Forum Discussion
dodge_guy
Nov 07, 2021Explorer II
Ok. I had an 02 Excursion initially it had 3.73 gears. While it towed my 9300lb loaded TT OK, it was not great at it. And it was getting 5.7mpg doing it. So the first thing I did was swap to 4.30 gears. Really woke it up and I gained .5 mpg because the engine wasn’t working hard and it could now tow in OD at 67mph. Hen I installed a 5 star tune. This really helped with the shifting and performance, and here again I gained approx .3 mpg. Towed like this for years and I was getting 6.6mpg avg. then I happened across an air deflector for the roof to help push the air up and over the top of the trailer, this gained me .5 mpg and an added bonus of no more bug splattered on the front of the trailer. So in the end I was getting 7mpg with help. Plenty of power in the mountains, never dropped below 55 even on the steepest of grades that had some diesels at 35. My GCW was just shy of 18k lbs.
Now I have a 12 class A on the F53 chassis, V-10 with the 5 speed. I was getting 5.2mpg initially and would drop mph on the slightlest incline, I hated driving it. So I went with 5 star tuning again. Night and day difference. I’m up at 5.8 mpg avg. and no more dropping speed on any incline. I haven’t driven in the mountains yet. I tow a 13 Ford Explorer and the GCW is 27k lbs! I feel these F53 are under geared, as it feels just like my Excursion did before I did the gear swap. I believe my model F53 has 4.56 gears, and here again it should have 4.88 minimum. Sometimes it won’t stay in OD. That little extra gear would let it stay in OD and allow it to be more efficient at max weight, which is where most all class A’s are at when loaded for a trip.
I’ve seen people claim 9mpg in a class A, maybe in a low height 30 footer with no toad, but not in a 12.5ft tall 35plus foot long towing!
I would say be lucky if you can get 7 mpg.
This was my X and TT.

Now I have a 12 class A on the F53 chassis, V-10 with the 5 speed. I was getting 5.2mpg initially and would drop mph on the slightlest incline, I hated driving it. So I went with 5 star tuning again. Night and day difference. I’m up at 5.8 mpg avg. and no more dropping speed on any incline. I haven’t driven in the mountains yet. I tow a 13 Ford Explorer and the GCW is 27k lbs! I feel these F53 are under geared, as it feels just like my Excursion did before I did the gear swap. I believe my model F53 has 4.56 gears, and here again it should have 4.88 minimum. Sometimes it won’t stay in OD. That little extra gear would let it stay in OD and allow it to be more efficient at max weight, which is where most all class A’s are at when loaded for a trip.
I’ve seen people claim 9mpg in a class A, maybe in a low height 30 footer with no toad, but not in a 12.5ft tall 35plus foot long towing!
I would say be lucky if you can get 7 mpg.
This was my X and TT.

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