Diesel Towing MPG With Ultralight Trailer

[Grodyman]

Anybody have any idea what a late model 2500 series DIESEL truck pulling a mini trailer 3500lbs max trailer weight would be?

My 2017 3.5 Ecoboost gets about 20 mpg highway empty. It gets 7-9 mpg towing an untralight 4500lb trailer (Passport 153ML), which is terrible (23 gallon fuel tank).

Trying to decide what the best retirement truck is, where I will no longer have a long commute with a lot of empty miles like I do now.

Gman

[wanderingbob]

My Ram 2500 will get 16 MPG at 62 MPH pulling a 4,000 lb TT .Not towing we get 19 or 20 . Any speed above 65 MPH towing will drop it to 13 MPG .

[wowens79]

Unless you are towing 50k miles a year the cost of the diesel will never be recouped in fuel savings. I think that Eco is probably about the perfect setup for you trailer.

[APT]

I expect 12mpg. I get 7-8mpg towing 6500 pound TT with 6.0L gas. My buddy has pulled my trailer with 2012 GM 1-ton diesel and get 11-12 @ same speeds.

[wanderingaimles]

Cost will all go down if you just cross a state line.
Otherwise, slow down, speed hurts mileage, and if you are retiring, you shouldn't be in a hurry, so slow down and enjoy the trip.
Your Eco Boost with a 10 speed is one of the more miserly choices short of getting a half ton with a diesel.

[guidry]

If you tow in tow-haul mode you should see about the same mileage as other towing in that mode, no matter the weight of the trailer.

[agesilaus]

Frontal area of the RV contribute lots of wind resistance and kills your mileage