First longish tow

[TFucili]

This weekend I towed my 7x14 MC trailer from NJ to Beaverun Raceway,on the western edge of PA, a little over 700 miles round-trip. The trailer is not very heavy, I would guess <5,000 lbs. with the two bikes, fuel, and gear. The truck pulled great, never dropping out of OD even on the mole-hills we call mountains in the east. We stayed between 70 and 80 mph most of the time. Round trip averaged 11. 5 mpg. I know we had the hammer down, but I honestly expected better. The truck has a little less than 6,000 miles on it, so I hope it picks up a little as it loosens up.



Thoughts?

 

[mberry]

Get some more miles on it and tow something heavier to help it break-in some more.

 

[TFucili]

That's what I'm hoping for. It's not terrible considering my Chevy 8. 1 gasser got 8 mpg,and my Ford 5. 4 got 10 mpg pulling the same trailer.

 

[LesStallings]

70 mph will yield a significant mileage improvement over 80 mph. If reducing your travel time is the main issue, don't worry so much about the mileage. It is hard to have both speed and mileage.



I believe the Cummins web site says that unless you tow heavy, it may take up to 20,000 miles to break in the motor.

 

[LesStallings]

Towing, Hauling and RV Forum

By the way, the Towing, Hauling and RV Forum:



(https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29)



on this site might be a better place to get good answers about your question.

 

[DPKetchum]

Plus 70 tops towing anything is a lot safer for ALL involved.

 

[MacHaggis]

It'll get better than 11. 5, but not a lot at those speeds.



Mine, it was like somebody threw a switch at 10k. Remarkable enough that I accused DC of programming a change in fueling at 10k into the ECM.



A flatbed won't have the wind drag a box does, but at 70-80 the Ram will provide plenty of drag all on its own. I recently got just shy of 14 pulling 7k of tractor and flatbed over the western end of the Mass Pike and up through Vermont to central NH. Holding 65 in 5 & 6.