Fifth Wheel/Diesel mpg

[Stewart123]

My husband and I are looking into a fifth wheel for our retirement camper. We hope to have our minds made up by January 2018. He wants to get a 2500 series diesel truck. Fifth wheel would be in the 8500 to 9000 lbs range. For yucks, I'd like to know what people are getting, mileage wise, pulling a fifth wheel as opposed to a travel trailer in the 6,500 lbs range? Any insight would be helpful. Thank you.

[Campinfan]

When I bought my fiver, I had a gasser and my mileage went up by a little over 1 mile per gallon average. Doesn't sound like much but going from 8 to over 9 that 1 mile equals 12% increase. So $100 worth of gas before now gets me $112 worth of mileage. My fiver is heavier but I do believe it is more about aerodynamics and drag.

When I went to a Diesel, I now get over 10. Without a trailer, I can get 20 on the hwy if I keep the speed reasonable, with the gasser, I was lucky to get 13-14.

[Tdubya]

TheCaptKen wrote:
Something to remember when buying that dually. You're not going to be able to use drive thru's when not hauling. Get use to parking at the far end of the parking lots. Find your camper then check your weights. I haul with an 2002 F250 with the old faithful 7.3. My truck came with something newer F250's don't have, overload springs. I hauled a Wildcat 27 all over the place but it was only 8500 fully loaded for 14 years. I now have a Denali 316RES weighing in dry at 10,300 and 39 feet long. Hitch weight of 2030. My overload springs barely touch and the truck is level. I get around 12 mpg but then I don't hurry. I rarely drive over 60 mph. If I do, the mileage drops like a rock.

Funny, I've been able to fit my dually into the same drive thru's that I fit my 2002 F-350 SRW into. My new truck is also a lot easier to park than the old one was. It turns much, much tighter meaning I no longer have to park in the back 40.

[hotpepperkid]

My varies between 8.5 to 11.5 all depends on which way the wind is blowing in relastionship to my direction of travel

[JIMNLIN]

op wrote:
For yucks, I'd like to know what people are getting, mileage wise, pulling a fifth wheel as opposed to a travel trailer in the 6,500 lbs range? Any insight would be helpful. Thank you.

Much depends on trucks size and weight/brand/year models/auto vs manual.
Looking at the Dodge/Ram diesel websites.....Ford Diesel websites.....GM diesel websites shows us mpg varies with particular year model and size of the diesel truck.

Point is one size don't fit all when it comes to fuel usage for a diesel truck even a 250/2500 size.
.
My older '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins 305/555 HO 6 speed manual pulls a 11200 lb 5er. Most trips average in the 11.5-12.5 mpg range and 21-22 mpg empty on a long trip. I also pull a 16k GN triaxle stock trailer hauling cattle. On long 350-450 mile trips it can average

250/2500 trucks have 6000-6500 rear axle ratings and are good for around 2800-3200 lb payload in the bed.
If you plan on moving up to a 14k-15k 5er the 350/3500 SRW trucks are good for up to around 3800 lb payload in the bed.
The 350/3500 DRW with up to 6500-6800 lb payload in the bed would be needed for heavier trailers.

[IBcarguy]

I side with most everyone else regarding mpg. If fuel consumption is important to you, towing a 5th wheel will take the fun out of owning one of these rigs. I pull a 37' 12,000 lbs 5th wheel with my GMC 2500 Duramax diesel and I think I get around 10 mpg when towing, however I'm not real sure because I don't check it...ever. When my tank gets a little low, I stop and fill it. I'm not going to let MPG ruin my trip.

[TheCaptKen]

Something to remember when buying that dually. You're not going to be able to use drive thru's when not hauling. Get use to parking at the far end of the parking lots. Find your camper then check your weights. I haul with an 2002 F250 with the old faithful 7.3. My truck came with something newer F250's don't have, overload springs. I hauled a Wildcat 27 all over the place but it was only 8500 fully loaded for 14 years. I now have a Denali 316RES weighing in dry at 10,300 and 39 feet long. Hitch weight of 2030. My overload springs barely touch and the truck is level. I get around 12 mpg but then I don't hurry. I rarely drive over 60 mph. If I do, the mileage drops like a rock.

[phillyg]

Given a choice, and not knowing what 5th wheel you're getting, a one ton truck would be your best choice. Fuel usage will drop below 12mpg when you're towing. A 9000lb will be fairly small so be prepared to live in such small quarters.

[Searching_Ut]

Pulling my 8,000lbs timber ridge bumper pull I would get between 10 and 13 mpg with either of my Ram Diesel trucks. Pulling my fifth wheel at approximately 15,000 lbs and a couple feet taller my mileage varies between 9 and 11 mpg.

[Stewart123]

RVcrazy wrote:
Choose the fiver FIRST! I would go with a 1 ton truck. You may see a fiver you like that weighs more than you expected...

We will def choose the 5er first. Thanks for the advice.

[Stewart123]

dfletch wrote:
Ok I'm a little larger than what you are looking at but I got close to 12 MPG on my last trip through the blue ridge mountains. TV is Silverado 3500HD Duramax 4x4 dully pulling a 14,000 lbs 42 foot Silverback.

That is quite impressive. Thanks!

[JAC1982]

Etstorm wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:
The difference in mpg due to weight is negligible. It's the size of the front that makes a difference.

I'm going the opposite direction next time I get a new truck. I'll be ditching the F250 and getting a properly equipped F150 Ecoboost. Best of both worlds. No problem hauling my 8,000 lbs trailer and great gas mileage as a daily driver.

I had a 28' TT and pulled with a F150 ecoboost. Got 7-9 mpg

Now pulling a 38' FW with a Ford Diesel and get 9-10 mpg

Yup we had similar numbers when pulling our old toyhauler with an F150 Ecoboost. Plus you really feel the weight pushing you around because the truck is light.

[Etstorm]

troubledwaters wrote:
The difference in mpg due to weight is negligible. It's the size of the front that makes a difference.

I'm going the opposite direction next time I get a new truck. I'll be ditching the F250 and getting a properly equipped F150 Ecoboost. Best of both worlds. No problem hauling my 8,000 lbs trailer and great gas mileage as a daily driver.

I had a 28' TT and pulled with a F150 ecoboost. Got 7-9 mpg

Now pulling a 38' FW with a Ford Diesel and get 9-10 mpg

[rhagfo]

troubledwaters wrote:
The difference in mpg due to weight is negligible. It's the size of the front that makes a difference.

I'm going the opposite direction next time I get a new truck. I'll be ditching the F250 and getting a properly equipped F150 Ecoboost. Best of both worlds. No problem hauling my 8,000 lbs trailer and great gas mileage as a daily driver.

Going to
Politely disagree with you on this.
Many on this and other forums have posted that when going from a lighter TT to a heavier 5er, with the same TV have found the 5er got better fuel mileage. This is likely due to the 5er being closer to the cab and less wind resistance.

[Tdubya]

I get 9 mpg pulling my triple axle toy hauler. Having 12 tires on the ground isn't really conducive for great mileage.

I recently pulled my dads 30' TT on a 200 mile round trip and got 10 mpg.

[bartlettj]

lee worsdell wrote:
10.5 mile going to Daytona last year and same to Bristol. Towing 15000 with my 2500 gmc

For comparison, 10.5 is what I got with my Tahoe pulling a 22' Keystone Passport travel trailer doing a round trip from Portland, OR. to Big Sur, CA. My friend hauling a Grand Design 2800 bunkhouse with a diesel Excursion got 8.9 on the same trip. You're doing great.