towing mileage of trucks

[forkedhorn]

Does anyone have a range of MPG for a F-450 dragging a 18,000- 21,000 5er? is it much different from Ram 3500?

[Cummins12V98]

I stand by my statement, more weight equals less fuel economy.

I also stand by my statement that a 17/18 F350 will pull any DRV out there just fine like my 15 RAM will within axle and combined ratings. So why spend the extra $$$ on a 450??? OH yea for the tighter turning radius?

[JaxDad]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

forkedhorn wrote:
Thanks Scott, kind of figured that. Thinking about a 44 Santa Fe Mobile Suite or a 42RL Luxe and an f-450 instead of the ram.

Why do you think you need a 450? If you are stuck on Ford a 17 or newer 350 will do just fine!

I tow as much or more than your rig will weigh with my RAM 3500 at 33k combined or 35 if double towing my Motor Cycle trailer with two Cruisers.

Pretty hard to beat a straight 6 for mileage.

Perhaps he want's the F450 because of the wide track front axle for the improved turning radius. And towing these amount of loads the fuel economy between the two is a wash.

No way will a 350 and 450 get the same fuel economy. More weight equals worse mileage. Even with same gear ratio.

According to published figures there’s only about 1,400 pounds difference between comparable F450’s and Ram 3500’s.

If you’re talking about a 35k pound combined unit I doubt you could calculate that mileage variation attributed to a 4% increase in weight.

Besides which, weight has very little to do fuel mileage in the overal scheme of things, my neighbours tractor trailer gets a consistent 1 mpg (loaded) better mileage than his motorhome does, I’ll bet the motorhome weighs a BUNCH less than his truck does.

[FishOnOne]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

forkedhorn wrote:
Thanks Scott, kind of figured that. Thinking about a 44 Santa Fe Mobile Suite or a 42RL Luxe and an f-450 instead of the ram.

Why do you think you need a 450? If you are stuck on Ford a 17 or newer 350 will do just fine!

I tow as much or more than your rig will weigh with my RAM 3500 at 33k combined or 35 if double towing my Motor Cycle trailer with two Cruisers.

Pretty hard to beat a straight 6 for mileage.

Perhaps he want's the F450 because of the wide track front axle for the improved turning radius. And towing these amount of loads the fuel economy between the two is a wash.

No way will a 350 and 450 get the same fuel economy. More weight equals worse mileage. Even with same gear ratio.

Yes fuel mileage is essentially the same.

[Cummins12V98]

FishOnOne wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

forkedhorn wrote:
Thanks Scott, kind of figured that. Thinking about a 44 Santa Fe Mobile Suite or a 42RL Luxe and an f-450 instead of the ram.

Why do you think you need a 450? If you are stuck on Ford a 17 or newer 350 will do just fine!

I tow as much or more than your rig will weigh with my RAM 3500 at 33k combined or 35 if double towing my Motor Cycle trailer with two Cruisers.

Pretty hard to beat a straight 6 for mileage.

Perhaps he want's the F450 because of the wide track front axle for the improved turning radius. And towing these amount of loads the fuel economy between the two is a wash.

No way will a 350 and 450 get the same fuel economy. More weight equals worse mileage. Even with same gear ratio.

[FishOnOne]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

forkedhorn wrote:
Thanks Scott, kind of figured that. Thinking about a 44 Santa Fe Mobile Suite or a 42RL Luxe and an f-450 instead of the ram.

Why do you think you need a 450? If you are stuck on Ford a 17 or newer 350 will do just fine!

I tow as much or more than your rig will weigh with my RAM 3500 at 33k combined or 35 if double towing my Motor Cycle trailer with two Cruisers.

Pretty hard to beat a straight 6 for mileage.

Perhaps he want's the F450 because of the wide track front axle for the improved turning radius. And towing these amount of loads the fuel economy between the two is a wash.

[Cummins12V98]

"I suspect the Ram would have 3.73’s and the F450 would have 4.10’s, maybe even a higher ratio."

RAM DRW trucks come in 3.42, 3.73 and 4.10 with auto trans. ALL SRW RAM's come with 3.42's with auto trans.

Can't remember what's available with the 6 speed stick.

[Cummins12V98]

forkedhorn wrote:
Thanks Scott, kind of figured that. Thinking about a 44 Santa Fe Mobile Suite or a 42RL Luxe and an f-450 instead of the ram.

Why do you think you need a 450? If you are stuck on Ford a 17 or newer 350 will do just fine!

I tow as much or more than your rig will weigh with my RAM 3500 at 33k combined or 35 if double towing my Motor Cycle trailer with two Cruisers.

Pretty hard to beat a straight 6 for mileage.

[JaxDad]

The gearing in the back end has a big impact on it too.

We have a pair of older Fords with the 7.3 mated to the 6 spd. standard, 1 is an F350, the other is an F550. Both have the same chip and air box setup, and have nearly the same mileage on them.

The 350 has 3.55’s in the rear end, the 550 has 5.13’s in the back. I don’t think I’d care to find out how fast I’d need to go to hit the governor in the 350, I know it’s at 70 mph in the 550, at that speed the 350 is just chugging along.

I suspect the Ram would have 3.73’s and the F450 would have 4.10’s, maybe even a higher ratio.

[P3driver]

I have a 2017 F350, 6.7. My trailer is a 34’ keystone Laredo. 13k+ towing. My mileage varies mountains about 10, flat about 12. The wind also plays a big factor.

[Devocamper]

The 450 will have a heavier curb weight before you hitch anything up to it , if the 3500 has the capacity for the trailer it may get a bit better mpg having a somewhat lighter curb weight I think you will find many 3500 models have larger or equal payload ratings than the 450 and probably better mpg when not towing or hauling, the 450 will have higher tow ratings if you need them . Either way the difference is minimal.

[ChuckV1]

40ft Kz 5th wheel weighting in over 13k towing with 2005 F350 automatic DRW CC LB with a 6.0 engine, chip installed used in tow mode an bullet proofed .
11mpg with trailer avg 65mph
14 to 16 if I keep my foot out of it not towing

[VoodooMedicineM]

38 ft 5th 10 towing

14 not towing
05 F350 manual trans

[Artum_Snowbird]

It would take essentially as much fuel for each truck to do the same load. I would estimate 8-11 MPG depending on the depression of the foot pedal on the right.

[forkedhorn]

Thanks Scott, kind of figured that. Thinking about a 44 Santa Fe Mobile Suite or a 42RL Luxe and an f-450 instead of the ram.

[ScottG]

They are all so close that it just isn't a factor.