1st tow,MPG?

[RIDGERACING]

Purchaced my CTD new. I have put 6000mi on it without towing and have gotten 16mpg every tank. This past weekend was my 1st tow ,6500lb trailer and 1300miles. I averaged 75mph the entire time (I no this is a little high) and got an average of 10. 2mpg hand calculated. The truck performed great but I am disapointed in the fuel milage. My only mods have been a cat delete pipe and tone-ring mod. ( I noticed no difference in milage with mods prior to towing). Is this acceptable?

 

[Big MAK]

I get 9 to 10mpg towing at 75-80mph with my 2500 driving (typically) rolling hills. Speed drinks fuel. I'm sure I'd be atleast 15 if I was running 65. Your numbers make sense to me if you usually drive 60-65. I would if I was retired and had more travel time!

 

[wcjp]

My empty has been about 16. 2mpg. Towing the Jeep, trailer and gear of 6000pds I averaged 12. 1mpg. Just had the long crank reflash done by local dealer. Empty mileage on first tank was 18. 1mpg. Truck now has 11k, all figures hand calculated. At a true 18. 1mpg overhead says 19. 8mpg.

 

[Rocky in KC]

My empty has been about 16. 2mpg. Towing the Jeep, trailer and gear of 6000pds I averaged 12. 1mpg. Just had the long crank reflash done by local dealer. Empty mileage on first tank was 18. 1mpg. Truck now has 11k, all figures hand calculated. At a true 18. 1mpg overhead says 19. 8mpg.

could you expound a little more on the (long crank flash) I have 05/6spd--4x4!!

do you have a TSB#---or any other info that would help me explaning it to my dealer-----stuck in AL. ---LOL---thanks,Rocky

 

[CMusgrove]

Daughter & Son-in Law borrowed my 06 megacab (auto,3. 73) this past weekend to pull their travel trailer to the lake. About 6,500 lbs. They say they went about 75 on the turnpike and several hills and curves closer to lake. hand calculated = 10. 3. I was a little disapointed in that I had beat 20MPG the last two times I had it on the turnpike (67 MPH @ 1,850 RPM). This was it 1st tow however and it has 5,000 total miles on it. I asked them to cut it back to about 65 next time so we can see what it gets at that slower speed. I think it should get closer to 12-12. 5 @60MPH. We'll see.

 

[KennethS]

You got to slow down to get better mileage

Driving that fast you are lucky to get any kind of mileage at all. Speed kills mileage.

 

[RIDGERACING]

I wish I had time to slow down, But with a 12hour drive 65vs75mph. I get there 1-2 hrs earlier.

 

[DPKetchum]

Besides mileage thats too fast to tow anything. Just my opnion.

 

[betterthanstock]

Driving that fast you are lucky to get any kind of mileage at all.

:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf



The only time you cannot get any mileage at all is at idle.

 

[Schrowang]

Tow Miles

Ridge Racing,



My 2004. 5 has 33K on the Odometer. OTR bobtail it gets 22 mpg; around town = 18 mpg. Towing my Cat OTR the truck gets 13 - 14 mpg. That's all hand calculated. I have recorded every drop of fuel that has gone into the truck since I picked it up in June of '04.



OTR whether bobtail or towing I peg the tach at 2000 rpm. That's 62+ mph with my 4. 10 rear in 6th.



I would expect that your mileage would improve as you break the engine in. Miles =

 

[CEckardt]

I towed for the first time this past weekend with my 06. The load was slide in camper and boat. We drove about 80 miles each way on freeway at about 67-70 mph, then an additional 30 miles of other roads and hills ranging from 20 mph to 55mph. The total miles for the trip was about 220 miles with combined milage of 9. 4 miles per gallon. The overhead computer said it was 10. 2, but I calculated with odometer and that's what I came up with. It's not great but the truck now only has 1350 miles on it so I'm sure it will improve a bit. Oh, stopped at some truck scales on way back to check the package weight. I think I'm around 18-19 thousand lbs but not sure. Maybe You guys can help me make sense of it. Front axles weighed in at 4300lbs, rear axle of truck was 9700 lbs and the trailer axle was 5850lbs. I'm not sure how to combine it all. Thanks for the help.

 

[JeepinDoug]

Driving that fast you are lucky to get any kind of mileage at all. Speed kills mileage.

X2

When my 4. 5 was brand new I towed 7K lbs from sea level to 8250 ft elevation, 200 miles at 65mph and averaged 22mpg.

Now I have 36K on the clock with subtle mods. The same tow will get me an average of 24 mpg.

Everyday average of 17. 5 mpg, city and hyway with no tow or control of my foot.

Here's the great part of it, if I take the same exact road trip with no tow I get the same mileage, plus possibly 1 mpg better.

 

[wcjp]

I think the TSB refers to 06' only.





NUMBER: 18-003-06



SUBJECT:

Flash: Long Crank When Starting And/Or Transmission Shift And Battery Charging

Enhancements

OVERVIEW:

This bulletin involves Flash reprogramming the PCM (Cummins) with new software.

MODELS:

2006 DH/D1 Ram Truck Heavy Duty

NOTE: This bulletin applies to Ram trucks equipped with the 5. 9L Cummins 24-valve

diesel engine (sales code ETH) built on or after June 9, 2005 through and

including November 8, 2005 (MDH 0609XX and 1108XX).

SYMPTOM/CONDITIONS:

The vehicle operator may experience extended engine crank time in cold ambient

temperatures on vehicle equipped with manual transmissions.

This Flash also provides the following enhancements:

· Improved Automatic Transmission shifting

· Engine fan is activated if the coolant temperature sensor fails

· Enhanced battery charging