6.4L Hemi/4.10 towing mpg

Towed the toy hauler with my 2015 6.4 for the third time this last weekend. We leave home at 2650 ft elevation and usually wind up at 7000. This time we stayed a little lower at maybe 6000 ft so avoided the toughest part of the trip.

Over all I like the Ram and the 6.4. Towing our 14k hauler it pulls better than the '08 Ford V10 did when on the flats and rolling terrain. 6% grade at lower elevations at about equal speed as Ford, but picks up better when the hill levels off. But when you get to 6% at 7k the Ford flat rules. Think of the videos of the Ike. That gap between 1st and 2nd is a killer, but I also believe that some of it is torque management. If you can keep above 4000 rpm in 2nd, it pulls fine. Drop below that and there is no one home to keep or get you moving.

Mileage empty is 10-20% better than the V10. Towing so far 10% or more less. 2600 miles on the clock with 600 towing.

EVIC is almost always 10% optimistic. Last weekend it reported 7.5 mpg, actual was 6.8. Best tank so far EVIC 15.6 actual 14.0.

And the same logic is why we are buying a Dodge 2500 Mega Cab. We we're previously wanting a new Suburban, Expedition EL, or Tundra. All had payloads in the 1400-1550 range. Just barely within, if not exceeding, the weight of passengers and hitch weight of the 27-28' Airstreams we are looking at. We have lots of toys, whitewater rafts, kayaks, canoes, and mountain bikes. The payload allowed by buying a 3/4 ton truck basically doubles that of the other vehicles we considered.


Dan

ib516 wrote:
Rick, you haven't seen my pack rat wife load this thing! I had some fresh water aboard too for potty breaks.

Ha... that is exactly what happened to me. I did the math, the Tundra was sufficient for towing with out normal stuff and the tongue weight of the new trailer. We got the new trailer and my wonderful bride found another couple hundred lbs of stuff to bring with us. I feel your pain!!!

blofgren wrote:
That's pretty impressive. My Cummins is only getting 2 - 2.5 mpg better than that although my trailer weighs approximately 15,500 lbs. We also tend to have a lot tougher climbs here in BC! I'm still impressed with the pulling power of that truck as well.

If you don't mind me asking where was the video taken? I'm thinking somewhere in Alberta but can't quite place it. PM me if you want.

Between Calgary and Banff.

That's pretty impressive. My Cummins is only getting 2 - 2.5 mpg better than that although my trailer weighs approximately 15,500 lbs. We also tend to have a lot tougher climbs here in BC! I'm still impressed with the pulling power of that truck as well.

If you don't mind me asking where was the video taken? I'm thinking somewhere in Alberta but can't quite place it. PM me if you want.

Rick, you haven't seen my pack rat wife load this thing! I had some fresh water aboard too for potty breaks.

Sorry IB but do you have scaled weight tickets? I know your not a big scale guy but 21k is a stretch IMO :W Your RV should have about 13k GVWR which would mean your RV is loaded to 2700 lbs of cargo which would also mean your truck is 8k lbs. 2700 lbs of stuff :E Thats a lot of stuff buddy :B
Great report though, have a nice time. 9.5 MPG is now a pipe dream for me :W

ib516 wrote:
Uphill towing video

I don't understand how some folks can call that beautiful sound screaming or struggling.

Love the magnaflow by the way. Will upgrade exhaust on mine to true duals. Will be about 5th car/SUV and now truck I've had that done to. Need to find a good system for the Hemi 6.4. Aftermarket seems pretty weak for this motor.

Thanks for the video today. Enjoyed hearing the purr.

Dan

That's the one! Thanks for the tip!