Turbo Diesel Dude
Green Mountain, NC
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Joined: 01/10/2005
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Went from a gasser to a diesel and got from before around 7MPG towing to 11 or so and empty from 13 to about 16 mpg. From there back to a gasser where it was once again 7-8 towing andf maybe 12 empty and full circle back to diesel to 11ish towing and 16 or so empty. I'll be here a while for sure. JMHO. Costs about $14.00 more to fill it per tank, but saves about $20.00 in milage.
charles weidman
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goducks10
Keizer OR
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Joined: 02/22/2010
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Our 1st TT was narrower (7'6")and lower (9'9")than our 2nd 8'0" x 10'10". Also lighter. 4050-7200lbs. And shorter 22' compared to 31'. We towed with the same vehicle for both TT's. Smaller TT we got 10-10.5. Larger TT we get 8.5-9 mpg.
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Jayco-noslide
Galesburg,Il., USA
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Joined: 11/24/2004
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That sounds pretty bad but aren't those V-10's known for poor MPG. I average 10 with my half-ton Chevy pulling a 25 ft. 5th wheel; probably around 6,500 loaded. It can go from 12 under ideal conditions to 8 against the wind.
Jayco-noslide
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Desert Captain
Tucson
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Joined: 02/19/2011
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I pull a 20' TT/brick that weighs 5K# with my 5.4L F-150. Lots of gear in the back of the truck we roll fully loaded at a combined weight of 10500#. Mileage averages just over 10 cruising at 55-60. I'm pretty sure another thousands lbs would have minimal effect as it sure feels like it is the windage vs the weight that drinks the gas. The worst we have seen is 8.5 climbing the continental divide into a 30-35 mph wind but have gotten as good as 11.3 in the flat.
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Kennedycamper
Algoa, Texas
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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I have had a 1999 Dodge 2500 with a 360 CI engine pulling a 29 FT TT, and got around 6 MPG. Same TT with a 2001 Dodge 2500 and Cummins got around 13. Now I'm pulling a 32 FT fifth wheel weighting a lot more and getting around 11.5. It did cost me $5K to trade to a 2 year newer diesel, but it is way more relaxing to tow with.
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7.3 psdman
Northern Illinois
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Joined: 10/16/2009
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Do you put your hand down by the wheels and check for heat when you stop? I have a infrared heat gun type thermometer that I check mine with now. It will tell you if you have a brake dragging or a bad wheel bearing on the truck or trailer. I don't want to compare apples and oranges with my Ford Diesel but I had a 28' Coachman and got 8.5 to 9. Towing the 37' fifth wheel I get 10 to 12. If your like me you can get better fuel and worse fuel for mileage. Keep an eye on your mileage when your not towing and see if it has gone down too.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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2000lbs in the bed, 4000lbs behind, I'm rolling in the high 8's on long trips.
I know you said mileage is a concern now... Maybe you should've thought of that before you decided to full-time in a 27ft travel trailer pulled by a Dodge V10?
Sit down and calculate what a late model diesel would cost you in payments. You can buy a LOT of gasoline for your current V10 with that money.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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That Dodge V10 and the 5.9L V8 of similar era (and engine family?) had good power but poor fuel economy. I get 6.5-8mpg with my 2003 F-150 at 65-70mph. I expect about 9mpg with my new Suburban. Newer engines, more power, more trans gears, and more efficient.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2012 VW Passat TDI
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ExxWhy
Ohio
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Joined: 11/24/2010
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My brother has the same truck. He'll get 8-9 towing an enclosed car hauler with it, no doubt a TT would be worse. Nice power, but it does like the gas.
Might want to try changing the PCV valve just because. It's cheap and if it's bad can rob you of some mileage.
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Hannibal
Gas Station
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Joined: 04/12/2002
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A few years ago Trailer Life tested a 5.7L Hemi powered 1500 with a 6300~lb TT in the Rockies. Plenty of power but 6.5~mpg. I don't think your mileage is out of line for mountain towing.
Here in the southeast, I got 18.5 city, 19hwy and 10.5 towing with my four Cummins Rams. My Hemi Ram and 5.4L F250 both give 11-14.5 same city routes, 17 hwy and 8.5~mpg towing 65~mph. The worst I've seen towing was 7.2 with the gassers and 9.6 with the Cummins. Too many variables to predict absolute mileages.
'10 F250 XLT CC SB 5.4L 5spdTS 3.73
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
'07 KZ Jag 28JFSS.
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