Great Board!

I will introduce my truck and then tell you about my gas mileage. I am looking for increasing mpg and any other tips people might have.

I have a dark blue 1993 extended cab pickup fitted with the 22RE and 5 speed trans. Vehicle has 70K miles on it now. Truck has some kind of small suspention lift (4 extra leafs in the back, but has had stock tire size up to yesterday). I bought the truck off ebay last fall($3650) and have been wrenching on it ever since.

Here is what I have done:
1. Switched from unknown oil to mobil 1 10w30 and OEM filter - trying 0W40 in a few days
2. Renewed all fluids - I mean all. Lubed drive train
3. Adjusted valve clearances
4. Adjusted timing and idle speed
5. Added tach
6. Just put on 235 75 15 BFG T/A KO's (29 inch) yesterday
7. Plugs, cap, rotor, wires
8. Recharged AC (went from dead to dead cold)
9. Rear drums and pads
10. Removed catalytic converter
11. Replaced tailpipe from cat-back with stock
12. Replaced air filter
13. Added bed cap which has a godd 6 inch space between truck cab and cap (could be affecting MPG)
14. Installed hitch and wired trailer light connection
15. Removed stripe with 3M stripe remover pad (so easy)

Truck has been getting 17-18 miles per gallon with 40/60 city/highway driving on 89 octane (she used to ping on 87 - haven't gone back to 87 since adjusting valves and timing). I was hoping to get like 24 on the highway, but that ain't happening. Highway speeds are 70-80mph. I am about to (in two weeks) drive the truck load with all my crap and pulling a 4X8 utility trailer from NY to UT. I am concerned that the new BFGs is going to put me down to 16mpg and that is killing me!

What can I do to increase mpg - or is this what I should be getting? Could the removal of the cat converter have been a mistake? I have just one O2 sensor and that is before the empty cat. Maybe replace the O2 sensor. Thanks for reading <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />