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Post your MPG in Diesels.

countrycampers3
Explorer
Explorer
Hi everyone,
Looking at getting a diesel truck. Would appreciate your feedback on what you have, and what you get.
Please give me a Truck year, make, model, transmission, rear end ratio.

Empty MPG, City/Hwy.
Loaded MPG City/Hwy.

Plus were your at, Mountains, flatland, rolling hills.

Thanks Doug:C

Well thanks for all the info everyone. I see this post is not dead and it keeps on giving.
Update. I ended up getting a 2008 Ford F-350 dually Flatbed. And a New 2013 NorthStar Arrow 8.5 Love them both expecially the extra storage compartments on the outside of the camper.
Now these numbers are winter diesel and that tends to be a little less economy I would assume.
Empty 55mph - 15-19
Empty interstate 75mph - 12
T/C loaded - 9.5 any speed
Heres a photo.


2008 Ford F-350 Dually Flatbed

2013 NorthStar Arrow 8.5 with side storage compartments.
136 REPLIES 136

My_Blue_Heaven
Explorer
Explorer
15-16 empty, although I have gotten as high as over 20 on 3 occasions
10-12 w/TC
10 pulling 18K

Our VW Jetta Turbo Diesel just got 49.9 on a trip last week!
2001 F350 Lariat CC 4WD 7.3 PSD dually, chipped, 4" SS exhaust, 350 hp, Rancho 9000's, front receiver, front & rear Roadmasters
2009 Arctic Fox 990S, storm windows, Cummins/Onan, FastGuns, Torklifts

Griffon12
Explorer
Explorer
05' 5.9 CTD reg. cab 4wd auto 4.10 ratio 35" tires
Smarty #5 (90 hp)
12-17 empty
10-13 loaded (@2500lbs)
Best mileage @ 900 egt
@ 1600 rpm
1992 Chevy K3500 4X4, utility bed w/custom 1994 Alaskan C/O
2004 Ram 2500 4x4 QC 2010 Lance 825 Kore Chase suspension Hellwig Big Wig Swaybar Big Wig bags Toyo tires

Parts_Jimmy
Explorer
Explorer
Unloaded city 17, unloaded hwy 19-21. Loaded with camper 14-15. Loaded with camper pulling boat 12-13.
2000 Ford F350 Power Stroke Diesel
2005 Northstar 8.5 Adventurer
2007 Sea Pro 195FS

My Photo Album

albackore
Explorer
Explorer
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Mega Cab, Short Bed, Heavy Duty
Cummins Turbo Diesel 5.9L, 24V, 6-cyl, High Output

Empty ...

Highway = 25-27 MPG (best mileage at 75-80 mph)
City = 16-19 MPG

Loaded ... Still looking for a TC! 😞

Unfortunately, this particular truck only has a payload of 2100 pounds which means I'd need to find a TC that weighs about 600# dry! 🙂
Jeff J

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab, SLT 5.9L Cummins
2009 Lance 825

revump
Explorer
Explorer
My CAT C7 averages 7.1
Bob

F450WHEELS
Explorer
Explorer
2008 F450 4x4 6.4 diesel, Lance camper and pulling 7ooo lb. trailer I get 9MPG.

Mosandman
Explorer
Explorer
17oaks wrote:
SolidAxleDurango wrote:
Mosandman wrote:
06 F-550 4x4 CCDD automatic 4:30 speed 60 to 65. Lance 1191, towing trailer with Jeep. Total weight 23000#. South east Missouri to northern California and back. 9.1 mpg AC running and no cruise control.


According to 17oaks, there's a probability that you're lying. 😞

Let me lay some facts on you here:

1) READ THE POSTS

2) I have called NO ONE on the forum at any time a LIAR, in fact had you bothered to READ my posts I stated I did not think ANYONE was fudging, but all a question of calculating

3) GOT IT? If not let me know off thread and we can discuss

As for the F550 getting 9.1 mpg, I would say he is dead on with that


BTW: I'm complaining not boasting! I took the southern route I-40 then up through Nevada. Tractor Beams and tailwinds the whole way! 🙂

stevenicol
Explorer
Explorer
countrycampers3 wrote:
Hi everyone,
Looking at getting a diesel truck. Would appreciate your feedback on what you have, and what you get.
Truck: 2002 Dodge 235 CTD (Cummins Turbo Diesel), 4 Speed modified stock automatic transmission: rear gear ratio is unknown.

Empty MPG, 17/21
Loaded MPG 12/15

We live in Portland, Oregon so most of our travel is up-and-down mountains.

17oaks
Explorer
Explorer
SolidAxleDurango wrote:
Mosandman wrote:
06 F-550 4x4 CCDD automatic 4:30 speed 60 to 65. Lance 1191, towing trailer with Jeep. Total weight 23000#. South east Missouri to northern California and back. 9.1 mpg AC running and no cruise control.


According to 17oaks, there's a probability that you're lying. 😞

Let me lay some facts on you here:

1) READ THE POSTS

2) I have called NO ONE on the forum at any time a LIAR, in fact had you bothered to READ my posts I stated I did not think ANYONE was fudging, but all a question of calculating

3) GOT IT? If not let me know off thread and we can discuss

As for the F550 getting 9.1 mpg, I would say he is dead on with that
Don
Texas
US Army (RET)
'15 F350 4x4, CC, LWB, DRW, King Ranch
2008 Arctic Fox 1150 TC
Vietnam Combat Veteran

bka0721
Explorer II
Explorer II
SolidAxleDurango wrote:
Mosandman wrote:
06 F-550 4x4 CCDD automatic 4:30 speed 60 to 65. Lance 1191, towing trailer with Jeep. Total weight 23000#. South east Missouri to northern California and back. 9.1 mpg AC running and no cruise control.


According to 17oaks, there's a probability that you're lying. 😞
SolidAxleDurango numbers are good with me, as I am driving something similar and weigh more and his engine typically gets better mpg than mine does. On a good day, tail wind, all down hill, never stopping or slowing and rainbows around every bend, I have recorded in the high 8 mpgs. Funny in that my best mpg is often in the mountains too. So when someone is complaining that they are only getting 12 or 14 mpg, I'd just would like to shake em' till they realize how good they have it.

b
08 F550-4X4-CC-6.4L Dsl-206"WB GVWR17,950#
09 Lance 1191
1,560wSolar~10-6vGC2-1,160AmpH~Tri-Star-Two(2)60/MPPT~Xantrex 2000W
300wSolar~2-6vAGM-300AmpH~Tri-Star45/MPPT~Xantrex 1500W
16 BMW R1200GSW Adventure
16 KTM 500 EXC
06 Honda CRF450X
09 Haulmark Trlr

Mosandman
Explorer
Explorer
06 F-550 4x4 CCDD automatic 4:30 speed 60 to 65. Lance 1191, towing trailer with Jeep. Total weight 23000#. South east Missouri to northern California and back. 9.1 mpg AC running and no cruise control.

17oaks
Explorer
Explorer
EricCO wrote:
I'm in a hurry to get to the lake. I get about 10 - 12 mpg. Not sure how you guys with the same motor are getting 22. I've never seen that even when I'm feather footing it unloaded.

I don't think anyone if fudging their numbers. But when calculating mpg by hand numbers seem to be all over the place...I attribute this to errors in getting the data. Most will pull their miles and calculate off of gallons used and that is not easy as gallons used unless you fill it up to the top of the fill neck vary greatly.

Wanna find folks that fudge (LIE) numbers then you have to enter into the cave of Jeepers.
Don
Texas
US Army (RET)
'15 F350 4x4, CC, LWB, DRW, King Ranch
2008 Arctic Fox 1150 TC
Vietnam Combat Veteran

EricCO
Explorer II
Explorer II
I'm in a hurry to get to the lake. I get about 10 - 12 mpg. Not sure how you guys with the same motor are getting 22. I've never seen that even when I'm feather footing it unloaded.
2002 Ford F-350 CC LB PSD 2007 Travel Lite 960rx Ultra 2018 Keystone Cougar 29BHS

dirtyhandz
Explorer
Explorer
2006 3500 4x4 DRW cummins manual six speed and a 4:10 rear.
With lance 915 fully loaded, about 14 -15
40 foot toy hauler around 17,000 pounds, about 10
Thats running at 2200 RPMS (about 70 mph). Above that it falls off pretty fast. The toy hauler is a bit taller than the TC.

AnEv942
Nomad
Nomad
Didn’t say how far back on year(s)..Our 01 Ford f250 7.2 diesel STD cab long bed 4x4, manual trans,xfer case &hubs. 3.73 w/ls rear.

First several years empty 17.1-17.3mpg regardless city/ hiway, uphill or down. With camper on mileage in the hills could drop to 15-16. Depends how much how long but still would average high 16s.

Still averages 17.1 empty-mixed hiway/ hills/ city. Live in area I have hills to climb either direction to closest city- 20+ miles but involves some hiway. Were 5 miles to small town where most errand driving is done, hardware/gas station groceries etc.

Camper on though last few years mileage has dropped to an avg. of low 15's to low 16s worst was 12.2 with boat in tow in mountains (and in a hurry). Though truck is aging I mostly attribute to both camper & truck have put on weight-however I did note a change when the ulsd fuel change happened. Haven’t seen mid 17s mpg since.

I tend to drive bout 62-65 on freeway with camper-2 lane bout 58. Truck seems happiest 58-62 and where mileage is best-also where tach shows about 1800-2000rpm.
I don’t have any idea why someone might fudge mpg numbers-rather odd assumption imo, some missed opportunity to thump chest? I am puzzled with the emphasis on cleaniness & efficiency why newer trucks seem to have generally lower mpg numbers.
01 Ford F250 4x4 DRW Diesel, 01 Elkhorn 9U
Our camper projects page http://www.ourelkhorn.itgo.com