MPG loss carrying Canoe on TV?

[pasusan]

We're trying to figure out a way to have a watercraft with us as we travel the country. If we carry a canoe on top of the TV will we lose even more gas mileage? We now get a whopping 8.4 mpg pulling the trailer.

Anybody have experience carrying a canoe (or other boat) long distances?

[WILDEBILL308]

pasusan wrote:

WILDEBILL308 wrote:
You realise this thread goes back to 12/26/15.
Like I said before if a few bucks for gas is going to be a big deal you might as well sell everything and go sit on the porch at the retirement center.

Bill

OP here - thanks so much for stopping back in again to repeat your thoughts. A lot of folks had interesting things to say about aerodynamics and how boats or bike racks affected their mpg.


We are retired now and often travel with our B instead of the TT, and not often at water spots, so not missing the canoe.

Don't know how this thread came back - I thought they were closed after a year. :h

Looks like people with lots of time to look deep in the old post.
Looked at your profile and the most northernmost part of PA would be the Erie area. I was in the area this summer at the time of "The Roar on The Shore"
Bill

[pasusan]

WILDEBILL308 wrote:
You realise this thread goes back to 12/26/15.
Like I said before if a few bucks for gas is going to be a big deal you might as well sell everything and go sit on the porch at the retirement center.

Bill

OP here - thanks so much for stopping back in again to repeat your thoughts. A lot of folks had interesting things to say about aerodynamics and how boats or bike racks affected their mpg.


We are retired now and often travel with our B instead of the TT, and not often at water spots, so not missing the canoe.


Don't know how this thread came back - I thought they were closed after a year. :h

[WILDEBILL308]

You realise this thread goes back to 12/26/15.
Like I said before if a few bucks for gas is going to be a big deal you might as well sell everything and go sit on the porch at the retirement center.

Bill

[CincyGus]

Another option is to buy a toy Hauler the next time you shop RV's.

[aftermath]

rtate wrote:
When I had a bumper pull I built a rack for my kayak that went over the roof of the pickup and out over the bed. I check my milage pretty closely and did notice a slight improvement with the kayak on top. I am guessing that it broke up the airflow flowing over the cab of the truck down into the bed and hitting the front of the trailer. Actually improved the airflow somewhat.

First off, I agree with everyone who said you shouldn't worry about this if all you are concerned with is gas mileage. Leave the boat home and save a few bucks if that is the total issue.

It all comes down to air flow and rtate brings up a good issue but you will never really know until you pay attention. I tow an Airstream and they are pretty good aerodynamically speaking. I was getting between 10 and 13 miles towing on long trips.I have close to 48,000 total towing miles now. I added a bike rack to the back and noticed that my mileage went down a good 1 mpg even if the rack was empty! The disruption in flow created enough turbulence to cause the change. We still take our bikes because we want to ride them. I always laughed when I saw pickup trucks with their tailgates removed. One person told me it was to increase mileage. The fact is, as was determined by lab testing, this actually hurt mileage because the trucks were designed to have better air flow with the tailgate in place.

[rtate]

When I had a bumper pull I built a rack for my kayak that went over the roof of the pickup and out over the bed. I check my milage pretty closely and did notice a slight improvement with the kayak on top. I am guessing that it broke up the airflow flowing over the cab of the truck down into the bed and hitting the front of the trailer. Actually improved the airflow somewhat.

[shadows4]

Sounds like you have some time to try it out yourself. I would just start a log and note if the mileage is much different. After a few trips you will probably be able to answer those questions yourself. Good luck.

[rtate]

When I had a bumper pull and carried a 15 foot Kayak on top of my truck, I actually noticed about 1/2 mpg improvement in milage. Probably helped the air flow.

[WILDEBILL308]

pasusan wrote:
OP here - thanks to all who responded! We are on the fence at this moment whether to get an inflatable or carry our hard sided canoe.

It does seem that the mpg difference won't be much to consider... I just have a hard time picturing the big old canoe on top of the truck for long trips, just for the possibility of using it. We will be retiring within the next couple of years and will be taking longer trips - not to go to one CG with water, but to go all over - sometimes being near water.

We've got some time to think about it before we need to do something. 🙂

Let me see, you bought your setup to have fun right? You are worried about a few tenths in mileage?? I have seen more of a drop in mileage from a head wind.
I was paying over $4.50 a gallon for diesel last year. Are you going to stay home if gas goes up $.50? The canoe is a minor thing quit obsessing and go have fun.
Bill

[CavemanCharlie]

K3WE wrote:

pasusan wrote:
OP here - thanks to all who responded! We are on the fence at this moment whether to get an inflatable or carry our hard sided canoe.

It does seem that the mpg difference won't be much to consider... I just have a hard time picturing the big old canoe on top of the truck for long trips, just for the possibility of using it. We will be retiring within the next couple of years and will be taking longer trips - not to go to one CG with water, but to go all over - sometimes being near water.

We've got some time to think about it before we need to do something. 🙂

Wish I had a pic. You need a good canoe rack- camper or not. You are right- you LOOK loaded.

But canoe camping is EXCELLENT!

Um,,, around here if you tell someone that they "LOOK loaded" it means something other then what I believe you were trying to say.

[K3WE]

pasusan wrote:
OP here - thanks to all who responded! We are on the fence at this moment whether to get an inflatable or carry our hard sided canoe.

It does seem that the mpg difference won't be much to consider... I just have a hard time picturing the big old canoe on top of the truck for long trips, just for the possibility of using it. We will be retiring within the next couple of years and will be taking longer trips - not to go to one CG with water, but to go all over - sometimes being near water.

We've got some time to think about it before we need to do something. 🙂

Wish I had a pic. You need a good canoe rack- camper or not. You are right- you LOOK loaded.

But canoe camping is EXCELLENT!

[hershey]

Just make sure you keep the pointy end facing forward.

[pasusan]

OP here - thanks to all who responded! We are on the fence at this moment whether to get an inflatable or carry our hard sided canoe.

It does seem that the mpg difference won't be much to consider... I just have a hard time picturing the big old canoe on top of the truck for long trips, just for the possibility of using it. We will be retiring within the next couple of years and will be taking longer trips - not to go to one CG with water, but to go all over - sometimes being near water.

We've got some time to think about it before we need to do something. 🙂

[Jim_Shoe]

Just drill several large holes in the canoe. Cuts down on the wind resistance. 🙂