What is realistic diesel daily driver MPG?

[newoldtimer]

2015 GMC 2500

It really varies but normal around town is 13-16 and highway 18-26. If I put cruise on 70 it will get mid 20's. Towing is 11-13

[desuhu]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

Old Dodge 2500 is now getting 15.5 mpg at 66 mph towing this loaded 5er......am on cross country trip right now, from coast to coast.....

You are probably getting good mileage because that 5th wheel doesn't weigh that much. Try towing a 15,000# Cedar Creek and see how you do. We get about 12 with 03 Duramax diesel Silverado 2500 HD.

[KZinferno]

I tow a 35’ 5th wheel. 425-450 miles max. And that depends on the terrain. But more important, I’m not in a hurry. RVcruzing

[StageCoachDr]

Diesel is an expensive over kill for a 7K trailer, but your mileage will probably be higher than a gasser.

[krobertson]

I have a 2017 Ford F350 4x4 with two package. I get between 17.5 and 19 .

[pathvet9]

Our 2007 Dodge 5.9L gets about 16-18mpg around town, stop & go.
When towing our 17k 5th wheel, we consistently get 10mpg.
As good as we can do and we cruise at 60mph

[elucas78]

Very informative thread here. Last year when we were upgrading our tow vehicle it came down between a new 6.0 gas and a new Duramax diesel. We opted for the gas because of some high shop time with a previous Cummins diesel in 2013 and the initial cost difference. The trailer we purchased at the same time has a gvw of 8,800 lbs so a diesel wasn't absolutely necessary. I do know how much more comfortable they are to tow with though. When we aren't towing which is only 4 times per year, I don't use a diesel for it's intended purpose. So based on the fuel mileage numbers in this thread, in my situation it would take me 13 years to pay for the extra cost in a diesel engine. Now if a used one comes available close to home for a good price with the specs I need, that's a different story

[VernDiesel]

When I ordered my 2014 Ecodiesel (great for 7k TT) it only cost 2,600 over the Hemi. It’s not like the 8-10k upcharge for the big diesels. For people o hones that’s my 600,000 milestone.

[Tim L.]

Originally Posted by Searching_Ut

It really varies, but my rough numbers:
2015 Ram 3500, ASIN 6 speed auto SRW

City empty, 13 to 15mpg
Towing 15k scale weighed 5er 9 to 11 mpg speed generally 65 to 68 on freeway, often less on hwy.
Empty truck cruise set to 80 on freeway 17 to 19.
DEF varies from 1 gal per 500 miles to approx 1000 miles per gallon.

Edited to add. My 2011 2500 didn’t use DEF and got a couple miles per gallon worse, especially around town. Little better towing, but it was an 8k tt rather than tall 5er

I've also heard that the Diesel milage increases with mileage. Supposedly starts at around 60 to 70K miles on a Ram 25 and 3500. I've owned a 2013 2500 and a 2016 2500 with Cummins diesel and my experience is the same as the quote above.

[Danj2001]

I drive a bullet-proofed 2005 Ford Excursion and could not be happier. Yes, I spent a little rectifying the issues the original configuration had but the end result is ideal for me. My wife and I travel with two Greyhounds so we need some space (hence the mother of all SUV's). I pull a 7600lb TT and get 12.5 MPG at 60-65 MPH and without the TT, I get 16+ around town. For me it is ideal but good ones (Excursions) are getting hard to find. With two Greyhounds, a pickup would not work for me.

[Jshopes81]

Originally Posted by Danj2001

I drive a bullet-proofed 2005 Ford Excursion and could not be happier. Yes, I spent a little rectifying the issues the original configuration had but the end result is ideal for me. My wife and I travel with two Greyhounds so we need some space (hence the mother of all SUV's). I pull a 7600lb TT and get 12.5 MPG at 60-65 MPH and without the TT, I get 16+ around town. For me it is ideal but good ones (Excursions) are getting hard to find. With two Greyhounds, a pickup would not work for me.

That 6.0, its goi g to melt down on its own and take everything within 10 miles with it.

[Jxfire]

Originally Posted by JRS950

2018 Ram CC long box dually 6.7 HO Cummins
4x4 3.73 gears
Aisin automatic
Loaded w/16K 5th wheel 8-11
Empty 16-21
As you know mileage is affected by many factors, so yours may be different.

Best of luck!

I have a 2017 Ford F350 Platinum with an automatic transmission that I use as a daily driver and to pull my 2017 Jayco Pinnacle. Around town I get about 15 MPG. Pulling, it goes down to about 11 MPG. It's got all the safety features and rides very well. This is my 4th F350 and I will buy another when this one is too tired to pull whatever I'm camping in! Good luck!

[RogueRV]

Originally Posted by Zoomschwortz

I am weighing the pros and cons of selling 3 of my vehicles and buying a diesel pickup that would be used as my daily driver and for pulling up to 7,000 lb travel trailer.

What mpg are you getting with your diesel pickup when used as a daily driver?

1) what truck do you have?
2j 4x4 or 4x2?
3) Stick or automatic?

Thank you for your time and information.
Ken

I have a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 auto diesel crew cab. I get 23-24 MPG around town and have gotten up to 36MPG on the freeway at freeway speeds. This was checked not only on the trip computer but when filling up. You can check but I believe that it is rated at pulling up to 7,000 pounds but I have never pulled more than 2,000 pounds with my trailer. It also came with exhaust brake, trailer mode (changes shift point) and trailer brakes. Love this truck!

[OlJB]

Originally Posted by Zoomschwortz

I am weighing the pros and cons of selling 3 of my vehicles and buying a diesel pickup that would be used as my daily driver and for pulling up to 7,000 lb travel trailer.

What mpg are you getting with your diesel pickup when used as a daily driver?

1) what truck do you have?
2j 4x4 or 4x2?
3) Stick or automatic?

Thank you for your time and information.
Ken

How much will you be towing your TT? If you are looking at towing in on weekends during the summer, maybe a 2 week vacation, then buy a 3/4 gasser. It will cost you less in fuel and maintenance. If you are comparing vehicles of the same model year, most gassers get better mileage than comparable diesels when not towing. Diesels get better mileage when towing. So, it really depends on how much you will be towing.
A half ton truck will either be overloaded or very near maximum payload, if your TT is 7000 lb loaded. That's why you should buy a 3/4 ton.