MPG in retirement...budget

sdetweil wrote:

laknox wrote:


Koop, I get 9-12 mpg towing my low-profile FW, depending on speed, grade and wind, with my '02 Duramax. I pick up about 1-1.5 mpg by slowing from 65 to 60; whatever truck you get, you'll have to find your own "sweet spot". For "quickie figuring", I calc range at 10 mpg. I agree that you're in 350/3500 truck range. With a FW, it's not what you can TOW, it's what you can CARRY...as in weight on the pin. FWIW, on a non-towing trip to Cortez CO last week, I was seeing > 20 mph running at 70-75 mph. I normally run 65-70, but DW wanted to "get there today", so bumped it up. After 11 years and 86k miles, I think I'm finally broken in, as that's the best mileage that I've seen. Don't forget that you should calc mileage based on GPS speed and miles, if possible. My truck has slightly taller tires than stock, which gives me a 4% error in speed and distance.

Lyle

the newer diesels do not get similar mileage unfortunately.
my 2012 DRW got 15.6 at 70-75 over 1400 miles in September (texas to michigan)
my 2012 F250 got as high as 17.8 at the same speed, austin to dallas and back a number of times.
I supposed if I went 60 it might be higher, but I would be run over by the highway traffic.

Yeah, the "pollution control"******really dings you, doesn't it? One reason that I'll never have a newer than 2007 truck, at this point. Not sure I can bring myself to own a Dodge. ;-) I've found that I have almost zero traffic issues at 60-65, since everyone's passing me ('cept in CA). I can live with that; let 'em dodge me, I'm in the right lane and can't go anywhere else.

Lyle

2006 Dodge 2500 3.73 gears pulling at 62 mph. 13000 rig loaded Average 10mpg

2000 Dodge 2500 5.9 diesel Cummins pulling 12,000lb 355 gears = 10.5 mpg on the flat land.

laknox wrote:


Koop, I get 9-12 mpg towing my low-profile FW, depending on speed, grade and wind, with my '02 Duramax. I pick up about 1-1.5 mpg by slowing from 65 to 60; whatever truck you get, you'll have to find your own "sweet spot". For "quickie figuring", I calc range at 10 mpg. I agree that you're in 350/3500 truck range. With a FW, it's not what you can TOW, it's what you can CARRY...as in weight on the pin. FWIW, on a non-towing trip to Cortez CO last week, I was seeing > 20 mph running at 70-75 mph. I normally run 65-70, but DW wanted to "get there today", so bumped it up. After 11 years and 86k miles, I think I'm finally broken in, as that's the best mileage that I've seen. Don't forget that you should calc mileage based on GPS speed and miles, if possible. My truck has slightly taller tires than stock, which gives me a 4% error in speed and distance.

Lyle

the newer diesels do not get similar mileage unfortunately.
my 2012 DRW got 15.6 at 70-75 over 1400 miles in September (texas to michigan)
my 2012 F250 got as high as 17.8 at the same speed, austin to dallas and back a number of times.
I supposed if I went 60 it might be higher, but I would be run over by the highway traffic.

Koopgal wrote:
We will be retiring soon and need to plug in approximate cost of fuel. Our tow vehicle will be a Ford or GMC 3/4 Diesel pulling a 13,000lb GVWR 5er. What approximate MPG should we expect to average?

Koop

Koop, I get 9-12 mpg towing my low-profile FW, depending on speed, grade and wind, with my '02 Duramax. I pick up about 1-1.5 mpg by slowing from 65 to 60; whatever truck you get, you'll have to find your own "sweet spot". For "quickie figuring", I calc range at 10 mpg. I agree that you're in 350/3500 truck range. With a FW, it's not what you can TOW, it's what you can CARRY...as in weight on the pin. FWIW, on a non-towing trip to Cortez CO last week, I was seeing > 20 mph running at 70-75 mph. I normally run 65-70, but DW wanted to "get there today", so bumped it up. After 11 years and 86k miles, I think I'm finally broken in, as that's the best mileage that I've seen. Don't forget that you should calc mileage based on GPS speed and miles, if possible. My truck has slightly taller tires than stock, which gives me a 4% error in speed and distance.

Lyle

Allworth wrote:
That size fiver really wants a 3500. The price difference is minimal.

In any event, figure 9mpg towing and 16mpg combined city/highway running solo. If you get more, you count it as a good day. Some other day will make up for it.

X2

Koopgal wrote:
We will be retiring soon and need to plug in approximate cost of fuel. Our tow vehicle will be a Ford or GMC 3/4 Diesel pulling a 13,000lb GVWR 5er. What approximate MPG should we expect to average?

Koop

I am getting 9.5 in my 2012 F350 (1 ton) dually towing 13,000 lbs (15,500 gvwr), 3.73 rear gear. I have seen a lot of reports that the ford 3/4 or 1 ton srw trucks with 3.31 gears are getting 10 to 10.5 towing the same weight.

I think if u use 10mpg, you will be close.

10mpg

The best way to control fuel costs:
Drive at 62mph
Stay longer at any location

Sorry to tell you. 8 to 10 mpg. Happy retirement.

That size fiver really wants a 3500. The price difference is minimal.

In any event, figure 9mpg towing and 16mpg combined city/highway running solo. If you get more, you count it as a good day. Some other day will make up for it.