Real world fuel mileage? Towing

[Wellcraft]

So I took my first cross country road trip from PA to Rapid City, SD with my 2025 RAM 1500 Bighorn towing a small motorcycle trailer with 2 bikes on the trailer and one bike in the bed of the truck. Initially my mpg was a decent 14.7 but dropped to 14.1 and as low as 13.7 by the time my trip was over. I maintained a constant speed of about 68 mph +/- 2 mph throughout the entire trip so was wondering why my mpg decreased by more than 1 mpg. I figured mileage would increase a bit rather than decrease but looks like I was wrong.

Weight of all three bikes plus trailer was probably around 2300 lbs

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I just pulled a 7x14 tandem v nose trailer from Montana to Tennessee to Montana. 24 ram 1500 classic warlock 5.7 8 speed 3.92 gears. Had 2 harley road glides in the trailer. 4gen body, not 5th gen

Avg speed,out west was 80 plus, after crossing the Mississippi it was closer to 70. I pulled the trailer down via Wyoming south dakota via rapid city through Iowa and Illinois to Tennessee. Back was Tennessee to Iowa Minnesota across north Dakota to Montana.

I spent approximately $1,500 in fuel round trip. Going down, Avg was about 13.5 by the evic, i did not hand calc as I had good wind. Was 11.4 coming back as I had crappy wind.

I'm running 315 70 17.

Slowing down the mileage creeped up to mid 15s.

My experience, SD gas is bad, ND gas not much better. Illinois gas the worst.

I run 91 unless the 89 is not e15.

Lots of factors to impact fuel economy. Biggest one is right foot followed by wind.

My opinion

 

[wrench78]

So I took my first cross country road trip from PA to Rapid City, SD with my 2025 RAM 1500 Bighorn towing a small motorcycle trailer with 2 bikes on the trailer and one bike in the bed of the truck. Initially my mpg was a decent 14.7 but dropped to 14.1 and as low as 13.7 by the time my trip was over. I maintained a constant speed of about 68 mph +/- 2 mph throughout the entire trip so was wondering why my mpg decreased by more than 1 mpg. I figured mileage would increase a bit rather than decrease but looks like I was wrong.

Weight of all three bikes plus trailer was probably around 2300 lbs

There are all kinds of factors that play into the loss. Elevation increase/decrease, wind speeds, headwinds/cross winds, road type, humidity, gas quality, traffic, etc. For real though, that's a pretty good MPG and a 1 mph drop isn't bad at all.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

 

[jawzs2]

Excuse me if I don't sympathize, count your lucky stars - LOL, just kidding

My Mileage

 

[turkeybird56]

There are all kinds of factors that play into the loss. Elevation increase/decrease, wind speeds, headwinds/cross winds, road type, humidity, gas quality, traffic, etc. For real though, that's a pretty good MPG and a 1 mph drop isn't bad at all.

@Wellcraft

Wat he said ^^^^^^^^^. ADD: Type of tires on truck, any lift stuff, also PSI of tires, all adds into mileage.

I can pull 6,000 lbs or bit more (STock trailer 14 X 5, 2150 lbs plus 4,000 to 5,000 lbs of hay), and get almost 12 mpg running Top Tier fuel but I also have a Hemi and not known for mpg's with ne thing behind truck.

OP: That mileage not bad. If U check yer manual it states to run 91 octane or higher when towing and or very hot climates, just saying as my kid has a 25 Biggyhorn also.

 

[wrench78]

Excuse me if I don't sympathize, count your lucky stars - LOL, just kidding

My Mileage

LOL, Ya, that's about mine use to look like when I had my 2017 Ram 1500. I could only dream of being in the teens of MPG. LOL