Fuel Mileage with TC

I have a 07 duramax single cab 4 wheel drive with a 835 lance pulling a utility trailr with my rzr behind I get 11-13 wished I got mileage like some others get.

Ol'Red comes in at 13.5-14mpg empty and 9.5-10.5 loaded at 10,500 with the beefy 460 and 5spd manual trans. Towing the Scout doesn't seem to have any effect of mpg, just speed climbing hills. I usually run at about 57mph for best mileage, that's right about 2000 rpm's where my 510 lbs of torque is at its best. Unless its a long or steep hill I rarely drop below 1800 rpm.

If and when the 460 dies I will retro a 5.9 12 valve CTD in it and change the rear gears to 3.55 for freeway cruising.

With a dual-slide Lance 992 on a '13 F350 diesel dually 4x4, I am getting about 11 at 70-75mph. The truck is still new with only 5k miles on it. I have a hard time going slow, but the few times I've been able to do it at 60-65 I got about 12.5 mpg. Without the camper on I get about 15.5 at 75mph.

TC only at 55 is 14.5mpg in hilly areas, not mountains. About 13.7 at 62.
Towing my 21 ft pontoon is 10.5 at 65. Towing the pontoon at 55mph is 12.5 on flat ground.

19,000-19,500 GVW, with 5.13 R&P gears, driving 70-72MPH I get from 6 to 8.5 MPG. Worst was in the 5 range driving 75, in a head wind, in hilly terrain. Nice that I can do that though :) Love that Duramax and those gears! Can get over 10 empty driving carefully (proved it to myself once, then went back to lead-footing it. :) ) I usually figure between 7 and 8. To the same idea that 6pac is showing, it is so incredibly speed sensitive when you are driving a 19,000 pound brick wall down the highway. If I could drive 60MPH I'd do oh so much better. Hope to test that someday when I am not in a hurry to maximize time away from work. After driving in Colorado for so long, and with a diesel to do it, I'd never go back to a gas truck. Diesel's were meant for the mountains and heavy loads.

wintersun wrote:
Diesel engines last longer ONLY if you mean the block and even then there are numerous people having to have very expensive repairs ($5,000 to $8,000) on Duramax engines with injector repairs, head gasket repairs, Ford 6.0 with multiple engine parts failing) with fewer than 100k miles on the engine. Diesel powered trucks still have battery and electrical problems and cooling system problems and transmission problems and emission control system failures, and these are all very expensive to repair.

I can have a V8 gas engine completely rebuilt for what a new set of injectors costs for a diesel engine. No way are diesels cheaper to operate for pickup truck owners. Diesels produce more torque for faster acceleration and the engine braking is great but it comes at with a big price and it would be naive to think otherwise.

Part of the price of having a diesel powered truck is that I have to include in my route planning where I will be able to find a station selling diesel. Most small towns only have gas available at the pumps.

Just a quick look at Autozone for injectors for my engine - $509.94 for all 6 ($84.99 each). And just for the sake of comparison, I looked up the cost of injectors for a 2007 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.0 V8 gasser - $791.92 ($98.92 each).

I've had a diesel for 6 years now and have never had trouble finding diesel fuel - in any town. Not saying you don't - just that I haven't found it to be typical. As far as repairs - well I don't really know since I haven't had any, other than routine maintenance (oil, filters, brakes, cooling system flushes) in the 6 years I've had mine, and I do that myself.

To the point of this thread - I usually get 17mpg with the TC (best was 18), worst was 13.5 (miles and miles of slow switchbacks). The one time I towed my 29' 5th wheel (from sea level to 5,000 ft and back down to about 1250 ft) it got about 13.8. Old mechanical 5.9 Cummins, all stock.

2011 Ram 3500 dually crewcab 4*4 4.10 gear plus AF 1150 Drybath, I plan on 11mpg at 65mph.

Same setup with an 20' enclosed trailer, and two quads and a RZR inside I plan on 10mpg at 65mph.

I have had trips where it was 8 because I was fighting wind in the Gorge the whole time.

rickab wrote:
Have 1996 F250 with 460CI (7.5L) with 4.10. Get 10 to 10.5 MPG unloaded, and 9 to 10 MPG loaded with my 1999 Fleetwood Elkhorn. Hasn't really varied much in the las 12 years. Still runs great and does what I want it to do. But I must admit I would love to have a new truck, and get better milage, but as others have said, I didn't buy it for the milage.

I'm real curious where the break is. I have an 06 diesel and get about 10 mpg.

Have 1996 F250 with 460CI (7.5L) with 4.10. Get 10 to 10.5 MPG unloaded, and 9 to 10 MPG loaded with my 1999 Fleetwood Elkhorn. Hasn't really varied much in the las 12 years. Still runs great and does what I want it to do. But I must admit I would love to have a new truck, and get better milage, but as others have said, I didn't buy it for the milage.

wintersun wrote:
Diesel engines last longer ONLY if you mean the block and even then there are numerous people having to have very expensive repairs ($5,000 to $8,000) on Duramax engines with injector repairs, head gasket repairs, Ford 6.0 with multiple engine parts failing) with fewer than 100k miles on the engine. Diesel powered trucks still have battery and electrical problems and cooling system problems and transmission problems and emission control system failures, and these are all very expensive to repair.

I can have a V8 gas engine completely rebuilt for what a new set of injectors costs for a diesel engine. No way are diesels cheaper to operate for pickup truck owners. Diesels produce more torque for faster acceleration and the engine braking is great but it comes at with a big price and it would be naive to think otherwise.

Part of the price of having a diesel powered truck is that I have to include in my route planning where I will be able to find a station selling diesel. Most small towns only have gas available at the pumps.

Winter
I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on a number of points. I have owned big block gassers. Ford 460 in a F350 CC SRW. When it came to the 6% grades common here in AZ and Ca. It really was not up to the task. The climb outside Palm Springs saw 30 to 35 MPH pulling a small toy hauler. (21 foot) no toys inside. 4 to 5 MPG. Average Phoenix to San Bernardino and back 8 MPG. Was working very hard.
Your cost estimates for diesel repairs are picking the worst possible situations. The for 6.0? who would buy it? Unless it already has all the upgrades just stay away.
I have a 1999 F550 with a 7.3. Bullet proof. You can't even come close to rebuilding a V8 gasser for what a set of injectors cost for that motor. They can be had for under $100.00 each. Unlike the Duramax injectors at $400.00 each.
Fuel cost in AZ is now about .10/gal higher than reg gas.
Bought the truck used for $7K. Had to change out an alternator. $280.00. At 235K miles chances are the same with a gasser. There is no comparison hauling with my gasser and the power stroke.
The diesel vs gas debate will go on forever. I have owned both and each has it advantages but for what I do the diesel is the only way to go. My decision was not made by cost but right tool for the right job. Imagine my surprise when my costs were comparable.
I still have a F150 gasser for fun. 94 Lightning. freshly rebuilt short block for $2800.00. 351 with Vortech supercharger. Don't tow for sh**, don't want to know the mileage and usually burns premium but sure is fun to drive.