Diesel Truck MPG

I kinda look at it like if a couple of MPG is a killer you have no business RV'ing. There is nothing cheap about traveling around with an RV be it the cost of the RV, the tow vehicle, or the maintenance on both. It's an expensive pastime.

As the Rolls Royce salesman said "If you have to ask the gas mileage you can't afford it"

My 2 cents, spend it wisely

We averaged 13.5 mpg on a 2 week trip to Tennessee, Georgia, South and North Carolina last summer, pulling a 37' 5th wheel with a 2003 Silverado Duramax/diesel. At home solo, we get 22 mpg. I understand the newer Silverado's only get around 16-17 mpg. And this is diesel.

Thank you Bobx2. I get sick of the******people keep claiming they get 25mpg while pulling a 20,00 # trailer. Glad you said it. I have said before - two things guys all lie about and mpg is one of them.

Kopy Kat, those sound like lie-O-meter numbers. What was your actual hand cal number for the trip? Chris

I just returned from a trip from Reno to Monteray Bay, and back---went over two passes (Donner tops out at 7,200 ft)--I left Reno and put my cruise control on 60 MPH and left it there (as much as possible with idiot drivers pulling in front of me and slowing down)---I averaged 14 MPG up and down the hills and almost 16MPG on the flat Valley in Central California---my 32' Flagstaff wieghs wet at 9,500 lbs. and my tow vwhicle is a 2012 Ford F350 4x4 with the 6.7 Diesel.

Bobx2---no bull, actual MPG...

Larry

Vulcaneer wrote:
Not sure I agree with everything that travelnutz has posted. But I do agree that the old Dodges and Rams I see here in the NorthEast do seem to not tolerate road salt well. Look at those that are 2006 and older, and their bodies, frames, do not hold up as well as the Bodies and frames on the Fords, or GM twins. On all makes of that age, the brake and fuel lines are either replaced, or need to be replaced.

Of course the Ford 6L, have other devastating problems. But they seem to hold up against the salt better than the RAMS/Dodges.

So considering that, if I was going to recommend a diesel of that vintage, it would be the GMC, or Chevy. The 2006 or 07. are very good models.

Just my opinion.

Also, if you stay to the early '07 Duramax, you don't have to deal with DEF, IIRC. I know that if I can replace my current '02, and I have the funds to play with, I'd =build= an '06 or early '07, with beefed up frame and current undercarriage to get the payload of the '14/15 trucks. It also would get registered as that model year, no matter what's "under the hood". :-)

Lyle

If you look at an 06 Chevy or GM, check the diesel engine code to make sure it is the "LBZ" engine.

I think the eighth character of the VIN should be a "D".

If you are not sure, ask around on the Duramax forum.

Not sure I agree with everything that travelnutz has posted. But I do agree that the old Dodges and Rams I see here in the NorthEast do seem to not tolerate road salt well. Look at those that are 2006 and older, and their bodies, frames, do not hold up as well as the Bodies and frames on the Fords, or GM twins. On all makes of that age, the brake and fuel lines are either replaced, or need to be replaced.

Of course the Ford 6L, have other devastating problems. But they seem to hold up against the salt better than the RAMS/Dodges.

So considering that, if I was going to recommend a diesel of that vintage, it would be the GMC, or Chevy. The 2006 or 07. are very good models.

Just my opinion.

Camper 2012 wrote:
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.

From everything I've read on here, and other places, towing MPG for diesels seems to run between 9 and 12, and it doesn't matter much if you're using a 2500-class or a twin-screw Peterbuilt at 80k lbs. SPEED is the biggest factor...period. Simple inverse relationship, for the most part. A lot of high-milers will tend to find a "sweet spot" that gives them the best MPG and it can vary widely for the same model truck and trailer. One guy's 58 mph sweet spot might be the next guy's 62. If you're planning on frequent, long-distance trips, then this is a concern, but if you're a "weekend warrior", then it's just not worth a whole lot of worry. Again, speed is the MPG killer; just plan accordingly. I know that my '02 D'max gains 1-1.5 MPG by slowing from 65 to 60, though the DW will tell me to "screw the fuel, I want to get there", but I still only travel 65, max. :-)

Lyle

Bait.