Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-17-2013, 05:12 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Rutland, VT
Posts: 343
Talking First Long Trip with 2109S

We have had the TT for a year but longest trip was about 4 hrs with a Honda Ridgeline. Leaving early tomorrow for Rutland, VT to Cape May, NJ with a Ram 1500 TV. Hopefully it is a uneventful journey!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	NJ-2013.07.17.jpg
Views:	155
Size:	55.6 KB
ID:	35573  
__________________
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Z71 Extended Cab, Long bed
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
(with K&N Air Intake) (traded)
2012 Rockwood 2109S (Sold)
2014 Cougar X-Lite 21RBS

wbdvt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2013, 06:24 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
raspivey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brazoria County, Texas
Posts: 1,460
You're just the person I wanted to talk to, lol. I've got a 2104S on the way and just so happen to have a Ridgeline...well, did until last week. I traded it for a Trailblazer with a little more tow rating. I'm real interested to see what mileage you were getting with the Honda while pulling this one. Just looking for an idea of how the wind drag and weight affected it. The Trailblazer got 2 mpg better than the Honda pulling 5 hours into the hills with our popup last week, so I'm hoping that will translate on the new trailer.
__________________
2015 Chevy Silverado LTZ - HD tow package
2017 Rockwood 2703WS Emerald Edition
raspivey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2013, 07:28 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Rutland, VT
Posts: 343
I was getting around 8-9 mpg with the Ridgeline. What was most disturbing was that I was upwards to 4000 rpm. I towed with the Ram over July 4 and stayed under 2000 rpm. Much better for engine and my comfort level. Since tow was only an hour away and we did other trips with the TV I didn't track mileage. I will on this trip.
__________________
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Z71 Extended Cab, Long bed
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
(with K&N Air Intake) (traded)
2012 Rockwood 2109S (Sold)
2014 Cougar X-Lite 21RBS

wbdvt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2013, 08:02 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
raspivey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brazoria County, Texas
Posts: 1,460
That's what I was afraid of when I traded it in. I pulled an unloaded V nose trailer with it and it stayed in 3rd at about 3500 doing 55 down the highway. I know that truck will pull at 4K all day long and not hurt it, but it IS a little unnerving. Now that I hear what you were getting, I think I may spend the money and have the rear gears on the Trailblazer swapped from a 3.42 to a 4.10. That should keep me in the 12 mpg range.

Kick that Ram out of overdrive and try it for a tank and see how it likes it. It'll probably get better mileage at 2200 - 2500 rpm pulling.

Edit: Never mind, I think they have tow/haul modes on them (not familiar with Dodge all that much). Computer should take care of all that. I wish the Honda had....loved the truck.
__________________
2015 Chevy Silverado LTZ - HD tow package
2017 Rockwood 2703WS Emerald Edition
raspivey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2013, 08:08 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Rutland, VT
Posts: 343
Thanks for the advice. Once I hit the highways (over an hour drive from here, NYS I87) I will have the chance to play with keeping it in OD for a tank and then Tow/Haul mode for a tank and see how it goes!
Feel like a mad scientist with this experimenting! I will post results!
__________________
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Z71 Extended Cab, Long bed
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
(with K&N Air Intake) (traded)
2012 Rockwood 2109S (Sold)
2014 Cougar X-Lite 21RBS

wbdvt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2013, 09:09 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 359
let me know what kind of mpg you get out of the dodge. i have the same setup but a 2104s
__________________
2013 Ram 1500 (5.7)
2014 Rockwood Mini Lite 2104s
https://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps412bc14c.jpg
Prothos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2013, 09:29 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
raspivey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brazoria County, Texas
Posts: 1,460
You have yours yet? I'm chomping at the bit here. Dealer called last Thursday and said the factory called and said they ran out of fabric and wanted to make sure the color they were going to put in was ok. Come to find out they were transitioning to the 2014 interiors and I'll be one of the transition trailers (so I'm not sure exactly what I'll end up with, lol). Evidently, Taylor Sand was last year's color and Kensington is one of the new ones. Same colors, slightly different pattern.
__________________
2015 Chevy Silverado LTZ - HD tow package
2017 Rockwood 2703WS Emerald Edition
raspivey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2013, 05:34 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
lswartz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Maryland
Posts: 713
Quote:
Originally Posted by raspivey View Post
You have yours yet? I'm chomping at the bit here. Dealer called last Thursday and said the factory called and said they ran out of fabric and wanted to make sure the color they were going to put in was ok. Come to find out they were transitioning to the 2014 interiors and I'll be one of the transition trailers (so I'm not sure exactly what I'll end up with, lol). Evidently, Taylor Sand was last year's color and Kensington is one of the new ones. Same colors, slightly different pattern.
You are going to like it. We saw one at the factory 3 weeks ago & the new ones are super, ducted heating & cooling, vaulted ceiling (slightly rounded vs. flat) LED lights, even had vent covers. DW didn't like the new decals on front but they were OK by me.
__________________
2021 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2010 Toyota Tundra 4WD
lswartz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2013, 03:44 PM   #9
Junior Member
 
ld_engnr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 15
We have almost the same set up as the original poster. Dodge and a 2109s. We took our camper to Northern Pennsylvania on almost all highway, somewhat hilly through the Berkshire mountains and around the Finger Lakes of NY and for the entire trip it averaged about 9-10 mpg. That was with the Tow/Haul button engaged.

We forgot to engage the button once after filling up to go to VT and made it about half way there when we realized the error and the only significant difference we noticed was the transmission temp was a little hotter than it had been towing to PA.

Overall the dodge goes from averaging 18-19 mpg unloaded to about 9-10 hauling the trailer... Not too bad, really. If we were going to haul the trailer daily we'd probably head back to the world of the cummins...
__________________
2010 Dodge 1500 (5.7 Hemi w/tow package)
2013 Mini Lite 2109s
2013 Night camped: 21
2014 Nights Camped: 15
ld_engnr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2013, 03:10 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Rutland, VT
Posts: 343
I did get better mileage with the Tow/Haul mode engaged. For this trip here are the results:
Total Mileage: 963.1 miles includes driving around without trailer
Gas: 96.696 gal
Average MPG: 9.96 mpg
Total $ for gas: $355.70
Average $/gal: $3.68

I did get stuck in traffic, stop & go, for an hour around Newark Airport/Elizabeth NJ so that did not help the mileage. On one tank of gas, running with cruise control as much as possible & ~ 62 mph I got 10.49 mpg.

So, I am getting better mileage than with the Ridgeline and rpms where definitely running lower.
__________________
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Z71 Extended Cab, Long bed
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
(with K&N Air Intake) (traded)
2012 Rockwood 2109S (Sold)
2014 Cougar X-Lite 21RBS

wbdvt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2013, 03:31 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 359
What grade of gas are you using. I was just reading we should be using mid grade to get the best mpg and performance. They even stated premium hurts the performance
__________________
2013 Ram 1500 (5.7)
2014 Rockwood Mini Lite 2104s
https://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps412bc14c.jpg
Prothos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2013, 05:16 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Rutland, VT
Posts: 343
I used 87 octane and the manual says 89 would give optimum performance. The towing section of the manual had nothing on fuel octane. That may be the next variable to experiment with.
__________________
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Z71 Extended Cab, Long bed
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
(with K&N Air Intake) (traded)
2012 Rockwood 2109S (Sold)
2014 Cougar X-Lite 21RBS

wbdvt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2013, 06:01 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 359
i have been using 87 octane myself. about to take the first long trip this weekend 450 miles rounds trip. im going to try 89. i have yet to get the advertised mpg in the truck
__________________
2013 Ram 1500 (5.7)
2014 Rockwood Mini Lite 2104s
https://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps412bc14c.jpg
Prothos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2013, 08:08 AM   #14
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 0
I just got back from picking up my 2014 mini lite 2109s at RV Wholesalers in Ohio. I have a 2013 Ram 1500 with the 5.7 hemi. almost 1700 miles thru Mountains, average 9.8 miles per gallon. Boy can that hemi pull this trailer. I'm happy with the Ram, comfortable too.
wayneb59 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:43 AM.