Two fifth wheel towing scenarios...

MPG is probably the biggest argument on this site. I agree with everything said so far, because the variables will kill any attempt at reasonable discussion. I can only speak for my equipment, and you yours. I do know that my scan gauge is not accurate for mpg compared with hand calculated, oh how I wish it was. My 7.3 got 10 mpg no matter how I drove it or any other factor pulling a 8600lb TT. 17 on the hwy unloaded. My current 7.4 got 8.5 give or take, but killed me when not towing that same TT. Now that we have the BA 5er, the 7.4 pulls the same but the mileage has dropped another 1 mpg. The 7.3 was an early one. so the 7.4 matches almost exactly with hp and torque. I love my current truck, but the non towing mileage is terrible, and will lead to a trade before long. BTW both the 7.3 and the 7.4 are 4dr 4wd crew cabs, although the Chevy is DRW.

Impulse24 wrote:
rhagfo, Oh great one do you think I drive an empty truck and trailer? You are slipping in you attempt to be sarcastic...


KD4UPL, I guarantee if you work out your MPG on every fill up there will be a difference in the results. There being only an average can be used to evaluate a trucks fuel economy and overall MPG. If you are claiming you never get less than 10 mpg, you are driving a 3/4 ton, the Duramax in a 1 ton and c400 Kodiac deliver no more than an averaged 9.8 mpg. Could it be your driving a 3/4 ton and mostr of the time your truck is bobtail?
As for a Diesel achieving you

Not at all, but 5er size and weight are a big factor in towing mileage. Speed is the the other big killer. A shorter lighter fiver will give better mpg than a tall heavier 5er.

janegowest wrote:
I wonder how the numbers and practicalities would work out in these two scenarios, pros and cons, MPG, etc....loaded weight of fifth wheel close to the same length + type of truck. I know that the MPG varies from engine to engine, but just average ball-park type figures....if that is possible.

1. 13K + 2009 F350
2. 18K + 2009 F450

Thanks for your input!

In reading about various tow vehicles, from 1/2 tons to HD's, mpg always seems to average out about 9-11 mph for diesels. I know that Mountain Master would build you a Freightliner Sport Chassis with a 450 hp Cat and 10-speed tranny that was advertised 11-12 mph at its rated 30k max payload. My '02 D'max pulls my 11.3k GVW low profile FW right around 10-11 mph at 65 mph, a bit better if I slow to 60. I've seen 14-15 mph with a tailwind and I've seen 7-8 with a headwind. As others have said, it will all depend on the specific FW, truck and your style of driving. 2 biggest factors are how fast you like to drive and the shape of your FW. I can almost guarantee you a 35' square front/back FW toyhauler will give you worse mileage than a comparable 35' standard FW with rounded front and rear caps, simply due to less turbulence.

Lyle

rhagfo wrote:


Tow mileage is useless without weight and size of 5er!

I would like to know how heavy and big your coach is also getting 10MPG with a gasser, I see 12.5mpg towing 65 sitting at 21k combined

Impulse24 wrote:
rhagfo, Oh great one do you think I drive an empty truck and trailer? You are slipping in you attempt to be sarcastic...


KD4UPL, I guarantee if you work out your MPG on every fill up there will be a difference in the results. There being only an average can be used to evaluate a trucks fuel economy and overall MPG. If you are claiming you never get less than 10 mpg, you are driving a 3/4 ton, the Duramax in a 1 ton and c400 Kodiac deliver no more than an averaged 9.8 mpg. Could it be your driving a 3/4 ton and mostr of the time your truck is bobtail?
As for a Diesel achieving you

It's a dually, crew cab, 4wd, with an aluminum flatbed and under and over bed mounted tool boxes. I do indeed hand calculate my mileage for every tank of fuel. I have since I bought the truck new.
The first tank home from the dealer (400) miles was 17 mpg.
After the work bed went on it weighs about 8,500 and I generally get between 15 and 16. If I put my Fleetwest slide in tool box in the bed I get about 12.5 at about 11,000 pounds. With my truck camper in the bed, grossing about 13,200, I get about 11 mpg. If I hitch up the boat with the camper on, grossing about 18,000 I get around 10.5. Pulling my equipment trailer and hauling steel, skid steer, mini-ex, etc. I gross around 24,000 to 25,000 and get 10 mpg.

Those are my numbers. I don't have a FW but I hope it gets the OP some idea of how widely loads, profile, and weight can drastically affect MPG.

donn0128 wrote:
Somewhere between 5 and 15.

Close - but I'll go with .....6 and 14

.

My F350 dually has 4:10 gears and best case is 8.5 mpg but I'm running 26,300 lbs combined gross weight. If the exhaust gas cleaning cycle comes on, I can drop to 7.5. The F450 is going to have even deeper gears (although I do like the front fender flares on the F450 back then).

The new ones do a little better. I just saw my next F450 King Ranch at the Dealer - cost more than my trailer :E Guess I'll live with a couple of mpg less.

Thanks, everyone! What truck in the F450 range would give the best MPG?

Towing speed is also a killer in your MPG. My son BORROWER my PU for 3 weeks this summer and only got about 14 to 15 MPG pulling his small pop up trailer. When I tow our fiver weight at 10,000# ,I usually get 12 to 14 MPG.
I tow at 55 to 60 MPH, he was towing at 70 to 75 MPH whenever possible. So speed alone is a big factor in performance.

rhagfo, Oh great one do you think I drive an empty truck and trailer? You are slipping in you attempt to be sarcastic...


KD4UPL, I guarantee if you work out your MPG on every fill up there will be a difference in the results. There being only an average can be used to evaluate a trucks fuel economy and overall MPG. If you are claiming you never get less than 10 mpg, you are driving a 3/4 ton, the Duramax in a 1 ton and c400 Kodiac deliver no more than an averaged 9.8 mpg. Could it be your driving a 3/4 ton and mostr of the time your truck is bobtail?
As for a Diesel achieving you