MotorTrend Tests the 1500's

rjstractor wrote:

buddylam wrote:
That is a great test but you and Ford are missing the most important part of that test.
The Ram loses 45 seconds to the Ford up that hill out of a 700 mile range. What is the Fords range pulling that trailer. I am willing to bet that the Ford will make many more fuel stops over 700 miles while pulling that trailer..

I keep seeing reference to a "700 mile range". I'm not a math major, but with 26 gallons of fuel, to go 700 miles you have to get almost 27 mpg, and that leaves nothing in reserve. Towing a travel trailer will reduce that mileage considerably. I would think that a 400 mile range towing a trailer would be much more realistic.

I know for a fact that towing my 21 foot 4000 # Travel trailer with my 26.5 gallon tank on my AWD 2013 Touareg TDI with a 3.0 turbodiesel, 450 miles has been done on a tank. I get 16.5 to 19.5 mpg every time, trailering from L.A. to St George, about 420 miles for me there, then to Parowan UT to sleep the first night. Fill up again in SLC next mid day the 2nd day, and I am in W. Yellowstone the 2nd night. Pee breaks are when they are.

I believe the Ram 1500 Ecodiesel will do almost the same, if trailering at speeds of 55 to 58 MPH, which I am limited to due to 14" tires on my TT. Much over 60, the fuel suck gets ridiculous when trailering a wind sail behind you.

When I am not trailering, and on interstate, polished concrete, doing 65 to 75 MPH, I see 32 to 34 MPG, yet the Touareg is only rated 28 MPG on highway by the EPA. The Touareg is fairly aerodynamic for the SUV that it is.

Fuelly MPG Link for 2013 Touareg fuel consumption