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-   -   What are you doing to save fuel? (https://www.classadrivers.com/forum/owner-operators-forums/26424-what-you-doing-save-fuel.html)

heavyhaulerss 04-24-2007 10:40 AM

i had bought a set of kelly kda. lug's they lasted 3 1/2 years & 305,000 miles. i bought because they were knee deep in rubber. but that was before the fuel spike. i changed to hwy tires for the drives now & keep cruise at 62 m.p.h. it kills me to drive this slow, but i do it. the difference $168.00 a week. based on 2000 mi a week

LOAD IT 04-24-2007 10:54 AM

This is some good info that I will keep in mind. Thanks. Coasting is OUT, wouldnt want to get a bonehead ticket like someone else here. Glad he was honest with the forum.

no_worries 04-24-2007 12:11 PM

Cam, yes trailer tires are usually cheaper. These guys like having a universal tire on every axle end. Simplifies purchasing, rotating, and spares. Also, trailer tires are generally pretty cheap construction. A steer tire will last much longer and you have the benefit of being able to use it elsewhere. They swear by the process of putting new tires on the trailer first to "true" them and then moving them to the steers.

silvan 04-24-2007 01:00 PM


Originally Posted by tootie04
We are running steer tires on the freightliner and yes you do get better fuel economy.

I drive for an O/O leased onto a company that runs steers everywhere; even on the trailers.

Personally, I've never driven in bad weather on anything other than what I consider "real drive tires" so I have no idea how steers would do. It kind of makes my stomach crawl at little at the prospect, but maybe I'm just old fashioned.

As far as fuel saving, I remember reading some article about how companies could/were going to be able to vary engine HP from remote via Qualcomm, so they could turn up a company driver's truck when he was running out in big hill country or whatever.

I've had the thought in my head ever since that it ought to be possible to just turn a dial on your dash (or equivalent) to vary HP in real time. Why not vary HP according to load or conditions on the fly?

That isn't a real choice today, but I think it ought to be.

Cam 04-24-2007 01:12 PM


Originally Posted by heavyhaulerss
i had bought a set of kelly kda. lug's they lasted 3 1/2 years & 305,000 miles. i bought because they were knee deep in rubber. but that was before the fuel spike. i changed to hwy tires for the drives now & keep cruise at 62 m.p.h. it kills me to drive this slow, but i do it. the difference $168.00 a week. based on 2000 mi a week

UGH! And all that rubber looks so purty. :cry: Looks like I may be pretending over the next couple of years not to notice- can't throw away a new set of tires!

I'm not too worried about the snow, I'd really just like to sit out the first three months of the year.

1) freight rates drop
2) it's more dangerous/hazardous
3) harder on the equipment
4) not nearly as comfortable as the trailer down in Florida

Cam 04-24-2007 01:13 PM


Originally Posted by silvan

Originally Posted by tootie04
We are running steer tires on the freightliner and yes you do get better fuel economy.

I drive for an O/O leased onto a company that runs steers everywhere; even on the trailers.

Personally, I've never driven in bad weather on anything other than what I consider "real drive tires" so I have no idea how steers would do. It kind of makes my stomach crawl at little at the prospect, but maybe I'm just old fashioned.

As far as fuel saving, I remember reading some article about how companies could/were going to be able to vary engine HP from remote via Qualcomm, so they could turn up a company driver's truck when he was running out in big hill country or whatever.

I've had the thought in my head ever since that it ought to be possible to just turn a dial on your dash (or equivalent) to vary HP in real time. Why not vary HP according to load or conditions on the fly?

That isn't a real choice today, but I think it ought to be.

Don't they call them 'accelerators' or something like that :lol:

tootie04 04-24-2007 01:35 PM


Originally Posted by Cam

Originally Posted by tootie04
We are running steer tires on the freightliner and yes you do get better fuel economy. I was reading an article about this last year and it said you have more of the tire in contact with the ground so you get better economy. Made sense to me. Anyway we will be putting steers on the KW when the time comes for tires.

tootie

Thanks a lot, Tootie, that just seems to make so much sense. I spent $3,000+ last fall on a set of Bridgestone EL 726's or whatever they are called just because it was the first time I purchased drives and I was following what so many others are doing. That deep, widely spaced tread, rarely do I ever need that. I wouldn't put that kind of tread on a car, I hardly ever go off roading in construction sites with my truck, either. I think I'll do what you are doing next time.

We also ran in some snow with them and didnt see a big difference.

tootie

solo379 04-24-2007 01:54 PM


Originally Posted by Cam
Any of you have experience running more of a 'road tire' on your drives?

Yes, i did that. And it is yields a better mileage, than the "regular" drives, let's say 726 Bridgestones.
But if you use 720(fuel efficient), you'll get the same economy+longer life.
So, i stick with "fuel efficient" for now! 8)

allan5oh 04-24-2007 01:58 PM

Hey solo, hows that big 15 litre doing on fuel lately?

BigDiesel 04-24-2007 02:00 PM


Originally Posted by Dejanh
Coasting is key


..as well as ticket in socialist state of California, i should know as i recieved it !

Thats the DUMBEST thing I have ever read... Was the ticket for being stooopid ???


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