Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 12540 Pounds 18.22 MPG!

[Big Dawg]

I just towed a 6' x 12' enclosed box trailer over several hundred miles. I weighed the setup on some truck scales at a truckstop and everything weighed 12540 pounds. (My truck normally weighs right at 7000 pounds with a full fuel tank, me, and my honey. ) My gas mileage was 18. 22 MPG. This was traveling on relatively flat highway at between 55 and 60 mph. Pretty amazing huh? I was also chatting at one of my fuel stops with a guy that had an '03 Cummins. He was pulling a 6000 pound travel trailer at the time. I asked him what kind of fuel mileage he got (he had an automatic) and he boasted 14. 2 with the trailer and between 17. 1 and 17. 3 unloaded. Hmmmm... . I'm glad he didn't ask me what my fuel mileage was. In all fairness, he did pass me on the highway a short while later at about 65 so maybe he would get a little better mileage if he was in the slow lane with me.

I also met a guy who had a maxipad and he was happy to be getting 17 unloaded also. His was an automatic also. He was a nice guy and I let him borrow my road atlas but he was just another lost diesel soul. I love my Cummins!

 

[klenger]

Glad to see you're getting good milage. RV's have significantly more frontal area than a 6'x12' enclosed trailer, and probably weight a bunch more too. If he's getting 14. 2, he's doing pretty well. I get 18 - 19 empty and about 11 towing a 10k 5er.

 

[WadePatton]

good numbers.

I got 17. x pulling a similar trailer. Don't know how heavy it is. It's not the lightest version, but I put bicycles and camping gear in it. So it doesn't weigh much. On the other hand, I pull it between 70-80 on I-road and 60-70 on highways.



Just for the record I did a mileage experiment and drove like my toes were broken for 100 miles on my last road trip. I normally get 18-19 local 3x5 and 5x5. Driving like a wounded duck I was able to turn 22. 5 on 2x4! The Ford/Chevy boys shut up fast when I drop that number--and if they don't I give 'em the other numbers.



I suppose if I aired up the tires and ran 1x3 I might could get close to 23mpg. Maybe next year.



DD3's are coming next and I expect that I'll be heavy AFOOT.

 

[JBlock]

With open trailer and tractor

I tow four times with mine San francisco to Portland Oregeon, through Grant pass and the California/Oregon Grade 7% for 20 miles.



With the Kubota loader, tiller, weed etc, 9000 pounds on the trailer and another 1500 pounds in the truck, 13. 9-14 mph



With my 5000 pound Packard classic Limo, 14. 2 mph



U-Haul 6 x 12 enclosed, same 14. 5 range



Drive around 60-65 mph



Interesting driving 65 with empty call hauler maybe 16



U-haul running empty going down 15-15. 5 at 65 mph.



JB

 

[andrewkoperdak]

Nice MPG. I have a Std Cab '01 my best pulling @ GCVW of 12240 was 18 MPG. Empty my truck on the highway gets 26 MPG ( Calculated) and I average 22 in the city. My truck empty is only 6200 pounds so I guess I am in the lightest of the Dodge versions. My MPG has been improving as I approach 75K miles.

R,

Andy

 

[wlowe]

I recently made a 900 mile trip to southern Oregon and back running empty and stock, 65 miles per hour, 21. 5 mpg going down and 22 mpg coming back. Beat my old record of 20 mpg.



Bill

 

[JWhitcomb]

12,500 with a big barn door of a camper and 13 mpg @ 65.

 

[Herebytheowl]

Good fuel can make a really big difference. I recently pulled a 6x12 552miles on 30. 6gal of Amoco's Premium blend diesel (cetane rating is ~52). This calculates out to be 18. 04 mpg at 65-70mph. The best fuel I can find in Florida is only 42-43 cetane, and my 50,000 mile empty average is just under 16. 5mpg. Now, if any of you know where to get the good stuff in Florida, please share.