First tow with my 2013 Ram

[Kirwin]

Hooked on the travel trailer (weight 12,750#) with the truck and transfer flow (11,025#) with only 77 miles on the current tank of fuel (1,181 on the truck so far), I pulled the trailer 474 miles to Franklin NC to attend the RV Dreams Rally. Filled up with 56. 137 gallons (at 557 miles). Thats 9. 92 MPG for the trip to Franklin. This is probably a little low as the truck was angled to the passengers side during the fill up.

On the trip, DEF slowly lowered to the red E line, so on the way back I stopped a Haw River Flying J, added 3. 930 gallons of DEF for $11. 00. (When I got the truck at 7 miles, the DEF gage showed just over 3/4 tank) When I left on the trip, the DEF gage was about 1 needle width below 1/2.



Impressions. The truck has more power than needed to pull the trailer at any speed up to 75 MPH (and probably alot higher if you desire). On cruise, MPG suffers from the normal over fueling due to cruise controls inability to anticipate the normal upgrades on the interstate. I think this is the greatest contributor to what I consider to be an extremely low MPG figure. I normally get around 12 with the 03. On the way home I did not use the crusie unless it was on flat ground. At 72 MPH the EVIC showed 9. 4 MPG just before we got off the interstate about 70 miles from our home on US 58 in southern Virginia, a relatively flat 4 lane like, non controlled access highway, with a 60 MPH speed limit. The EVIC slowly came up to 10. 4 MPG on this 70 mile leg of the trip at 60 MPH. I haven't filled up the truck since I got home late last night for a final return trip MPG yet. The exhaust brake works flawlessly. I'm very impressed with its ability to control down hill speed. It maintained 42 mph down a 6% grade for about 5 miles with me only using the service brakes once to slow down for a sharp corner. The toggle gear selection takes some getting used to. It sometimes went to 4th when I was trying to get down to 5th. I'm sure that I will learn to use the switch to get what I want. The Aisin works great. It does sometime get confused when you are trying to drive the truck for mileage by feathering the throttle to prevent an unneeded down shift. As soon as it down shifts to 5th, the truck takes off due to significant increase in available power. Overall I'm thinking that it will make an excellent tow vehicle for full timing in our RV. Only problem is, now I have truck payments! Ken Irwin

 

[LHarper]

Thank you for a great write-up. Fun often comes with payments!

 

[slingshot383]

You're about right for mpg towing. Depending on head or tail wind, I'll get between 9. 0 - 11. 0 towing my 26' enclosed trailer with race car, 4-wheeler, and support equipment.

 

[wyosteve]

I agree your mileage is about right. Last week towing my 4 horse trailer loaded with gear and 4 hayburners, I'd get between 10 and 13 depending on wind, hills, etc. Mine is a 2012 so it seems to me the '13's better fuel mileage is mostly applicable to unloaded situations.

 

[Bob4x4]

Lol use horsepower-buy fuel

 

[Kirwin]

Lol use horsepower-buy fuel

I'm with you Bob, just was hoping for a little better. I'm usually pretty good at getting good fuel mileage. Hopefully after i get a little better at controlling my right foot and the truck breaks in a little more I can get closer to the 03's mileage.

 

[Larry Willard]

Good report ken, sounds like you are more than impressed with it. The mileage should also get better as you get more miles on it.

 

[slingshot383]

The pollution controls on the truck is the issue with the poor fuel mileage, mess with them and void the warranty.

 

[Caseylynn]

Still waiting for my first 5th wheel travel trailer tow. In a week or so I'll post my mpg and towing impressions. Thanks for the info Ken.






2013 Ram 2500 Crew cab 4x4 G56 3. 42 gears

 

[bigblock_doc]

I still get about 9. 5 to 11. 5 all depending on whats inside the trailer. After 100,000 miles
no change at all in mileage. Now for the changes. Will see if mileage improves.

 

[SnoKing]

Did you tow at 72 MPH with the 03? Everyone says these new trucks get less mileage! Is everyone now towing faster do to the fact that these new trucks do that effortlessly? Chris

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Mileage with my new 2013/385/Aisin is as good or better than my 2004, and my 1997 for that matter while the new one weighs about 400-600 lb. more than the 2004 and more like 1400-1600 lb. more than the 1997.

 

[Kirwin]

I have only had 1 tank below 10 MPG on my 2003. I have a spread sheet that I use to track every gallon of fuel I use. So based on my long tern use of the 03 I was expecting a little more that 9. 92MPG. I will continue to track all fuel usage in the 2013 as well, so I will, over time, get a good average for the new truck. As I said above, I know its just a single tank but I was hoping for better.
SNOKING I have towed at 72 with the 03 and it did fine and would give around 11. 5 at that speed. Its not an apples to apples conparison as the 03 had the NV5600 and 3. 73 ratio and thus the decision to down shift was completely mine. I'm still learning to drive the Aisin to my best advantage for fuel miliage while towing and was expecting about a 1 mpg hit for the 4. 10 ratio. I shared my expierence above so that those who are interested could have the information if they were interested. I was not stating that the truck was in any way deficient, I was just hoping for a little more MPG. Ken Irwin

 

[TCDiesel]

One thing to keep in mind the 2013 3500 QC/LB weighs 900LBS More then the 03-09 QC/LB. I think its 700LBS more on the QC/LB 10-12.

 

[DonFitzwater]

More hp+ more weight=more fuel consumed

 

[Caseylynn]

Just completed my first tow. Hitched up my 36ft fifth wheel travel trailer (15,150lbs. ) and started up the road. Left Baltimore Md. on I-83 to Harrisburg Pa. across 322 to I-80 West then north on route 36 ending up in Tidioute Pa. A distance of 305 miles mostly Highway driving. The truck 2013 2500 4X4 CC 8 foot bed G56 with 3. 42 rear end worked flawless. It ran 66mph @1750 rpm in 6th gear. Motoring across I80 those long grades the truck would slow 2to3 mph from my 66mph crusing speed with very little change in rpm. The fuel mileage was 10. 2 hand calculated. The truck indicator was 11. 1 the truck had about 800 miles at the start of the trip. My overall impression of the truck was out standing The handling,ride,braking and engine performance met all my expecations. In my opinion this truck did a better overall job towing than the 2004 F-250 4X2 CC 6 foot bed auto with 3. 73 rear end. I had been a loyal Ford owner my whole life. Then 6. 0 problems which Ford gave me no help what soever out of warranty out of luck! The return trip to Baltimore proved to be just as flawless. What a pleasure to drive such a well engineered truck.