Real Life Mpg with RM 3500 DRW

My 2012 Ram 3500 crew cab dually gets an average of 14.5 mpg empty running the speed limits and an average of 9 mpg towing. Seems I get 9 mpg towing any of my trailers and they vary in weight from 2000 to about 11,000 pounds. If I am towing our TT like I'm late for dinner, I see 8 mpg.

I owned a 98' 5.9 12V CTD for 17 yrs, always hand calc'ed my tank mpgs at 16.6 to 17.5 based on my empty driving. Best ever on a short hwy run was 21.8 mpg.

Now I own a 14' 6.7 CTD, I'm getting hand calc'ed mpgs of 14.8 to 16.5 driving the same route empty. Best tank was 18.1 mpgs. My dash computer is a poor 'guesstimate' of actual mpgs, always reads 1-2 mpgs higher than actual.

The pre-DEF Rams get significantly less as I understand.

chevor wrote:
5.9 Ram Drivers all tell me they get 25 mpg empty and 14 mpg pulling regardless of trailer. AND this is all at 75 mph.

They're lying :)

I got about 10 - 11 mpg pulling 11,500# at 65 mph, and a best of 24 mpg empty under ideal conditions, but it was usually 20 - 21 with my 2007 5.9L Cummins hand calculated. Now the in cab mpg display often told me I was getting 3 to 4 mpg better, but that's because I used aftermarket programming in the ECM (Hypertech and/or Predator).

chevor wrote:
5.9 Ram Drivers all tell me they get 25 mpg empty and 14 mpg pulling regardless of trailer. AND this is all at 75 mph.

You have never asked me then. ;)

5.9 Ram Drivers all tell me they get 25 mpg empty and 14 mpg pulling regardless of trailer. AND this is all at 75 mph.

We have an '06 5.9 dually (3.73gears) that we use to pull our 38' Montana, my total gross weight is around 21,600 give or take a tad. :W
I can average around 10, 10 and a halfMPG pretty easily, sometimes better sometimes worse, all depends on the hills and the wind direction. The best I ever did with the trailer on was just under 13 MPG, must've been a heck of a tail wind!

Watch the prices on the 2011's what Chris said is good advice, maybe hold off and spring for the 2014 "heavy duty" beefed up frame and DEF when you have the dough.

Dan

There's a big reason why the RAMs carry a ridiculous weight rating now than what they did pre 2013. The frame is heavily beefed up and boxed compared to the pre 2013 frames. That's also the reason why oil changes are an exercise in aggravation. Lots of upgrades on the 2013 and up 3500's (2500's got the upgrade in 2014). Suspension closely matches Ford in the front as well with a 3 link radius arm suspension versus the old 5 link setup with the smaller locating arms. Availability of the Aisin is another plus (has lower 1st and 2nd gear ratios than the 68RFE making for greater startability).

Along with the frame upgrades, there's roughly a 10% to 15% improvement in fuel economy over the non-DEF vehicles.

Me Again wrote:

rtate wrote:
Lets see some more examples. I am having a hard time giving up my 2005 5.9. I would like to be able to average 10mpg towing, but doesnt look like I could ecpect to do that.

Sit on the 05 5.9 until you can pop for a 2013 MY with Aisin tranny and DEF system. You can buy a new one now for around 10K off, which is not that much more than they will want for a 2011.

Chris

Exactly.

The interior upgrade is great, but the power upgrade from 05 to '11 isn't huge 650 vs 610 ft/lbs.. The auto is nice too, but... The 11.5 is at 800 ft/lbs if you find one of them, but the mileage wont be as good.

The '13+ with Aisin is worth the wait, more power, better economy, better trans, better frame, etc.

rtate after you get the dually you won't care about any difference in fuel mileage if there is any difference.

chevman

this is the wrong weight I put in sorry