Community Forums

Nate_32 · 02-23-2022, 09:39 AM

I will be pulling a 12,000ish lb 5er TH with my F-350 SRW 6.7 diesel. I'm averaging about 14 to 15 MPGs now. Want to calculate the amount spent on fuel for trips and curious as what I should realistically expect to get when pulling the camper dry, and full of cargo?

Old-Biscuit · 02-23-2022, 09:45 AM

9-10 mpg towing

It's not so much about the weight but the surface area/resistance

8'W ---13'+ tall---lots of wind surface

TravelSolo · 02-23-2022, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

9-10 mpg towing

It's not so much about the weight but the surface area/resistance

8'W ---13'+ tall---lots of wind surface

That and how your foot behaves (what speed you travel and how you accelerate)

My truck gets better MPG when towing at 62mph than it does at 55mph, probably because of final gear ratio and engine's powerband. You just need to find your sweet spot that is within your comfort zone of overall travel time and max speed.

**hamm2018** · 02-23-2022, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate_32

I will be pulling a 12,000ish lb 5er TH with my F-350 SRW 6.7 diesel. I'm averaging about 14 to 15 MPGs now. Want to calculate the amount spent on fuel for trips and curious as what I should realistically expect to get when pulling the camper dry, and full of cargo?

2017 Ram dually 3500,4:10 rear-end gearing. Triaxle toy hauler 21,000lbs.
We generally get 9-10 mpg, on flat ground around Florida we bumped 11 mpg. Going thru the Rockies last year at around a 10,000 feet pass, we dropped to 5 mpg.
I try to keep the Ram under 2000 RPM generally 1850, runs best there for MPG.

MADP4301 · 02-23-2022, 10:21 AM

X2. Don’t freak out tank to tank at first as it will vary a lot with wind, elevation and speed. My worst tank was 6.8 MPG and best 11.7 on a 4,600 mile trip last August. I averaged 9.1 overall.

Nate_32 · 02-23-2022, 10:31 AM

Appreciate all the help! I was guesstimating around 10 mpg on average. Have any of you used a diesel tuner to help get better mpg or power? I haven't used one before and curious whether they are worth the cost?

**hamm2018** · 02-23-2022, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate_32

Appreciate all the help! I was guesstimating around 10 mpg on average. Have any of you used a diesel tuner to help get better mpg or power? I haven't used one before and curious whether they are worth the cost?

Short answer for me, no, not worth it. Learn how to find the best combination for your rig. For example, it does best at 1800 RPM vs. running at 2100 RPM.

jjackrash · 02-23-2022, 04:23 PM

I generally get between 6 and 7.5 towing my 20k fiver with a 2020 GM DRW. But I also like to get where I'm going.

cletesingler · 02-23-2022, 06:27 PM

2017 F350 dually and 14K lb 5er with a barn door at the front! 10 MPG at best because I just added Goodyear Endurance with a speed rating over 70 MPh so I run safely at 70 MPH, no more 65 MPH speed rating tires. In a strong head wind I've reset the economy reading and was happy with 8 MPG in gear 5 and 60 MPH.

TXiceman · 02-23-2022, 07:06 PM

Towing a 19,000# 5er with a 2012 F350 CC DRW 6.7L and we generally get about 9 mpg at 63 to 65 mph. The truck running solo will get 17 mpg running 70 to 75 mph. The truck has 3.73 rear axle ratio. Push over 65 and we are over the torques peak and the mpg drops.

We do a little worse with a head wind or the hills and better with a tail wind.

Ken

tuffr2 · 02-23-2022, 08:17 PM

I got 10.5mpg on average with a 2012 F-450 towing a 15,800lb 5th wheel from Columbus Ohio to Crystal River Florida and back. With a tail wind 11 mpg and into a head wind 9.8 mpg. I ran around 72 mph and had Michelin XPS Ribs with a 99 mph speed rating on the 5th wheel.

Sent from my SM-G930V using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app

Ltdriver · 02-23-2022, 08:31 PM

We are averaging 12.3 down I5 from Eugene Oregon to San Diego California. 2008 GMC 3500 crew cab LMM Duramax with 13000 lb 5er

traveldawg · 02-25-2022, 05:53 AM

My overall average after 71,096 miles = 12.4mpg.

Towing my best high might be around 10mpg, but no more. Low is hardly ever below 8. So maybe the high 8's is my average towing.

I actually do better in the mountains and hills as I can work the throttle is get good mileage. In FL, where I live, I never get better than 9mpg.

I drive about 65MPH on interstates. And the speed limits on most other roads.

I can get better mileage at slower speeds but it isn't the speed I like.

Oh - not towing on long trips (at 70 to 75MPH) is never better than 16.5MPG. I can see the upper 18's but then the DEF re-gen kicks in and the mileage tanks.

Crosley · 02-25-2022, 06:37 AM

My rig runs 8 - 10 mpg with 5th wheel behind it. We had a heavier toy hauler last summer. Now pull a slightly lighter 5th wheel Grand Design Solitude. Same mpg so far.

On flat ground I may hit 70 mph.. We are the rig that most people pass on the roads. We get there , a little slower is all.

The F350 has the 4.10 gears, I try to stay at or below the 2k RPM area at speed.