Tips for getting the best MPG towing?

ram5.7hemi · Jun 23, 2016

I am pulling a 25 foot camper used for work.about 6500 pounds..: Lots of highway miles. Approx 25,000 miles a year highways.

I have a 1500 quad cab 5.7 hemi with 6,4 bed. 4x4.

I have been towing with tow haul mode always on. I use cruise control between 68-72 most of the time depending on wind etc... So far I'm averaging like 7-8.. Maybe one trip managed about 9 mpg...

Is anyone else getting better mileage..?

cableguy_hd · Jun 23, 2016

you may could get a tuner but depending on what year truck depends on the cost.... 400$-1000$ to get maybe 2 more mpg.

ram5.7hemi · Jun 23, 2016

cableguy_hd said:
you may could get a tuner but depending on what year truck depends on the cost.... 400$-1000$ to get maybe 2 more mpg.

Oh forgot to put the truck year.. It's a 2015 with the 8 speed transmission..

silver surfer · Jun 23, 2016

That's about right. I tow 4500 lbs and get about 10-11.

gofishn · Jun 23, 2016

Keep RPM'S low as you can, wile still maintaining a constant rate of acceleration.

Watch the starts and the hills. Nothing to it. just time lost travelling.

Statcher1 · Jun 23, 2016

Slowing down alittle will help the mileage also. And how is your truck sitting with the trailer loaded? Is it riding nose high? Or does she sit level? A good set of air bags in the rear to level her back out may help out some of your nose is sitting up in the air throwing what little aerodynamics you will have off.

Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

drittal · Jun 23, 2016

Slowing down will help at the pump.

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14hemiexpress · Jun 23, 2016

Gotta slow down. And really pay attention to the road. Gain speed down hills and coast up hill will help a ton. Keeping your truck from down shifting will be key.

ram5.7hemi · Jun 23, 2016

gofishn said:
Keep RPM'S low as you can, wile still maintaining a constant rate of acceleration.

Watch the starts and the hills. Nothing to it. just time lost travelling.

Thanks. What's a good rpm towards for? Should I not use the cruise control... I think my rpms are around 3

ram5.7hemi · Jun 23, 2016

Statcher1 said:
Slowing down alittle will help the mileage also. And how is your truck sitting with the trailer loaded? Is it riding nose high? Or does she sit level? A good set of air bags in the rear to level her back out may help out some of your nose is sitting up in the air throwing what little aerodynamics you will have off.

Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

It's pretty damn close to level... It does not come up in the front any I measured before hook up and after to check when I set up the weight distribution hitch.

ram5.7hemi · Jun 23, 2016

14hemiexpress said:
Gotta slow down. And really pay attention to the road. Gain speed down hills and coast up hill will help a ton. Keeping your truck from down shifting will be key.

So it's probably better to not use cruise control..

Skrap · Jun 24, 2016

ram5.7hemi said:
I am pulling a 25 foot camper used for work.about 6500 pounds..: Lots of highway miles. Approx 25,000 miles a year highways.

I have a 1500 quad cab 5.7 hemi with 6,4 bed. 4x4.

I have been towing with tow haul mode always on. I use cruise control between 68-72 most of the time depending on wind etc... So far I'm averaging like 7-8.. Maybe one trip managed about 9 mpg...

Is anyone else getting better mileage..?

Ok, I'll be that guy. With 25K miles per year in towing/traveling with a 6500# trailer you seem like a perfect candidate for a diesel. You may be able to get close to doubling your mileage with a Cummins.

ram5.7hemi · Jun 24, 2016

Skrap said:
Ok, I'll be that guy. With 25K miles per year in towing/traveling with a 6500# trailer you seem like a perfect candidate for a diesel. You may be able to get close to doubling your mileage with a Cummins.

I have considered a diesel... 6.7 Cummings to be exact... The two problems are I just bought my 2015 and got all the features I wanted trading from a 2014 that didn't have what I really wanted... I didn't plan on towing but quickly got tired of motels... And second I can actually profit of the camper from per diems for work...

The second.. I have read mixed things about the diesels some say they great others say the new emissions crew with everything and I've heard the new emissions require extra mantis ends that cost more.. Haven't seriously researched a diesel though.

Bigdaddy · Jun 24, 2016

I love my 2011 1500 when I had it it did what I wanted to do.

drittal · Jun 24, 2016

3k rpm is on level ground seems high to me.

What trans and gearing do you have? Are you locking out gears or just letting tow/haul do its thing?

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TRCM · Jun 24, 2016

drittal said:
3k rpm is on level ground seems high to me.

What trans and gearing do you have? Are you locking out gears or just letting tow/haul do its thing?

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it is too high

My 2012 with the 6 spd trans and 3.92 gears runs 2k or so when towing @ 60 mph I think.

Definitely not anywhere near 2500 or more. And I do the speed limit...no more, no less.

Without the trailer, I've gotten as high as 21.5 mpg hand calc'd.

ram5.7hemi · Jun 24, 2016

drittal said:
3k rpm is on level ground seems high to me.

What trans and gearing do you have? Are you locking out gears or just letting tow/haul do its thing?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

I'm not 100% sure it was at 3k.. I don't lock out gears not sure how to mess with those settings... I have the 8 speed transmission with 3:21.. I do use tow haul mode all the time

ram5.7hemi · Jun 24, 2016

TRCM said:
it is too high

My 2012 with the 6 spd trans and 3.92 gears runs 2k or so when towing @ 60 mph I think.

Definitely not anywhere near 2500 or more. And I do the speed limit...no more, no less.

Without the trailer, I've gotten as high as 21.5 mpg hand calc'd.

Good to know. I'm not 100% sure it was at 3k just going off memory. I have the 8 speed with the 3:21 gears. Same here I do the speed limit not over. Usually if the speed limit is 75 I will do 70-72 if it's not windy.

Without towing mine was up there about 20 mpg at 75 mph

drittal · Jun 24, 2016

I don't tow at 72 either, but my 6sp 6.4l runs at lower rpm with 6th locked out in tow haul.

http://www.mpgforspeed.com/

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Tips for getting the best MPG towing?

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