Will leveling truck height in front, reduce my MPG’s?

[gerrylp]

hello,

I have finally realized my dream to own a Cummins Ram truck. Bout a 2010 3500 Laramie crew cab (with 120,685 miles), last Friday, and I was so impressed how on the freeway at 75 mph, the computer was showing 18.4 (actual by old method way 18.1 mpg).

Now, I have an appointment with 4Wheel parts to have them install Bilstein’s 5100 series shocks. My question is, would raising the front the maximum of 2” the shocks will yield, affect that freeway MPG? Thanks in advance!

GerryLP

 

[TimothyLong]

I have a leveling kit on my 2500 and haven't noticed any difference in fuel mileage.

2013 Ram 2500 Laramie QC LB 4x4, Thuren Fabrication track bar, sway bar kit, and 2" leveling kit, Bilstein 5100 shocks, Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunner AT's LT285/70R17, Westin Chrome Ultimate Bull Bar, Weatherguard Saddle Box, Line-X Bed Liner

 

[EDankievitch]

Same here I haven't noticed any change in my Mpg's after installing the leveling kit. If anything after I re calibrated my speedometer for the larger tires I'm getting a little bit better Mpg's than stock.... But not worse. Defiantly worse when towing.

 

[BigPapa]

Welcome to TDR, Gerry, and congrats on living your dream.

I have to ask, what would make you think a suspension/cosmetic mod would affect your fuel mileage?

-Scott

 

[kthaxton]

In theory, yes, it would affect mileage. Would it be noticeable? Probably not.

 

[GrantP]

I haven't noticed a change in my mileage either and I'm running some mild 37's. I can still occasionally get 20 mpg highway at reasonable speeds. Your tire choice may have more to do with mpg than the leveling kit. These trucks are aerodynamic bricks to start so a leveling kit isn't going to matter much.

 

[gerrylp]

Welcome to TDR, Gerry, and congrats on living your dream.

I have to ask, what would make you think a suspension/cosmetic mod would affect your fuel mileage?

-Scott

Hi Scott,

I used to own a gas 2014 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3 engine (I sold it to get my Cummins). And when I did the same with the 5100, I had them install them at the highest point (2”), and all of the sudden (or seemingly so), the mpg on the highway went from almost 20 mpg to a solid 18 mpg. It had 3.42:1 rear gears, so it never gave the advertised 22 mpg, but then it dropped to 18.2’ish.

I may be naive, but the rake was pronounced like my 3500’s now, and thought it likely that whatever aerodinámica was built into it, was removed by doing that on that truck.

I do love that I get 18 mpg on the Cummins and with 3.73:1 gears, though.

GerryLP

 

[AEdelheit]

The leveling kit itself can at higher speeds but larger tires would have a bigger effect and your right fit will have the biggest effect.

 

[gerrylp]

Thanks folks. I measure the distance from the top edge of the front tire to the fender opening lip at the middle point. Did the same for the rear tire-to-lip distance (unloaded). Came out a rake of 2.5 inches. So if I have them install the front 5100 shocks at 1.5, it should give me an inch wiggle room for when I put a load on the back. Too much, or not enough? Thanks for all the great help.

GerryLP

 

[BigPapa]

Gotcha, Gerry. I misunderstood thinking you thought it might INCREASE your mileage. Now I understand.

I could see it being very possible the mileage to decrease due to the body being higher and allowing more air underneath.

-Scott

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I haven't noticed a change in my mileage either and I'm running some mild 37's. I can still occasionally get 20 mpg highway at reasonable speeds. Your tire choice may have more to do with mpg than the leveling kit. These trucks are aerodynamic bricks to start so a leveling kit isn't going to matter much.

I’m not calling you a liar, but I just don’t believe you. Every truck I’ve ever owned I’ve eventually put bigger tires on and most ended up either leveled or lifted. Just bigger tires alone always affected the mileage then top it off with a leveling or lift kit and mileage loss was easily noticeable. You’re the first person I’ve ever heard of that went from stock tires to 37’s and didn’t notice a change in mileage.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

So if I have them install the front 5100 shocks at 1.5, it should give me an inch wiggle room for when I put a load on the back.

Hopefully I'm misunderstanding this... shocks alone will not level the front end.

 

[GrantP]

I’m not calling you a liar, but I just don’t believe you. Every truck I’ve ever owned I’ve eventually put bigger tires on and most ended up either leveled or lifted. Just bigger tires alone always affected the mileage then top it off with a leveling or lift kit and mileage loss was easily noticeable. You’re the first person I’ve ever heard of that went from stock tires to 37’s and didn’t notice a change in mileage.

It had 35's and a leveling kit from day one so 37's wasn't much of an adjustment.

 

[AEdelheit]

I’m not calling you a liar, but I just don’t believe you. Every truck I’ve ever owned I’ve eventually put bigger tires on and most ended up either leveled or lifted. Just bigger tires alone always affected the mileage then top it off with a leveling or lift kit and mileage loss was easily noticeable. You’re the first person I’ve ever heard of that went from stock tires to 37’s and didn’t notice a change in mileage.

On my 06 G56 truck 37s did help my highway mileage since the OD was so bad on those early G56 trucks. Stock was about 2500 RPM at 75, with 37s is was around 2000 RPM and made a huge difference, no so much in town or towing.

Hopefully I'm misunderstanding this... shocks alone will not level the front end.

Bilstien makes a leveling coil too, they are stiff and dont ride great but are a full replacement coil.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Bilstien makes a leveling coil too, they are stiff and dont ride great but are a full replacement coil.

I've not seen those...

 

[crazy jerry]

i dont know about mpg but when you tow anything your truck will look like those saggy pants high schoolers wear

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

It had 35's and a leveling kit from day one so 37's wasn't much of an adjustment.

Ok, this makes more sense.

 

[GrantP]

Ok, this makes more sense.

I should have added more information to my response. I was basing my answer from my experience with my '97 which only had slightly oversize tires, 265/75-16's I believe. I got 20 mpg consistently on the highway (hand calculated including the speedometer correction). I installed 35" Toyo MT's when I added the new suspension, I DID notice a decrease in mileage then but it was minimal. I blame my tire choice on the mpg change. I went back to a more pavement friendly AT tire and I was pulling 20 mpg once again.

As has been said, driving habits, speed, and tire choice all probably have more to do with mpg than a leveling kit. Sure in theory it affects aerodynamics, but as I mentioned earlier this is like pushing a 7000 lb brick through the air at 75 mph anyway.

My 06 consistently turns 20, sometimes 21 (if the wind is right) on the highway with 37's. Admittedly, mpg has never been my first priority when I make modifications to my truck but I'll take 20 mpg in a truck that I can do whatever I want in with a smile.

 

[gerrylp]

Hopefully I'm misunderstanding this... shocks alone will not level the front end.

Mark, the Bilstein’s 5100 and higher models have three or four groves in their upper bodies, and with an added snap ring, they rest the spring on (and I am simplifying it a lot), on the spring cup, the result is an elevated pose. Which is what you really want. Spacer blocks basically rob total travel from the shock to lift the front end.

 

[AH64ID]

Mark, the Bilstein’s 5100 and higher models have three or four groves in their upper bodies, and with an added snap ring, they rest the spring on (and I am simplifying it a lot), on the spring cup, the result is an elevated pose. Which is what you really want. Spacer blocks basically rob total travel from the shock to lift the front end.

That is true of some models, but not for these trucks.

Those style leveling kits are for coil-over shocks, which we don’t use.

The spring and shock don’t touch on any Ram HD truck.