Towing gas milage

[Dougdna]

Just purchased a 2018 Ram Bighorn with the Cummins 6.7L I6 Turbo Diesel and 68RFE transmission and 3.42 axle ratio and am looking for some help and advice. I just pulled my camp trailer at 6900 pounds dry and only got 10.8 miles per gallon. I work with two other Dodge owners and they both said they get around 17 miles to the gallon while towing a trailer heavier than mine.

Am I doing something wrong? I used tow/haul mode going to the camp and got 10.8 gallons. I towed without tow/haul mode coming home and only got 10.2 miles to the gallon.

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Wife is ready to kill me for buying a truck this expensive and it not performing that well. Ha

 

[OC455]

Do you know what gear ratio the other two Ram owners are running?

 

[OC455]

There is 3.42, 3.73, and 4.10 gear ratios available. The difference may be the gear ratio vs. what you have. For the 2500s.

 

[Dougdna]

Thanks guys for the info. That is what I was thinking as well that it might be the gear ratio. I will definitely look in to that and see if I can change it later down the road.

 

[Toddbigboytruck]

I have a 18 1500 gas and towing my 5500 lbs tt I get 11mpg I know it is Apple And oranges

 

[crash68]

Fuel economy while towing will greatly be affected by how fast your traveling and how windy it is. For example I've towed the same 24' enclosed car hauler(about 3K empty) the same route in calm conditions getting about 16 mpgs, in high wind conditions about 12 mpgs. Towing a 28' enclosed trailer weighing every bit of 8K lbs I've been in the 14-15 mpg range.

 

[OC455]

Fuel economy while towing will greatly be affected by how fast your traveling and how windy it is. For example I've towed the same 24' enclosed car hauler(about 3K empty) the same route in calm conditions getting about 16 mpgs, in high wind conditions about 12 mpgs. Towing a 28' enclosed trailer weighing every bit of 8K lbs I've been in the 14-15 mpg range.

I wish got close to 12mpgs or 14-15 range. Coming back from camping, most of my average mileage is in the 8 to 9 mpg range if I'm lucky. Going out is a bit better because the majority of it is heading down hill and not into the wind.

 

[dhay13]

I towed my sons camper that is about 6600lbs dry with my 2013 1500 5.7 QC with 3.55s and got about 8.3 MPG one way and 7.3 on the way back on the highway.

Son used a 2017 Duramax 2500 4x4 (no idea what gears) towing the same camper on a flat highway. He got 20 MPG coming home with it empty and only 9 MPG towing the camper back. I thought it was odd to lose that much mileage towing with a diesel but everyone I talked to saidthat was normal.

 

[crash68]

I wish got close to 12mpgs or 14-15 range.

To add to above, towing the fishing boat(3500 lbs on the trailer), I'm usually in the 18-20 range depending on the wind.
It probably does help some that I have a cap on the back so the trailers catch less air but fuel efficient towing is where the EcoD shines.

 

[NewBlackDak]

I wish got close to 12mpgs or 14-15 range. Coming back from camping, most of my average mileage is in the 8 to 9 mpg range if I'm lucky. Going out is a bit better because the majority of it is heading down hill and not into the wind.

Up hill and into the wind on a box trailer will make for bad mileage on any engine.

How fast are you driving? Seems like within 5mph of 60 is the sweet spot for most rigs.
Also, cheap travel trailer tires(what usually comes stock) are almost all rated for 65. Anything faster is asking for a blowout.


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[RamClassic LI]

Just came back from a trip and I averaged 13.2 mpg. My travel trailer weighs 4,000lbs. My truck: 2019 1500 classic quad cab v6 Pentastar 4wd 3:21 gear set. Average speed was 62mph not to shabby I must say.

 

[mtofell]

I work with two other Dodge owners and they both said they get around 17 miles to the gallon while towing a trailer heavier than mine.

I think the main thing you need to do is compare with some honest people. There is no way anyone is getting 17 MPG towing a 7000#+ trailer.

10-11 is not too surprising if you had some wind, hills and/or had your foot in it.

You will likely do a bit better at various times but I'd plan on around 12 as an average with that trailer. Back when I had a diesel with a trailer that size I'd usually get around 10 but that was an 06 and these newer trucks are a bit more efficient. Not from 10 to 17 though. By far the best thing you can do to get better MPGs is to slow down. Once you get over 60 the rate you burn fuel really starts to to go up dramatically.

 

[madweazl]

The only way your buddies are getting 17mpg towing is downhill.

 

[Dougdna]

Thanks Mtofell for the reply. There was a pretty good wind blowing and it was slightly up hill most of the way so I guess I should be happy with 10.8. I really appreciate all the information and advice from everyone. This is a great forum.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Why do guys with 1500's and gas engines tell us what they are getting for mileage when the OP is asking about a 2500 with a CTD?
They are 2 completely different beasts.

 

[Marine Les]

Just purchased a 2018 Ram Bighorn with the Cummins 6.7L I6 Turbo Diesel and 68RFE transmission and 3.42 axle ratio and am looking for some help and advice. I just pulled my camp trailer at 6900 pounds dry and only got 10.8 miles per gallon. I work with two other Dodge owners and they both said they get around 17 miles to the gallon while towing a trailer heavier than mine.

Am I doing something wrong? I used tow/haul mode going to the camp and got 10.8 gallons. I towed without tow/haul mode coming home and only got 10.2 miles to the gallon.

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Wife is ready to kill me for buying a truck this expensive and it not performing that well. Ha

How fast were you driving? Were you climbing? These are the 2 biggest mpg killers. I towed my 7600# trailer from the desert (2500' to 7800') to home in the mountains and got my worst mileage ever at 10.0. On level towing I get 12 to 13 if I keep it at or under 65. Now this is an old 5.9 manual so its not your truck but 10.2 is not that bad and remember people tend to lie to themselves about their mpg and they are going tell you what they tell themselves. They are not getting 17 towing heavy. You could buy a motorhome and get 8 so just remember big loads and high speed means big gas bills. As far as changing gears you would never pay for it in fuel savings and all you need to do is drop a gear and keep your rpms near 2000 for best mpg. Pretend you are driving a semi and drive like a big rig does. Reformed semi driver.

 

[BossHogg]

With a 2015 RAM 3500 Cummins, SRW, 4x4, 3:42s.

15,000 pound Montana 3790RD fifth wheel, MPGs range from 8 to 14 depending on the wind direction and speed. Typically I see on average 12 MPG.

5,000-pound boat. MPG range is 14 to 16 MPG.

Pulling nothing, 22 MPG typical average.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Here's what you do. Tell them you bought a magic mpg gizmo for your truck. Then, next time you tow tell them you got 18 mpg. Then, sit back and watch the stories unfold.

You may watch your boost gauge and experiment with running in fifth gear while towing. The Cummins will pull like a train, but with 3.42 gears it is easy to lug the motor and not feel like it. Sometimes turning more RPM at lower boost will give better MPG. Find the sweet spot for your rig.

 

[CantRepeat]

I towed a 7500lb Forest River Wildcat 292 with a 2010 2500 6.7 with 3.42 gears from Alabama to Wyoming and back and got about the same as the OP. Sometimes even worse; closer to 9mpg depending on speed and hills.

I was driving the max speed limit in each state so between 65 and 80mph. I find it hard to believe that anyone is getting 16 mpg towing anything over 6500lbs.

 

[Marine Les]

With a 2015 RAM 3500 Cummins, SRW, 4x4, 3:42s.

15,000 pound Montana 3790RD fifth wheel, MPGs range from 8 to 14 depending on the wind direction and speed. Typically I see on average 12 MPG.

5,000-pound boat. MPG range is 14 to 16 MPG.

Pulling nothing, 22 MPG typical average.

I take it that's calculated and if so you are getting stellar mpg. My brother has the last of the no-def Cummins and gets 16 not towing and 10-11 towing 3500#, needless to say he is not happy.