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whsk's avatar
whsk
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013

mpg towing

just finished a 2588 mile trip pulling about 12000 lbs. (5th wheel)DW kept track and here is the low 9.4 and high 11.9-2013 Dodge 3500 4x4 with 6 speed stick-truck did a very good job-I was impressed!overall avg. was 10.6-whsk

30 Replies

  • The new trailers are getting larger and heavier also.
  • The compression ratio's have been inching down bit by bit for a while now ,that and all the other measures to reduce NOX have hurt efficiency .
  • Chris- My only experience with the new truck was a 2,000 mile trip to CO and NM last June. Part was mountains and almost every day was high winds. That plus the fact I generally ran at/near 70 on the interstates likely dropped the mileage quite a bit. Would probably be considerably better at 60 on flat highways and no wind. I just have a problem keeping below 65. :S
  • BB_TX wrote:
    Those numbers are just about dead on with what I have gotten pulling my 35' 5er, both with my previous '07 F350 6.0 and my current '12 F350 6.7 running at posted speed limits on the highways (up to a max of 68-70). Could probably do a little better if I slowed down to 60-65.


    The is a bit disappointing! These trucks are getting better and better in so many ways except for fuel mileage. In the early 2000's it was common for Duramax GM's, 7.3 Powerstrokes and Dodge/Cummins to deliver towing mileage in the 12-13 MPG range.

    Are people just all towing to fast with them now? I tow at around 62-63 MPH most of the time and average 12.2 to 12.5, and can be as high as 13.5-14 in central California at 59 MPH on flat no wind legs.

    I was hoping that the new DEF RAMs would be back up in that range!!!!

    Chris
  • Those numbers are just about dead on with what I have gotten pulling my 35' 5er, both with my previous '07 F350 6.0 and my current '12 F350 6.7 running at posted speed limits on the highways (up to a max of 68-70). Could probably do a little better if I slowed down to 60-65.
  • whsk wrote:
    just finished a 2588 mile trip pulling about 12000 lbs. (5th wheel)DW kept track and here is the low 9.4 and high 11.9-2013 Dodge 3500 4x4 with 6 speed stick-truck did a very good job-I was impressed!overall avg. was 10.6-whsk


    Is that a DEF model truck??? More details on the truck would be good!

    With a similar size trailer, I get almost 2 mpg better. Chris
  • Just pulled our 34ft 9K TT down from NC yesterday and got from 10-11.5 @ 62-65 mph. 2012 Ram 2500 CC 4X4 6spd auto. Quite a few grades from Marion,NC to SC and 95. Only been in the shop from 16th July to yesterday. Didn't want them to hurry or anything. (Make a note of sarcashem (?)
  • That's pretty good for a 1 ton pulling a fiver. My Tundra 5.7 pulling a 7000 lbs bumper pull gets about that mileage. Your weights are close to double mine combined and same mileage.
  • Not bad WHSK. Diesel? Gear Ratio? Where was most of the towing done - mountains or flat lands? Thanks