Whats wrong with my truck??

[2500]

I just bought a used 2012 ram 2500ST, hemi, 4x4, crew cab, long box with 3.73 gears and 68k miles, stock tires no lift. I pull a 24` travel trailer that's 3500 empty. We dont use any water in it so pretty much just food and cloths and a few odds and ends, so I`ll say it weighs around 4000 full. The bed had maybe 200lbs + cap. We just got back from a 700 mile trip from lower Wisconsin to U.P. Michigan and back, so no real hills. Computer said 7.2-7.8 mpg, my calculations said right around the same, which I think is terrible! I was keeping the speed between 70-75mph(speed limit is 70). The truck seemed to not be happy in OD and would stay in 5th or 6th. I was playing around between using tow/haul and not using it or just putting it in 6th and leaving it there and nothing really changed the mpg. Last month we did this exact same trip with my now traded in 2009 F150 , same camper and gear and ave 12.5mpg at worst! How can this truck be so much different?! And what can I do to make it get better mpgs while towing? When the truck is empty I see 13-16mpg which I like. Would a tuner help? if so which one? help!

 

[MADDOG]

try reducing speed and use tow/haul where you can.

My 2500 with the 5.7L did a bit better than that but not by much.

Try cleaning the throttle body, some Seafoam treatment for the intake and the fuel system and check your plugs for condition. All those things helped mine as did a Diablosport tuner. My highway tow and non-tow mileage improved with their programmer.

Good luck!

 

[yoda]

That mileage, towing at that speed doesn't sound all that bad to me. Wind resistance effects you as much as weight in my opinion.
Before you spend allot of time and money, calculate how many miles you tow your camper in a year. Then figure out how much you would spend on fuel at 8 mpg vs 12 mpg.

 

[reek]

there maybe subtle factors adding up to the lower mileage. I'm not sure of the actual value of each factor but others may chime in, such as: is the 1/2 more efficient at speed than a 3/4? was your f150 a 4x2 or 4x4? how much stop and go between high way stretches?

to me, at 70-75 mph with a travel trailer 7.8 mpg sounds only marginally low.

 

[dexter]

I just bought a used 2012 ram 2500ST, hemi, 4x4, crew cab, long box with 3.73 gears and 68k miles, stock tires no lift. I pull a 24` travel trailer that's 3500 empty. We dont use any water in it so pretty much just food and cloths and a few odds and ends, so I`ll say it weighs around 4000 full. The bed had maybe 200lbs + cap. We just got back from a 700 mile trip from lower Wisconsin to U.P. Michigan and back, so no real hills. Computer said 7.2-7.8 mpg, my calculations said right around the same, which I think is terrible! I was keeping the speed between 70-75mph(speed limit is 70). The truck seemed to not be happy in OD and would stay in 5th or 6th. I was playing around between using tow/haul and not using it or just putting it in 6th and leaving it there and nothing really changed the mpg. Last month we did this exact same trip with my now traded in 2009 F150 , same camper and gear and ave 12.5mpg at worst! How can this truck be so much different?! And what can I do to make it get better mpgs while towing? When the truck is empty I see 13-16mpg which I like. Would a tuner help? if so which one? help!

You should check you TT tires for speed - they are usually only ratted for 65 mph.

When I've towed OD usually doesn't work - especially when at your speeds. It is better to use your foot and anticipate hills and when to give it some gas.

 

[sandawilliams]

I just bought a used 2012 ram 2500ST, hemi, 4x4, crew cab, long box with 3.73 gears and 68k miles, stock tires no lift. I pull a 24` travel trailer that's 3500 empty. We dont use any water in it so pretty much just food and cloths and a few odds and ends, so I`ll say it weighs around 4000 full. The bed had maybe 200lbs + cap. We just got back from a 700 mile trip from lower Wisconsin to U.P. Michigan and back, so no real hills. Computer said 7.2-7.8 mpg, my calculations said right around the same, which I think is terrible! I was keeping the speed between 70-75mph(speed limit is 70). The truck seemed to not be happy in OD and would stay in 5th or 6th. I was playing around between using tow/haul and not using it or just putting it in 6th and leaving it there and nothing really changed the mpg. Last month we did this exact same trip with my now traded in 2009 F150 , same camper and gear and ave 12.5mpg at worst! How can this truck be so much different?! And what can I do to make it get better mpgs while towing? When the truck is empty I see 13-16mpg which I like. Would a tuner help? if so which one? help!

Most travel trailer tires, ST, are only rated for 65 mph. I notice on my 2500 when towing my 33' camper (8000 loaded) I average 9.1 over 20,000 miles of towing. I don't tow over 65 mph regardless of interstate 75 mph limits. You might try that for better mileage.

 

[crash68]

Your 2500 weighs easily 1200 lbs or more than your old F-150. Your transmission is a 6 speed, it was probably dropping into 4th gear(which is 1:1). Cooler temperatures and probably winter blend gas, all reasons for lower fuel economy.
When towing at 70-75 mph with a Hemi, why do you even care what your fuel economy is?

 

[yoda]

there maybe subtle factors adding up to the lower mileage. I'm not sure of the actual value of each factor but others may chime in, such as: is the 1/2 more efficient at speed than a 3/4? was your f150 a 4x2 or 4x4? how much stop and go between high way stretches?

to me, at 70-75 mph with a travel trailer 7.8 mpg sounds only marginally low.

Agreed, My current Camper is 29' long and weighs about 5600lbs dry. I get around 8 if I go 70 mph, better if I go slower. Have had several trucks and camper combinations, with all my gas trucks, similar results.

12.5 mpg min. with an F150 all things being equal. I call B.S.

That's about what I got with my 5.9 Cummins Manual trans. with a similar size camper as the O.P.
Push it much past 70 mph 10-11

 

[yoda]

Is it possible your 2500 handles the load so much better you are more comfortable and tow allot faster than you did in you F150? The mpg at 55mph is vastly different than 75mph in my experience

 

[2500]

Yeah I think everyones got a good point, I should slow it down a bit. Yes the truck handles pulling way better than my f150 did. And yes the f150 did get 12.5mpg with the same set up,going very close to same speed, I was amazed at that, it was a supercrew 4x4 with 3.55 dears and the 5.4L.
With the Ram I guess I was hoping for at least 10mpg seeing how its a pretty light trailer. We are looking at getting a toy hauler next year for my son`s and my dirt bike races. The one we were looking at is 5000 empty, add 2 bikes and gear and I`m looking around 6000 loaded. I know I will have enough power, but I`m wondering how much more my mpg will suffer with the added weight.

 

[Ram444]

Yeah I think everyones got a good point, I should slow it down a bit. Yes the truck handles pulling way better than my f150 did. And yes the f150 did get 12.5mpg with the same set up,going very close to same speed, I was amazed at that, it was a supercrew 4x4 with 3.55 dears and the 5.4L.
With the Ram I guess I was hoping for at least 10mpg seeing how its a pretty light trailer. We are looking at getting a toy hauler next year for my son`s and my dirt bike races. The one we were looking at is 5000 empty, add 2 bikes and gear and I`m looking around 6000 loaded. I know I will have enough power, but I`m wondering how much more my mpg will suffer with the added weight.

I'd say your previous Ford was an anomaly.

 

[mtofell]

Yep - 12.5mpg from an F150 5.4 towing a 4000# trailer @ 70-75MPH just doesn't add up. The mpg from your new Ram only seem a bit low to me. Probably had some wind to fight but you're also burning a lot of extra fuel at 70-75 than you would be at 60-65. And, as others have pointed out, the tires are only rated for 65mph.

Did you hand calculate the Ford mpg?

 

[2500]

Yeah I did it by hand and every time is was within .2-5 of what the computer said. The truck had 130k on it so everything was nice and loose, haha.
I think next I`ll try 68mph and see what that does, I just cant see going 10 under the speed limit (60mph) it becomes dangerous at that point with other driver rushing to get around you.

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

Ive made that same trip a 1000 times in the last 45+ years towing snowmobiles. I often noticed that when towing northbound the mpg was always much lower than my return trip southbound. So I did some research and found out that heading north from Beloit/Janesville area to the U.P. was an increase in elevation of 1200' over the entire length of the trip. So your on a constant uphill pull the whole time. Don't feel bad I nearly sucked the fuel tank dry on one trip. Only made 200 miles on 32.5 gallons with a 94 3500 cc dually with a 454ci in a 20+ mph headwind....

 

[Rzrman328]

Sloooowwwww dowwwwnnnn.

 

[2500]

Digging up an old thread here. We just picked up a brand new toy hauler thats 6400 empty. Add 1 full size dirtbike and 1 50cc bike and weekend gear and I should be around 7500lbs, and that might even be a little high guess. We took it down the freeway yesterday on the way home from the track. Going 62mph truck never left 4th gear and wouldnt think about shifting to 5th, rpms 2600-2700. MPG was 4.5!! hang calculated said 4.7!! this is nuts. The truck still does 14-17 mpg empty, which is awesome I think for such a big truck. I would never think it could be so low towing. We took some 55 mph straight flat country back roads and I got up to 5.2 mpg, still in 4th gear. I`m not really in a position to trade this thing in but somethings got to change!

 

[TRCM]

Yeah I did it by hand and every time is was within .2-5 of what the computer said. The truck had 130k on it so everything was nice and loose, haha.
I think next I`ll try 68mph and see what that does, I just cant see going 10 under the speed limit (60mph) it becomes dangerous at that point with other driver rushing to get around you.

Not any more unsafe than doing 75 on tires rated for 65.......actually, it's probably safer.

Digging up an old thread here. We just picked up a brand new toy hauler thats 6400 empty. Add 1 full size dirtbike and 1 50cc bike and weekend gear and I should be around 7500lbs, and that might even be a little high guess. We took it down the freeway yesterday on the way home from the track. Going 62mph truck never left 4th gear and wouldnt think about shifting to 5th, rpms 2600-2700. MPG was 4.5!! hang calculated said 4.7!! this is nuts. The truck still does 14-17 mpg empty, which is awesome I think for such a big truck. I would never think it could be so low towing. We took some 55 mph straight flat country back roads and I got up to 5.2 mpg, still in 4th gear. I`m not really in a position to trade this thing in but somethings got to change!

If you are truly getting that low a mpg, then you got something wrong. My 2012 tows my 6000 lb camper just fine, and get in the 11 mpg range @ 60.

 

[Ratket]

Is it lifted? What size tires?
Maybe trade it in for a cumins?
There are good tunners " custom tunes" and parts available for that year - but with how poor of mileage you are getting it may not help much- I would see if there are any recalls or updated flashes for the pcm- maybe unplugg the battery for a hour or two and try to get the pic to unlearn the original owners driving habits.

 

[2500]

No lift, stock 245-17 pizza cutter work truck wheels, the truck has 3:73 gears. I cleaned the throttle body last night, even though it was clean, air filter has 5k miles on it but I may replace just to try it, truck also had a fresh oil change before towing. Also the truck only has 77k on it. I might try to unplug battery just to see if that helps.

I have a factory powertrain warranty that expires next month but I cant really take it in with nothing wrong with it, I think I would get laughed out of the shop claiming "low towing mpg"!

We have a trip booked for the U.P. and a little into Canada next month, looks like I`m going to have to save my pennies for gas for the trip!

I`d love to trade it in, just not in the cards for a while.

 

[2500]

yes they are 3:73 for the 2500 rams, they had that or 4:10`s. My truck doesnt have MDS, I`m pretty sure none of the 2500`s did.