What's Your MPG Loss After 1-2" Lift

Picked up my '14 access cab with the 4 cylinder a couple week ago brand new, and looking to get new shocks for an improved on-road ride. My driving is 85% road as my DD with weekend trips to mountain biking trails and fishing spots, so washboard dirt roads.

Looking at a few options. These include OME, Ironman, and possibly a 2.0/2.5 coil over set from the 'ol buy/sell here.

Not looking for opinions on the lift, but looking for what members' experiences have been with MPG loss with a 1-2" lift as that's the minimum that seems reasonable to achieve with any of these options.

I would also be keeping the stock wheels/tires as I know going bigger would just eat up the MPG's. Purposely bought the 4-banger to get better mileage and I'm not wanting to lose the 22+ mpg's it is getting so far.

Thanks.

 

Same tires=same MPG. It's bigger/heavier tires that kill MPGs.

 

i didn't notice a loss in mpgs with a lift or with bigger tires either. stock was 245/75/16 running 265/75/16 now.

 

I lost about .5 mpg/gal. after the lift. You *may* lose some aerodynamics if you get rid of the rake.

I lost another 2 with the bigger tires.

I was constantly getting 20.5 mpg according the my ultragauge before any modifications. Down to 20 with the lift and down to 18 with the heavier/bigger tires.

FWIW, I have the v6 auto.

 

My truck was fitted with a complete OME suspension (roughly 2.5 inch lift) at about the same time as I got a bunch other things added, so I can't tell how the lift itself affected fuel consumption.

I went from basically stock and added a fiberglass canopy/topper, rock sliders, skid plates and also a wooden sleeping platform in the bed. I'd say that's over 500 lbs of added weight, which is sure to have an effect on gas mileage.

The bottom line is that I lost about 2 mpg overall.

The canopy is what I think affected the most the truck handling and power for acceleration, keeping speed going up hills, etc. So I'm thinking the weight of the accessories is what made the biggest difference.

 

i only lifted the front end 1 1/2" with OME 883 lifting springs so there is still a 1 1/2" rake front to rear. the stock rake was about 3" so it cut it in half.

 

If your going to stay with stock tires on a base 4cyl truck and your that concerned about mpgs than I would just leave it stock. What exactly do you want the lift for? Your not going to gain any real noticeable ground clearance with out going to a bigger tire and there is plenty of flex room for the stock tires and what your doing.

 

I did a full OME 2.5" lift and loss nothing. I drive 85 miles round trip to work and calculate MPGs several times a week. That lasted for about a month. Then I got bigger tires and loss about 1.5 - 2 mpg.

 

I'm simply looking for better ride quality. The only option to not lift the front end really is 5100's or dropping the cash for a 2.5/2.0 coil that then might be too bouncy at stock height due to lack of coil preload.

So figured a 1-2" is what I will have to go with realistically as the majority of a better ride will come from springs/leaves. Perhaps I am wrong, but after building multiple remote resi ram 2500's, one with king long travel 2.5s, that's just what my experience has shown me. Putting new shocks on the stock coils will not usually result in anything that's significantly worth-while.

 

2" lift running 35s I get 13 mpg. If you (in general) think running a lift doesn't affect mpg you are wrong, there is wind resistance and drag added.

 

Okay, I'll probably lose my man card here but what I'm about to tell you really works. I know because I've done it. Experience talking here... Monroe Sens A Trac 's. Front and rear. World of difference on the washboard gravel roads. I lived on a gravel road for years and would damnear rattle right off the road 'til I got Sensatracs. Didn't need any lift or mods.

 

^^^This

I lost about 1.5 or so with 3" lift and 285's with the v6. I also have rock sliders and a bed rack.

 

Your 285 are what did it. I doubt the lift did much other than decimal dust. The lift by itself did nothing to mine. I didn't lose mpg until I put larger more aggressive tires on.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Hopefully to all it did not come across that I was looking for a lift that won't lose mpg's as I know it will, I was just curious how much other members have lost. So far the answer seems to be minimal loss as long as you keep stock tires.

Currently it looks like my choice will an OME setup from the buy/sell section here and swap the coils out for 882's and get icon 3-leaf packs. That should improve the ride greatly with minimal lift.

 

Ironman is also a good inexpensive option.

I got 2"of lift after it settled. Again, 4 vs. 6 cylinder though.

 

5100s all around set on .85 in the front
Drivers lean spacer and TSB leafs in back
265/75-16 P-Rated LTX MS2 Tires

Maybe lost a tenth or two of mpg once the change in tire diameter is factored in.

The leafs are finally settled in, so it sits flat without any rake

 

If you want a better ride try removing your sway bar. You'd be amazed at the change in ride quality, it's free to try, if you don't like it put it back on.

 

Went from 3" drop to 2" lift. Lost 1 MPG highway measured using ultragauge.

 

I did the 5100s all around at .85 in front and the TSB leafs in rear. Basically a 1" lift.
Also switched to P265/75-16 Michelin LTX MS2 tires at the same time.
I might have dropped a tenth or two mpg. The ride did improve a lot.

 

I did 5100's on stock springs at stock height= vastly improved ride quality

Tiny little harsh bumps and you'll know it's still a truck but the large bumps feel like butter. I also swapped to the TRD SEMA wheels and Michelin LTX MS2 265/65/17 tires =much improved handling especially on turns.
MPG unchanged 21 city-25 HWY on 2013 4cyl prerunner sr5 access cab