2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Whats your towing mileage??

[dspoon]

Well just did my first trip with the new mods this past week pulling my FW camper to the beach and back and avg. 10. 4 mpg. I took it to the cat scales and it weighed in at 10900 does this mileage sound ok?? and I ran the speed limit.

 

[DonTX]

Wow, I would not call that good. I get 23 empty, and 14 with my fifth wheel, I weigh about exactly 20k with the trailer.

 

[Mark Baker]

Empty=19, Towing=11-12 (21,000 GCVW)

 

[DLausche]

I get around 13 or 14 towing the travel trailer. 16,800 GCVW.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Sounds a little low. I usually get 12 at 65 to 70 mph. If I slow down to 55-60 mph, 13 to 14 mpg. Tow weight around 10,000 lbs.



Sam

 

[WestTN]

The speed is far more important than the weight. How fast did you drive?

 

[PRout]

I noticed a difference removing the 4 jacks when I had a camper on the truck. For some reason they seemed to add a significant amount of wind drag (more than I would have expected).

 

[DodgeWarlock]

Towing in Drive and not OD that is probably about right. Towing/hauling about 13,000 in Drive we got between 8. 5 and 9. 5 mpg on a 1800 mile pull. Truck really wanted OD, but with no trans temp guage at the time I would not risk it. Of course, we have 4. 10's, so I might expect a little better from your gearing.

 

[Bob Cochran]

21,000 lbs I have gotten any where from 8 - 21 mpg depending on towing conditions. When talking about conditions I mean altitude, grades, speed, winds, etc. a lot of things go into the MPG when towing. I would say I average about 13 generally.

 

[scotmartin]

It appears that if you have 24 valves, you are going to get a few MPG's less.

My 92 auto got 13 towing.
My 99 4. 10 4x4 stick got 11 towing.
Dad's 96 stick gets 15 towing.
All towing the same 21 foot trailer.

 

[Lurch]

Wind seems to make the biggest difference. Got my best mileage loaded in the mountains (16mpg), worst was empty across NE into a 40mph wind(8. 5) both pulling a 20' enclosed car trailer.

 

[Dodoro]

Daily I'm 10,600 GCW in city traffic as I have a lawn care business, and I average 13 mpg hand calculated. I do have a 5' tall expanded mesh gate that acts like a parachute over 35 mph. Going to cut it shorter soon.

 

[DWeiler]

18MPG-usually with a little flatdeck loaded with some supplies for the "lake"(4-5000LBS),empty i can stay around 22 if keep it under 70MPH. If towing the 11K fiver anywhere from 12-14, i go slow,not wanting to win any races with that much weight---like to stay around 60-65MPH max.

 

[DHayden]

13. 6 at 26,000gcwr dropped to 13. 2 with some hills.

 

[Ajwalls]

Just got back from South Dakota, traveled 875 miles, averaged 10. 5 MPG pulling 10,000lb Travel Trailer. Lots of head winds, hills in South Dakota, and Wyoming.





2001 2500 Q/C 4x4, Leer topper, lots of gauges, BD Exhaust Break,ATF Filter, 4" Ehaust, Blue color,Loaded interior.

 

[Gene Arnold]

I just got home a month ago from a 3464 miles, five weeks trip to Nebraska and Colorado to visit family. My 34' trailer weighs about 8600#.



I try to be careful with my speed. When we started, I determined to hold my speed to 2000 rpm (57 mph). I think it paid off. For the entire trip (a lot of miles in the mountains) I used 209. 6 gallons of diesel which is 16. 5 mpg for the mixed driving.



My best towing mpg was the leg from Laramie, Wyoming to Grand Island, Nebraska; 23 gallons for 412 miles, or 17. 9 mpg. Lowest mpg was Boise to Cokeville, Wyoming-- 355 miles on 23. 3, or 15. 2 mpg.



Gene

 

[DonTX]

You got the secret right there. I NEVER get over 2000 with mine with my gearing I don't need to.

 

[AABEN]

Dodoro Dodge says that you will get better MPG with your tailgate up. I have found this is true. I have tried it with my fifthwheel ! It works even on the fiftwheel. ---BEN

 

[Grizzly]

Well just did my first trip with the new mods this past week pulling my FW camper to the beach and back and avg. 10. 4 mpg. I took it to the cat scales and it weighed in at 10900 does this mileage sound ok?? and I ran the speed limit.

I believe the 3. 55 gears and the auto trans may hurt you more then help you, however 10. 4 mpg is not bad mileage for the weight. That's what I get towing my 27' Arctic Fox, which is about 10K.

 

[Pavemen]

99 3500 2wd, 5spd, US Gear Underdrive, 3. 55's, mild mods.

towed 14k gooseneck (5450 curb weight with a modded Ram 1500, probably 6500lb) plus all my spare gear.

average 11. 5mpg doing 70-75mph most of the 1800 mile round trip. slowest highway speed was 45 over the Baker Pass and 50mph in a few sections near 15-70 interchange.