Picked up MPGs towing with the tower down

[Ibeflyinhigh]

I'm not fortunate enough to live close to any lakes. Usually my drive to the launch is 2-3 hours one way. My 2018 f150 has been getting 7-9mpg. I built a brace for the tower so I can tow with it down and picked up 3mpg. Much better gain than I was expecting. It might not look the best but it does the job and added almost 90 miles of range to my full tank. The tower and Bimini being higher than the tow vehicle really does add a ton of drag! Anybody else notice this? I will note although not shown in the picture I do strap the tower for safety while in transport.

 

[3 green tornados]

I guess I found a new thing to try on my trips to the river ?

 

[jthackman]

I'm not fortunate enough to live close to any lakes. Usually my drive to the launch is 2-3 hours one way. My 2018 f150 has been getting 7-9mpg. I built a brace for the tower so I can tow with it down and picked up 3mpg. Much better gain than I was expecting. It might not look the best but it does the job and added almost 90 miles of range to my full tank. The tower and Bimini being higher than the tow vehicle really does add a ton of drag! Anybody else notice this? I will note although not shown in the picture I do strap the tower for safety while in transport.

would the shipping/transport brackets accomplish same thing but be easier to manage/store?

https://www.partzilla.com/product/yamaha/F3F-U1325-00-00

i never got them from dealer when i got my boat...didn't know about them until i saw a few threads here

https://jetboaters.net/threads/what-part-is-this-shipping-mount-bracket.28329/

 

[HangOutdoors]

would the shipping/transport brackets accomplish same thing but be easier to manage/store?

https://www.partzilla.com/product/yamaha/F3F-U1325-00-00

i never got them from dealer when i got my boat...didn't know about them until i saw a few threads here

https://jetboaters.net/threads/what-part-is-this-shipping-mount-bracket.28329/

Yes they are easy to install and remove. a couple of minutes and I throw mine in tool kit. I use them if I need to tow long distances. Plus you need them to use the shipping cover for the winter, at least on my model.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I'm not fortunate enough to live close to any lakes. Usually my drive to the launch is 2-3 hours one way. My 2018 f150 has been getting 7-9mpg. I built a brace for the tower so I can tow with it down and picked up 3mpg. Much better gain than I was expecting. It might not look the best but it does the job and added almost 90 miles of range to my full tank. The tower and Bimini being higher than the tow vehicle really does add a ton of drag! Anybody else notice this? I will note although not shown in the picture I do strap the tower for safety while in transport.

Thats an increase of 33.4%, that’s huge! Well done!

 

[steveinmd]

I noticed a difference as well. On my 195, the bimini is like a sail when folded up. We came home late one day, I left the bimini folded up in its cover, only to get home to about a thousand dead bugs. It isnt that far to the bay. On shorter trips, I now remove the bimini all together and then lower the tower on long trips.