I know lifting a truck lowers mileage because of increased drag.
Bigger tires reduce mileage because of a bigger contact ares, rolling resistance, increased mass, leverage disadvantage (if gearing isn't adjusted), etc...
And obviously having bigger tires = needing a lift so both problems are compounded. But which of the two is worse? Has anyone changed up wheel size, lift height or gearing and paid attention to the mileage?
Reason I'm wondering is right now with a turned down 6" lift (leveled with about 2.5" blocks in the back) 35x12.5 tires, and stock gearing, I get 14-15mpg highway, which honestly isn't bad. I think a gearing change would help a little so it isn't always lugging around but whatever.
I'm going to be doing some pretty drastic changes to the front suspension. Fabricating boxed control arms, spindles, and a coil over conversion. Like those fancy prerunner long travel kits but without the longer travel/width. But then that got me thinking. What if I moved the front wheels forward about an 1-1.5", and combined that with some serious fender rework to keep the truck as low as possible with as big tires possible?
I love the look of prerunners with 37/40" tires, but not super jacked up. Like the attached picture. I don't want or need the long travel or extra width, just enough to clear the tires. Even though it will be built as tough as the off road trucks 99% of the time she will be daily driven on pavement which is the only reason I'm wondering about mileage at all. I know it will most likely be worse, I'm just wondering about how much worse?
I know probably no one will have a definitive answer, I'm just looking for some educated opinions from people that have run different combos so I can get an idea what to expect.
I already have the suspension designed in solidworks and the parts ready to be plasma cut, I just need to get the new shop finished so I can get the truck up on the lift and torn appart! But while I wait I'm just sitting here plotting and planning...
Bigger tires reduce mileage because of a bigger contact ares, rolling resistance, increased mass, leverage disadvantage (if gearing isn't adjusted), etc...
And obviously having bigger tires = needing a lift so both problems are compounded. But which of the two is worse? Has anyone changed up wheel size, lift height or gearing and paid attention to the mileage?
Reason I'm wondering is right now with a turned down 6" lift (leveled with about 2.5" blocks in the back) 35x12.5 tires, and stock gearing, I get 14-15mpg highway, which honestly isn't bad. I think a gearing change would help a little so it isn't always lugging around but whatever.
I'm going to be doing some pretty drastic changes to the front suspension. Fabricating boxed control arms, spindles, and a coil over conversion. Like those fancy prerunner long travel kits but without the longer travel/width. But then that got me thinking. What if I moved the front wheels forward about an 1-1.5", and combined that with some serious fender rework to keep the truck as low as possible with as big tires possible?
I love the look of prerunners with 37/40" tires, but not super jacked up. Like the attached picture. I don't want or need the long travel or extra width, just enough to clear the tires. Even though it will be built as tough as the off road trucks 99% of the time she will be daily driven on pavement which is the only reason I'm wondering about mileage at all. I know it will most likely be worse, I'm just wondering about how much worse?
I know probably no one will have a definitive answer, I'm just looking for some educated opinions from people that have run different combos so I can get an idea what to expect.
I already have the suspension designed in solidworks and the parts ready to be plasma cut, I just need to get the new shop finished so I can get the truck up on the lift and torn appart! But while I wait I'm just sitting here plotting and planning...