2011 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins—looking for towing and efficiency advice

[Chilidipper]

I’m planning to add a Banks Monster Ram and cold air intake to my 2011 Ram 2500 with the 6.7 Cummins and stock transmission. I’ll be towing a 27ft Wildcat fifth wheel, and I’d appreciate some education on an efficiency tuners and a higher-flow exhaust.

I’m not building a race truck—just looking for reliable towing, usable power, and better fuel economy where possible. The fifth wheel already provides plenty of excitement!

A few questions for those with experience:

• Is a conservative towing/efficiency tune worthwhile with these upgrades?
• What tuner would you recommend that works well with the stock transmission?
• Would a higher-flow exhaust provide a noticeable benefit while retaining the factory emissions equipment?
• What fuel mileage improvements, if any, have you actually measured towing and unloaded?
• What should I monitor or address before making these changes?

I’d appreciate real-world experience, especially from folks towing fifth wheels. Trying to spend my money wisely and keep this truck dependable. Thanks!

 

[chri5k]

I have a 2016 2500 6.7 Cummins with 245,000 miles on it and tow a 13,000 lbs trailer quite a bit. Only thing I would change is the rear diff cover and fluid. The Banks cover provides better cooling for the diff and synthetic fluid helps prevent wear. All of the other stuff on your list will likely not really improve anything except the bottom line of the companies that make the items.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Pre-DEF 6.7s are heavy EGR and use more fuel than later versions. Either leave it alone, or delete it.

 

[Russtoy]

I gave a 11, 2500, 6.7. Full delete. With a flow through 4 inch muffler. H&s tuner. Picked up about 3 mph over all. Getting 10 to 12 pulling my 30ft fifth wheel camper. Aftermarket air horn intake, and grid heater delete. The intake was hald full of soot.

 

[06 Dodge]

I gave a 11, 2500, 6.7. Full delete. With a flow through 4 inch muffler. H&s tuner. Picked up about 3 mph over all. Getting 10 to 12 pulling my 30ft fifth wheel camper. Aftermarket air horn intake, and grid heater delete. The intake was hald full of soot.

And a good 1/3 of that soot is due to MN summer time 20% bio diesel mandate.

 

[Erik Wood]

I also have a 2016 with the 6.7. I tow a 38 foot gooseneck with two cars and a lot of tools and spares. I average 12 to 15 depending on how much of a hurry I’m in and the head winds. Have never even considered a tuner. Although I also have it, returned it to Dodge for the software update!

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I’m planning to add a Banks Monster Ram and cold air intake to my 2011 Ram 2500 with the 6.7 Cummins and stock transmission. I’ll be towing a 27ft Wildcat fifth wheel, and I’d appreciate some education on an efficiency tuners and a higher-flow exhaust.

I’m not building a race truck—just looking for reliable towing, usable power, and better fuel economy where possible. The fifth wheel already provides plenty of excitement!

A few questions for those with experience:

• Is a conservative towing/efficiency tune worthwhile with these upgrades?
• What tuner would you recommend that works well with the stock transmission?
• Would a higher-flow exhaust provide a noticeable benefit while retaining the factory emissions equipment?
• What fuel mileage improvements, if any, have you actually measured towing and unloaded?
• What should I monitor or address before making these changes?

I’d appreciate real-world experience, especially from folks towing fifth wheels. Trying to spend my money wisely and keep this truck dependable. Thanks!

Save your money and leave it stock.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Save your money and leave it stock.

Good advice here.

 

[chri5k]

I gave a 11, 2500, 6.7. Full delete. With a flow through 4 inch muffler. H&s tuner. Picked up about 3 mph over all. Getting 10 to 12 pulling my 30ft fifth wheel camper. Aftermarket air horn intake, and grid heater delete. The intake was hald full of soot.

Does anyone bother to do the math with their MPG improvement claims by deleting? Assuming this is claim is 3 MPG not MPH. Seems doubtful the delete, pipes, etc improved fuel mileage 33% - 42%. This claim is saying a thermal efficiency of 45 - 50% which no modern light truck engine has ever achieved. The DOE SuperTruck long-haul research engine made it to that range after years of work.

 

[tjfdesmo]

My buddy just deleted his 2024, and he is super pleased with how it runs. If you don't run a high HP tune, and can control your right foot, MPG is substantially better.

 

[06 Dodge]

Does anyone bother to do the math with their MPG improvement claims by deleting? Assuming this is claim is 3 MPG not MPH. Seems doubtful the delete, pipes, etc improved fuel mileage 33% - 42%. This claim is saying a thermal efficiency of 45 - 50% which no modern light truck engine has ever achieved. The DOE SuperTruck long-haul research engine made it to that range after years of work.

I've read of many who say they gain 2+ mpg with a full delete, I assume that number is for empty mpg numbers, I think its possible being they no longer need to waste diesel fuel during a 20-30 minute DPF regen, I think that using a quality tune would help the engine to be more efficient at burring fuel would also help to improve mpg numbers...

 

[chri5k]

I've read of many who say they gain 2+ mpg with a full delete, I assume that number is for empty mpg numbers, I think its possible being they no longer need to waste diesel fuel during a 20-30 minute DPF regen, I think that using a quality tune would help the engine to be more efficient at burring fuel would also help to improve mpg numbers...

You can think about MPG improvement with a delete all you want. The science behind diesel IC engine efficiency is well understood. Deletes, fat exhaust pipes, etc don't magically allow violating the laws of thermodynamics that govern a diesel IC engine.

 

[tjfdesmo]

If you don't think a clean tune, and eliminating EGR and aftertreatment doesn't improve efficiency, then you are ignoring the laws of thermodynamics.

 

[chri5k]

If you don't think a clean tune, and eliminating EGR and aftertreatment doesn't improve efficiency, then you are ignoring the laws of thermodynamics.

I do think there therefore I research implausible claims to see if the science backs them up. In this case it does not. The OP's numbers make the 3 MPG increase claim. I simply put them in a calculator and found they are implausible. I then researched why they would be implausible.

None are so blind as those who refuse to see.

 

[Gr8bawana]

My buddy just deleted his 2024, and he is super pleased with how it runs. If you don't run a high HP tune, and can control your right foot, MPG is substantially better.

If you control your right foot you will get substantially better MPG with NO TUNE at all.
It's not possible to get more power AND more MPG.

 

[tjfdesmo]

I said he was pleased with how his trucks runs. I didn't say he was shredding his tires. Delete tunes are not automatically coal rolling wild tunes, and his is not.

By not having to meet ridiculous NOx standards, not diluting the charge with EGR, being able to run more timing, stock diameter exhaust, etc you can still absolutely gain efficiency. He had a deleted 07.5 6 speed, a deleted 19 HO/Aisin, and now a deleted 24 HO/Aisin. Hand calculated MPG is improved in every case with the same driving style. Not going from driving like a wild man to hypermileing.