2006 Ford 6.0 engine towing 5th wheel

[colemole]

I am interested in opinions on the difference in MPG in towing a 6000 pound conventional trailer and a 13,000 pound 5th wheel with a 2006 Ford 6.0 diesel engine. How much difference will a person see in fuel consumption in general. I am thinking the big difference will be because the large air displacement surface of the 5th wheel versus the lower profile of the conventional trailer. When I towed a light trailer(4000) pound I found quite a difference compared to no trailer at all. It seems to me any trailer adds a fair bit of fuel but I have not had the opportunity to quantify it.
I am going to make a run from Saskatchewan to central British Columbia and can take a small light(6000) pound trailer or my new to me purchased large (13,000) pound 5th wheel( 2007 Everest 344J). New is going to be very comfortable compared to the small one but don't want to get killed on fuel expense.

Any thoughts?
Colemole

[Bob_C]

MPG varies with speed, terrain.....at 64, old Dodge gets 14.8 pulling, and 20.7 not towing at 70mph

[Old-Biscuit]

I tow 14K 13'4" tall 5th wheel

Get 10.5 - 11.5 MPH towing at 65MPH....with 4:10 gearing

Bet you don't see much difference 'overall' cause you are probably getting close to those MPG already

[cfowler55]

I've driven diesels for going on 30 years. I have honestly never gotten close to the mileage figures reported widely. Until last year had an 06 F250 SC 4x4. On a good day I got 15 empty -10/12 towing 16' flatbed with a jeep on it. We bought a 31' 10k fifth wheel in June. Pulled it one time and traded the ford in. The way the gauge was dropping I guesstimate around 6-7 mpg. That I could have actually lived with, but it just couldn't keep up in the hills. This was a 90,000 mile truck. Even the replacement RAM is only getting 16empty and 10-11 towing. It does seem like everyplace we go we are fighting a headwind.

[CMelder]

I pull a 14000 lb 5er with 2014 F350 W 6.7l and get around 9.2 mpg ... empty I run around 16 -18 mpg. In comparison my 2006 F250 W 5.4l gas pulled same 5er and got 7 to 7.5 mpg. The increase of 2 mpg with the diesel didn't mean much to me, but the ease at which it pulls it does. With diesel costing more per gallon than gas, the fuel cost doesn't justify the diesel, but the power does and it doesn't work as hard to pull it.

[Tide Guy]

Tow my 07 Travel Supreme, 19750#, with a 06 F550, 6.0 Diesel. Get 9mpg. Not good I know, but the setup. [emoji41]

[CMelder]

Originally Posted by Tide Guy

Tow my 07 Travel Supreme, 19750#, with a 06 F550, 6.0 Diesel. Get 9mpg. Not good I know, but the setup. [emoji41]

Hmm, I think you're doing just fine moving near 30,000 lb at 9 mpg.

[mrgrayaz]

I got about 8mpg towing 16k Alfa 5th with our 2005 6.0. the DW got about 10mpg but she had a softer foot. She kept it around 65, and I would try for 70, but it was working it pretty hard. She thought it felt like it was running right/better at 65.
~25000lbs combined. 2005. 6.0 CC SRW short bed 3.73 gears.

Not the case anymore with the 2017..I have to tell her to slow down, and we cruise at 75! Lol.

[Barlow46]

3:73, 4:10 or 4:30 rear end will make some difference in what the 6.0 towing 14,000 lbs gets. I ran an F450 with the 4:30 towing a mobile suites at 14,000 -15,000 and got right at 9.5 to 10.3 at 62 to 65 mph on flat ground. An F350 with a 4:10 rear end would probably add a 1.5 or so mpg. Lots of variables as mentioned....wind, sq. ft of front cap on trailer, temperature, hills, mtns, etc. I only check fuel milage occassionally just to see if the engine has a problem I am not feeling or hearing. Now, I just fill it up and drive until I need fuel again and enjoy the trip along the way.

[JSM180]

In 20k miles towing a 10k lb 5th wheel, according to fuelly.com, my average is 13.5 mpg. Empty my average is 16.4 mpg.

Speed, wind and bio diesel are my biggest mileage killers.

[matt916cat]

I pull with a f250, f350, and f450 everyday. Pulling my 5th wheel @16k with the 350 or 450 I get an average of 10mpg @65- 70mph. But my motto is this: whatever you pull, it's gonna effect your mpg. If your worried or concerned about mpg, then don't pull. But to answer your original question, the 5th wheel will drag more and probably decrease your mpg.

[jlb27537]

If you are towing with a 6.0 Ford, the fuel milage is the least of your worries.

[Tdave]

Originally Posted by jlb27537

If you are towing with a 6.0 Ford, the fuel milage is the least of your worries.

Oh snap. I was gonna say something, but you just said it.

[mrgrayaz]

Originally Posted by Tdave

Oh snap. I was gonna say something, but you just said it.

it would be more funny if I wasn't still paying for my mistake...I mean 6.0......