I fueled up at the Flying J near Omaha, NE (I-80 west, x. 432) and then drove at 58-59 mph towards Salt Lake City and then Las Vegas. I went around on 80 west to 15 south, bypassing the mountains west of Denver. Still the terrain was pretty hilly and half of the time the wind was almost head-on. I had 41,000 lbs in the trailer and had just installed a full wind deflector on the roof. At my next fuel-up in Springville, UT (just south of Salt Lake), the truck took in 160.6 gallons. Google Maps showed the distance of 938 mi, while my truck odometer said "958". And I know it's lying about 5 miles (shows less than driven), so that makes it 5.7 mpg for the trip so far. Or - if I add those lost 5 miles - roughly 6 mph.

Truck: 2004 International 9400, low pro tires, 3.73 rears, 13 speed, 475 hp/1650 lb Cat C15.

Is this an okay mileage for this kind of terrain and load or should it have been better? As I mentioned, I only did 58-59 mph the entire trip, which made my Cat turn around 1,300 rpm.

 

It's really hard to tell, without actually driving it, and knowing all the small details. :roll: I tend to believe, that based on what you have said, I'd probably do about a half a mile better, with my truck....Still, just a guess... :roll:
T6 C15 Acert 475-1850 13 double over, 3.55 rears, 24.5LP...

 

What is the load? Nice and clean down the sides or junk piled all willy nilly? How many cups of coffee did you drink? Is it tarped? That doesn't sound too bad to me. I am usually dragging a parachute behind me anyway.

 

The load was inside the 53 ft dry van trailer. All's neat and tidy, on skids, not even loaded to the end.

 

Well, you have more torque so it'd be easier for your truck to climb the hills. But you also have a very 'speedy' set-up - with 3.55s and tall rubber, which can actually be a disadvantage on big hills. So, I'm not sure about 0.5 mpg..

 

I don't know that terrain, but from what you describe....and 41,000 in the box with a headwind, 5.7 mpUSg don't seem all that bad.

 

How bad was the wind over Elk Mountain?? I went that route a couple weeks ago and the wind was gusting over Elk at 60mph. I started taking the southern route.

I can get 6.3 going that route and can do a little better going the southern route. I run 1450 rpm which is where my truck gets the best mpg. Fuel is also cheaper going the southern route.t

 

Like I've said, it's really hard to tell, w/o actually pulling it. :roll:
But judging on my 7.1 mpg average for close to 400 000 miles, and the worst summer time mpg i did ever get 6.3 on a particular run.
I'm fairly certain of that.
BTW i,d be running around 62 mpg, also let it roll, when it rolls, and may be speed up on a short steep hills.... 8)

 

got a 3406E 475hp, 10 over, 3.73's and low pro 24.5's. Averages about 5.2 mpg. Wind and hills will knock it down. I'd be happy with what yours did, but hell, EVERYONE ELSE is getting 8 out of the same equipment I run. No matter if its Cat Cummins or Detroit, aero or classic.

 

funny how that always seems to be the way isn't it?