You should also make sure your vehicle of choice is tuned and you have the proper air pressure in your tires, that includes the trailer tires.

Inflate to proper pressure while tires are cold. I'd make sure your vehicle's air cleaner filter is clean and for a few bucks invest in a permanent type that will increase air flow, resulting in better fuel economy. A new PCV valve and gas filter isn't a bad idea either, maybe a new set of spark plugs as well. All easy enough with minimum mechanical ability.  Also make sure you O2 sensor is working good. There cheap enough, if in doubt, install a new one.

Last but far from least, don't let the lead footed brother drive, unless he wants too pay a larger share of the fuel costs

thank you very much for the insight!

mostly my question was about the aerodynamics of the trailer/canoe/jeep combo. last year my brother drove (hes a bit of a lead-foot) and didnt want to drive in the 'sweet spot' where it goes about 60 and never downshifts.

as for the border search, my group is actually very well mannered. we are very respectful and answer their questions with proper answers. we do everything right, its just that we are 20 year olds and the time we cross is kind of suspicious or they are really bored or something.

I am always surprised at the unexpected questions I get from border guards. Most of them are very intuitive and sharp at what they do. Frankly I'm surprised I don't get more scrutiny as my plates are from Florida. "Come all this way to just go canoeing"?

My advice.....Plenty of eye contact. That's how they tell if your trying to hide something.
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Good points, Snowdog. I realized world affairs have changed security from what it used to be. But, even when we were much closer to 20, we never had problems.

We never smarted off, and are always polite at border crossing. We answer only the questions that are asked, do not answer for others, and never volunteer info. It's also a good idea to mentally rehearse the questions you will likely be asked, and the answers you will give.

Old Salt wrote on Jun 4^th, 2010 at 2:44pm:


Any group of males within a couple years of 20 years old who are travelling on their own across the border are going to attract quite a bit more scrutiny than a group of guys on the wrong side of 40 and all wearing wedding rings.  Us old farts get waved thru pretty quickly most of the time.

That said, attitude/language/behavior can be the difference between an honest attempt to verify your intentions and your cargo is what you say it is and a full-scale teardown of you, your vehicle, and cargo in order to teach a lesson about good manners.

I have seen a group being taught manners at customs.  It was not a pretty sight.  My guess is they had hours to go (another hour of search and about 3 hours to repack, including replacing every lure in their tackle boxes from the heap of tangled hooks on the ground)

Curious, just how much weight are we talking here?  <200# worth of canoes and ~250# of gear?  I wouldn't think that much weight would make much difference.

I'm with Mad Mat for the most part. What you need to be careful of, is that the trailer does not get too heavy. You don't want the tail wagging the dog...

You might also want to evaluate your attitudes/behavior/language at border crossings to reduce chances of a search. I've never had a problem...

Typically, it takes less energy to tow a given weight than to carry it on the vehicle. 

I'm guessing that that trailer is fairly sturdy and heavy, and loaded with gear; + 3  people and gear in the jeep? and you have a siginificant load to haul - so it takes more gas - putting the same load on the vehicle isn't going to be any better.   Back off the gas pedal a bit, and you may see some improvement, but then, there goes your 8 am start.  Jeeps aren't know for thier exceptionally fine gas mileage - live with it, or buy something else.

I get about 15mpg @60 with my F-150 with a boat on top, especailly if (and that's almost always) I get a lot of headwinds on the trip.  Last weekend was particularly windy going out, and when the wind gusted stong, I instantly lost 5 mph.  My Dakota does better - I can get about 20mpg wtih boats on top, but that's running at 60; go up to 65 or 70 and the mileage goes down by 3. 

It does make a real difference if you can slow down a bit.

I would go with whichever setup provides the lowest profile for wind drag, if the concern is gas milage. If the concern is a search at the border, I would go with the setup that is quickest to repack.

our annual 6 person trip to the Q is quickly approaching (june 22-28) and i have a couple questions about what the best way to travel with 3 canoes is. we are college age guys so we dont have our own canoes, so we rent from the university for super cheap because we also work for the university we attend. we use their trailer, one with a big box for storage underneath with racks that hold up to 8 canoes, but we only take 3 and tow it behind a jeep. last year we had all 3 on the trailer and the gas mileage was pretty awful. the drive to the Q is 8 hours and we do it through the night in order to the get atikokan at 8am for the opening of the ranger station and getting on the water as soon as we can. we bring a second car so we can comfortably travel 6 people, however its one that gets very good gas mileage and isnt suitable to stick a canoe on top of.

so my question is what is the best way to travel with 3 canoes. all 3 on the trailer, 2 on the trailer/one on top, etc?

i guess my worries are with 3 on the trailer the load isnt as balanced. the aerodynamics are a little messed up, but it keeps weight off the jeep axels and the square back of the jeep has the drag reduced by the canoes. with 2 on the trailer and one on top, everything is more centered, but im not too sure about the canoe on top being too much of an air scoop. also with a canoe on top, you have to unstrap the whole thing in order to open the hatchback for when the border people search us. (they always search us more rigorously than anyone else it seems, but we cross the border around 5am or so, so its possible they are just bored).

what are your thoughts!? thank you in advance!

p.s. ill be out of town for the weekend so i wont be able to check in till monday. doing some pre-trip fishing and canoeing back home