Fuel ecenomy when towing?

[613RAMSPORT]

We are planning a moose hunt in northern Ontario, and I'm looking to put some numbers together for budget.

Assuming I'm towing 4000 pounds, like 500-1000 pounds of gear in the box, and 3 guys in the truck. How bad would you expect fuel economy to be driving 2000 kms

I have the 5.7, crew cab, 3.21 rear end and i'll likely put stock tires back on for the drive and it's mostly highway (however i'm not sure how hilly it will be)

I'm banking on 550-600kms per tank. Anyone with more experience towing have a better guess?

 

[sbarron]

In a word... it'll be ****.

Mine (5.7, 3.92's) goes from ~16mpg to ~12 hauling a 1500# trailer (flat nose) with +/- 1000 pounds in it.

 

[613RAMSPORT]

In a word... it'll be ****.

Mine (5.7, 3.92's) goes from ~16mpg to ~12 hauling a 1500# trailer (flat nose) with +/- 1000 pounds in it.

Ah...great instead of pulling an open trailer with gear I was thinking about borrowing an enclosed one and set up some temporary beds in it instead of using a tent. might need to rethink that now

 

[MADDOG]

In another word...it will be terrible. Can't avoid a drastic drop in MPG when towing, open or closed, and with more payload in the truck. The engine has to work harder to move the load.

So it's gonna go to hell and there's not much you can do about it.

 

[adrianp89]

I get 10-12 with my boat loaded and 4 people. Probably around 6k, with that said I got damn near 17 on the highway pulling a pair of jet skis.

 

[69GWC]

I got 13 to 14 mpg pulling this 6x12 loaded down from Kansas ro the east coast and back.
5.7, 8sp and 3:21s. kept it around 70mph or so.

 

[TRCM]

Dang....my 5.7, 3.92, 6 spd gets 10-11 towing a 6500# camper........drops to 9-10 in the mountains hills around here

My boat @ 3500# is ~13-14 mpg

 

[GsRAM]

Fuel economy and towing are opposites. When towing or loaded heavy you don't get good fuel economy.

Based on what you describe, I agree with the others. I'd plan on somewhere in the 10mpg range. Have a good trip!

 

[goldtr8]

I get about 9 mpg highway with 3:21 and 8 speed with a 30ft camper at 7000 lbs and truck fully loaded and the nose of the camper is close to 10ft 5in high. With my open trailer with a car on it I get 12 to 14 on the highway. Normal driving with my oversize off road tires I get about 17 highway. Plus its a HEMI

 

[rotwiler]

With my 13 quad cab 5.7 2wd and 3:55s I get 13 towing 4,000 pound v nose travel trailer with 500 pounds of gear and around 600 pounds inside cab.

 

[socalledchad]

15 cc 3.21 8speed 4x4 5.7 I get 11-14 pulling 4k 6x12 single axle. I bit better with an open 8x10 snowmobile trailer at 2k. A bit worse with a 27 ft camper at 6k ...Can almost count on 11 or 12

 

[Cardhu]

Truck as signature, towing 22 foot camper ~5400 lbs. Reliably 11- 12 mpg.

 

[MrLaramie]

With my 09' 5.7L with 3.92 and stock sized wheels, I get about 9mpg at 70mph while dragging my bay boat of about 3k lbs fully loaded. Usual highway is 18mpg when I'm conservative and on flat ground.

 

[silver surfer]

I get about 9 mpg highway with 3:21 and 8 speed with a 30ft camper at 7000 lbs and truck fully loaded and the nose of the camper is close to 10ft 5in high. With my open trailer with a car on it I get 12 to 14 on the highway. Normal driving with my oversize off road tires I get about 17 highway. Plus its a HEMI

You pulling that 30 footer with a 1500? Any problems with something that big?

 

[goldtr8]

You pulling that 30 footer with a 1500? Any problems with something that big?

Its a light trailer so no issues at all. For specifics the living area is 24 1/2 feet. But if you measure from the tip of the hitch to the back of the bumper it's actually 28 ft 10 inches plus add a little extra length for the spare tires.

It tow's very well I have no issues at all. Plus it has the extended spacing for the tandem trailer axles which makes it very stable. I will also say I did upgrade from the P metric tires to load range E tires and that made a difference in handling that made the rear of the truck seem to feel more stable. Or maybe mentally more stable

 

[West27]

2014 Ram 1500 with 3.92 with 34” tires pulling 8.5x16 encloses vnose with UTV inside ~5000lbs (HF 89 tune)
Boise to Salt lake - 9mpg at 72
Salt lake to Boise - 6mpg at 72 with head wind

 

[22hemi13]

BAD

 

[Spanky1]

6.7 Cummins, SRW, pulling a 16,000 lb, 40' fifth wheel. About 13'5" high. Got about 12 from NJ to Florida

 

[aladin_sane]

I get 11 to 12 pulling the 4600 lb boat and trailer seen here.

 

[Cpt. Flapjack]

I get between 9 and 11. About 7000lbs