3rd Gen Dodge Cummins Towing

[avolnek]

I'd like to hear from and see pictures of fellow campers pulling with the 5.9 cummins. What speeds do you tow at? What's your RPM at that speed? What gear do you pull in? What do you pull? What is your average fuel mileage pulling?

[mike54]

I tow a 35' TT about 8800 lbs with a '05 Ram CTD 3500 60-63 mph 1600-1800 RPM in OT trans temp holds about 187 degrees if not in traffic I'll have the cruise on

[07 ThunderRoad]

We have a Dodge Cummins 2500. Air Lift 5000, with the frame rubber bumper inside the air bag, the Trail Air pin box, and the Helwig heavy tow rear sway bar. Only towed from dealer to the seasonal site, 75 mi. Coach towed much better than our old TT. Our coach is a Prime Time Sanibel 3600. It's 40' long and 12,500 lbs empty.

[transamz9]

Here's my little tow that I pull will my '05.

[avolnek]

Thanks all! When we purchased the truck I really wanted a stick and my wife really wanted an auto so she could drive it... seeing as I was trading in a brand new 1/2 ton hemi and she was reluctant to trade anyways I figured I'd better go along with her...

What are you guys averaging at those speeds mileage wise? I appear to be following suit with the majority of you with that 60-65 mph range... I have hand calculated right at 10mpg over a handful of trips with different trailers tagging along.

Transam, that is an awesome looking rig! Love seeing these 5.9's tuggin a train like that! Very clean looking truck! What kind of tires are those? How do you like them?

[mike54]

I average 12–13.5 mpg which is an improvement than towing with the 2500 Chevy 6.0 gasser 7-8 mpg I had before this Dodge

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by avolnek

Thanks all! When we purchased the truck I really wanted a stick and my wife really wanted an auto so she could drive it... seeing as I was trading in a brand new 1/2 ton hemi and she was reluctant to trade anyways I figured I'd better go along with her...

What are you guys averaging at those speeds mileage wise? I appear to be following suit with the majority of you with that 60-65 mph range... I have hand calculated right at 10mpg over a handful of trips with different trailers tagging along.

Transam, that is an awesome looking rig! Love seeing these 5.9's tuggin a train like that! Very clean looking truck! What kind of tires are those? How do you like them?

Thank you, and the tires are Mastercraft C/T 285/70/17. I like them really well they are just a little noisy at highway speeds.

[bignugget]

Here is Mine!

[sbreen]

my wife and i are looking at upgrading to a larger fifth wheel with a large bunk house.. right now we have a 25 foot puma and looking at the 2014 crusader 360BHS the dry weight is about 12400 and after we load it it will be pushing 13500+. my question for all members is i have a 2006 dodge 2500 with the cummins 2wd is this two much for the truck we do live in louisiana and will not be hauling in the mouintans but maybe once a year but i dont want to invest in this kind of unit if i cant pull it. any sugestions?

[denandra2]

I get between 12 & 13 at 60-65, most usually I try to keep it at 63, just seems to be its sweet spot. I have the Trailair Tri Glide and it was a great improvement over a stock pinbox. I use the tow/haul mode in the normal Drive/OD position

[Ida Ratherbe Camping]

I have a 05 with a 6 speed stick. Pull a 36 foot tt with a empty weight of 7086#. Pull in sixth at about mid 60's and get around eleven mpg, half of what I get empty. No pics, tt in shop getting some work done after about a month of owning it.

[Jersey Guy]

Originally Posted by sbreen

my wife and i are looking at upgrading to a larger fifth wheel with a large bunk house.. right now we have a 25 foot puma and looking at the 2014 crusader 360BHS the dry weight is about 12400 and after we load it it will be pushing 13500+. my question for all members is i have a 2006 dodge 2500 with the cummins 2wd is this two much for the truck we do live in louisiana and will not be hauling in the mouintans but maybe once a year but i dont want to invest in this kind of unit if i cant pull it. any sugestions?

I have an '06 Dodge also, 2500, 5.9 CTD. Mine is 4WD and the rating on my truck to tow is 13,800, you might be a little more with the 2WD. I had a 5th wheel, dry weight was 8,800. I figured I was around 10,000 loaded up. I had the Jacobs exhaust brake and air bags installed and it towed quite nice. I was averaging around 10-11 mpg towing, which was a nice upgrade from the 7 I was getting with my '03 Hemi.

[Tim-Rhonda]

63mph is sweet spot. Average mpg is around 13-14 towing 30ft TT, weighs around 7100lbs. Not towing Im getting around 27 mpg @ 65. 3.73 rearend.

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by Tim-Rhonda

63mph is sweet spot. Average mpg is around 13-14 towing 30ft TT, weighs around 7100lbs. Not towing Im getting around 27 mpg @ 65. 3.73 rearend.

Good looking rig you have there. Is your Cummins tuned and is that hand calculated or is that what your lie-o meter is telling you. I'f I go by my little meter I get very close to 30 mpg at 65 but in the real world I get my best at 70 and that has been 22.5 pretty consistant empty.

[Tim-Rhonda]

Originally Posted by transamz9

Good looking rig you have there. Is your Cummins tuned and is that hand calculated or is that what your lie-o meter is telling you. I'f I go by my little meter I get very close to 30 mpg at 65 but in the real world I get my best at 70 and that has been 22.5 pretty consistant empty.

Its the lie -o meter. This is stock, nothing done to it. Found it about 15 months ago and it had 68K. Traded in a 2011 F250sc 6.2 2wd that got stuck on the grass if you looked at it wrong. We dry camp with our Popup. It was a nice truck, this one is nicer and and pulls like there's no tomorrow.

[Oaklevel]

Here is our 05 with Cummins AT



11-12 towing approx 18- 20 solo

Trailer is just under 36' Trailer weight varies greatly usually approx. 12K to 14K

It now has General Tires it had "P" rated tires from the previous owner.......the Ram had upgrades but I have been working on getting it back to stock (runs & handles better stock) Does have an AFE air cleaner set up & 4" exhaust....

[bignugget]

Originally Posted by bignugget

Here is Mine!

I forgot to mention I tow around 68 to 70. 2000rpm, Average between 10 and 11 mpg. Truck is a 6 speed manual with 35x12.50 tires. I pull a sabre 33ckts.

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by bignugget

I forgot to mention I tow around 68 to 70. 2000rpm, Average between 10 and 11 mpg. Truck is a 6 speed manual with 35x12.50 tires. I pull a sabre 33ckts.

You 5er sits really good for being on 35's. I have to run my rear a little low to help keep my 5er's nose down. That is a great looking truck.

[bignugget]

Thanks. I run about 20psi in my air bags. I was concerned how it would pull with bigger tires but it does great. I am also running a heavy tow tune from cummins tuner with efi live.

[slide5r4fun]

Here is our 2006 MegaCab with 5.9 CTD and 2012 Sabre 32RCTS. Just got back from a trip to the mountains of Arkansas and averaged right at 10 mpg., hand calculated.
Speed on highways - Usually run 65 mph on cruise control in tow/haul mode and she purrs like a kitten between 1800 -2000 rpm's. Once in the hills, I take it off cruise and awaken the beast on an as needed basis.