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Posts: 133
Location: South Bend, Indiana | If you haven't noticed, musky fishing gets VERY expensive. Most of us can't afford a brand new boat with the industry's leading motor, or buy the giant GPS that can do everything but cut your grass and wipe your a**. So, as most of us are, the average fisherman (if musky anglers can be average), how do you save money in doing this sport? |
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| My favorite way to save money is to fish smaller bodies of water where I don't haev to use much gas to get around the lake. Also maximizes fishing time. More time with my bait in the water and less time moving around. |
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Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I buy a lot of slightly used gear on here to save costs. I do splurge on some items (I am a reel whore - I have over 100 reels), but most items come from here or ebay.
Edited by RyanJoz 7/14/2012 7:44 PM
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Posts: 477
Location: Iowa | I now buy a lot of used too. Have not paid full price for any of my Toro reels, and few of my rods. I shop around until I find a deal. No more impulse buying! I'm trying to figure out the right prop now. I will try as many as I can, then find one this winter for half price of new, or less. I will probably buy my next trolling motor, and fish finders new, but they will be on sale before I do it. Also shorter, and not as many trips. That works out good right now though, with the age of my 2 little girls. |
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Posts: 143
Location: Palatine, IL | Ebay and craigslist. I haven't paid full price for anything. You have to be patient. |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | What was already said. I can run any size boat I want, but choose to run a 17' tiller with a 50. I think our gas has cost about $50 since April. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i havent done it yet just thought abought it
i was thinking of looking for a fishing budy i could shar the cost with for gas i have a nice boat truck and all the gear i need
go on a say 100 mile trip 200 round trip i get abought 13 per gal pulling my boat so you looking at around 55 bucks that dont count the gass for the boat ill burn abought 6 to 10 gallons depending on how much running i do so it can cost around 75 bucks just to go for the day then if you go on a longer trip its nice to have help with the driving have you tried this |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I have two good waterbodies within 10 min. of my house and 4 more within 30 min so I quit driving 10 or more hours to find fishing no better than at home. I changed my 50 2 stroke for a 60 4 stroke and Im using a lot less gas.
To day I took a guy that owns a big Billy Bob rig ( aka Bass Boat) out for 13 hours on a small river in a 12 foot tinny with a 3 horse outboard pulling up through rapids fishing unfished water and had a great day. We each took one SHORT rod and about 5 lures.
Edited by horsehunter 7/14/2012 9:25 PM
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Posts: 434
Location: Omaha, Nebraska | I buy almost of my lures used on here or on clearance at stores. I don't buy reels or electronics used, so I wait until they are overstocked or are clearing out the old stock. I usually buy my rods at the beginning of the season sale or the year end sale. Needless to say, I rarely pay full price for an item unless it is a necessity.
The big way I save money, is instead of going on multiple week long trips, I go on one 2 week trip up north. This saves a lot on gas. We stay at relatively priced housekeeping resorts with great accommodations, so we get to eat when we want to and the meals we prefer, while saving thousands of dollars. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | I save by making some of my own lures & buy used ones as well. Instead of fishing St. Clair I fish the Detroit River, which is 13 miles from my house compared to 38 for SC. I also save by fishing with others to share on gas. |
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Posts: 265
Location: Manitowish Waters WI | eBay!!! Just bought 8 new baits for $28. Reels I don't skimp, rods I'm starting to go middle of the pack. I'm loving TI rods so I'm saving a ton there. I also don't get fancy with my rig. I'm not a tourney fisherman so I don't need a 20ft boat with a 225, my 17ft tiller catches plenty of fish. Electronics I splurge a little but not a ton. Pick and choose my friend, there are areas where you can save and areas where you can splurge. Reels are the only part of the game I refuse to skimp. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | We sleep in the truck, eat peanut butter sandwhiches, don't buy much for new baits, and spend the rest on gas for the truck and boat. |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I buy alot used, or on discount, truck's and boats older and paid off, electronics and reels I save and buy the best I can.... |
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Posts: 793
Location: Ames, Iowa | For us it's not so much what is bought for fishing like baits and gas but how our travel habits have changed. We used to run into Walker about every other day for a trip to Reed's, walk about town, and then we'd have to eat. We never do that anymore. On the way north we don't make lunch stops like we used to for the 5 of us. If we do stop- it's at a supermarket for some fresh rolls and stuff to put on it- and our snacks, pop, milk, water are in the cooler in the back, not bought. Just cutting out the vacation side trips and going out to eat has saved the equivalent of what we pay for gas. |
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Posts: 567
| I sold the wife, the house, and the dog, and I live in a van down by the river! Hahahahahahaha I agree with above, buy used, be patient, and cook on trips. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | As mentioned before, gas there and back is a killer, so go less often but stay longer!
Stay out of the local establishments for those long social events that seem to just happen. Stop in and say hi, have a drink and then head back to the cabin for a cookout and refreshments there.
If you are on big water, plan plan plan. You don't go from a spot on one end of the lake to a spot on the other end and then back again. If you want to fish a long ways from camp run there right away at a good cruising speed for max efficiency and then fish your way back trolling between spots when you can. Spot hopping with the big motor sucks more gas and oil than cruising or trolling, so unless the fish are on a rampage and you need to cover lots of good spots fast, don't.
Win the lottery? |
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Location: Sun Prairie, Wisconsin | I believe that theamount of "stuff" you NEED for Muskie fishing needs to be questioned... Does a guy really need to take 14 rods and reels? Does he have to have a ginormous just in case box along with the Lakewood all filled with baits, most of which will not see water during a season? I have become that guy... You don't have to be. I recall meeting a gentleman who runs a historic Muskie resort in Wisconsin. He fishes out of a small boat with a handful of used surface baits. The guy catches fish! Makes me wonder if I really need all this stuff. Oh wait! There is an ad for a good used 620 vs!!!!! Marcia, I need to buy that boat today! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | 1 good rod, 1 good reel, 8 proven baits and a boat that floats ...
happiness is when you go fill the truck and boat with gas without a care in the world. spend the money doing and not paying for "stuff".
an idea on boats. find an old one and restore it vs. buying a new one that comes along with a payment book you'll never complete. no matter what your market --- from $1,000.00 to $30,000.00 you will come out way ahead (and btw there is absolutely no reason to have more than about $25k into even the nicest boat you would ever want).
it's like the harley generation that think they have to have a harley because it's what you need to fit into the club. i restored a 1982 vintage motorcycle and built a custom. it gets more looks, has more performance and is more fun to ride than anything HD makes ... i think i have $4,000.00 total invested in the project.
NEVER buy a new boat ... new motor (yah), but never a new boat. |
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Posts: 252
| My trouble is, I enjoy buying the lures and boats and other junk on days that I cannot fish. I just bought a third boat yesterday.
I think that if I could fish every day, I would stop buying as much stuff, and that might save me some money... |
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Posts: 1220
| I fished as a young man who had nothing, I fished through the middle years when I struggled to keep a little, and now continue to fish when I am old enough to actually want to spend what's left before I go. It's not what you can fish with that's important, it's that you are on the water doing it! Don't save up so you can live your life at the expense of having missed it. |
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Posts: 795
Location: North Central IL USA | KentuckyMuskie - 7/15/2012 7:29 AM
My trouble is, I enjoy buying the lures and boats and other junk on days that I cannot fish. I just bought a third boat yesterday.
I think that if I could fish every day, I would stop buying as much stuff, and that might save me some money...
Exactly!!! Except the boat part now. If I bought another boat my wife would probably kill me. The tackle and lures I can sneak in.
I fish out of a ’91, 17 1/2ft boat with a 70HP engine bought used for under 5K. Sure it'd be nice to have a 20ft Ranger with a 250 Verado but seeing as I fish alone most of the time lately what I have is plenty big enough.
I saved a lot of money last month - went out 3x just using my kicker ( a 1975 mercury 9.8 my dad bought new back in the day). Probably used only about 1 gallon of gas.
I also buy a lot of clearance stuff. Got a handful of Rapala crankin' raps yesterday @ Dicks for 2 bucks ea. Can't beat that!!!! 
No more full price reels for me any more. Both my Toro 50 and Curado 300 I got off e-bay for good prices
Got a Shimano Citica @ Dick’s last winter for about 60 bucks. It was on clearance but the last one which was the display model. They didn’t have the box so the guy knocked off another 15% plus I had a coupon and a 10 dollar ‘rewards’ check.
The bargains are out there. Just have to be patient and keep an eye open for them. |
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Posts: 556
| Don't need the most expensive boat--I spent $5500 used on a good boat and motor that i can fish anywhere with. Also I go the used route on most things--Great deals out there on baits/rods/reels--craigslist and ebay have saved me tons of $$$$. Also USED lures right here in the classifieds--I have gotten lots of deals right here. I have approx $7000 invested in everything I own for fishing. boat/motor/trailer-- 6 complete rod/reel outfits and maybe 100 lures + boxes.----If for some reason I had to liquidate it all for any reason----I would recoupe most if not all of my money. Would love the new 30K boat--and could actually get it if I really needed it--but i fish right alongside those guys for a fraction of the cost----I know I am not styling like they are, but I can live with that. |
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Posts: 8831
| Not much that hasn't been said.
Last two musky shows, I walked out with one lure. I used to bring $500 to the shows and be happy if there was any left at the end of the day.
Went from 6-7 trips a year, fishing 50 days to less than 10 days. That part sucks. But it's $100/gas just to go somewhere for the day.
I used to spend a LOT of money fishing down here. Not worth driving an hour and a half to catch one skinny 30" fish and have altercations with 5 other boats in the process.
On the rare occasion when we do make it up North, we bring coolers of food and cook our own meals. Costs us $200 for a week instead of $1,000 eating in restuarants 3 times a day.
Next step? Going from 300 lures down to the 30 or so that I actually need. 8 combos? Stupid. You can fit everything you need, including tools, in a medium lakewood. If you want to splurge? Buy two rods so you can have two baits rigged up. If you REALLY want to splurge? Carry an extra reel in case you break one. All the rest is just fluff.
I catch as many fish spending $2k/year as I did spending $20k. And it's a lot more fun without your head in the tackle box.
Edited by esoxaddict 7/15/2012 11:45 AM
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Posts: 795
Location: North Central IL USA | esox911 - 7/15/2012 10:56 AM
Would love the new 30K boat--
Me too! And if i came across a large sum of spare money, it'd probably be the Skeeter MX 1825 with the full windshield and the 150HP engine. |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | Once the water gets hot up here, i used to travel up north most weekends. I don't do that anymore. I fish close and for other species. Sucks and I don't catch as many muskies but burning 200 dollars of gas to fish a day and a half and spending 1000 dollars a month for gas was too much.
I but my reels used and look for deals on good reels. I have a TE and I have several calcutta 400's and 3 penn reels that i got really cheap. I am also not the lure junky I used to be. I don't just buy a lure because it is new. I look at them now think about what they do and is it a better tool than what I already have or will it fill a void that is missing in my collection of baits. |
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| I have started to fish out of a kayak and wading. I am also typically using a fly rod for the tigers out west as well. The fly fishing side of it will not cut costs;) A stealth approach and thorough working of structure helps you contact fish you just can't get in a boat. It is a different type of fishing, certainly less expensive, you just need waders. BR |
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Location: 31 | Pretty much everything that has been said with one exception... poker. I pretty much support my fishing with poker winnings. I also try to buy used equipment and or sell (resell) stuff on eBay to make a buck here or there to help offset any upgraded equipment with. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i do work over time when i can that helps to |
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Posts: 133
Location: South Bend, Indiana | Awesome replies guys! One thing I've neglected to do is to cook my own meals on trips, going to have to start doing that! |
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Posts: 213
Location: FIB land | Yep, crockpot meals work well and cheaply |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | On my 7 day trip to Spring Bay my grochery bill is around $50 in Cook and I bring 1/3 of that home with me... |
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Location: 31 | Spending the extra money to perform proper maintenance doesn't cost, it saves. |
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Posts: 582
| i have a feeling there are alot more people NOT driving 4+ hours up north and staying closer to their home water for fishing. |
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| Another tip for the cooking aspect is to pre-cook everything a few days before the trip and freeze it. We do that with chili, bbq, spaghetti, et cetera. Then it just takes a few minutes in a microwave to reheat. It saves a ton of time cooking and cleaning. The only potential problem is having a fridge/freezer to store it and a microwave/stove to cook it. Most places I've stayed at least had one or the other, but there have been a few times when a microwave had to come along for the trip. If you're at a campsite or sleeping in the back of the truck it's not so easy. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | as has been said, take your own food....eating out costs a lot more than bringing/making your own....i make my own deli sandwiches on the boat etc....costco/super walmart has great prices .... |
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Location: Minocqua, WI | Wow, excellent topic and posts! I would have to say the choice of boat is a huge factor... 50 or 60 hp fourstrokes are incredible on fuel and a lighter boat saves vehicle wear/tear and improves fuel economy. Also, stciking with the producer baits is key, you dont need every color known to man, stick with the producers. A big money saver for the rubber chuckers is oviously repairing baits. I keep all of my destroyed bulldawgs and use them to "frankenstein" the ones that are still usable. Use the rubber from a destroyed one as solder for the others. Light it on fire and let it burn for few seconds, then use the goo to repair you bait. works great! |
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Posts: 605
Location: Marshfield, WI | Here is a good place to get a deal on trolling motors. They are factory reconditioned and come with warranty. http://www.trollnmotors.com/
Krishna |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I just injure myself so I can't go fishing - or not so much. I'm very injury-prone too. My kids say I can't walk to the end of the driveway without hurting myself. |
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Posts: 477
Location: Iowa | jonnysled - 7/17/2012 12:09 PM
consider learning how to target and catch larger fish??
apparently you suck as much at fishing as n. wisco people suck at making you happy??
.Hahahaha. Good advice. Don't you just love "guest"? |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Awww, did somebody get the skunky-poo on their trip North? Maybe a ticket from those mean old wardens? |
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Posts: 8831
| Guest - 7/17/2012 12:06 PM
I pretty much quit fishing this year with the heat and everything and I'll never go up to northern Wisconsin again and support those backwards people. I'll just stay close to home this fall and count all my money, fish with suckers, and putt around the lake with the trolling motor.
I use to go up north all the time but it's not worth it for 30 inchers when southern Wisconsin has more and bigger muskies.
Thank you. It gets a little nicer up there every year because of attitudes like yours. Please encourage your friends to do the same.
The fish might not be great, but nothing beats sharing the lake with 2 other boats instead of 200. |
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Posts: 8831
| jonnysled - 7/17/2012 12:09 PM
consider learning how to target and catch larger fish??
apparently you suck as much at fishing as n. wisco people suck at making you happy??
Sled must own a fudge shop. |
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Posts: 1220
| I've been wanting a place up North my whole life, just never could afford it. Now, I'm finally going to do it...even started working with a Realtor. Obviously, I still think the water, the people, and the place is just great!!
And, let's face it...Illinois is out of the question, Minnesota and Michigan both have good musky water, but neither has an NFL team, and winter is too long for that kind of misery  |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I'm 'backwards' and somewhat of a redneck from the Northwoods. Just had a frigging bear knock the crap out our bird feeders in the middle of the day.Livin' in the woods...
I think folks who insult us good folk in N WI deserve a good solid 'virtual' right hook, especially when they lead with their chin. Sled already took care of that, though. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Roscoe IL | I leave a boat and truck up North and drive my VW Passat, then switch up. This saves me $100 Each trip just on gas. I bring all my food, snacks and drinks up with me. Staying out of the bars goes a long way as well. If I plan right, I can do a 4 day trip for just over $100 driving 4 hours each way. Food and drinks included. Helps when you have kids, house, cars and everything else on your plate. Still need to fish just to keep my head strait. |
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Posts: 1220
| Now that I think of it....moving up there would make Steve and Sled (well) NEIGHBORS...YIPES  |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Marty,
That's a good thing. Allows you to upgrade by hanging out with a couple well known reprobates. Or is that repobaits? |
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Posts: 833
| Easy way to save money: From December 1st until Musky Opener the next year I don't do any Musky Fishing.
My advice is take your time slowly accumulating the stuff you want, focus more on spending time on the water, especially with other people who are more experienced than you are. This is the best way to decrease the learning curve and become a more informed buyer. In theory it should help make the inevitable "wall of shame" smaller. In theory...
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Lots of great info so far. A few other $$ savers is making your own leaders and reversing your line in the offseason. That saves me lots of $$$ and I "only" have 7 musky reels. For anglers with 10-20 reels it could save $300+ a year. |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | If possible I catch my own live bait on the lake I am fishing instead of buying the $6+ suckers. Bullheads and rock bass catch a lot of fish for me!
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Posts: 8831
| Another thing to think about - slow down a bit on the highway. If I slow down to 60 or 65 and get 2 MPG more, it saves almost $100 in gas going to Canada and back. Even 1 MPG going up North for the weekend is almost $20. I'm always in a hurry to get there, going like a bat out of hell, but when you start adding up gas? WOW. |
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Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I commented above but I thought of some other things that I do to save on costs. I make my own leaders for about a buck a piece instead of $10, I service all of my equipment. This includes changing all fluids and required parts on the truck, trailer, outboard, reels, rods (guides if they need it), and even re-epoxying baits myself instead of throwing them away or letting them soak up water and not run right. I bring a lunch most days and drink water instead of other drinks. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Roscoe IL | esoxaddict - 7/20/2012 10:26 AM
Another thing to think about - slow down a bit on the highway. If I slow down to 60 or 65 and get 2 MPG more, it saves almost $100 in gas going to Canada and back. Even 1 MPG going up North for the weekend is almost $20. I'm always in a hurry to get there, going like a bat out of hell, but when you start adding up gas? WOW.
Just stay in the right lane then!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | One other thing i forgot to mention. I dont take weekend trips anymore when i know my shot at catching a fish is not as good. I used to dive bomb head first places at ice out but experience has taught me to fish where they are biting and if i do not feel my chances are good i fish for something else closer to home.
Edited by ToddM 7/20/2012 11:08 AM
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Allot of guys with big glass rigs have two speeds stopped and wide open. If you take that powerhouse and put the boat up on plane, dial back to 40 mph or so you won't believe how much you save in a year. I always try and drive slow on smaller lakes anyway to respect the quiet. That and buy used baits carry and use less. You do not need 400 baits in the boat or at home. Trust me I know. I have baits that I have not been on a boat ride for years. Nothing wrong with them I just forget them when their time is right. |
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Posts: 8831
| You could take the hooks off your lures, and save yourself the costs of a net, pliers, knipex, and jaw spreaders... |
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| esoxaddict - 7/20/2012 10:26 AM
Another thing to think about - slow down a bit on the highway. If I slow down to 60 or 65 and get 2 MPG more, it saves almost $100 in gas going to Canada and back. Even 1 MPG going up North for the weekend is almost $20. I'm always in a hurry to get there, going like a bat out of hell, but when you start adding up gas? WOW.
Don't want to call you out EA but you best check your math on that one, you kinda doubled the savings. Round trip from Kenora to Chicago (I think that's where you're from) is 1,526 miles. Difference between 14mpg and 16mpg @ $4/gal is only $55. Split that between 2 fellers and you really aren't saving much at all. 1 mpg difference to minoqua and back is a whopping $11 in savings..... |
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| Propster - 7/14/2012 9:54 PM We sleep in the truck, eat peanut butter sandwhiches, don't buy much for new baits, and spend the rest on gas for the truck and boat. YES. Simple is always best. The guy with the most tackle doesn't catch the most fish. Keep your line wet. |
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Posts: 8831
| guest - 7/20/2012 5:09 PM
esoxaddict - 7/20/2012 10:26 AM
Another thing to think about - slow down a bit on the highway. If I slow down to 60 or 65 and get 2 MPG more, it saves almost $100 in gas going to Canada and back. Even 1 MPG going up North for the weekend is almost $20. I'm always in a hurry to get there, going like a bat out of hell, but when you start adding up gas? WOW.
Don't want to call you out EA but you best check your math on that one, you kinda doubled the savings. Round trip from Kenora to Chicago (I think that's where you're from ) is 1,526 miles. Difference between 14mpg and 16mpg @ $4/gal is only $55. Split that between 2 fellers and you really aren't saving much at all. 1 mpg difference to minoqua and back is a whopping $11 in savings.....
I checked it, Guest. Slowed down on the way to Presque Isle this year, got almost 13 MPG instead of 11. 800 miles round trip. 61 gallons of gas compared to 71 last trip up. $10 gallons of gas @3.69? That's $36.90 if math still works.
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Posts: 795
Location: North Central IL USA | ToothyCritter - 7/20/2012 11:04 AM
esoxaddict - 7/20/2012 10:26 AM
Another thing to think about - slow down a bit on the highway. If I slow down to 60 or 65 and get 2 MPG more, it saves almost $100 in gas going to Canada and back. Even 1 MPG going up North for the weekend is almost $20. I'm always in a hurry to get there, going like a bat out of hell, but when you start adding up gas? WOW.
Just stay in the right lane then!!!!!!!!! : )
LOL! For sure!
I read that gas mileage really starts taking a nose dive when you go over 2000 RPMs. That gives me a nice cruising speed of about 72 MPH.
Edited by gregk9 7/26/2012 10:55 AM
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Posts: 2067
| Yep - hammer down, .....stay right please! |
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Posts: 1146
| gregk9 - 7/26/2012 10:54 AM
ToothyCritter - 7/20/2012 11:04 AM
esoxaddict - 7/20/2012 10:26 AM
Another thing to think about - slow down a bit on the highway. If I slow down to 60 or 65 and get 2 MPG more, it saves almost $100 in gas going to Canada and back. Even 1 MPG going up North for the weekend is almost $20. I'm always in a hurry to get there, going like a bat out of hell, but when you start adding up gas? WOW.
Just stay in the right lane then!!!!!!!!! : )
LOL! For sure!
I read that gas mileage really starts taking a nose dive when you go over 2000 RPMs. That gives me a nice cruising speed of about 72 MPH. : )
Which brings up another point... Who actually tows 100% with overdrive off?
I only have a 17' boat towing with a 5.4L F150 so on the highway I typically tow with O/D on for better mpg but on real hilly areas I will turn it off. I know it is much better for your tranny with O/D off but you can almost watch as the fuel gauge falls. Curious as to what everyone else actually does. Towing a 20-21' is a different story though.
Edited by MartinTD 7/26/2012 11:48 AM
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Posts: 133
Location: South Bend, Indiana | I tow a 20 ft ranger with a 5.3Ll avalanche.... I keep the overdrive off.. but I probably shouldn't... lol |
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Posts: 4266
| Crock pot, especially in the fall. Nothing beats coming in for some ho-made chili, a beef roast w/gravy or chicken soup so thick that you can stand the ladle up in it.
The rods and reels that I have now were the best I could afford (new rods, used reels) and they will be the last ones that I buy. My current boat is sweet, and will also be my last unless I sell it and down-size.
I admit, I am a lure whore, but I also know how to build gliders, cranks, bucktails and top-waters. My plan is to be fishing 75% of my own basement baits and selling off what I can make myself at lure swaps.....where you guys can buy my used stuff......or here. This hot summer has not only hurt my fishing, but I haven't been in the garage since May. It's still over 80 in the lure painting room and very humid. I can't paint or clearcoat anything.
I bought a used JEEP Liberty and gave my Cherokee to my 16-year old daughter. What a difference the extra horsepower made. When we came home from Vermillion, I filled up in Cook and again in Osseo and made it back to Milwaukee with 1/4 tank to spare.
My daughter and I are going back up north for a trip before skool starts, but we're staying with our best friends. Nice to have friends in fish country.
Sell the lures that haven't seen the water in 2 years, and save the money for gas. Kills 2 birds with 1 stone.
Beav
Edited by Beaver 8/6/2012 6:39 AM
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Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | MartinTD - 7/26/2012 11:40 AM
Which brings up another point... Who actually tows 100% with overdrive off?
I tow anything over 500 lbs using the truck's built in "tow mode".
My 2010 Ram (Hemi 4x4) tows Dad's 17' Lund and gets 18 mpg doing so. Towing in Tow/Haul definitely changes the shift points and turns the truck from a hot rod to a towing machine. We used it to move a month or so ago towing close to 10,000 lbs and it worked like a champ. 13.6 mpg towing 10,000 lbs with a gasser is impressive to me.
I would much rather pay for the gas than an overdrive unit. It is not that the truck won't do it, just piece of mind that I won't have to visit the dealership to have them mess something else up. Changing an OD unit is a pain in the butt. |
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Posts: 15
| very simple i just put my money on the thing that work,i am not gonna buy a new lure just because a guy who get them for free claim to have caught a few 30 inchers on one of them
at the end something like the same 10 lures are used during each years so............... |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I have an F150 with the 5.4 and always turn off the O/D when pulling the boat. Not turning off the O/D will cause the transmission to over-use the torque converter and can greatly decrease the life of the transmission. Not only that, but my truck actually gets better gas mileage with the O/D off while towing.
The speed makes a big difference with my F150. When towing my 17 ft Crestliner, I get about 15 mpg at 60 mph, 14 at 65 mph, 13 at 70 mph and about 12.5 at 75 mph. So, I generally get about 12 mpg while towing.
If I want to save gas and money, all I have to do is slow down. |
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Posts: 1220
| I traded in my last Yukon (with the big V-8) at just 48,000 miles. I was pulling a Ranger 619 at the time and, for some odd reason, I had been convinced that I did not (should not) need to use the towing feature on the tranny. One of the things the dealer commented on during the trade process was the premature wear on the tranny which he was not making up. I have another Yukon, a bit more boat now with a 620, and never pull the boat without engaging the trailer towing feature. I was totally wrong not to use it before. Also, please don't give me a hard time about trading a truck with only 48,000 miles....it was for business reasons, I am not that spoiled. |
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Posts: 4266
| With my JEEP I run with the OD off unless I'm in an area of long sections of flat ground. I also drive in 4wheel high in very hilly areas. Last trip I was getting 17-18 mpg. I'll never complain about anything over 15. |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Why put your jeep into 4x4 when driving hills? Does the 4x4 help slow you down coming down the hills? Or are the hills gravel and getting up them tough? Must be some hills.
The only time I ever put my pickup in 4x4 is when the back wheels may slip, such as at gravel type boat landings and driving in mud, snow, ice, etc. I actually leave the 4x4 off most of the time when off-road. As long as the back wheels are hooking up, there is no need for the 4x4. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | Junkman - 7/17/2012 2:51 PM
I've been wanting a place up North my whole life, just never could afford it. Now, I'm finally going to do it...even started working with a Realtor. Obviously, I still think the water, the people, and the place is just great!!
And, let's face it...Illinois is out of the question, Minnesota and Michigan both have good musky water, but neither has an NFL team, and winter is too long for that kind of misery :-(
where up north are you looking marty? |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | Is it hard on the transmission because of constant shifting or just because you're carrying a heavier load? I've always just driven with the cruise control off, slowing down over hills and speeding up down hills so that it never shifts out of overdrive. Is this a good idea or bad? |
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Posts: 81
Location: Bloomingdale, IL | stdevos - 8/8/2012 4:05 PM
Is it hard on the transmission because of constant shifting or just because you're carrying a heavier load? I've always just driven with the cruise control off, slowing down over hills and speeding up down hills so that it never shifts out of overdrive. Is this a good idea or bad?
Driving in 4x4 when towing provides no benefit whatsoever, also its not good nor bad to vary your speed to keep it in gear. It will cause you less annoyance with less shifting, but neither of these will give you any benfits with trans wear and tear. Yes heavier loads are obviously harder on a trans than a light load, but if you keep within the suggested limits, they trans is built to handle that.
you might see a small gain in MPG ( keeping it in ovd), but hailing in 4x4 is pointless for mileage or towing performance. If anyone would like more info on this please feel free to PM, as I do not check the threads I message on much. thanks |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I grew up on a farm where we pulled way more weight than we ever should have with our half-ton pickups. Loaded hay-racks, livestock, 300 bushel grain boxes - you name it. Transmissions are made better these days, but the same principles still apply.
To answer your question, both a heavy load and constant shifting can cause damage to a transmission. Constant shifting causes the tourqe-converter to be over-worked. And too heavy of a load, one that strains the engine, puts a great deal more strain into the O/D gears and the rest of the drive train. Simply put, O/D gears have more and smaller teeth than lower gears. Think how much harder it is to reel in a bucktail with 6.3:1 gears instead of 5.3:1 gears. The same basic principal applies.
There really is no reason to pull heavy loads in O/D. Gas mileage is usually not much better, if at all, and the potential damage to your tow vehicle far outweighs any possible savings. |
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