Diesel Truck MPG
Do you guys know what would be the best MPG Diesel Truck to pull my 2012 26 Foot Fifth Wheel (7,580 lbs). Thanks for your help.
Forum Discussion
Wow, lots of butthurt on here. lol So many comments to reply to but not going to try to get them all. I get 13 towing my 40' 12K fiver with 4 bicycles on the roof of my truck. That was my average mileage towing from Indiana to Yellowstone and back while hooked to the camper. Obviously there were some days I got better than 13 and some days I got less. Best day was almost 15, all flat terrain with no wind. Worst was 10 going through the mountains and switchbacks.
My truck is far from stock, on the dyno I'm at 595 HP. I have a full billet transmission by DTT that transfers the power to the wheels instead of slipping and losing power in the drivetrain. I still run the factory sized 265/70/17 tires that helps with MPG. I run between 60 and 65 MPH. The best thing about spending the money to make good HP #'s is that it will usually increase the MPG also. I built my truck for pulling the camper, its not a drag truck or sled puller and its not even a daily driver. It sits in the barn with the camper unless we are going camping or I need to haul something.
Some guys that build a 500+ hp truck are concerned about MPG and reliability. Not all people lie about the MPG numbers when they are better than what your truck gets. Hand cal is MPG that has been hand calculated, not taken from the truck's computer output. Not all Dodge trucks have rust in the midwest, mine is an 06 with 98,000 miles and not a spot of rust. Being sensible about your purchase and buying the best vehicle for your money is a valid concern and MPG is one of the items that should be included in that process as well as many of the other things mentioned in this thread.
Buy the truck you want to buy, asking a truck guy what the best truck is is a silly question. Most of the time the answer will be whatever they are currently driving and will get defensive if someone else things that theirs is better, it doesn't matter if you are talking about overall truck or just the floor mats the conversation will go the same way. I've had Fords and Dodges and I won't buy a GMC or Chevy because I don't like them and don't want one. I had a few Dodge 1/2 tons then went to Ford diesel then back to Dodge with a Cummins. I have had my current truck since 07 and have no plans to part with it. I found what works for me but it may be different for you or anyone else.
By the way, when I really want to feel good about my truck I look at the computer MPG, it always reads between 30 and 33 MPG!
Doug
My truck is far from stock, on the dyno I'm at 595 HP. I have a full billet transmission by DTT that transfers the power to the wheels instead of slipping and losing power in the drivetrain. I still run the factory sized 265/70/17 tires that helps with MPG. I run between 60 and 65 MPH. The best thing about spending the money to make good HP #'s is that it will usually increase the MPG also. I built my truck for pulling the camper, its not a drag truck or sled puller and its not even a daily driver. It sits in the barn with the camper unless we are going camping or I need to haul something.
Some guys that build a 500+ hp truck are concerned about MPG and reliability. Not all people lie about the MPG numbers when they are better than what your truck gets. Hand cal is MPG that has been hand calculated, not taken from the truck's computer output. Not all Dodge trucks have rust in the midwest, mine is an 06 with 98,000 miles and not a spot of rust. Being sensible about your purchase and buying the best vehicle for your money is a valid concern and MPG is one of the items that should be included in that process as well as many of the other things mentioned in this thread.
Buy the truck you want to buy, asking a truck guy what the best truck is is a silly question. Most of the time the answer will be whatever they are currently driving and will get defensive if someone else things that theirs is better, it doesn't matter if you are talking about overall truck or just the floor mats the conversation will go the same way. I've had Fords and Dodges and I won't buy a GMC or Chevy because I don't like them and don't want one. I had a few Dodge 1/2 tons then went to Ford diesel then back to Dodge with a Cummins. I have had my current truck since 07 and have no plans to part with it. I found what works for me but it may be different for you or anyone else.
By the way, when I really want to feel good about my truck I look at the computer MPG, it always reads between 30 and 33 MPG!
Doug
