Towing fuel economy sucks

[slacadjuster]

How the heck did you pull 26? Dont think I've ever seen over 21 in our 1500!

Maybe he meant 21 when he was going downhill, engine off, and a stiff wind from behind.

 

[Marine Les]

I drive my 3.6 to squeeze mpg and have a lot of 25.+ but never got a 26 and that's with alcohol free. Pulled a 2000# trailer 300 mi. round trip with 50mi. of forest dirt roads and got 19 and think that is stellar. A Hemi getting 26 just doesn't seem possible without getting on a semis bumper and staying there but then my 3.6 would get over 30 doing that. Downhill with a tail wind my 3.6 will get 100+mpg but if I turn around and return the average will be in the low 20s. I'm not from the show me state but I would have to see 26 in a Hemi to believe it. Probably a bad odometer.

 

[GsRAM]

Just for info...what was the speed limit?

A lot of it is 70 mph...some 65 in spots......

 

[Ohio5pt7]

On my way to the beach from ohio 11.2 thru the mountains in wv, va, and nc. This truck impresses me more every day.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[averageguy]

My truck couldn't get 26 mpg going down hill with a tail wind sitting on a trailer not running.

 

[JROOT327]

5.7 with 3.92 rear end. I just got back from an 800 mile trip towing my boat, about 5,000lbs. with the trailer and got in the low 9s for mpg. I have a little bigger tires, did a little over 70 most of the way, and sat in Chicago traffic. It's not amazing, but all things considered I didn't expect much better. Towing it from Chicagoland to Lake Cumberland and back next week. Maybe I'll baby it a little more and try to squeeze 10+ out of it.

 

[dhay13]

I towed my sons camper 200 miles away with my 2013 1500 5.7 3.55s on the highway from Pittsburgh to Buckhannon, WV and got about 7-8 MPG

 

[Ohio5pt7]

So from ohio to myrtle beach pulling 7500 lbs thru mountain ended trip @ 11.4. On the way home now about to hit the mountains sitting at 12.6 but the next 200 miles are about to drink like Frank from shameless.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[Joe Merchak]

Is this actual mileage or lie-o-meter?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actual

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Sloverado]

Towing my 19’ boat I see 11-12 mpg

 

[WY-Dave]

couple of weeks ago, 26' up to bro-in-laws hunting camp in the mountains. Went up 2500' and some 7% grades, 70 on highway, 3.42 gears got 14.1mpg.
DD getting mid 19s (24.3 best) going to/from work 50mile round trip.


View media item 28080

 

[stateofdade]

The words "fuel economy" can't be used in the same sentence as words like "tow" or "haul." LOL

 

[Ohio5pt7]

My current 20 bucks in the tank is up to 180 miles evic says 24.6 typically hand calculated its within .5 after 100 miles but cant hand cal this one since I didnt fill up.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[Toddbigboytruck]

I pulled a 26

Lol I get 26 ....liters per 100 km on my truck when I tow

 

[Quyonmob]

Just my 2¢ worth...

If you really give a furry rats ass about fuel economy, you should be driving a Prius, not a full-sized pick-up.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled zanyness.

Should he pull the travel trailer with the Prius?

Comments like this always annoy me. I need a truck that gets good gas mileage, because I need a truck. Asking questions about truck fuel economy don’t need condescending replies, especially on a truck forum, as they are valid questions. If you have the cash not to worry about it, cool. Some of us rather spend on money on the toys we have the truck to haul, rather than just putting fuel in it.

My truck is my access to weekend recreation, daily commuter, and on call response vehicle for work. It sees 500mi/wk, is loaded with required gear 24/7, and gets excellent mileage for it being the minimum size/capability of vehicle for what I need it to do. It’s why I bought it, practicality. Am I concerned about mpg? Yep. Do I drive a truck? Yep. Is that stupid? Not at all, other wise the 6.4 would be the only engine option any of us would need.

 

[dhay13]

Yeah. Gas mileage isn't the main reason I buy a vehicle but it is on that list. I NEED a truck to tow my boat and for hauling the things I need. I also use my truck for every day driving. It would be foolish to not factor in fuel mileage unless you are Warren Buffett.

 

[Frank Smith]

My towing mpg does not suck, IMO. 3.0 ecodiesel 2015
Just finishing my 11,000 mile/60 day trip out west and towing a 7200 (loaded TT) at 26 ft.

I'll be posting a spreadsheet of all the fuel stops, mileage and hand calculated mpg, in a week, on the RAM 1500 Diesel Forum, but the bottom line is I averaged 15.5+ while towing between 65-70 where possible. I consider that pretty good since my 2003 Dodge 2500 hemi 5.7, gets around 8-9mpg doing the exact same trip.

Just FYI, diesel fuel delta over gas was at most $.38, making it much more economical to tow with the eco.

Love it!!

 

[anchorsaweigh]

Should he pull the travel trailer with the Prius?

Comments like this always annoy me. I need a truck that gets good gas mileage, because I need a truck. Asking questions about truck fuel economy don’t need condescending replies, especially on a truck forum, as they are valid questions. If you have the cash not to worry about it, cool. Some of us rather spend on money on the toys we have the truck to haul, rather than just putting fuel in it.

My truck is my access to weekend recreation, daily commuter, and on call response vehicle for work. It sees 500mi/wk, is loaded with required gear 24/7, and gets excellent mileage for it being the minimum size/capability of vehicle for what I need it to do. It’s why I bought it, practicality. Am I concerned about mpg? Yep. Do I drive a truck? Yep. Is that stupid? Not at all, other wise the 6.4 would be the only engine option any of us would need.

Be annoyed all you want, but if you're going to be involved with hobbies and activities that require the use of a truck then you have to accept what comes with it. You do have a choice as to whether or not you spend your time doing what you do.

I spend around $12k a year to keep my sailboat. I don't care, it's what I do. I choose to do it so I have no room to *****. But buying a truck knowing that gas will be expensive and then ******* and moaning about it makes no sense.

 

[RamClassic LI]

I will give a new update shortly as we are trading our Jayco X17z 4,000lbs for a Jayco X23B 5500lbs. As I stated earlier in this post I was averaging 13 mpg I’m think with the added weight I will be around 10-11mpg. I know a lot of people shy away from the 1500 with the pentastar v6 but with the 8spd and correct hearing it toes really well. I will see how the new trailer responds. But if we ever decide to get a bigger trailer a 2500 gasser will be in the talks.

 

[Toddbigboytruck]

I know it is different I haven’t the the V8 but when I tow my 21 ft hybrid max out 5500# I think I am towing 4700# I get 11mpg