We have the 2021 Ram 1500 5.7 L Hemi eTorque and have tried towing a pull behind camper with a factory completed weight of 4758#. I was expecting it to run down the road without much effort. We only pulled it on a 4-hr. trip with nearly all level ground....a few hills here and there. It was constantly gearing down several gears and then back out. Gas mileage was only 9 mpg. I had it in Tow/Haul mode. Am I doing something wrong? Shouldn't it pull that weight down the road hardly knowing anything is behind you? Suggestions? Help! Thank you........K
Afraid not... a 5,000 pound boxy camper behind a 1500 gaser is likely not to get very good mpg (or stay in one gear). Not even in the flats, and especially not at highway speeds.
If you want better MPG and performance, keep speed low, certainly no more than 65 and DON'T use the cruise control. You can also improve MPG by improving aerodynamics for the truck and trailer: install a lightweight pickup bed cap. One that is as high as your cab roof. You might bet better gas mileage when towing a large boxy camper with a large SUV like the Chevy Suburban/Tahoe, or the new (and very nice) Jeep Wagoneer. The best gas mileage I ever had towing a camper with a gas engine was when I had a 2005 Dodge Durango, with a heavy duty optional tow rating of 9,000 lbs. So there are many factors affecting performance:
- Weight
- Aerodynamics, especially the trailer's
- Axle ratio on the tow vehicle,
- Wind, whether you are going into the wind (or with the wind),
- Speed.
Your performance is about what I'd expect. In fact your gas mileage is one reason I went with the EcoDiesel 1500 Ram.