Ratman6161
Senior Member
Since this is a debate I see frequently, I thought I'd provide some real world data I've gathered from personal experience with two different trucks pulling the same trailer. The trailer is a Rockwood Ultra lite 2608BS travel trailer. Overall length 29' 8" and approximately 7600# total weight and 1020# tongue weight and using a WDH. I have no interest in debating if I need a 2500 or not or if i need the WDH or not. That is already settled...it's what I've got and I'm happy with it.
1. 2022 Ram 2500 Bighorn with 6.4L Hemi and 4.10 rear end. On one trip, towed 1,528 miles and used 206.208 gallons of gas, all 87 octane E10. Avg MPG=7.41. Worst single tank: 6.73 MPG. Best tank 8.79 MPG. I only included tanks of gas where the whole tank was towing. The truck had about 2000 miles on it at the start of this trip.
2. 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie with 6.4L Hemi qnd 3.73 rear end. Two weeks ago, towed 684.7 miles and used 90.043 gallons of gas. Avg MPG=7.6. Worst single tank: 7.05 MPG. Best tank: 8.21 MPG. Once again, I only counted tanks of gas where the entire tank was towing. As before, all gas was 87 octane E10. The truck had about 1400 miles on it at the start of this trip.
There were other trips with the Bighorn, but I only used the one trip where I had good records.
So now for the opinion part: 3.73 vs 4.10 made no practical difference in towing MPG, at least with my trailer. I don't care about unloaded MPG. This is an HD truck that has a job to do i.e. pull the trailer. 7.41 vs 7.6 is close enough that it could be chalked up to different weather (winds) and terrain. The trips in question were all in MN, WI, IA, IL, IN, OH, and MI so roughly the same terrain and I'm betting that headwinds vs tailwind were the biggest factor. I doubt a heavier trailer would make much difference unless it were a LOT heavier.
1. 2022 Ram 2500 Bighorn with 6.4L Hemi and 4.10 rear end. On one trip, towed 1,528 miles and used 206.208 gallons of gas, all 87 octane E10. Avg MPG=7.41. Worst single tank: 6.73 MPG. Best tank 8.79 MPG. I only included tanks of gas where the whole tank was towing. The truck had about 2000 miles on it at the start of this trip.
2. 2022 Ram 2500 Laramie with 6.4L Hemi qnd 3.73 rear end. Two weeks ago, towed 684.7 miles and used 90.043 gallons of gas. Avg MPG=7.6. Worst single tank: 7.05 MPG. Best tank: 8.21 MPG. Once again, I only counted tanks of gas where the entire tank was towing. As before, all gas was 87 octane E10. The truck had about 1400 miles on it at the start of this trip.
There were other trips with the Bighorn, but I only used the one trip where I had good records.
So now for the opinion part: 3.73 vs 4.10 made no practical difference in towing MPG, at least with my trailer. I don't care about unloaded MPG. This is an HD truck that has a job to do i.e. pull the trailer. 7.41 vs 7.6 is close enough that it could be chalked up to different weather (winds) and terrain. The trips in question were all in MN, WI, IA, IL, IN, OH, and MI so roughly the same terrain and I'm betting that headwinds vs tailwind were the biggest factor. I doubt a heavier trailer would make much difference unless it were a LOT heavier.