MPG in retirement...budget

You need a F350 or 3500. Our rig is weighs less than yours and I wish I had had a 1 ton now. When we got the TV we had a real light Rockwood.

Our 2011 3500HD SRW duramax.

Towing - 10 to 12.5 pmg (55 to 65 mph). Slower speed - better mileage.
Not towing - 22 to 18 mpg highway (55 to 70 mph) Slower speed - better mileage.

Took a trip out west (Yellowstone/Glacier) this summer and the trip average was 10.7 mpg.

Like others have said for a 13,000 lb fifth wheel you'll need a 3500HD and depending upon the pin weight a dually.

3500HD SRW - GVWR is 11,600 lbs with the diesel. 2500HD GVWR is 10,000 lbs with the diesel.

Not sure where you live --- in New York state if the combined GVWR of the truck and trailer exceeds 26,000 a class R license is needed - another road test towing the fifth wheel with the truck (city, highway and parking)

My 2012 CC Ram 6.7 4X4 gives me about 10-11 tops @ 62ish MPH.

Nutinelse2do wrote:

robsouth wrote:

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

X3

X4

robsouth wrote:

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

X3

Retirement milage--
With my 2004 Dodge 3500 Diesel with 6 spd. tranny towing a 14K 5th. wheel, I get 12 to 13 mpg. It dosen't vary going up mountains for flat out in the desert.

If fuel is a consideration take shorter trips. We cut ours by two thirds this year 2000 mi vs 6000 last year.

Also, if possible, if you're buying a brand new vehicle, time it with end of year sales or later. Get a left-over. Incentives are always very high on those vehicles with plenty of dealer hold-backs and publicly published discounts. It's not unheard of to drop more than 10k beyond MSRP. I tend to purchase new vehicles because I tend to buy them at the same price as a 2 year old used vehicle. So no skin off my back. It's just that with this tactic, you may not get "Exactly" what you want but you can typically get very close.

Thanks to all for the great responses. From the responses it appears I may need up size to 3500 or down size trailer a wee bit to get the ideal package going.


Koop

I would seriously take a look at what trim packages you're getting with either truck. A loaded F250 King Ranch can have a payload capacity as low as 1900+. Not nearly enough to tow a 13,000lb 5'er. The difference between a 3/4 to 1 ton in terms of mpg is nill. Spend the extra $ and get a 1 ton.
FWIW I get 10.5+ towing a 9000lb 5'er with a 12 Ram 2500 CTD. Figure 10 mpg as a cost figure. At times it will be lower or higher.