2800 miles 8 mpg

[Dive-Ho]

Just finished a 2800 mile trip from Arkansas to the Grand Canyon the 4 corners area and Chama New Mexico then back pulling a 7100 lb 34 ft long travel trailer 11.4 ft tall. Overall average right at 8 mpg (7.955) lots of wind mostly from the front and driver side area with some gusts over 30 mph . All numbers hand calculated (the dash readout was always 1 -1.2 mpg optimistic) The worst tank in strong wind was 5.2 mpg and the best tank was 9.5 mpg though I was seeing 12-14 mpg instant readout for about 100 miles and then the wind changed and dropped it to 6-8 mpg instant readout . I used the CC set to 65 or whatever the limit was but not over 65 except for about 30 minutes at 70 just to see how it pulled . Had nearly 9000 ft in elevation change for the trip and hit several 4-6 % grades . Truck pulled great and steady with no trailer sway . The first few times it downshifted to 2nd at 65 were a little surprising but it just pulled all the way to the top of the grade at 65 mph like there was nothing to it holding 4400 rpm . All temps stayed well in the normal range even in 96 degree heat . I'm very happy with the performance of the truck and satisfied with the mpg considering the mostly very windy conditions and me not trying to squeeze out max mpg , just setting the cruise and letting the truck work on this trip . The 6.4 hemi with 3.73's did it like a champ .

 

[McBroom]

Just finished a 2800 mile trip from Arkansas to the Grand Canyon the 4 corners area and Chama New Mexico then back pulling a 7100 lb 34 ft long travel trailer 11.4 ft tall. Overall average right at 8 mpg (7.955) lots of wind mostly from the front and driver side area with some gusts over 30 mph . All numbers hand calculated (the dash readout was always 1 -1.2 mpg optimistic) The worst tank in strong wind was 5.2 mpg and the best tank was 9.5 mpg though I was seeing 12-14 mpg instant readout for about 100 miles and then the wind changed and dropped it to 6-8 mpg instant readout . I used the CC set to 65 or whatever the limit was but not over 65 except for about 30 minutes at 70 just to see how it pulled . Had nearly 9000 ft in elevation change for the trip and hit several 4-6 % grades . Truck pulled great and steady with no trailer sway . The first few times it downshifted to 2nd at 65 were a little surprising but it just pulled all the way to the top of the grade at 65 mph like there was nothing to it holding 4400 rpm . All temps stayed well in the normal range even in 96 degree heat . I'm very happy with the performance of the truck and satisfied with the mpg considering the mostly very windy conditions and me not trying to squeeze out max mpg , just setting the cruise and letting the truck work on this trip . The 6.4 hemi with 3.73's did it like a champ .

That’s an awesome real world review.


I Love my 18 Ram 2500HD 4x4 CC
Blue Streak Pearl off-road

 

[gofishn]

thanls for teh great info. If I do go back to a 2500, I wondered how the 6.4 would do pulling weight.

 

[BlkZrx]

I get similar results pulling my 34 footer, haven't got into the big mountains yet. Looking forward to full timing with it. Appreciate the review..

Sent from my LG-K540 using Tapatalk

 

[coobie]

Great write up.

 

[mtofell]

Great info - thanks! That is pretty bad and I have to think you did have a lot of wind and mountains. That load should get closer to 9-10. Wind and hills really kill these Hemi gassers. I'm hauling an 11K 5th wheel and that is pretty close (although a bit better) than what I get in similar circumstances.

 

[mtofell]

Great info - thanks! That is pretty bad and I have to think you did have a lot of wind and mountains. That load should get closer to 9-10. Wind and hills really kill these Hemi gassers. I'm hauling an 11K 5th wheel and that is pretty close (although a bit better) than what I get in similar circumstances.

 

[Dive-Ho]

Not trying to start a gas vs diesel debate but just for comparison I visited with another camper at a fuel stop in NM pulling his 7500 lb travel trailer across I-40 with a 2018 Ram 2500 CTD he said he had gotten 12 mpg across the same stretch that I got 8.6 mpg on . He was running 68 versus my 65 . I also noticed Diesel was as much as 72 cents more per gallon at my fuel stops with smallest price difference being 12 cents per gallon more .

 

[spoon059]

That 6.4 is a great engine. I hope that Ram tweaks the transmission a little, it seems to quick to drop from 4th to 2nd rather than using 3rd gear as well. Not sure if that is a problem with the 4.10 gearing too, or just the 3.73 gears. Either way, lots of power and no problems... just like I expect.