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Tow Rig Fuel Economy Database

30K views 135 replies 62 participants last post by  silveradoboy 
#1 · (Edited)
I often see people ask what mileage they can etxpect from a certain truck. I propose we start a database with standardized categories to help record what rig does what / when / where / how.

I'll start:

Truck:
1996 F250 ECLB
Drive:
2WD
Engine:
7.3L PSD
Trans:
manual
Axle ratio:
3.55:1
Tires:
235/85R16
Mods:
Tymar intake, tapeworm and cat delete, twildman 6 pos chip

Best Fuel Economy Empty (6600 lb):
21 mpg

Best Fuel Economy Loaded (12,500 lb combined):
16.4 mpg averaged over 7000 mile trip

Load / Driving:
Pop-up truck camper, 6x12 enclosed trailer / cruise control set on 65.

 
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1
#76 ·
Truck:
2000 F250 ECLB
Drive:
4WD
Engine:
7.3
Trans:
Manual 6-speed
Axle ratio:
3.73
Tires:
315/75r16 (35's)
Mods:
4" turbo back straight pipe
K&N air filter
DP 6 position tuner stock, high idle, Towing 60hp, econo 80hp, and fun 120hp

Best Fuel Economy Empty
18.39mpg doing 65-70

Best Fuel Economy Loaded
Have not towed far enough to calculate and don't even bother when plowing.
 
#77 ·
New tow rig specs:

1997 Dodge 2500 extended cab 2wd with only 508,000 miles on it.

NV4500 five speed stick

5.9 Cummins with boost elbow and fuel plate work. Supposedly about 400 hp, and feels like it. It will break tires loose in 4th gear at 45 mph!

3.55 gears in rear and 30 inch tires

I've driven all over country in last two months with it and I've gotten 18-25 towing, 22-31mpg empty.

Seems if I keep it under 2,000 rpm about 65 mph empty I can average 28-30 mpg all day.
 
#82 ·
I hand calculate almost every tank, 30 mpg is no prob unloaded if I keep it under 2,000 rpm. Unfortunately I rarely am without trailer. Been hauling heavy loads all day for two weeks straight now. Worse tank with this type of load was 16. Getting 18-21 mostly through hills of Virginia, Penn, and Ohio.

 
#86 ·
Truck:
2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD Classic ECSB
Drive:
4WD
Engine:
6.6 Duramax LBZ
Trans:
6-Speed Allison
Axle ratio:
3.73:1
Tires:
285/60R18
Mods:
4" Pro-Flow Turbo Back, EFILive Tuning, EGR blockoff, Leveled, Bilstein 5100's.

Best Fuel Economy Empty (7000 lb):
65mph 900 mile road trip - 22 mpg

Average Fuel Economy Empty (7000 lb):
16.8 mpg averaged over the last 4000 Miles of Daily Driving (Winter Fuel)

Best Fuel Economy Loaded (13,000 lb combined):
15.4 mpg, only towed the boat once with this thing (to winter storage)
 
#91 ·
just a hair over 10mpg for the entire trip. About 4500 miles. Roughly 32K lbs.

The CAT 3126 is sure gutless, but I can't complain about the MPG. It ran at WOT for over 50% of the trip.

 
#101 ·
That means alot Jim. Thanks! I actually thought about offering to bet $250 to anyone who wants to ride along and help with one of my routes. When I win, I'm $250 richer, if I lose, I get a cheap worker, and someone to keep me awake and entertained while driving :D
 
#103 ·
I hand figured a trip to Grand rapids and back in my old 95 cummins, auto4x4 and it figured out at 26.7 mpg and that was at 70 mph. So I have no doubt of 30 mpg in a 2wd stick. I now have a psd and can see how some of you guys that own then are but hurt over mpgs. If you want better mpg buy a 12valve cummins. It is not hard to pull down very good mileage with them. Best empty so far in the psd has been 16.

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#108 · (Edited)
One of my worse tanks in awhile. Lots of idling in traffic, and fought a strong crosswind across Indiana. All with loaded trailer. 413.2 miles divided by 23.10 gallons = 17.88 MPG

Brods - in answer to your question, I reset trip odo every fill, and have checked speedo against both my GPS's and they agree. Oh, and my motor is a 12 valve, not ISB (24 valve)

 
#110 · (Edited)
Truck:
1995 K2500, 3/4 Ton, Extended Cab
Drive:
4WD
Engine:
7.4ltr - 454
Trans:
4L80E (I think)
Axle Ratio:
3.73
Tires:
285’s on 16’s - Toyo Open Country D rating
Mods:
None

Best Fuel Economy Empty: (6500#)
9-11 mpg if kept under 75mph

Best Fuel Economy Loaded: (17800# comb. w/ 2 jeeps & goose neck trailer)
6.5 mpg (65 mph)

Best Fuel Economy Loaded: (13300# comb. w/ 1 Jeep & bumper pull car trailer)
8.5 mpg (70 mph)
 
#114 ·
My 96 eclb cummins auto tranny 3.55 gears 12 valve pushes about 8psi at 70.

I have never gotten 20mpg, but pretty darn close. Usually gets 18 traveling without a trailer. Gets ~ 13 pulling my 5th wheel camper (28', very heavy and tall)

Only gets 11-12 pulling a 4-place enclosed sled trailer (winter fuel and in a hurry normally).
 
#118 ·
Truck:
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab
Drive:
4WD
Engine:
Hemi
Trans:
5 Speed Automatic 545RFE
Axle Ratio:
3.55
Tires:
Stock Goodyear 275/60's on stock 20" rims
Mods:
None

Best Fuel Economy Empty: (5000#)
18-19 mpg if kept under 75mph

Best Fuel Economy Loaded: (10500# comb. w/ jeep, trailer and gear)
11.2 mpg (68 mph)

Best Fuel Economy w/ empty trailer: (6500# truck and trailer)
17.5 mpg (70 mph)
 
#119 ·
First full tank since converting to a 3500 dually.

Truck still has 3.55 gears, but is now locked in rear.

No trailer, bed loaded with 12v cummins, 4 bikes, 5 spares, and probably 300 pounds of tools and luggage. Half the miles driven through hills of Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia.



24.36 gallons in 473.7 miles = 19.44 MPG

 
#120 ·
First half of this tank (with bed still loaded) was through some crazy mountains in the Appalachians (sp?).

Last night I blew out 5th gear, so the rest of the tank was with no overdrive, at 50-60 mph 2000-2200 rpm. The rest of my Florida trip will be with no overdrive!



518.2 miles used 25.62 gallons = 20.22 MPG
 
#123 · (Edited)
Nope. And the truck is now a dually with no overdrive, hauling a heavy load. I never claimed it ALWAYS gets 30 mpg, only empty (and with OD on flatland as a SRW truck) I'm sure you can see the excellent mileage it gets.

I also never claimed it gets 30 while towing or hauling a load, only empty, so take the time to read the words I have written. All my recent posts have been with a load, mostly in mountains with no overdrive.

I have a G56 on the way to replace the blowed up NV4500 and look forward to posting all my mileages, loaded and unloaded, once it has OD again.

Maybe it will never get 30 mpg again now that it's a 1 ton dually. I'm still thrilled with what it gets.
 
#124 · (Edited)
I never doubted a 12v cummins would get 20+ mpg, even 25 mpg. I still doubt you ever got 30 mpg unless you were going downhill.

I've seen 20+ out of my truck, running with the topper on, (good aero) doing the speed limit through ohio going 55-65 mph. I don't recall the exact mileage but it may have bee 22-23ish.

I got over 30 mpg leaving the mountains in west virgina, in fact my overhead was reading 38 mpg. Of course I was traveling 25-50 mph on a tight twisty downhill road where I doubt I hit the gas pedal for nearly the first 30 minutes.....

I know those cummins get great mileage, I just don't buy you consistently got 30 mpg unloaded. Did you get it once on a 45 mph trip on a flat road for 20 miles? sure, but I can't see a full tank of fuel averaging 30+ mpg in real world driving conditions.
 
#125 ·
I don't know what your truck is year/make/trans/ratio/drivetrain, so I don't know if you are making an accurate comparison. I don't have an overhead unit, so the only way I am able to calculate is by hand. As I said before, my truck is RARELY unloaded. I've only owned this truck since 1-1-12, and have seen a 30-31 MPG tank at least three times, always unloaded. Two of those tanks were flatland driving when I took the kids to Disney last month.

I have no reason to fudge any numbers and am frankly insulted that mostly you (honcho and boggin too) have made it your personal goal to publicly call me a liar, when you don't know me from jack, and don't know how seriouly I take my integrity.

I would never consider calling someone a liar without some hard hard facts first.

This thread was created for the purpose of information, partly to help people decide what to look for in a tow rig. I understand that you are probably angry with youself for your poor vehicle choices, but there is no reason to take out your frustrations on me.
 
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