Fuel mileage

[deweysmith5]

I have searched for answers in various forums but most are out of date or full of trolls/debates. We are looking at purchasing a heavy duty truck for towing a new fifth wheel. The fifth wheel will be on the lighter side. I just would like simple answers - what fuel mileage do you get with a heavy duty gasser or if you drive a diesel, what mileage do you get while towing. No debates please, just answers.

[rhagfo]

fla-gypsy wrote:
I get between 8.5 and 9.5 carefree mpg's towing 9,000 lbs with my 6.8L V-10 gas power plant with a 4.10 rear gear and 5 sp auto.

Well I get 11 to 13 towing an 11,000# 5er about 13 to 14 city and 20 highway (if I keep at about 60 or so). These are carefree miles at 274,000 miles. Cummins 5.9 running NV4500 5 speed manual with 3.55 rear gears.

[GoPackGo]

Here's his question - "what fuel mileage do you get with a heavy duty gasser or if you drive a diesel, what mileage do you get while towing."

I think we're OK.

Tim.

[powderman426]

wandering1 wrote:
LOL, does any one understand the question? The Op asked about a heavy duty truck. Did he mean a pick up or a HDT?

My 3/4 ton is a Heavy duty. It even had a badge on the tail gate saying so at one time. Based on that I gave good info.:B

[Sturgeon-Phish]

12 mpg towing, 18 mpg mixed.
With the Dmax Ally combo keeping the RPMs between 1800 - 2000 will give you the best mpg. That is around 60 - 65 mph. Keeping in that sweet spot really helps with fuel consumption.
Jim

[Itching2go]

8.5 MPG with my 6.0 Chevy 2500 gasser with a 4.10 rear end, pulling a 10,000 lb fiver.
Traded up, and now get 11.5 mpg with my Chevy 3500 D/A, pulling a 12,000 lb fiver.

[Bumpyroad]

deweysmith5 wrote:
. The gas/diesel costs are based on the local station down the road ($3.45 for gas and 3.69 for diesel). .

closer to 50 cents difference when I checked around here.
bumpy

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

deweysmith5 wrote:
Interesting study...if you have time.

Pretty much what my figures are and people on here that own GM diesel tell me. My diesel makes me money and costs LESS to operate than a gas truck.

Pretty much what my friends and people on here that own Ford diesels tell me. They cost them MORE to operate than a gas truck.

With that being said and with Mr. Bosch adding to this study, I wonder if they figured when the CP4 pump takes a dump and costs the owner of a certain brand 12 grand? :B

[Strictly_simon]

2011 F350 6.7 Bone stock.

Towing: 11 MPG ( Could be better but I try to stay off the highway and enjoy the drive. )
Mixed: 17 MPG
Highway: 20-21 MPG

[wandering1]

LOL, does any one understand the question? The Op asked about a heavy duty truck. Did he mean a pick up or a HDT?

[deweysmith5]

Interesting study...if you have time.

[4x4ord]

10 towing with my diesel. 18 running empty on the highway.

[Bedlam]

Remember that the better mileage will give you greater range on the same size fuel tank. If costs work out the same for you between mileage and fuel costs, vehicle range may be another factor if even just for convenience.

[deweysmith5]

Based on some of the information here and some "loose" assumptions the diesel would save around $7000 in fuel costs for about 100000 miles than the gasser. One loose assumption is 50,000 miles towing vs 50,000 miles not towing. I would guess that the towing number is too high making the savings even greater (if I assume 25% better mileage rather than a solid difference). The gas/diesel costs are based on the local station down the road ($3.45 for gas and 3.69 for diesel). These are fuel costs only and the non towing mpg are a little high. Of course, given the added longevity and power of the diesels, even a smaller number helps make the case.

[Tvov]

2008 F250 5.4 gas 2wd crewcab with 3.73 rear, tow package, and 5 speed "torque shift" auto transmission, towing 21ft TT.

About 9.5 mpg on extended highway trips towing. 7-8mpg on mixed roads towing.

About 15.5 mpg highway not towing. 10.5 around town. Not sure why the ".5" always seems to come up when I do mileage checks! Air conditioner use doesn't seem to affect mileage much at all - but... I almost always have the a/c on while towing, so I haven't done a comparison really.

Interesting about air conditioning - we have a 2010 Nissan Rogue which we absolutely love. Can get 28.5 mpg on the highway fully loaded (no towing). That is without a/c... when I use the a/c on the highway, fuel mileage drops to 24 mpg! a/c kills mileage for small engines, my big V-8 engines don't seem to notice. Note, though: this is with windows Closed. If I had to travel highway with windows open, I would expect highway mileage to plummet even without a/c.