dreeder wrote:

I saw that the 5.7 Hemi, Ram 2500 CC 4X4 averaged over 15 MPG. Either optimistic or something for me to look forward to when my engine breaks in. The best calculated average I have been able to get is 13 MPG's.


Neat app by the way ib516, thanks for sharing.

Joe B. wrote:

I use an app called "roadtrip" on my iPhone and it works great for my needs. Doesn't give comparisons but keeps track of all my expenses, which is what I am interested in for my vehicles.

Crazy Ray wrote:

Back in MY OLD DAYS I used a SLIDE RULE. Remember THOSE??

'68Monaco440HP wrote:

" . . It's funny with trucks; when I bought my 7.3L all I heard from everyone was 17city/20hwy, and for me it was more like 14 city/16-17hwy . . . Have to admit to some healthy skepticism when I read reports of 23mpg hwy from 300+hp turbo diesels, or 15+ towing."

[OK, rant on]:

"Healthy" skepticism. That's a good one. Implies that tools have been used, investigations made. Several possible conclusions or explanations are extant. "Willfull ignorance" is a better rendering. Just for the lack of searches of this site, far less any other, as there are others reporting these numbers (and better).

So, you ("you" being anyone to make such dumb assumptions about what is possible) chose the wrong brand of truck, just for starters. Then TT. MPG is dependent on both vehicles.

And now, "you" were probably mistaken in truck specification as regards economy. Plus, climate & terrain may be doing you no favors. And then we'd have to assume you also have the requisite skills and discipline to accomplish higher numbers. A range of places to trip up, IOW, as regards what passes for thinking. Thus, no basis for "skepticism" healthy or otherwise.

On the other hand, had you (or anyone else) started from the premise of longest life at lowest cost with highest reliability then the road narrows considerably with truck TV choices. The same is true for the TT. But it would require time and effort. Analysis. Of information easily acquired in this Internet age.

If I only were seeing 15-mpg as my average annual mpg I'd sell it and get a better TV. Hell, if I dropped below 15-mpg on the flats towing this 32' TT I'd know something was wrong in conditions of road or truck.

I used to average 18-mpg in town. Not good enough. So I combined errands and cut the number of trips. A decline of 40-miles/week is how it worked. Then I improved the way I drove. At the end of last calendar year that was 23-mpg in town. A 22% increase. Fewer trips more skilfully driven. Made by following the examples of others. Even though I am a further 20% and more below those who are serious.

What mpg I get, and what "you" get isn't a competition. You can't drive as well and you don't live where I live, nor is your truck comparable. Blah, blah, blah and so what? Whatever ticks you off, bud, just pay attention to making your own average higher. Don't spend money (unless it's on gearing or aerodynamic changes), just use your fuel money wisely for a change.

At 15-mpg annual average, a 22% increase would be to almost 18.5-mpg. There are others making the changes to increase the average, even with 7.3L Fords, and accomplishing it. No reduction in quality of life, but an improvement. Amazing things happen in using a brain. "You" might save enough to pay for some travel (125-gls over 10k annual miles, which at 12-mpg towing = 1,500-miles).

Or start with a clean sheet of paper and buy the TV & TT that, combined, give the longest life at lowest overall cost with the highest reliability. Buy them used, as I did, and the cpm (not just the fuel cost) is pretty low. I have less in TT & TV than most around here have in either. MIne may well (both vehicles) outlast their newer, lower mileage vehicles as well. Again, blah, blah and so what? Was this form of analysis -- longevity, economy, reliability -- part of "your" purchase plans? Apparently not. But it lead directly to the results I've seen for mine

MPG all starts with records. Every gallon and every mile. I use an accounting journal for fuel and the rest. Takes 2-minutes to fill out. HIghs or lows per tank are almost meaningless. Changes to the average mpg in percentage terms is the game that counts.

Since 1/09: 37,479-miles with 1,705-gls. 14-cpm fuel cost. I'd have burned nearly 900 more gallons if I accepted 15-mpg as an acceptable average. An additonal $3,600 at todays price. (Over 350k miles the fuel savings -- alone -- would buy me another truck of this sort.)

If I claimed my truck saw 13-second quarter mile times and was also a DD no one would blink an eye. But put to the test at what a diesel is best -- fuel economy -- and you'd think mass confusion reigns among all Gods chillun.

My numbers are neither unique nor uncommon with this brand of truck, with this set of specifications, in similar climate and terrain. And especially in driver skill/truck use. JIMNLIN has practically the same solo numbers with a highly similar truck (and has been a professional driver also, so he knows about record keeping too). I'm aware of about a dozen others with similar spec TV & TT reporting the same -- sometimes slightly better -- numbers. And there are those with TT's a bit smaller (25' and down) reporting in the 20's (with different TV's).

So here's the standard question, now, for those with difficulty: How many gallons of transportation fuel did your family burn last year? All vehicles, be it truck, ATV or riding lawnmower. And where can you cut that with no real pain? There are sites devoted to fuel economy, and some highly interesting people on them who are willing to share what they've learned. As with hitch rigging around here.

So as with the OP: Keep records. It ain't geekiness. It's pure common sense. Pays cash money weekly. And can finance the fuel portion of your vacation.

Or, in some cases, enough to keep you on the road with TV & TT at all.

[Off]

.

'68Monaco440HP wrote:

Just track the numbers. And improve the base, the annual average. And within the same budget (even if only gallons, not the price thereof) anyone can improve their fuel burn numbers to the benefit of recreational travel. Not to mention reduce wear & tear on both vehicles, but mainly the TV.

Yes, I used "dumb" in a colloquial manner. "Unspeakable" is what others might ponder in calling others liars (especially when misquoting them).

I used to tow at 62-63 mph, and that's how I saw 15-mpg. I've since dropped that to around 58-mph to hit 16-mpg on a more regular basis. 17 is my goal for best conditions to bring up the average for that category of driving.

The new 6.7L Ford is showing good numbers with (also) aerodynamic aluminum trailers. The best report I've seen thus far is a man with a service body pickup towing a 28' A/S:

GCW is 18,000-lbs, tows at 65 and averages right at 15-mpg over 37k miles.

FORD 6.7L Towing Report

Weighs a good 3k/lbs more than me. But his base truck probably cost 3X what mine did.

Maybe since it's a Ford, though, it'll be "believable". It's mainly an indication that DEF trucks have better fuel consumption numbers.

.

'68Monaco440HP wrote:

" . . It's funny with trucks; when I bought my 7.3L all I heard from everyone was 17city/20hwy, and for me it was more like 14 city/16-17hwy . . . Have to admit to some healthy skepticism when I read reports of 23mpg hwy from 300+hp turbo diesels, or 15+ towing."

[OK, rant on]:

"Healthy" skepticism. That's a good one. Implies that tools have been used, investigations made. Several possible conclusions or explanations are extant. "Willfull ignorance" is a better rendering. Just for the lack of searches of this site, far less any other, as there are others reporting these numbers (and better).

So, you ("you" being anyone to make such dumb assumptions about what is possible) chose the wrong brand of truck, just for starters. Then TT. MPG is dependent on both vehicles.

And now, "you" were probably mistaken in truck specification as regards economy. Plus, climate & terrain may be doing you no favors. And then we'd have to assume you also have the requisite skills and discipline to accomplish higher numbers. A range of places to trip up, IOW, as regards what passes for thinking. Thus, no basis for "skepticism" healthy or otherwise.

On the other hand, had you (or anyone else) started from the premise of longest life at lowest cost with highest reliability then the road narrows considerably with truck TV choices. The same is true for the TT. But it would require time and effort. Analysis. Of information easily acquired in this Internet age.

If I only were seeing 15-mpg as my average annual mpg I'd sell it and get a better TV. Hell, if I dropped below 15-mpg on the flats towing this 32' TT I'd know something was wrong in conditions of road or truck. That is the major use of tracking fuel economy: a gauge of how all other categories are functioning. Tire & brake life are just as revealing. (I've thus far averaged 120k on tires & brakes).

I used to average 18-mpg in town. Not good enough. So I combined errands and cut the number of trips. A decline of 40-miles/week is how it worked. Then I improved the way I drove. At the end of last calendar year that was 23-mpg in town. A 22% increase. Fewer trips more skilfully driven. Made by following the examples of others. Even though I am a further 20% and more below those who are serious. MPG is just learning awareness of details.

What mpg I get, and what "you" get isn't a competition. You can't drive as well and you don't live where I live, nor is your truck comparable. Blah, blah, blah and so what? Whatever ticks you off, bud, just pay attention to making your own average higher. Don't spend money (unless it's on gearing or aerodynamic changes), just use your fuel money wisely for a change.

At 15-mpg annual average, a 22% increase would be to almost 18.5-mpg. There are others making the changes to increase the average, even with 7.3L Fords, and accomplishing it. No reduction in quality of life, but an improvement. Amazing things happen in using a brain. "You" might save enough to pay for some travel (125-gls over 10k annual miles, which at 12-mpg towing = 1,500-miles).

Or start with a clean sheet of paper and buy the TV & TT that, combined, give the longest life at lowest overall cost with the highest reliability. Buy them used, as I did, and the cpm (not just the fuel cost) is pretty low. I have less in TT & TV than most around here have in either. MIne may well (both vehicles) outlast their newer, lower mileage vehicles as well. Again, blah, blah and so what? Was this form of analysis -- longevity, economy, reliability -- part of "your" purchase plans? Apparently not. But it lead directly to the results I've seen for mine

MPG all starts with records. Every gallon and every mile. I use an accounting journal for fuel and the rest. Takes 2-minutes to fill out. HIghs or lows per tank are almost meaningless. Changes to the average mpg in percentage terms is the game that counts.

Since 1/09: 37,479-miles with 1,705-gls. 14-cpm fuel cost. I'd have burned nearly 900 more gallons if I accepted 15-mpg as an acceptable average. An additonal $3,600 at todays price. (Over 350k miles the fuel savings -- alone -- would buy me another truck of this sort.)

If I claimed my truck saw 13-second quarter mile times and was also a DD no one would blink an eye. But put to the test at what a diesel is best -- fuel economy -- and you'd think mass confusion reigns among all Gods chillun.

My numbers are neither unique nor uncommon with this brand of truck, with this set of specifications, in similar climate and terrain. And especially in driver skill/truck use. JIMNLIN has practically the same solo numbers with a highly similar truck (and has been a professional driver also, so he knows about record keeping too). I'm aware of about a dozen others with similar spec TV & TT reporting the same -- sometimes slightly better -- numbers. And there are those with TT's a bit smaller (25' and down) reporting in the 20's (with different TV's).

So here's the standard question, now, for those with difficulty: How many gallons of transportation fuel did your family burn last year? All vehicles, be it truck, ATV or riding lawnmower. And where can you cut that with no real pain? There are sites devoted to fuel economy, and some highly interesting people on them who are willing to share what they've learned. As with hitch rigging around here.

So as with the OP: Keep records. It ain't geekiness. It's pure common sense. Pays cash money weekly. And can finance the fuel portion of your vacation.

Or, in some cases, enough to keep "you" on the road with TV & TT at all in a time of change: the future will not be like the past.

[Off]

.