Forum Discussion

Tequila's avatar
Tequila
Explorer
Apr 08, 2015

Honest feedback on fuel

I currently have a 1 ton diesel dually and I am towing a 5500 lb dry, 10,000 lb gross trailer. Probably 7500 lbs on average. I am having issues with my diesel, it is killing me in maintenance. I just put my 4th set of injectors in in 120K. Since I spend 6 months a year in Mexico there are 2 problems with getting another:

1) They do not sell diesel PU's in Mexico and getting service is hard
2) They do not sell ULSD fuel in Mexico and you take your chances with 2007 + trucks

So I am considering going gas. I am wondering what people here with a 2012-2015 3/4 ton HD gas get for fuel economy towing a trailer about the size of mine. I get 13 MPG when towing right now with the diesel.
  • chr_'s avatar
    chr_
    Explorer
    Apr 10, 2015
    I tow a 6,000# (Wet) Nomad with a relatively small Ford 4.6L Three Valve in my Sport Trac.

    Best MPG with trailer is 9, mostly on flats @70-75MPH, worst is 6.9, and that was climbing four 6% grades and trying to keep it over 55 on those climbs...

    Around town, no trailer, with regular gas, 11-12MPG, and with Premium and a different performance tune (I have an SCT Programmer) I get 13-14. The Premium pays for itself as the cost is about a wash, but the truck is much more fun to drive.

    I am a lead foot, It's a by product of driving in Europe a lot, and I do 80-90 on the freeways on the way to work.
  • BubbaChris's avatar
    BubbaChris
    Explorer
    Apr 10, 2015
    Tequila wrote:
    I am lookign at a year old truck, its 15K cheaper. If it has 3.73 can I change them out for 4.10?


    One of the things that really helped me last year was plugging the VIN for the used truck into one of the websites that will recreate the manufacturer's window sticker - That way I could verify some of the specific build information (like the factory tow kit).
  • 93Cobra2771's avatar
    93Cobra2771
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2015
    You can figure on an easy 500/axle to swap gears out. And then the speedo has to be reprogrammed as well.
  • Tequila's avatar
    Tequila
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2015
    pira114 wrote:
    Tequila wrote:
    I am lookign at a year old truck, its 15K cheaper. If it has 3.73 can I change them out for 4.10?


    Yup. If you're willing to pay for it. Call a shop first to see average price


    Appears like the GM comes with 4.1, I have not yet checked the other 2.
  • CampingN_C_'s avatar
    CampingN_C_
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2015
    I'm in the 7-9 mpg range with a 6.0 and 4:10's but I'm a little heavier and longer than most pulling with older gassers and the 4 speed tranny.
    The mileage isn't as bad for me as the small 26 gallon tank.
  • hawkeye-08's avatar
    hawkeye-08
    Explorer III
    Apr 09, 2015
    When we had the 08 GMC Yukon XL Denali with the 6.2, using premium improved mileage and power, usually enough to more than pay for the extra cost.

    Premium fuel on 2011 2500HD 6.0 does not seem to improve mileage or power much, so just run regular. We have run a few tanks of non ethanol and it was a wash, improved the mpgs, but cost more and is not convenient at all since stations are limited and not close.

    Regarding changing the gears, I would expect $2000-3000 for 4WD.. might try towing with it to see if you can live with it or not. We don't tow enough right now to make the change, but if we start getting more days camping, we will have another look...
  • StewB's avatar
    StewB
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2015
    The ford 6.2 is a great engine. I towed our 26ft 8000lb gross trailer for two years with a 2012 F250 4x4 crewcab 7" box. Running around 100/110 KM/Hour or a little beter (60/65 mph) I would get anyhwere from 27L/100km to 33L/100km (7 to 9 mpg)depending on terraine. If I keep the speed to 90 to 100 Km/hr. I can keep it in the 9 to 10 MPG (23L/100) range. I live in Northern BC so lots of hills.
    I now have a 2011 F350 4x4 crew cab long box with the 6.2 engine but have not towed with it yet. We shall see how it does.
  • 93Cobra2771's avatar
    93Cobra2771
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2015
    ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
    MitchF150 wrote:
    ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
    MitchF150 wrote:
    I can tell you with the Ecoboost, I get 10-11 mpg towing a #5000 TT in WA state.. But, it's not the weight so much as the wind resistance that's gonna kill ya..

    For what I tow, I don't need a diesel. Don't really plan on getting a bigger trailer anytime soon either, so there you go.

    Good luck!

    Mitch


    :) Hi, MitchF150; My F-150 is very similar to yours in specs. I hope, with my Airstream to get a little better gas mileage than you are getting, 12-13 MPG, but if I get the same as you, I'm OK with that too.

    2014 Super Crew cab 145" 4X4 Max Tow Ecoboost 7650 GVWR 1745 payload.


    Hi Robert, This will be my second 'season' of towing with the Eco, and it's now got almost 15,000 miles on it and I've noticed an increase in mpg's on my daily commute with it now that I've got some miles under my belt.

    I think some of it has to do with 'learning' how to drive the eco and some has to do with the engine loosening up some..

    But, getting into those turbos is sure fun! :)

    Mitch



    :) Hi, Mitch; Do you run Regular or Premium while towing? I read that while towing Ford recommends using Premium gas. I heard that the power and Eco-nomy will increase when burning Premium.


    Premium for me. Worth ~1mpg in my case. If you can find 100% gas/no ethanol it's worth even more.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Apr 09, 2015
    Tequila wrote:
    I am lookign at a year old truck, its 15K cheaper. If it has 3.73 can I change them out for 4.10?


    If it is a 2WD truck, you should be able to change for under 1K, a 4WD will be much more.

    Jerry
  • pira114's avatar
    pira114
    Explorer II
    Apr 09, 2015
    Tequila wrote:
    I am lookign at a year old truck, its 15K cheaper. If it has 3.73 can I change them out for 4.10?


    Yup. If you're willing to pay for it. Call a shop first to see average price

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