Long Range SUV? Traveling with MDX and Trailer; U-Haul

March 2012 - Trailer Hitch and U-Haul Trailers

Towing - asking a professional truck driver.

1. a balanced trailer - is easier, and safer to drive
2. sliding trailer/shifting weight to the rear axle, also improves fuel efficiency.
3. sliding hitch to a "right" spot/over the drive axle can also improve fuel efficiency

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Most trailer for cars, suv and pick up truck don't have these adjustment. The tongue weight - is fixed, can't be slide fwd or aft.  The cargo trailer to rear axle is fixed. Balancing load between tongue, and rear axle have to be done right at the time of loading

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U-Haul seems to offer the best value for trailer hitch installation.  Just like any business, the real bottom time, when it is fully equipment with everything. The price can be 50% more than just the trailer equipment itself.

The trailer with tandem wheels seems to offer the better control/balance than single axle trailer.  The draw back is higher gross weight.

1,000-lb, 2,000 lb, 3,500 lbs, 5,000 lbs seems to be common trailer rating for vehicles.  Just like most aircraft carrying freight,  it's likely that typical load fills up the available space/volume before reaching the maximum gross weight.  So, what does it mean?

It's very likely that a vehicle with a recommended maximum trailer with of 3,500 can actually pull a trailer with a higher maximum gross weight rating.

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For example:  6' x 12' cargo trailer
Inside dimensions: 11'7" x 6' x 5'5" (LxWxH)
Door opening: 5'0" x 4'10" (WxH)

Volume: up to 396 cu. ft.
Max load: 2,480 lbs.
Gross vehicle weight: 4,400 lbs. max.
Empty weight: 1,920 lbs.

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Acura MDX/Pilot = 3,500 maximum  (4,500 with aerodynamic boat trailer)
Trailer empty weight, 1,900 lbs = 1,600 lbs.

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1,600 lbs over 12x6 sq ft = 22 lbs/sq ft

boxes clothing = (2ft x 3 boxes) x 2ft wide x 3 ft @ 40 lbs = 150 lbs
couch = 7 ft x 3 ft  (3ft tall)  @ 150 lb
queen size beds set = 7 ft x 3 ft  (5 ft tall, width)  @ 200 lbs

standard boxes = 12x 12x 18
standard boxes 5 rows (5x 1 ft), 2 columns (2 x 1.5ft) x (4 x 1 ft) =40 boxes
40 boxes @ 20 lbs = 800 lbs
Up right piano = 5 ft x 2.5 ft (4 ft tall) @ 600 lb
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1,900 lbs payload + 1,900 empty = 3,800 lbs



March 2012-  Trailer Sizing for MDX

If a back seat seat back can be replaced/re-foam with an integrated fuel tank, how much additional fuel storage can you get?

Many passenger car offers fold down rear seats, if we don't need it then, use the seat back as fixed fuel storage.

4 feet wide x 1.5 ft wide and 3/4 ft deep.  The extra 6 inches will not take too much of cargo space.  The extra 4.5 cu ft of volume = 7.4 gallon/cu ft = 33 gallon?

33 gallon = 6.8 lb/gallon = 200 pounds of fuel
A total of 50 gallon fuel tanks = 1,500 mile range @ 62 miles/hour avg = 24 hours of continuous travel.

Traveling with 6x10 Trailer
Acura MDX, 2001-2006 

with 5,000 lbs towing hitch (just be on the safe side)

6x10 tandem utility trailer (like the U-Haul, 2000 lb empty, 1500 lb payload max)

 ,100 (estimate)  personal items

 ,100 Generator 

 ,200 battery charging

 ,060 cooking

 ,300 water liquid

 ,150 food provision

 , 50 (estimate) tent and sleeping gear

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1,000 lbs

Portable generator & fuel = 100 lb

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All Power America APG3014 2,000 Watt 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Generator

1/2 load, 10 hours 1.3 gallon  55-60 lbs, without fuel

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5 gallon portable fuel tank = 5/1.3 gallon @ 10 hours = 38 hours

5 gallon fuel @ 7 lbs /gallon = 35 lbs

Battery Charging and DC/AC Inverter = 200 lb

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Deep cycle battery 130 Amp Hours @ 50 lb each

4 deep cycle battery pack @ 200 lbs

130 amp-hours x 4 each x 12 volt = 6,240 watts-hour

6,240 - 8 hours = 800 watts

6,240 - 12 hours = 500 watts

Cooking, AC, Power Bright PW1500-12 Power Inverter 1500 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC

Cooking, Power Bright PW1100-12 Power Inverter 1100 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC

Power Bright PW200-12 Power Inverter 200 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC

Cooking equipment = 60 lbs 

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Induction electric cooktop x 2  1500watts  10 lbs

1300 watt - microwave oven   30 lbs 

Pots, pans, utilities 20 lbs 

Drinking water/Potable water tank = 300 lbs

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Bottle water 12 gallon @ 8.6 gallon = 110lbs

Potable water 20 gallon @ 8.6 gallon = 180 lbs 

12 VDC, 3.0 GPM, 55 PSI, and 7.5 Amps, water pump = 5 lbs

Hot water provision (110v system)? 

Food Provisions  = 150 lbs 

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soda 12 pkg @  9 lb /ea - 5 case = 50 lbs

Rice = 1 lb box x 10 = 10 lbs

Baby Clam = 1/2 lb x 10 = 5 lb

Can chicken = 1 lb  x 10 = 10 lbs

spaghetti = 1 lb x 10 = 10 lbs

Pasta sauce = 2 lb x 10 = 20 lb

pine seeds = 1 lb x 1 = 1 lb

Spicy noodles (cup-o-noodle) = .5 lb x 20 = 10 lb

can, beef stews soup = 1 lb x 20 = 20lbs

crackers, 1 lb x 10 = 10 lbs 

Potato chips 1 lb x 10 = 10 lbs

(original post)
The magic fuel tank size seems to be 18 plus gallons, regardless of the fuel efficiency.

MDX gets 20 mpg on highway, it has a 18 gallon tank, it translates into 360 miles
Altima gets 33 mpg on highway, and it also has a 18 gallon gas tank, it translates into 600 miles range.

Why can we put a bigger tank, (30 gallon tank) on SUV so that it has the same 600 miles range or more?

MDX has the 3rd row seats that most of us don't really need.  By taking out the bottom seat cushions and seat back, it creates a decent size of cavity for internal fuel tank; 4 ft wide x 2 ft long x 3/4 ft deep.

6 cu ft of space, with a protective top and surrounding structure, there is space left for (6x7.4) = 44 gallons tank supplemental system. With a combined tanks of (44+18) 62 gallons capacity, the MDX is capable of 1,200 cruise range.

How/where to buy and install an auxiliary fuel tank?