Posted on 06/25/2009 4:25:58 PM PDT by Boiling point
For those interested in such things. Freepers that have farm experience are aware of how efficient diesel tractors are. I put five gallons in mine and bush hog all summer. Here is a link to some guys that convert vehicles to tractor power and have gotten as much as 50mpg from a full size pickup! http://www.shadetreeconversions.com/
I have a '97 Ford Ranger. It is a 4-cylinder. I have to turn off the AC while getting the freeway to improve my odds. It takes me about .75 miles to get up to speed. For reals.
, but is the performance acceptable?
Performance is in the eyes of the beholder.
Most people would regard my 1991 Toyota 4WD pickup as underpowered with a 4 cylinder 2.4L engine.
Yes, I have to downshift for hills. Acceleration is leisurely. But when I drop it into low range it will pull just about any boat out of the water or walk up just about any trail with a load of wood. The mileage is great.
Also, tractor engines are rugged & simple! Disappointing comments here about gas milage. We have a 91 Buick Century that gets 34mpg on the Highway if you keep it below 60-65. At 65-70 drops to 31 mpg.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.