18 mpg Dodge while towing?

[azdryheat]

Friend claims 18 mpg while towing 35' toy hauler with 2003 Dodge Cummins Diesel with manual transmission. He says he never goes over 55 mph. Is he for real?

[fj12ryder]

I'm a Dodge Ram owner, and I'd be thrilled to death to get 12-13 towing my 15,000 lb. toyhauler. But it ain't gonna happen. 🙂

OTOH I used to get 12-12.5 mpg towing our lower profile 12,000 lb. 5th wheel.

[Snowman9000]

As a Duramax owner, I can say I would have been delighted with 12-13 towing our fiver. 🙂 I bet any honest PSD owner would say the same.

[Mr_Beebo]

Turtle beat me to that one.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

2008Wildcat wrote:
Really....

Why so doubtful. It is a 6 cylinder motor. It will always have better mileage than an 8 cylinder.

Really? You might want to retract that ridicules statement after you do a little reading.

[BarneyS]

You always tow in 2wd unless you are off road. The only time 4wd drive is used normally is to back into a spot uphill or in slipprey grass.

When backing, it helps to get air circulating into the radiator to keep the trans temp down because the engine is turning just a bit faster than it would be if in 2wd.
Barney

[Baja937]

I'm going to ask a somewhat stupid question. Although I always say there's no such thing as a stupid question if you don't know the answer. LOL.

Do you guys tow in 2WD or 4WD? If 4, 4Auto or Lock?

[2008Wildcat]

Really....

Why so doubtful. It is a 6 cylinder motor. It will always have better mileage than an 8 cylinder.

My rig will tow all day long at 12-13 mpg hand calculated. this is the 6.7 motor with full deletes and mild tow tune. Nothing crazy. I also don't let the grass grow under the tires, typically running at 60-70 mph.

Most of the fluctuations will come on where you are driving. If you are in the mountains, of course not, but on the flat interstates with mild grades, its all day long.

The older 5.9 makes much better mileage when set up correctly.

[soje]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Nope........

Best bet 13 mpg towing

IS his claim 'hand calculated' OR via the 'Lie-O-Meter'?

I agree-gotta be reading the lie-ometer
a common mistake
OR could be smokin the bad stuff

[tatest]

Maybe if he never goes over 35 mph. Maybe not.

[noteven]

All my bikes, cars, trucks, tractors, skimobiles use all the fuel I put in them.

[homefor2]

The previous/original owner of my truck had pages of stats on fuel consumption but I have never calculated it myself. I know I could do that and maybe see a problem due to drop in mileage but frankly I don't want the hassle. I must be the odd man out but I don't give a rat's azz what kind of mileage I am getting. Other than slowing down (I drive 55 to 60 mph max) and not flooring it on take off, there's nothing much I can do about it.

I like the bumper sticker that says "There's more to life than good gas mileage"

[Michelle_S]

Fuel mileage is what it is and the best control of it is with your Right Foot. I only watch mine because a sudden change may be a sign of an impending problem.

[mowermech]

mkirsch wrote:
Why do people feel that they need to embellish, exaggerate, lie about this?

I think a better question is; "WHY do people feel the need to ARGUE about this?"
If the guy believes he is getting 18 MPG, just leave him alone! He is happy, why mess with him? I don't think his illusion or delusion is any of my business. It has absolutely no effect on me or my vehicles. Maybe that is one reason I quit checking fuel economy. When the vehicle needs fuel, I fill it up.
I used to keep a logbook in each vehicle, wherein I entered every gallon of fuel bought, the odometer reading, and the place where bought, the date, and sometimes the time of day.
What a useless bunch of numbers that turned out to be.
Now, when fuel economy is mentioned or questioned, my answer is always the same: "Damifino!"

[Dave_H_M]

Surely he started that fairy tale with, "once upon a time." :R

[bucky]

My grand daddy once said " never let the truth get in the way of a good story. "

I probably travel the very same flat ground that elidodge does and get the same mileage with my Dodge. You can do all kinds of tricks to a vehicle to improve mileage, but they all go out the window when you hook it up to something. More boost, more air. More air, more fuel. Speed is the enemy of economy, so I guess my best mileage could be done with OD off and running 1600 RPM with the converter locked in drive at about 40 mph. Whe I retire I'll try it on some deserted flat highway out west somewhere. I'd get run over doing that around here. I have a 98.5 24V 2WD ECLB Dodge with a 37' Jayco 5er weighing 12,600 loaded and on the road. I bought the truck because I felt it could give me the best mileage of anything out there at the lowest price going in.