbre]

What's the advantage of having extra Jerry cans for highway towing? You still need to stop and fuel up, so why not just do it at the station and avoid all the weight and hassle of the cans in the first place? Only way I see this being beneficial at all is if your extra fuel storage is connected to the fuel tank so you don't need to stop moving.

In fact, using Jerry cans on a road trip increases your stopped time as you have to stop to fill up from the cans, then you have to stop again at the pump anyway. Jerry cans are great insurance off the beaten path, but on road trips they're just accessorizing the Jeep.

Lastly, remember as someone else said that an aux tank that will actually provide the benefit you seek is a decent added weight at all times. That reduces your available payload and can be quite significant. If you don't really need it, I'd let the gas stations keep the fuel and you keep your payload.

At least for my use jerry cans while towing are insurance. I found myself towing across Wyoming getting about 10 mpg in my Ram 2500 with its 31 gallon tank and nearly running out of fuel because a number of stations were closed and there were no other options. I finally rolled into a place after having driven 10 miles past where the truck said I had 0 miles left. The same thing happened in Texas, twice. I start looking for gas at 1/2 tank when I’m towing.

With the 22 gallon tank in the JT and also getting close to 10 mpg when towing the risk is even greater.

The hope is to not need the jerry cans except in emergency.

 

[Ferg]

Not towing, I get (on the highway in the summer) 23 or so mpg which over 18 gallons is around 400+ miles. Not towing, I can easily do that in one sitting.

I wish I could get anything even remotely close to that in my JTR! I'm lucky if I get 19 MPG on the highway.

 

[Ferg]

At least for my use jerry cans while towing are insurance. I found myself towing across Wyoming getting about 10 mpg in my Ram 2500 with its 31 gallon tank and nearly running out of fuel because a number of stations were closed and there were no other options. I finally rolled into a place after having driven 10 miles past where the truck said I had 0 miles left. The same thing happened in Texas, twice. I start looking for gas at 1/2 tank when I’m towing.

With the 22 gallon tank in the JT and also getting close to 10 mpg when towing the risk is even greater.

The hope is to not need the jerry cans except in emergency.

AMEN, BROTHER! Been there, done that. I went up to the Great Plains (pulling a trailer) two years ago and several times found myself desperate to find a gas station. They are, as you noted, few and far between. It became our rule to fill up whenever we saw one.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think your fuel economy will improve if you shift your auto trans manually.

When I am towing my 5,300 lb. 27' trailer, I shift manually. I do not go above 2,500 rpms for each gear on acceleration, and find it can move out quite well doing this. Besides, I don't give a shyte what anyone else thinks...I drive my own drive, not theirs!!! So, they can go eff themselves if they feel I've delayed them by a few seconds on their journey.

Once I hit my desired speed (highway is NOT more than 65 mph) then I am pretty much in 7th at around 2,000 rpms. On level or down grade I can shift to 8th. When going up grade and my speed drops below around 58 mph, I drop back to 6th, keeping the rpms at 2,500 or so until my speed builds back to around 62 mph or the grade is over then back to 7th. Doing this, I was getting 13 mpg.

I didn't notice a different - manual mode vs. fully automatic. On our hills it can't keep speed up if rpm drops below 2300. On hills 4300 was needed, I frequented 3300. Anything less and speed dropped and it was almost abusive to the engine trying to make it keep up.
I keep 65 when towing which most people don't realize but some states have towing speed limits. In Iow, it's 65 if you are towing. It's not posted but it's the law here. I also get good mpg when I keep the speed down towing - 13.9 on the trip out and 13.8 on the trip back (figured with phone app)
Next trip towing I'll again see which mode works best for that trip. The problem with automatic shifting is that it often waits too long then has to drop TWO gears back where doing it manually you can drop 1 back as soon as you sense the situation and likely won't need to drop that 2nd gear.

 

[Fcmalie]

I didn't notice a different - manual mode vs. fully automatic. On our hills it can't keep speed up if rpm drops below 2300. On hills 4300 was needed, I frequented 3300. Anything less and speed dropped and it was almost abusive to the engine trying to make it keep up.
I keep 65 when towing which most people don't realize but some states have towing speed limits. In Iow, it's 65 if you are towing. It's not posted but it's the law here. I also get good mpg when I keep the speed down towing - 13.9 on the trip out and 13.8 on the trip back (figured with phone app)
Next trip towing I'll again see which mode works best for that trip. The problem with automatic shifting is that it often waits too long then has to drop TWO gears back where doing it manually you can drop 1 back as soon as you sense the situation and likely won't need to drop that 2nd gear.

Most of California is actually 55MPH while towing. I don't really plan on exceeding whatever the towing limit is anywhere.

Sponsored