Towing mpg?

[Wild_Aber]

I have a guy asking me about fuel mileage while towing. He said his camper weighs around 5k lbs . He has a 2014 Ram Bighorn with the 5.7L and he gets about 8mpg. He Is looking at a truck that gets better fuel mileage while towing and is open to the major brands in diesel but wants more info about the Dodge 3.0 Eco diesels. I would love some real world input on your rigs and how they do towing? Thanks.

 

[Brooks]

2015 Ford F-350 with a 6.7 Powerstroke diesel pulling a horse trailer with 4 horses or a 30 foot travel trailer I’ve been averaging 10 to 12 mpg with all the power I ever need but with all the torque these diesels put out you can run down the road like you’re empty but the fuel mileage will suffer if you just keep your foot on the floor.

 

[KenLee]

2005 Dirty max 2500 with 245k miles gets 12-13 mpg dragging 11k pounds.
10.5-11.5 if in mountains towing same.
19-20 mpg bare.
Pulling something around 5-6k pounds hardly affects mpg

 

[Wild_Aber]

Thank you. I have heard good things about those trucks especially that year with the Torqshift 6.

 

[Wild_Aber]

2005 Dirty max 2500 with 245k miles gets 12-13 mpg dragging 11k pounds.
10.5-11.5 if in mountains towing same.
19-20 mpg bare.
Pulling something around 5-6k pounds hardly affects mpg

I did actually wonder if that light would affect a diesel or not.

 

[Billy Goat]

Shape of the camper is probably a bigger factor than the weight. Some might as well be a parachute.

I'd bet if he is only getting 8, even with a gasser, it's the windshear at mph that's causing it. An extended height camper shell might actually help.

 

[svivian]

2013 F350 6.7 Diesel pulling a 5K boat gets 15mpg.

 

[Marble]

My buddy has the 3.0 eco diesel. He pulls a 20' car trailer around with a race car. It pulls the trailer ok, but not nearly as well as his F150 did with the coyote motor. He hasn't commented on what his fuel economy pulling a trailer is since he only pulls it a short distance to the shop and the track. But it does get somewhere close to 30 mpg on the freeway which is better than the F150 was.

Having a horse trailer and pulling it with both a half ton and one ton, I would not want to pull the 4 house trailer with a half ton.

With my 2017 F350 6.7, I'll get 10 to 12 pulling.

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[Bearwhisky]

2012 f250 6.2 gas. 30’ 5th wheel. Got 4 mpg through the Ozarks. 10 mpg in kansas with a tail wind


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[PredatorSlayer]

2020 Cummins 2500. 12 mpg pulling 10k lb bumper pull at 65-70 mph. If I go over 70, MPGs drop to 9-10.

Unloaded I am getting 22-24 on the hwy depending on speed and headwinds etc.

 

[matpc1]

Shape of the camper is probably a bigger factor than the weight. Some might as well be a parachute.

I'd bet if he is only getting 8, even with a gasser, it's the windshear at mph that's causing it. An extended height camper shell might actually help.

I've got an 18 duramax and i get better fuel mileage pulling way heavier loads in my stock trailer than my 5,000 lb bumper pull, at least at highway speeds. You can hardly ever feel the load, it just drinks more fuel.

 

[wyosteve]

Friend of mine had the Ram Ecodiesel and it towed ok, but had all kinds of emissions trouble. Traded it on a 3500 Hemi and loves it. I have the 6.4 Hemi in my Power Wagon and towing my 5k boat, I avg. 11. It has the 8 speed transmission which helps and the boat isn't as wind resistant as the front of a camper.

 

[Pony Soldier]

2012 ram 3500. Pulling a 16 ft stock trailer loaded 12- 13 mpg

 

[manitou1]

I got about 9 with the 2015 Ram 1500 5.7

I get 8-9 mpg with my 2020 Silverado 1500, 5.3

 

[Justinjs]

Unless he's going to tow for 300k miles, not worth the trade up. 8mpg vs 13-15? Diesel is $5/gal and gas is $2.99. Get an F150 with a 2.7, 5k is nothing for a 1/2 ton anymore.

 

[Wild_Aber]

Unless he's going to tow for 300k miles, not worth the trade up. 8mpg vs 13-15? Diesel is $5/gal and gas is $2.99. Get an F150 with a 2.7, 5k is nothing for a 1/2 ton anymore.

That's a true point I mentioned but I really think he is trying to convince his wife that he needs a new truck .

 

[Wild_Aber]

2012 f250 6.2 gas. 30’ 5th wheel. Got 4 mpg through the Ozarks. 10 mpg in kansas with a tail wind


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That gave me a good laugh

 

[rayporter]

dont forget the frontal area is important, too. the more wind you push the more you burn in fuel.

it costs to tow so he wont gain much if any with a new truck. and certainly none if it is a diesel because the every day cost of fuel will be much higher.

 

[BadDogPSD]

F450 with 6.7 diesel 9.5-10.5mpg towing 16k toyhauler, around 12mpg towing utility trailer with Polaris Ranger

 

[lak2004]

2013 F150 Ecoboost with a leveling kit and slightly larger A/T tires. I get about 12-14 pulling a 4k camper in CO.