Normal mpg?

[07flatbed]

My '09 3500 QC, manual transmission, short wheel base truck averages 18 mpg at 65 mph. My (recently purchased) 07. 5 3500 C&C, regular cab, manual transmission averages 14 mpg under similar conditions (both unloaded). When I compare weight specifications on Dodge.com there is only about a 300# difference. The C&C has a flatbed on it that weighs (an estimated) 700# so the '07. 5 probably weighs a thousand pounds more than the '09. Does anyone think the extra weight can account for the mileage difference? I've looked at the differential housings to see if the '07. 5 has 4:10 gears instead of the 3:73 gears in the '09 but couldn't locate a tag. How do I determine gear ratio, short of counting revolutions of the axle vs the drive shaft?

Any input is appreciated.

 

[EB]

I believe you need to find a scale and actually weigh the two trucks, not go with Dodge specs. I have a 07 cab and chassis, it is a single cab, long wheelbase truck but it weighs 9700 lbs with 3/4 fuel. I could be mistaken but I don't believe you can get the cab and chassis with 3:73 gears, I know mine has 4:10 gears with the Aisin transmission.

In answer to your other question about fuel mileage, the last time I checked just the truck without a trailer was on a run to Gulfport, Miss. , a trip of about 530 miles (1060 round trip) nearly all on the interstate, the mileage was 17. 7. Went 860 miles and put in 48. 6 gal. This was at legal speed and hardly any stops. A friend has an 08 with a little over 150k miles and is getting about the same mileage. (hand figured) To this point the mileage has been getting better the more miles you get on the truck.

 

[RVTRKN]

EB, I ordered mine with the G56 and 3:73 rear and it seems to be the same MPG you got on your trip. I have not hand caculated it for a long time (empty) so its fuzzy but it seems to be what I get.

 

[EB]

EB, I ordered mine with the G56 and 3:73 rear and it seems to be the same MPG you got on your trip. I have not hand caculated it for a long time (empty) so its fuzzy but it seems to be what I get.

I wasn't sure because of the transmission, I know that you couldn't get anything but 4:10 with the Aisin. I stand corrected. By the way, my lie-o-meter says I'm getting 21 - 21. 5 mpg.

 

[RVTRKN]

My Lie O meter can be as high as 22 MPG, too bad its not true. :-laf FWIW, I wish I had the 4:10 when hauling heavy in California, where the speed is 55 for trucks and auto's with trailers. Its constant downshifting to keep the RPM where it should be, when climbing small grades.

 

[Wiredawg]

My '09 4500 seems to avg about 11. 2 mpg. With 112 gallons, there is a lot of variety of driving, but mostly around town. Truck weighs 11. 2K lbs, so stop and go is understadably going to be what it is. FYI: My 02 3500 only got around 13MPG same driving style and weigh about 9. 9K lbs.



Wiredawg

 

[JGilbert]

My 08 5500 is lucky to get 13 in stop and go city traffic. I can up that to 16 on the freeway IF I keep it at 60 or below. I have the stock 52 gallon tank, but when we leave Arizona in March to come back to Texas, I'm having ATTA in Mansfield install their 105 gallon wedge tank on my hauler bed.



Joe

 

[SmithMark]

my 08 quad c&C with 9. 5ft steel flatbed, aisin auto, 4x4, 4:10 gears gets hand calculated 15. 1 mpg at 70-75 on the road empty, 9. 9 mpg pulling 13k gooseneck on the road,11. 5 combined with intermittent pulling and 13mpg combined driving if I pull nothing.