Fifth Wheel/Diesel mpg

I dunno, we only got around 17-19 with our old 2013 EcoBoost... 21 on one road trip when we had a strong tailwind :) So, not that great, and it wasn't very good at hauling our old toyhauler (not the current one we have now). To me, the trade off to have a truck that was better at hauling was worth the gas mileage trade off. We get 14-15 in our DRW now when not pulling the trailer.

Now, my daily driver is a 2016 Explorer Sport with the Ecoboost and I'm lucky to get 22 combined city/highway. I got it up to 24 when doing a road trip with long stretches of highway. So not exactly a gas hog, but not what I'd consider "great" gas mileage either.

ScottG wrote:
I agree with DTR, skip the 2500 and go 3500.
The ride isn't really any different and you would be shocked how fast you can eat up the GVWR of a 2500.

I agree skip the 250/2500 and get a 3500/350

I have more experience with ag trailers, and am now pulling a 5th wheel with a 2008 Dodge 2500 that has a 6.7L diesel engine and 6 speed automatic with both tow-haul and exhaust brake options. I don't know what conditions you will be facing, but it sounds like a lot of travelling so you will be seeing a lot of different situations. Trailer weight makes a difference going uphill where mileage will be much worse. And you won't make it all up going back down, where more weight will mean you need better brakes. And brakes are important along with gears to help hold you back in both automatic and standard transmissions. Diesel engines by themselves don't provide much braking, so some sort of exhaust brake would be very helpful in the mountains. On flat ground, as others have said, air resistance (mostly from the front profile of the trailer) has a bigger effect on mileage than weight. But you still need to stop. And keep in mind that speed makes a big difference in mileage - mine really starts to drop off, whether pulling or not, above 60 mph. I haven't driven enough with the travel trailer to say much about curves, but I expect this is where you will see the biggest benefit from a larger truck along with better brakes and handling in general. From reading in this forum, it sounds like there are also differences in handling between trailers of similar size.

If you are worried about mileage, cost must be a factor. Depreciation has been mentioned, and the difference in cost between new and used for both trailers (especially) and trucks is large. And, again from reading in this forum, new isn't always better, which adds something else to think about in an already complicated decision. Now getting back to your question, I get about 17 mpg in mixed daily driving and averaged about 13 pulling 4 horses and a large stock trailer on my longest trip from California to Wyoming and back. Most of this was on I80, and the load was probably lighter than many 5th wheel trailers. From what I see above, I should be happy about mileage. Whatever you get, enjoying your travels is most important.

When I bought my fiver, I had a gasser and my mileage went up by a little over 1 mile per gallon average. Doesn't sound like much but going from 8 to over 9 that 1 mile equals 12% increase. So $100 worth of gas before now gets me $112 worth of mileage. My fiver is heavier but I do believe it is more about aerodynamics and drag.

When I went to a Diesel, I now get over 10. Without a trailer, I can get 20 on the hwy if I keep the speed reasonable, with the gasser, I was lucky to get 13-14.

TheCaptKen wrote:
Something to remember when buying that dually. You're not going to be able to use drive thru's when not hauling. Get use to parking at the far end of the parking lots. Find your camper then check your weights. I haul with an 2002 F250 with the old faithful 7.3. My truck came with something newer F250's don't have, overload springs. I hauled a Wildcat 27 all over the place but it was only 8500 fully loaded for 14 years. I now have a Denali 316RES weighing in dry at 10,300 and 39 feet long. Hitch weight of 2030. My overload springs barely touch and the truck is level. I get around 12 mpg but then I don't hurry. I rarely drive over 60 mph. If I do, the mileage drops like a rock.

Funny, I've been able to fit my dually into the same drive thru's that I fit my 2002 F-350 SRW into. My new truck is also a lot easier to park than the old one was. It turns much, much tighter meaning I no longer have to park in the back 40.

My varies between 8.5 to 11.5 all depends on which way the wind is blowing in relastionship to my direction of travel

op wrote:
For yucks, I'd like to know what people are getting, mileage wise, pulling a fifth wheel as opposed to a travel trailer in the 6,500 lbs range? Any insight would be helpful. Thank you.

Much depends on trucks size and weight/brand/year models/auto vs manual.
Looking at the Dodge/Ram diesel websites.....Ford Diesel websites.....GM diesel websites shows us mpg varies with particular year model and size of the diesel truck.

Point is one size don't fit all when it comes to fuel usage for a diesel truck even a 250/2500 size.
.
My older '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins 305/555 HO 6 speed manual pulls a 11200 lb 5er. Most trips average in the 11.5-12.5 mpg range and 21-22 mpg empty on a long trip. I also pull a 16k GN triaxle stock trailer hauling cattle. On long 350-450 mile trips it can average

250/2500 trucks have 6000-6500 rear axle ratings and are good for around 2800-3200 lb payload in the bed.
If you plan on moving up to a 14k-15k 5er the 350/3500 SRW trucks are good for up to around 3800 lb payload in the bed.
The 350/3500 DRW with up to 6500-6800 lb payload in the bed would be needed for heavier trailers.

I side with most everyone else regarding mpg. If fuel consumption is important to you, towing a 5th wheel will take the fun out of owning one of these rigs. I pull a 37' 12,000 lbs 5th wheel with my GMC 2500 Duramax diesel and I think I get around 10 mpg when towing, however I'm not real sure because I don't check it...ever. When my tank gets a little low, I stop and fill it. I'm not going to let MPG ruin my trip.

Something to remember when buying that dually. You're not going to be able to use drive thru's when not hauling. Get use to parking at the far end of the parking lots. Find your camper then check your weights. I haul with an 2002 F250 with the old faithful 7.3. My truck came with something newer F250's don't have, overload springs. I hauled a Wildcat 27 all over the place but it was only 8500 fully loaded for 14 years. I now have a Denali 316RES weighing in dry at 10,300 and 39 feet long. Hitch weight of 2030. My overload springs barely touch and the truck is level. I get around 12 mpg but then I don't hurry. I rarely drive over 60 mph. If I do, the mileage drops like a rock.