2017 6.4 Hemi Actual towing mpg

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Dive-Ho

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Currently traveling to Grand Canyon from Arkansas on interstate 40 West pulling a Cherokee 264L about 7100 lbs tow weight . All stock 2017 2500 CC 4x4 6.4 Hemi 3.73 gears running cruise control at constant 65 mph , all mpg numbers hand calculated (dash readout averaged about 1 mpg higher )1st tank 8.30 mpg light wind from the sw . 2nd tank 6.89 mpg (20-30 mph sw wind) 3rd tank 5.2 mpg 22-33 mph wsw wind (also set cruise at 70 for about 30 miles). 4th tank 5.5 mpg sw wind at 20-25 mph . 5th tank 6.86 mpg sw wind at 12-20 mph . I've had the cruise set at 65 the whole time except as noted . Truck has downshifted to 2nd several times to pull hills to maintain 65 , sounds pretty good at 4400 rpm but the instant mpg readout shows 2 mpg at those rpm's .The highest oil temp I've seen was 248 mostly around 220 highest trans temp 178 mostly 168 . I'm using Husky WDH with 1200 lb spring bars and 2 friction anti sway bars . The rig is pretty steady even with 20-30 mph wind mainly hitting from the side and driver front area , almost no sway but it does move the truck and trailer some as 1 unit with the wind gust and tractor trailers passing . Overall fairly pleased except I was hoping for 8-9 mpg . Maybe on the return leg . Will accept donations for gas roflblack.gif
 

NewBlackDak

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The single best thing you can do is slow down. The 62-63 range seems to be the best compromise for me(unless there is a hellacious tail wind). Do the math. You don’t save any time driving faster, and only increase your odds for an accident.


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Dive-Ho

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Lol , tried 62 - 63 for about 20 minutes saw no difference in instant mpg so went back to 65 and getting passed like I was setting still . But I had a light 3-5 mph headwind today and averaged 9.4 mpg . Really surprised by how drastically the wind speed and direction cut the mpg's . I expected 2-3 mpg loss but 4-5 just kinda surprised me . Not really concerned with the mpg's , still love my truck just putting these numbers out there for people wanting to know what to expect driving their truck normal with cruise control set not trying to squeeze out maximum mpg's . I bought this truck to tow my travel trailer with and it does that well . It just drinks a little more than I expected .
 

VernDiesel

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Good write up. I transport TTs west on that route frequently. A lot of people don't factor wind like they should or use a two way average. Usually people tell you about their best towing mileage that one trip when the wind was at their back. Enjoy the Canyon. Standing on the viewpoints at the rim is amazing but I hope you also get to see and camp it from the Canyon floor.
 

tjfdesmo

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Thanks for posting. I am waiting on a toy hauler that will be quite a bit heavier than your TT, and was hoping for 7 mph @65 mph. Not so optimistic on that now. It wouldn't be as much of a concern if we could find extra capacity.
 

NewBlackDak

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Thanks for posting. I am waiting on a toy hauler that will be quite a bit heavier than your TT, and was hoping for 7 mph @65 mph. Not so optimistic on that now. It wouldn't be as much of a concern if we could find extra capacity.

The shape seems to matter more than weight. I’ve had my wife’s car on a trailer, loads of stone in a dump trailer, and loads of construction material on a flat bed all get better mileage than my travel trailer. I have towed my patents airstream a couple times, and been surprised by the mileage I get with it even though it’s about 1200lbs heavier than my trailer.


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warwickram

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The single best thing you can do is slow down. The 62-63 range seems to be the best compromise for me(unless there is a hellacious tail wind). Do the math. You don’t save any time driving faster, and only increase your odds for an accident.


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um speed does not increase your odds of an accident and you do save time driving faster .Like you said do the math.Slowing down will get you better gas mileage
 

NewBlackDak

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um speed does not increase your odds of an accident and you do save time driving faster .Like you said do the math.Slowing down will get you better gas mileage

If you’re towing on standard ST tires rated for 65 mph, your accident likelihood increase several fold as you get over since the likelihood of catastrophic failures increase exponentially.
The latest study released by UC Berkeley found that(and this is in normal non-towing driving)…
For every 1% increase in speed, a driver’s chance of accident increases by 2%, the chance of serious injury increase by 3%, and the chance of a fatality increase by 4%.


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warwickram

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So if we drove around doing 20 mph there would be no accidents? And it would take the same time to get there? .I have investigated 100s of accidents speed is very rarely the cause. Its usually drive error
 

dexter

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So if we drove around doing 20 mph there would be no accidents? And it would take the same time to get there? .I have investigated 100s of accidents speed is very rarely the cause. Its usually drive error

Yes, driver, driving too fast.
 

dexter

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Currently traveling to Grand Canyon from Arkansas on interstate 40 West pulling a Cherokee 264L about 7100 lbs tow weight . All stock 2017 2500 CC 4x4 6.4 Hemi 3.73 gears running cruise control at constant 65 mph , all mpg numbers hand calculated (dash readout averaged about 1 mpg higher )1st tank 8.30 mpg light wind from the sw . 2nd tank 6.89 mpg (20-30 mph sw wind) 3rd tank 5.2 mpg 22-33 mph wsw wind (also set cruise at 70 for about 30 miles). 4th tank 5.5 mpg sw wind at 20-25 mph . 5th tank 6.86 mpg sw wind at 12-20 mph . I've had the cruise set at 65 the whole time except as noted . Truck has downshifted to 2nd several times to pull hills to maintain 65 , sounds pretty good at 4400 rpm but the instant mpg readout shows 2 mpg at those rpm's .The highest oil temp I've seen was 248 mostly around 220 highest trans temp 178 mostly 168 . I'm using Husky WDH with 1200 lb spring bars and 2 friction anti sway bars . The rig is pretty steady even with 20-30 mph wind mainly hitting from the side and driver front area , almost no sway but it does move the truck and trailer some as 1 unit with the wind gust and tractor trailers passing . Overall fairly pleased except I was hoping for 8-9 mpg . Maybe on the return leg . Will accept donations for gas roflblack.gif

You should do total mileage divided by total gas. Pump can affect the amount of gas put into the tank.

You will get better gas mileage going west to east do to the tail wind.
 

69GWC

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It would do better on fuel if it had 4:56s in it, 3:73s are just to high with the gearing that the transmission has.
 

sandawilliams

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Currently traveling to Grand Canyon from Arkansas on interstate 40 West pulling a Cherokee 264L about 7100 lbs tow weight . All stock 2017 2500 CC 4x4 6.4 Hemi 3.73 gears running cruise control at constant 65 mph , all mpg numbers hand calculated (dash readout averaged about 1 mpg higher )1st tank 8.30 mpg light wind from the sw . 2nd tank 6.89 mpg (20-30 mph sw wind) 3rd tank 5.2 mpg 22-33 mph wsw wind (also set cruise at 70 for about 30 miles). 4th tank 5.5 mpg sw wind at 20-25 mph . 5th tank 6.86 mpg sw wind at 12-20 mph . I've had the cruise set at 65 the whole time except as noted . Truck has downshifted to 2nd several times to pull hills to maintain 65 , sounds pretty good at 4400 rpm but the instant mpg readout shows 2 mpg at those rpm's .The highest oil temp I've seen was 248 mostly around 220 highest trans temp 178 mostly 168 . I'm using Husky WDH with 1200 lb spring bars and 2 friction anti sway bars . The rig is pretty steady even with 20-30 mph wind mainly hitting from the side and driver front area , almost no sway but it does move the truck and trailer some as 1 unit with the wind gust and tractor trailers passing . Overall fairly pleased except I was hoping for 8-9 mpg . Maybe on the return leg . Will accept donations for gas roflblack.gif

I've towed my 8800# tt with another 1500# in the back of the truck and my long term average over 40,000 miles is at 9.3 (hand calculated) Had a few 5 mpg tanks as the winds were either heavy head or side. I tow at 65 and this average is over all types of terrain and weather conditions. Hopefully your averages come up as the towing conditions improve.
 

WhiteDallasRam

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From the short towing around 60 miles at around 6k lbs .. the 6.4 is very thirsty .... it was windy and I was doing 70 or better, 9 mph on the dash.... need to get 10 because I need to be able to match the miles the folks I travel with get so we aren’t stopping early. If not oh well get to stretch our legs more.
 

sandawilliams

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From the short towing around 60 miles at around 6k lbs .. the 6.4 is very thirsty .... it was windy and I was doing 70 or better, 9 mph on the dash.... need to get 10 because I need to be able to match the miles the folks I travel with get so we aren’t stopping early. If not oh well get to stretch our legs more.

The dash evic is a feel good gauge. Your actual mileage will be lower.
 

WhiteDallasRam

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The dash evic is a feel good gauge. Your actual mileage will be lower.

I have hand calculated and it was about 1.5 off ..... and then I have hand calculated and it was .4 off.... but since I didn’t get gas and didn’t tow the whole tank I don’t know what it will be with a full tank 100% Interstate. With my pop up about 2300 lbs the 1500 ram would show 17 on the dash. Bed loaded with stuff. I 75 between Georgia and Michigan. Always better in flat Ohio ... I did notice I could accelerate up the hills in North Georgia with no problems with the 6k in tow.
 

Jughed

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I've towed my 8800# tt with another 1500# in the back of the truck and my long term average over 40,000 miles is at 9.3 (hand calculated) Had a few 5 mpg tanks as the winds were either heavy head or side. I tow at 65 and this average is over all types of terrain and weather conditions. Hopefully your averages come up as the towing conditions improve.

I see about the same, 9.5 +/-.

8200# loaded TT, 6.4 with 4.10 rear.
 

dexter

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I see about the same, 9.5 +/-.

8200# loaded TT, 6.4 with 4.10 rear.

All the same numbers including truck.

9.5 towing

12 city

16 highway

Headwind less

Faster less

It is what it is.
 

VernDiesel

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I agree that 4.10 / 4.56 would likely net you better mileage towing that 7,100 parachute at 65. 8 mpg & 6 into the wind is pretty hateful to me.

Apples & oranges as my lil 6K 1500 can’t carry or tow like the much heavier 2500 and diesel is a better fuel for towing. But towing a 7k TT at 65 useing cruise as much as prudent my lil Ecodiesel averages 14.0. 8 speed 3.92 with tow tune also helps. Which is why I kept it when I started transporting TTs. 487,000 equals a lot of fuel.

But even starting with that mileage towing a parachute into the wind would drop me to 11 maybe actually only 10 as I often either slow to 55 - 60 or stop & get my sleep done while I wait out strong wind.
 
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Deki

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So if we drove around doing 20 mph there would be no accidents? And it would take the same time to get there? .I have investigated 100s of accidents speed is very rarely the cause. Its usually drive error

I have investigated on average 200 collisions per year for the last 13 years, and the higher the speeds, the higher the injury and fatality potential. Like the other guy said, trailer tires are rated for 65mph. Going slower is safer no matter how you look at it, and the difference in time gained is negligible.
 
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