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Old 05-11-2016, 09:43 AM   #1
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2015-2016 3500 drw mileage while towing

Trying to evaluate jumping from '06 3500 drw to '16 3500 drw. Both have 3.73 axle.

With the reduction in mpg on the later models do you guys see a similar reduction in towing mpg as well?

-35' 10k lb bumper pull trailer
-Current truck gets 22mpg empty, 12mpg with trailer above through mountains.
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Old 05-11-2016, 10:21 AM   #2
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I do not believe you would see a decrease. Honestly I think my '14 dually gets every bit as good of mileage as my '05 2500 did. The extra 2 gears and extra horsepower seem to offset anything else atleast in my case.

The newer trucks are really incredible.
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Old 05-11-2016, 10:46 AM   #3
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I am new to this but I am getting 10 mpg on my 2016 RAM 3500 with 3.73 gearing. Pulling at 60 mph on the interstate mostly for the last trip. My total weight is 26,000 pounds. The 415 AMP is very tall. The truck is super capable, I just tow at 60 because of everything I've read on trailer tires.
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Old 05-12-2016, 06:37 PM   #4
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You will get MUCH better mileage with the 16. Towing below 27K combined I highly suggest 3.42's and over 4.10's. With the 3.42's you tow in 5th and then solo get great mileage. I have owned both, get the Aisin FOR SURE!!!
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Old 05-31-2016, 03:40 PM   #5
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not sure if you have made any moves yet, but I just completed my first trip with my '14 dually and the Chappy 360IBL.

Towing 3 hours each way across mostly flat Illinois farm ground.

Trip away: 15 MPH - 20 MPH winds out of the south... most of the trip was headed west with some north. EVIC indicated 11.1MPG, calculated 10.8MPG

Trip Home: calm, same route just no wind. EVIC indicated 13.2MPG, calculated 12.85 MPG.

5er should weight right about 12,500 to 13,000... I haven't weighed it yet, so combined I was rolling right around 21,000ish lbs.
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Old 05-31-2016, 08:50 PM   #6
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Thanks for the insight guys. I took the plunge on a '16 3500 drw w/3.73. A direct replacement for my '06. Haven't towed yet, still working out of the 500mi no-tow period (then the 500 no-towing-over-50mph breakin period. Will update in a few weeks
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Old 06-01-2016, 05:36 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjlakatos View Post
Thanks for the insight guys. I took the plunge on a '16 3500 drw w/3.73. A direct replacement for my '06. Haven't towed yet, still working out of the 500mi no-tow period (then the 500 no-towing-over-50mph breakin period. Will update in a few weeks

500 miles no tow is for the gears. Engine is ready right out of the box. Never heard of this extra 500 miles. can you post the verbiage? Also are you reading about the DIESEL engine or gas?
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Old 06-01-2016, 07:25 AM   #8
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2015-2016 3500 drw mileage while towing

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Originally Posted by Cummins12V98 View Post
You will get MUCH better mileage with the 16. Towing below 27K combined I highly suggest 3.42's and over 4.10's. With the 3.42's you tow in 5th and then solo get great mileage. I have owned both, get the Aisin FOR SURE!!!

Just to make sure, is this what you are recommending? Check the option side.
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Old 06-01-2016, 07:38 AM   #9
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I have a chevy 3500hd srw. I get about 10 on average towing, but the computer averages it around 12 over time.
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Old 06-01-2016, 06:34 PM   #10
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Just to make sure, is this what you are recommending? Check the option side.
That would do VERY nicely!!!

I tow 32,500# combined and it's a dream to tow with the RAM,Cummins, 4.10 and Aisin combo.
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Old 06-02-2016, 07:00 AM   #11
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nice truck indeed! Looks like a really well equipped Tradesman indeed! I wish I had several of those options myself!

Enjoy!
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Old 06-02-2016, 01:36 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjlakatos View Post
Trying to evaluate jumping from '06 3500 drw to '16 3500 drw. Both have 3.73 axle.

With the reduction in mpg on the later models do you guys see a similar reduction in towing mpg as well?

-35' 10k lb bumper pull trailer
-Current truck gets 22mpg empty, 12mpg with trailer above through mountains.
Later models should get better fuel mileage. The requirement to use DEF in newer diesels actually improves fuel mileage. Exhaust from DEF engines also don't stink like it used to.

On the downside, newer diesels cost more, and making sure you don't run out of DEF can sometimes be a PITA.
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Old 06-02-2016, 05:25 PM   #13
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2015-2016 3500 drw mileage while towing

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Originally Posted by paz View Post
Later models should get better fuel mileage. The requirement to use DEF in newer diesels actually improves fuel mileage. Exhaust from DEF engines also don't stink like it used to.



On the downside, newer diesels cost more, and making sure you don't run out of DEF can sometimes be a PITA.


Almost started another post on this subject,
but since you brought it up, can anyone
point out the cheapest places to purchase DEF and has anyone factored in what they does to the fuel costs? i.e. Say you are paying $2.50 per gallon for diesel fuel, what does that price actually bump up to adding in the cost of DEF? 25 cents per gallon? So now in essence you are paying $2.75 a gallon for diesel fuel. Just wondered if there is a way to actually budget or factor that cost ahead? I believe you use one gallon of DEF for every 300 miles. Say for easy math, diesel is getting 20 mpg, so in that 300 miles you would use 15 gallons of diesel and one gallon of DEF. 15 gallons x 2.50=37.50 + $6 for gallon of DEF= 43.50 divided by 16 gallons= 2.72 if you count the DEF fluid or $2.90 if you just count the DEF cost
So between 22 cents to 40 cents in this scenario depending on how you interpret it.
Am I way off?
( obviously not a diesel owner yet)
Interested in experienced diesel owners chiming in.

So in towing if you are getting only 8 mpg in a gas engine could that actually compare to being about the same actual fuel cost as a diesel getting 12 mpg when you add the higher cost of diesel fuel and DEF?
So in a 24 mile trip, the gas truck would use 3 gallons so say 2.30 X 3=$6.90

Diesel would use 2 gallons of diesel and 8% of a gallon of DEF
Say 2.50 X 2 + 8% X $6
5.00 + .48= 5.48 for the diesel TV
Diesel wins

If diesel TV = only 10mpg, then it gets closer
2.50 x2.4 = 6 + .48= $6.48
$6.90 for gas compared to $6.48 for diesel
For the 24 mile trip.
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Old 06-03-2016, 05:38 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Mac01 View Post
Almost started another post on this subject,
but since you brought it up, can anyone
point out the cheapest places to purchase DEF and has anyone factored in what they does to the fuel costs?...
Other than bulk DEF available at truck stops, the cheapest price I have found for DEF in containers is around $8 at Walmart for Supertech brand in a 2½ gal container. Peak brand Blue DEF, which was the only brand available until several months ago, is $14.99 at Walmart.

Because my truck came with 2 years of free oil changes, which included topping off the DEF tank, I have only added DEF on my own a few times. However, it looks like I can go about 2500 miles (combined regular driving and towing) on a 2½ gal container of DEF.

$8 and 2500 miles per container of DEF works out to $.003 per mile for DEF.

Using the numbers in your example, an average fuel mileage of 20mpg and $2.75 per gal for diesel works out to $.14 per mile.

The cost per mile for DEF is only about 2% of the cost per mile for diesel ($.003 per mile for DEF divided by $.14 per mile for diesel). Therefore, an improvement in fuel mileage brought about by the use of DEF of anything over 2% would result in a cost savings.
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