Camping this weekend with the 6.4

[Firebird]

Towed down to Lazy Days dealership and resort in Tampa this weekend, and the 6.4 did well. Driving down, I got 8.9 mpg, at 65 to 67 mph. The truck is stable, and the rpm's weren't that bad, as Florida is flat. Never saw trans temps above 170°, and it was a warm weekend. The 6.4 drives and responds very well, and the 8 speed continues to amaze me. Other than fuel economy not being that high, and the fuel tank being too small, this is a great tow vehicle!

 

[Zoe Saldana]

Towed down to Lazy Days dealership and resort in Tampa this weekend, and the 6.4 did well. Driving down, I got 8.9 mpg, at 65 to 67 mph. The truck is stable, and the rpm's weren't that bad, as Florida is flat. Never saw trans temps above 170°, and it was a warm weekend. The 6.4 drives and responds very well, and the 8 speed continues to amaze me. Other than fuel economy not being that high, and the fuel tank being too small, this is a great tow vehicle!
View attachment 248415

I have the same truck with the 6 speed & tow a TT.
62mph seems to be the sweet spot.
Headwind affects the mpg the most
Put some Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas - smooths things out and get a very little better mpg.

 

[dhay13]

My son just towed his 8000lb 26' TT about 140 miles today to a site near Bradford, PA. He has towed his all over the country (about 7000 miles towing it so far). He has a 2018 2500 6.4 with 4.10's. Never had any issues

 

[OC455]

Just got back from this weekends little camping trip. Not very far, mine towed pretty well. 6.4 didn't struggle at all with the camper. Hills I had to get on it, but no worse than what I had to do when I was towing with the 1500.

Overall, pleased with the 6.4.

 

[Power Hounder]

Just got back from this weekends little camping trip. Not very far, mine towed pretty well. 6.4 didn't struggle at all with the camper. Hills I had to get on it, but no worse than what I had to do when I was towing with the 1500.

Overall, pleased with the 6.4.

What does your camper weigh?

 

[dhay13]

My step-son bought a 2021 Grand Design Imagine 3250MK a few months ago so I went up and towed it back for him. We stopped at the scales and it was 9300lbs. Had 1100lbs tongue weight. Truck towed it like nothing. I have a 2018 6.4 with 4.10's

 

[Firebird]

What does your camper weigh?

Roughly 9000 pounds loaded out

 

[HEMIMANN]

6.4 has done right by me. No regrets to date, despite the valve lifter reliability issues. I'm running Red Line 5W-30 for preventive measure, to the extent possible.

3.73 axle is ok for me, since I only tow half a dozen times a year now. 66RFE trans is ok too, now that I cooled down the oil by taking that dumb thermostat out of the oil cooler flow circuit. Doesn't get much above 160 F Even with 90 F ambient and towing. Like it's supposed to be.

 

[Firebird]

6.4 has done right by me. No regrets to date, despite the valve lifter reliability issues. I'm running Red Line 5W-30 for preventive measure, to the extent possible.

3.73 axle is ok for me, since I only tow half a dozen times a year now. 66RFE trans is ok too, now that I cooled down the oil by taking that dumb thermostat out of the oil cooler flow circuit. Doesn't get much above 160 F Even with 90 F ambient and towing. Like it's supposed to be.

I too run Redline, but I use 5w40, it's hot here in Florida, so I figured it's good insurance

 

[OC455]

What does your camper weigh?

Loaded up, between 5600-5800lbs. It's not max'd out.

 

[Bollenball]

My 6.4L that I love!

 

[Firebird]

View attachment 465747
My 6.4L that I love!

Awesome pic!!

 

[OC455]

Just got back from my trip from Lake George. Truck did well...mileage not great but I was pushing it a bit. I definitely want a 5'ver when funds allow.

 

[Bollenball]

Just got back from my trip from Lake George. Truck did well...mileage not great but I was pushing it a bit. I definitely want a 5'ver when funds allow.

I actually get 1-2 mpg better with the 5’er. I’ll never go back to a TT.

 

[Firebird]

View attachment 465747
My 6.4L that I love!

What is the weight on your 5er?

 

[OC455]

I actually get 1-2 mpg better with the 5’er. I’ll never go back to a TT.

I wonder why? Front end less wind resistant than the brick I pull probably... LOL

 

[OC455]

Still trying to convince the boss lady to start looking at 5'vers. We need the space....LOL

 

[ramffml]

I wonder why? Front end less wind resistant than the brick I pull probably... LOL

I suspect just aerodynamics. When I pull my TT, the front wall is considerably farther behind the back wall of my truck and I think the air might be flowing straight back over the roof and beginnig to drop down the bed and then it hits the brick wall and has to flow in all 4 directions again to get around it. A 5w is sitting much closer to the rear window so the wind never makes it back down to the bed, it's just a constant stream starting from over the hood, over the cab roof, and then over the 5w.

There is a youtuber I follow, slim potatoehead, who just has a tiny jeep and little boxy fiberglass trailer. He always has interesting experiments and tests, and he mounted a snowboad to his roof rack as an air deflector and I believe he said he got significant improvements, like going from 12 mpg to 16 mpg in one leg of his trip etc.

 

[OC455]

Grand Design Reflection 28BH is what I want. Would be much nicer.

 

[Bollenball]

What is the weight on your 5er?

Right at 9000-9500 loaded, pending gear.