2017 1500 eco diesel let down

[Donna]

ok I we picked ups this truck to pair up with our MB Sprinter Winnebago View also with 3.0 diesel. We travel a lot and some times we have work meeting out of town. That is not connected to any other travel (vacation) plans. That leaves us being able to stay for whole week in Hotels. (no need for camping)
For years we have towed a SMART car on trailer or a 12 ft enclosed trailer for our Motorcycles
The MB sprinter can tow wonderfully at 65 getting 14mpg for the past trip made this year that was over 6000 .
We just took our first little ride this past week 200 miles down hwy 13/17 out Va into NC. the truck was doing fine but going down we got 14 mpg and heading home we got 15.
That is a 50% loss in MPG that we have get daily driving into town to work, we live 4 miles off hwy leading into city and than takes 35 miles at 60-65 and another 4 miles into office. road trip most days will be 29-31 mpg...wow (at speed limit)

I did notice that at any speed we could not get into 8th gear. That left maintaining 60 to cruise in 7th gear.
driving thru any towns we turned on TOW mode, but on the open road we tried to if turning off TOW MODE to see if 8th gear would pop up...no

Now if I would have seen the gear jumping 7-8-7 I would have kept it in 7

our trailer in is under 3000 loaded

 

[69GWC]

I would not tow in 8th gear its a pretty high overdrive gear.
7th gear is also a OD gear.
cant help witj the mileage.

 

[FXCLM5]

That is weird, the ram 1500 looks like a normal sedan when comparing it to the sprinter vans.

On paper the aerodynamics and hp/trq + 8spd of the smaller profile truck should beat the MB when towing but it isnt....

 

[VernDiesel]

Donna I tow TTs & boats with my ED commercially. Might be able to help you once I understand what your issue or question is. Also fwiw ram1500diesel forum is specific to your truck & motor.

 

[csuder99]

Assuming you're talking about your enclosed box trailer, then yes the trailer adds relatively more wind drag behind the truck compared to when towed behind the boxy Winnebago Sprinter. So the fuel mileage will be affected, not sure though if it should be that drastically. Other ED owners may be able to chime in. In any case leave tow/haul mode on which locks out the overdrive gears. It's not as bad as you'd think in terms of RPM on the freeway.

 

[crash68]

As mentioned before, you're getting more wind drag from the trailer behind the truck than the Sprinter. Towing my boat(about 3500 lbs), I still get close to 20 mpg(speed dependant), and I also have a bed cap(less wind drag from the trailer).
Contrary to what is believed about the Tow/Haul mode, 8th gear is not "locked out". Tow/Haul model raises the shift points higher. I'm guessing the OP has 3.55 gearing and would have to be traveling upwards of 75-80 for it to shift into 8th while towing.

 

[Donna]

thanks for the reply to all
we might get a cap on bed rather than a flat top just for the added SUV look.

don't travel at 75-80 very often but will see, we are loving the truck really

 

[VernDiesel]

It’s better for the motor (less low speed/lubrication bearing load) & same fuel consumption to tow say 2,000 rpm 7th than 1,700 in 8th