Folding in Mirrors for better fuel mileage?

[FordyceCreekTrail]

I got blinded by my mirrors yesterday due to the angle of the sun so quickly fumbled for the control to fold them before my retinas burned out. But that got me thinking, what about just folding them on the highway to improve fuel mileage? From what I have read it can add as much as 6% to cars and 10% to trucks with big old mirrors like ours. I can get close to 14 on the highway,( In Mtns ) so that might mean close to 15.5 folded, pretty respectable improvement, and for all the effort of hitting a button. And to think I laughed at Isuzu in the early 1990s for power folding mirrors...

[Vee]

Sounds like a good way to run over a Prius. Most states also require a drivers side door mirror. Probably all states. I would vote no.

[ramv]

Colorado just requires one (center is fine). For as much traffic as we have here, I tend to add mirrors as opposed to taking them away. That was one of my biggest annoyances to driving my 2nd gen with no doors. No mirrors. Well, that and freezing.

[olyelr]

Yep, I never had mirrors on my jk when the doors were off. Hated that so much. They seem a little overrated... until they are gone.

I would consider getting the smaller non tow mirrors before I drove without any.

Also, I would highly doubt there would be that big of a difference in mileage with our trucks, if any at all. Try it for a tankful and report back!

[Bill2014]

The fuel mileage change on our trucks would be unmeasurable...

The reason for folding mirrors on any vehicle is for clearance not fuel mileage

[FordyceCreekTrail]

I am going to try it. Not practical or particularly safe around town. But on a long road trip that is another story. Yes, I love running through the car wash now, they are awesome.

[bones]

Let us know what you find out. If I was concerned about folding my mirrors for better MPG in a PW, I probably would get rid of my truck for a Fiat.

[OffroadTreks]

Sounds like a myth for the myth busters.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

Well they did the tail gate thing back in the day and drafting. Both with solid results. Too bad they are not around anymore. I think I will try it on 2 90 mile trips coming, one folded one unfolded using cruise at a slow speed, say 82 MPH and see what happens.

[olyelr]

Well they did the tail gate thing back in the day and drafting. Both with solid results. Too bad they are not around anymore. I think I will try it on 2 90 mile trips coming, one folded one unfolded using cruise at a slow speed, say 82 MPH and see what happens.

My guess would be 11.4 mpg with mirrors out and 11.5 with them in.

[HeavyDuty]

Ha ha ha. Ya I’m sure the difference will be unmeasurable. Also unsafe

[waldo]

The mirrors on my 16 haven't folded since the weather got cold. I have to be very careful getting it in and out of the garage.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

Wonder if yours have some moisture in the mechanism that froze? I don't think its that unsafe on the highway, if its not congested like it in town. I just get in the left lane and cruise, not much moving between lanes.

[Bill2014]

I'd be more interested in a test around 70 mph than 85.
The masses don't typically drive 85 in the Power Wagon...

[OffroadTreks]

I can't imagine that the drag coefficient is going to change so radically as to induce an improvement in your MPG.

[Bill2014]

Well they did the tail gate thing back in the day and drafting. Both with solid results. Too bad they are not around anymore. I think I will try it on 2 90 mile trips coming, one folded one unfolded using cruise at a slow speed, say 82 MPH and see what happens.

My guess would be 11.4 mpg with mirrors out and 11.5 with them in.

And that guess would be +/- 1 mpg each estimate

[FordyceCreekTrail]

I know it is Alien to Easterners, but I usually cruise at 82-87MPH on the highway.( I have a section I do 95-120 on) You could never get going that fast safely out east. The slower trip up state highway to Colorado is more like 75MPH-77MPH so I could try that next time as well. So what I read was 6% change in drag Coefficient. That is huge! Manufacturers are trying hard to get the NHTSA allow cameras instead now.

[bones]

Wait, PW's can go over 70mph? I'll have to try that someday!

[FordyceCreekTrail]

Mine is new, so I have not pushed it yet. But say 50-100 acceleration betrays the mediocre 0-60 numbers and drag race results of this heavy beast. At 100 its quite comfortable for an off-road truck, not much different then my Titan was. Not sure where the speed limiter cuts in, but we will find out before too long. Titan was 126 but I believe the PW may be higher.

[olyelr]

6% change in drag coefficient... just imagine what it would be with the mirrors in ghost trailer mode.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

Of course when towing MPG is really not a thing anyways

[Bill2014]

Some people flex and crawl - others spend time at the mall
Some people haul and tow - others see how fast it can go

Is there any place in the states left without a speed limit?

[olyelr]

Of course when towing MPG is really not a thing anyways

The ghost trailering comment was not about actually towing something, but in reference to all the cool kids who have the tow mirrors out when they are not towing (ghost trailering). I bet that would really dick with MPG.

[olyelr]

Is there any place in the states left without a speed limit?

Not that I am aware of.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

Got you, and yes those extendable mirrors would be crazy bad. Never really extended them on My Titan, usually I tow heavy equipment rather then a big, boxy trailer. My PW came with the flip to vertical tow mirrors. Will try those out when I first tow. Montana was the last to have unlimited. 80-85 out west is common though.