Towing MPGs ??

[dretired]

Originally Posted by william.migues

No, I live in South Louisiana; no mountains here. No plans right now to pull to any mountains.

Ok.. Just checking .. i would like to find out what a F250 with the 6.2 engine gets towing a 5th (say 10,000 lbs loaded) wheel over mountains ..

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

There are so many variables when figuring mileage. Head winds (or tail winds) hills, speed, traffic, stop lights, how fast you accelerate, etc.

Also, I very seldom use cruise control while towing. With the rolling hills around here, I have to leave the tranny in 3rd (4 speed auto) if I use cruise control. In 4th, cruise control will make the transmission shift way too much. In 4th, with my right foot in command, I can loose a couple of mph on the uphills, and gain them back on the downhills without the transmission shifting. I seem to get much better fuel mileage that way.

X2. Driving style is HUGE in mileage; perhaps bigger than any other single factor.

I use cruise control a lot when towing; but Mtnguy is exactly right; it costs more in fuel, and can be annoying when lots of rolling hills; resulting in lots of shifting. In that case, I also shut off the cruise.

My Ecoboost has averaged 20.4 over the last 1,500 miles in mixed driving; empty. On our recent 3,300 mile towing trip, we averaged 11.5. That was mostly 60 mph pulling a 5,500 pound Surveyor. On that trip I used cruise almost exclusively; and I know it cost me fuel. But I can't hold the throttle manually for that long a trip.

[trudinator]

When it comes right down to it, will 2-3 mpg, or 5-6 mpg difference change our plans? Are we going to leave our TT, fifth wheel, Roo, motorhome, pop-up, etc. sit in the driveway because of our gas/diesel mileage? NO! We bought them to use and enjoy! This issue must be a "man" thing, LOL, because it really doesn't matter to me what our mpg is. I just know we tow it, we camp and we have fun. Nothing else matters to me.....

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by trudinator

When it comes right down to it, will 2-3 mpg, or 5-6 mpg difference change our plans? Are we going to leave our TT, fifth wheel, Roo, motorhome, pop-up, etc. sit in the driveway because of our gas/diesel mileage? NO! We bought them to use and enjoy! This issue must be a "man" thing, LOL, because it really doesn't matter to me what our mpg is. I just know we tow it, we camp and we have fun. Nothing else matters to me.....

HA! I love it!! Exactly right!

[Dovetail]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Thats because it shifts later and may run in a higher gear more often .
Do you run in overdrive with tow /haul or next lower gear ?

seems to run in 5th most of the time - but will get to overdrive on the flats

confused over your first sentence --if it shifts later, woudn't i be in a lower gear more often

[Len & Cheri]

Lower gear = higher RPM's = lower MPG's.

I have 3.73, 5.4 F150 and get 9-10 towing, 16-17 empty highway, and 14-15 around town.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by LFugate

Lower gear = higher RPM's = lower MPG's.

In the flats, I will have to agree with that. In the hills, I think the lower gear ratio might even help mileage. Less down shifting, and a little higher revs when climbing should help with the gas consumtion.

Just my personal idea.

[Len & Cheri]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

In the flats, I will have to agree with that. In the hills, I think the lower gear ratio might even help mileage. Less down shifting, and a little higher revs when climbing should help with the gas consumtion.

Just my personal idea.

Agreed! Not letting your TV downshift when it needs to would be foolish and could cause damage. I always lock out overdrive on my F150 because I don't want it shifting up and down all the time.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by LFugate

Agreed! Not letting your TV downshift when it needs to would be foolish and could cause damage. I always lock out overdrive on my F150 because I don't want it shifting up and down all the time.

Yep. I did that quite a bit with my '05 5.4. Holding overdrive was very "tenuous"! Every TV and TT combination is unique so we all have to do what is best for our situation. My Ecoboost holds 6th/lockup so well that I just let the vehicle manage itself. Kick-downs are rare. Exception is slower 55 mph 2-lanes with rolling hills. There RPMs are so low that it will shift constantly in that situation. So I lock out 6th there. So, even with the same TV and TT, your strategy can change depending on speed, hills, wind, etc.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by boubou

So far,towing 6000l lbs in northern ontario hills: 9.5 mph with 5.7 dodge ram hemi 2010

Not 9.5 mph rofl but 9.5 mpg

I din't understand how this works. I have tow/haul button on and see 5 on the dash. Now, going uphill, i know the transmission is shifting down but how do I know what speed it's in? The display stays on 5. If I press - to shift down manually, jt then puts me to what speed it's currently on like it was in 2nd gear going up a good incline. Should I downshift going uphill or let the transmission do the work?

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by boubou

Not 9.5 mph rofl but 9.5 mpg

I din't understand how this works. I have tow/haul button on and see 5 on the dash. Now, going uphill, i know the transmission is shifting down but how do I know what speed it's in? The display stays on 5. If I press - to shift down manually, jt then puts me to what speed it's currently on like it was in 2nd gear going up a good incline. Should I downshift going uphill or let the transmission do the work?

I normally let the tranny do it's own work; the factory generally has them dialed in pretty well to manage load and demand. If you feel RPM go up but your display is still on 5, I'd guess that it is your torque converter unlocking. I'm not familiar with Dodge but that's what my '05 Ford would do. It would unlock rather than downshift for the first strategy. Downshifts would occur if there was additional demand.

[boubou]

Not sure about that, no matter what speed I'm on , the display always shows 5 (unless i press the + or - myself. If driving on flat road at highway speed, and i hit the -, the display would stay on 5 but if just sitting in driveway, disply on 5 and i hit the - ten it shows 1.

[aj14317p]

13.5 to 14 mpg towing a Wolfpup 17p with my 2003 Nissan Murano AWD. The CVT never hunts for a gear since it doesn't have any. It has 125K miles on the clock and pulling strong.

[Barney1]

On my 2011 ram 1500 Long Horn.

The display shows the max gear.
So if 5 is displayed they 5th is the max gear the tranny will shift to.
If 4 is displayed they 4th is the max gear the tranny will shift to.
Etc
It does not show the current gear you are in.

Side not when in Tow/Haul mode the rpm ranges for each gear is modified electronically or so I read from dodgeforumz website

[Jestercyco]

We are going to Canada, north of Yellowstone National Park (3800 mile round trip). I think I will be using quite a bit of diesel. I am checking pricing now for the trip. We will see our son on the way in Montana. It should be a good test on fuel mileage for the 6.7 PSD!
Short trips 500 miles or so, we have been on the edge of 10.5 with our TH @ about 10k#'s.
Jester

[OldCoot]

Since Jan 2008, we have just learned to "bite the bullet" and go as far and as often as the budget allows and forget it. We hain't goin' to git outta here alive no how!

[skipper194242]

4.30 on rear end part of problem. i have silverado 3500 dually diesal 4x4 with 3.73 rear end towing a 35 ft. cardinal 2003 5th wheel. i get 14.5 with or without trailer. the truck is 2008 year model with allison transmission. tacks at 1800 @ 70 mph.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by Barney1

On my 2011 ram 1500 Long Horn.

The display shows the max gear.
So if 5 is displayed they 5th is the max gear the tranny will shift to.
If 4 is displayed they 4th is the max gear the tranny will shift to.
Etc
It does not show the current gear you are in.

Side not when in Tow/Haul mode the rpm ranges for each gear is modified electronically or so I read from dodgeforumz website

Thanks!!!!

[mblanks2]

At current gas prices here, about three miles to the dollar.

[Johadel]

Towing our Rockwood 2109S with an Xterra (3.3l, 6 cyl) we got an average of 10.3 mpg going to FL and back. We ran 55 mph going south and 65 going north.