Thinking of buying 2018 3500 CC, fuel mileage expectation?

[Moterhd]

I've been a lifelong Ford guy, considering trying a 3500 crew cab long bed. What can me my expectation for mileage empty and towing 10K? Empty in my F350 (stick) is usually 16-17 highway and 10-11 towing 10K.

Thanks, Pat

 

[Moterhd]

On a side-note, it's unfortunate Ram is not offering a manual transmission option for 2019.

 

[Bock]

On a side-note, it's unfortunate Ram is not offering a manual transmission option for 2019.

Ford hasn't offer a manual for years. What year is your truck?

 

[BossHogg]

I've been a lifelong Ford guy, considering trying a 3500 crew cab long bed. What can me my expectation for mileage empty and towing 10K? Empty in my F350 (stick) is usually 16-17 highway and 10-11 towing 10K.

Thanks, Pat

The experts will first say the biggest influence on your MPG is your foot. We all have a driving style and thus a range of MPGs. I pull two trailers for distances, one is a boat that comes in at 5,000 pounds, the other is a Montana 3790RD fifth wheel that comes in at 15,000 pounds. I drive mostly surface streets in rural areas at speeds between 50 and 60 MPH typically and see MPGs around 11 to 13 pulling the Montana. Less if there is a headwind and more if I have a tailwind. Pulling the boat I get an average of 16 MPG, the wind has no influence because the boat is low profile. Running empty my MPG's average 23 MPG, again, I live rural and do not see much stop-and-go traffic which is the MPG killer.

 

[tourrider]

I've been a lifelong Ford guy, considering trying a 3500 crew cab long bed. What can me my expectation for mileage empty and towing 10K? Empty in my F350 (stick) is usually 16-17 highway and 10-11 towing 10K.

Thanks, Pat

On the interstate running unloaded, I can push 22 MPG.
My daily 80 mile commute is 17-20, depending on the intensity of my passive-aggressive nature.

With my 16.5K 5vr, it's around 9 to 11 MPG(east of the mississippi). As a note, I dropped to 11mpg hauling a 7K cargo trailer. More about aerodynamics than dead weight.

 

[tourrider]

On a side-note, it's unfortunate Ram is not offering a manual transmission option for 2019.

It's hard for the company to warranty the manual trans and deliver 1000 ft-bs of torque. Weekend warriors will be tearing their stuff up.

 

[Dennis Shellito]

These trucks are as aerodynamic as a brick, so the greatest detriment to fuel mileage is wind resistance. If you can drive slower you can get much better mileage with the Cummins. I seem to always get bored driving slower and having everybody passing me so I don't reap the better fuel mileage, but I probably average close to 20mpg if I stay off the interstates. I ran empty coming home from Tacoma, Wa a year ago Thanksgiving and, as usual, was in a hurry and drove 85mph through most of Montana and Wyoming. I left the interstate at Cheyenne, Wy and made up some fuel mileage driving the two lane home in Colorado. and reaped over 20mpg for the last two fill ups. I use my average fuel mileage in the instrument cluster, and have checked it against the calculator in my cell phone and there is less than .2mpg discrepancy between the two on several comparisons. I have driven 50-55 mph on a highway without any wind and the current "on the fly"fuel mileage runs about 25mpg on level roadway, but that doesn't have any real bearing on anything. LOL

 

[Sonoman98]

My truck is lifted on 35s gets 13-14 unloaded according to the dash. Pulling my camper ( was 32ft bumper- now 35ft toyhualer still bumper) 8-10. Mines an 2018 2500 and it struggles a bit pulling... I'd definitely go for the 3500 NOT a 2500 if you go ram

 

[Dennis Shellito]

Putting bigger tires on a truck will cause it to suffer fuel mileage loss unless the gearing is lowered accordingly to compensate, and will also rob it of pulling power. Tire size and gearing are what gives the Cummins power and fuel economy, and has nothing to do with whether it has overload springs or dual rear wheels. The guys that are towing the real heavy trailers here in Colorado are using 3500s because they can get it with factory 4:10 gears, but that is what is needed to pull 30,000# trailer through the mountain passes. I can pull my 10,000# 5er up the passes without dropping out of 6th gear with my 2500 if I don't have to slow down for traffic or curves. I used to get up to 14mpg pulling my camper but last summer my fan clutch was not engaging and I was fighting overheat issue and the mileage was in the 11mpg range.

 

[FishAR]

I'm getting 16-17 unloaded and what little I've pulled my 41 ft Montana High Country (16,000 lbs.) I got 9-11.
2018 crew cab long bed 4x4 cummins/aisin dually with 3.73 rear end.

Funny thing is I bought a 16 ft box trailer a few weeks ago and only got 12 pulling it home. It only weights 2500 empty. I know it's 6 ft 3 in. tall but I couldn't hardly feel it back there. Wind maybe.

 

[Jeff Courtney]

My '18 3500 SRW Crew has 4.10's and 6.4. I tow a little 6x10 cargo EVERYDAY and avg 8-12 mpg depending on how much hwy time at 70-75. I purposely got the 4.10 hoping to keep it from going in & out of 6th but it doesnt. Use tow mode and it'll stay in 5th untill wind blows or start any incline. Disappointed that the 4.10's and the 6.4 isnt optimized better around 2000 rpm. Breathing better would help (exhaust).Trans tune possibly to hold 2, 3, 4 gears longer in the rpm's without having to stand on it

 

[Dr J Cumminz]

I'm getting between 22-25 avg on the hwy. Not a lot of hills where I'm at. Like the others and their mpgs, that's about correct. I have a 2018 3500 long bed with a cap, SRW Cummins w/Aisin.