Mileage- Small Camper and Eco Diesel

[gtex1970]

I'm really enjoying my 2022 1500 eco Diesel, especially the mileage. taking it easy on the highways of Texas, I easily see 30mpg. I'm looking at aa small Camper: 3000lbs, under 10feet tall, 20 feet long.

I have 3.21 gears and 4wd.

Do you think I can still get 15, possibly even 20mpg with that camper?

 

[SniperDroid]

Personally, I have always felt my towing milage was not as important as vehicle capability and control while towing. If you get half or better while towing, I think your doing well. You'll probably be in the ballpark with the lightweight trailer.

 

[ramffml]

I'm really enjoying my 2022 1500 eco Diesel, especially the mileage. taking it easy on the highways of Texas, I easily see 30mpg. I'm looking at aa small Camper: 3000lbs, under 10feet tall, 20 feet long.

I have 3.21 gears and 4wd.

Do you think I can still get 15, possibly even 20mpg with that camper?

It's not necessarily the weight that hurts, at a certain point the aero forces are overwhelming and can't be escaped. Towing a 3000 pound popup trailer will give you way better mpg than the same weight with a trailer that is 10 feet tall.

 

[Riccochet]

My friend tows a 24' enclosed race car trailer with his ecodiesel. He usually sees 14-16 mpg. So it's not unrealistic for you to see the same towing that camper.

 

[crazykid1994]

Makes me cry. My hemi I averages 12-13mpg unloaded. When I towed my fathers boat I believe my display said 8mpg. Lol

 

[2003F350]

OP should be fine pulling a camper that light. Best advice I can give is slow down and run 65mph or so when towing on the expressway, you'll see an improvement in towing mileage.

I used to get 13-15 in my Wagon empty running 70/75, 11 towing at 65. The new CTD is getting around 22.5 at 55 empty (I don't run on the expressway much anymore but it looks to average about 18 empty at 75), so I'm kind of excited to see what it'll get when towing.

 

[HuskerRam]

I'm really enjoying my 2022 1500 eco Diesel, especially the mileage. taking it easy on the highways of Texas, I easily see 30mpg. I'm looking at aa small Camper: 3000lbs, under 10feet tall, 20 feet long.

I have 3.21 gears and 4wd.

Do you think I can still get 15, possibly even 20mpg with that camper?

Very possible to get 15 MPG with that setup. I've got the same setup and my camper is 6k lbs loaded and 31 feet long...I see 12-13 when towing it (on flat roads, of course) when driving 60 MPH.

 

[Riccochet]

Makes me cry. My hemi I averages 12-13mpg unloaded. When I towed my fathers boat I believe my display said 8mpg. Lol

Those big, heavy tires and heavy bumper aren't doing you any favors. I had a 2017 1500 5.7 w/ 3.92's, bone stock, and used to get 18-20 unloaded on the highway, and 15 when towing my bass boat.

 

[crazykid1994]

Those big, heavy tires and heavy bumper aren't doing you any favors. I had a 2017 1500 5.7 w/ 3.92's, bone stock, and used to get 18-20 unloaded on the highway, and 15 when towing my bass boat.

Oh I know. Hand calculated I was 19mpg bone stock on the highway. Currently If I maintain 55mph my gauge claims I’m getting 24 mpg if you want to believe it. Once I go over 55 mph it’s like I’m driving a brick wall. I plan on redoing the front bumper and adding some skid plating underneath the truck to double as a way to reduce air drag. If I have my front skid plate in my mileage goes up to 15 mpg average but I smashed it up pretty bad last time off-roading and finally fixed it maybe a month ago.

 

[gtex1970]

I previously owned a Jayco 294 that was 35' long with a slide out. I actually started towing it with a 2015 1500 ecoDiesel. it pulled and stopped OK, but the wind was scary. So, I upgraded to a 2500 Cummins. But I have since sold the camper and the cummins. I've been missing those beach trips with my boys. This small camper will be "Cozy" for sure. But, for just us 3 boys, I think it will serve it's purpose. I want it to be a quick hitch and roll, confident and safe and easy to park so that last minute 2 night trips are appealing!

 

[Dennis Montey]

I pull a 27' trailer and get around 13. Not so much the weight, but the wind resistance. Much better than my last truck with a hemi that only got about 8mpg with the same trailer.

 

[Tulecreeper]

OP should be fine pulling a camper that light. Best advice I can give is slow down and run 65mph or so when towing on the expressway, you'll see an improvement in towing mileage.

I used to get 13-15 in my Wagon empty running 70/75, 11 towing at 65. The new CTD is getting around 22.5 at 55 empty (I don't run on the expressway much anymore but it looks to average about 18 empty at 75), so I'm kind of excited to see what it'll get when towing.

Slow down? That's the max I drive when towing anything, and even that would have to be out in the middle of nowhere with no traffic, like I-10 crossing New Mexico.

 

[Ratman6161]

It's not necessarily the weight that hurts, at a certain point the aero forces are overwhelming and can't be escaped. Towing a 3000 pound popup trailer will give you way better mpg than the same weight with a trailer that is 10 feet tall.

Yup. I have a 16x7 enclosed snowmobile trailer that has a gvwr of 2995 and is 2600 to 2700 as I load it. I have towed this with a 2010 Ford Escape, 2013 Nissan Frontier, 2019 GMC Canyon, 2021 GMC Sierra and now a 2022 Ram 2500 6.4. Accoss all those trucks I've observed that it makes very little difference whether the trailer is loaded or unloaded as far as MPGs go. And that's a 7 foot wide that's much more aero than my travel trailer. With the lighter weight tow vehicals, It actually towed better with at least one snowmobile in it than it did empty.
Anyway, this supports the idea that aero can count as much or more than weight.

 

[2003F350]

Slow down? That's the max I drive when towing anything, and even that would have to be out in the middle of nowhere with no traffic, like I-10 crossing New Mexico.

You're an increasingly rare breed, similar to me. I usually set the cruise at 65 when towing and just let it run - but I'm CONSTANTLY being passed by guys pulling way too much camper with way too little truck. Had several almost suck over into my side when their rig started swaying. Once had a guy try to pass, he started swaying and got out of it...tried again with the same result...he finally just kept coming and was swaying like crazy so I went over onto the shoulder and slowed down a bit so he could get around me...Because if he's gonna take himself out he can do it without taking me out too.

I'll never understand those who insist on pulling that fast - it's not a race to get there.

 

[SniperDroid]

^^^^^^^

What he said!

 

[HuskerRam]

You're an increasingly rare breed, similar to me. I usually set the cruise at 65 when towing and just let it run - but I'm CONSTANTLY being passed by guys pulling way too much camper with way too little truck. Had several almost suck over into my side when their rig started swaying. Once had a guy try to pass, he started swaying and got out of it...tried again with the same result...he finally just kept coming and was swaying like crazy so I went over onto the shoulder and slowed down a bit so he could get around me...Because if he's gonna take himself out he can do it without taking me out too.

I'll never understand those who insist on pulling that fast - it's not a race to get there.

100% facts right there.

 

[Riccochet]

I "generally" don't tow over 65 mph. I will pass at higher speeds though. Had this jackwagon in front of me in a Class C that would speed up to 65, slow down to 55, speed back up, slow back down. No on in front of him. I had enough of that nonsense and sent it past him at 75. Though, my setup is capable of 75 without issue.

 

[sam darakjy]

I'm really enjoying my 2022 1500 eco Diesel, especially the mileage. taking it easy on the highways of Texas, I easily see 30mpg. I'm looking at aa small Camper: 3000lbs, under 10feet tall, 20 feet long.

I have 3.21 gears and 4wd.

Do you think I can still get 15, possibly even 20mpg with that camper?

Just purchase the camper the want and worry about mileage another day. As long as you can tow is safely and within your limits you will be fine.

 

[gtex1970]

So I ended up getting a deal on the next step up camper in the same series. the dealer listed the step camper at the same price. I figured it was a mistake but I told them I was very interested at getting this camper at this price (I had screen shot the listing). They sold it at that price. I think I got a real good deal.
HITCH WEIGHT425 lb.
GVWR 4,525 lb.
UVW 3,790 lb.
LENGTH21' 6
EXTERIOR HEIGHT10' 0"

I towed it home on a variety of typical Texas backroads and Interstate Highway. It showed about 15.5mpg and there was a lot of traffic. This weekend I'll do a longer trip to the beach and I expect the mileage to improve slightly.

I don't have a weight distributing, sway elimination hitch setup yet. It towed well without it. But, I'm still trying to determine a good setup for this relatively small trailer.

 

[Riccochet]

You're not going to need much in the way of WDH for that. If at all. Get an Andersen and call it a day. Light, easy to connect and disconnect, good sway control. 500 lbs or less of tongue weight isn't a lot to deal with.