Anybody have any idea what a late model 2500 series DIESEL truck pulling a mini trailer 3500lbs max trailer weight would be?My 2017 3.5 Ecoboost gets about 20 mpg highway empty. It gets 7-9 mpg towing an untralight 4500lb trailer (Passport 153ML), which is terrible (23 gallon fuel tank).Trying to decide what the best retirement truck is, where I will no longer have a long commute with a lot of empty miles like I do now.Gman

Frontal area of the RV contribute lots of wind resistance and kills your mileage

If you tow in tow-haul mode you should see about the same mileage as other towing in that mode, no matter the weight of the trailer.

Cost will all go down if you just cross a state line. Otherwise, slow down, speed hurts mileage, and if you are retiring, you shouldn't be in a hurry, so slow down and enjoy the trip. Your Eco Boost with a 10 speed is one of the more miserly choices short of getting a half ton with a diesel.

I expect 12mpg. I get 7-8mpg towing 6500 pound TT with 6.0L gas. My buddy has pulled my trailer with 2012 GM 1-ton diesel and get 11-12 @ same speeds.

Unless you are towing 50k miles a year the cost of the diesel will never be recouped in fuel savings. I think that Eco is probably about the perfect setup for you trailer.

Diesel Towing MPG With Ultralight Trailer | Good Sam Community

agesilaus
Explorer III
Jul 12, 2020
Frontal area of the RV contribute lots of wind resistance and kills your mileage
guidry
Explorer
Jul 12, 2020
If you tow in tow-haul mode you should see about the same mileage as other towing in that mode, no matter the weight of the trailer.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Jul 12, 2020
Cost will all go down if you just cross a state line.
Otherwise, slow down, speed hurts mileage, and if you are retiring, you shouldn't be in a hurry, so slow down and enjoy the trip.
Your Eco Boost with a 10 speed is one of the more miserly choices short of getting a half ton with a diesel.
APT
Explorer
Jul 12, 2020
I expect 12mpg. I get 7-8mpg towing 6500 pound TT with 6.0L gas. My buddy has pulled my trailer with 2012 GM 1-ton diesel and get 11-12 @ same speeds.
wowens79
Explorer III
Jul 12, 2020
Unless you are towing 50k miles a year the cost of the diesel will never be recouped in fuel savings. I think that Eco is probably about the perfect setup for you trailer.
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2020
My Ram 2500 will get 16 MPG at 62 MPH pulling a 4,000 lb TT .Not towing we get 19 or 20 . Any speed above 65 MPH towing will drop it to 13 MPG .
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2020
A lot of the extra cost to buy a diesel will be recouped when you sell or trade . A used 5 year old diesel will bring 4 or 5 thousand more than a gas truck , check comparable trucks on Blue book .
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2020
My neighbor yesterday was telling me how foolish it was to drive a diesel truck as we were riding down so he could buy a $ 400 ice chest . I guess we all just need to do what feels good !
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jul 12, 2020
About 30% better mileage with a diesel all things the same. I got 9-10 with my gas and 12 with my diesel. Same trailer, speed, weight.....bla, bla, bla....
jdc1
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2020
My 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 diesel saw 19mpg empty, 13 towing 7,500 lbs.
My 1997 F250 460 gasser got 7-8mpg empty. Forget towing....too expensive.
My 2000 F350 7.3 diesel sees 15-16mpg empty, 12.5 towing my 8,000 pound 5th 5th wheel..

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Diesel Towing MPG With Ultralight Trailer

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