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Old 08-26-2018, 10:00 AM   #1
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6.4 Hemi actual Towing mpg

Currently traveling to Grand Canyon from Arkansas on interstate 40 West pulling a Cherokee 264L about 7100 lbs tow weight 6.4 Hemi 3.73 gears running cruise control at constant 65 mph , all mpg numbers hand calculated (dash readout averaged about 1 mpg higher )1st tank 8.30 mpg light wind from the sw . 2nd tank 6.89 mpg (20-30 mph sw wind) 3rd tank 5.2 mpg 22-33 mph wsw wind (also set cruise at 70 for about 30 miles). 4th tank 5.5 mpg sw wind at 20-25 mph . 5th tank 6.86 mpg sw wind at 12-20 mph . I've had the cruise set at 65 the whole time except as noted . Truck has downshifted to 2nd several times to pull hills to maintain 65 , sounds pretty good at 4400 rpm but the instant mpg readout shows 2 mpg at those rpm's .The highest oil temp I've seen was 248 mostly around 220 highest trans temp 178 mostly 168 . I'm using Husky WDH with 1200 lb spring bars and 2 friction anti sway bars . The rig is pretty steady even with 20-30 mph wind mainly hitting from the side and driver front area , almost no sway but it does move the truck and trailer some as 1 unit with the wind gust and tractor trailers passing . Overall fairly pleased except I was hoping for 8-9 mpg . Maybe on the return leg . Will accept donations for gas
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Old 08-26-2018, 10:09 AM   #2
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I find that driving at a steady 62mph will give better mileage. Sounds like the wind really played havoc on mileage. What year Ram do you have? Later RJD
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Old 08-26-2018, 11:15 AM   #3
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Wind is a killer. Sometimes i think cross wind is even worse than headwind.
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Old 08-26-2018, 11:45 AM   #4
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Wind can have a huge effect. I also question keeping cruise control engaged on hills when it requires that much down shifting, but that's just me.
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Old 08-26-2018, 12:25 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody View Post
Wind can have a huge effect. I also question keeping cruise control engaged on hills when it requires that much down shifting, but that's just me.
I tend to agree with you because, as the OP stated, the instant MPG drops to 2nwhen it drops down in gears trying to maintain 65. When you can feather the throttle to accommodate the hills your MPG will not suffer as much. It still takes more power to pull the hills but you can control the throttle better than a cruise control that is programmed to maintain speed. I’ve had a chance to drive my SIL’s Hemi and it does really well towing his camper. Much better than I anticipated. If you have the time to travel, those trucks, in fact all trucks, will get better mileage driving around 60 MPH. Just my 2 cents.

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Old 08-26-2018, 12:41 PM   #6
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I have 2012 Dodge 5.7 Hemi. I pull 10000# 5th wheel. I average 8-9 overall. I do not use cruise on hills, just go to lower gears and go. Do not push it on hills. I usually average 35-45 depending on grade. Not in that big of a hurry. The fuel consumption does drop on the hills, but usually holds at 4-5mpg. Be easy on your rig and it will last. Mine is also a 2500. Enjoy going places.
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Old 08-26-2018, 12:44 PM   #7
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If you have the time to travel, those trucks, in fact all trucks, will get better mileage driving around 60 MPH. Just my 2 cents.
Agreed! My Tundra does best at 62 mph as max. I use cruise on flat roads with gentle hills. I'll drop below 60 if the hill is steep. I actually drive to the tach keeping the RPMs between 2200 and 2700 on the top end. I get 11 mpg doing this.
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Old 08-26-2018, 01:16 PM   #8
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Check the air pressure in all tires, TT and tow vehicle. I average 18.5-19 mpg running solo and 8-9 towing my 2012 28ft Stealth with a 2013 Ram 1500 with 5.7 hemi, with all tires inflated to max sidewall psi.
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Old 08-26-2018, 01:22 PM   #9
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Check the air pressure in all tires, TT and tow vehicle. I average 18.5-19 mpg running solo and 8-9 towing my 2012 28ft Stealth with a 2013 Ram 1500 with 5.7 hemi, with all tires inflated to max sidewall psi.
Much smaller truck for just light running and will get better mileage than a 2500. Later RJD
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Old 08-26-2018, 02:29 PM   #10
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Just came back from Mackinaw in our 21 year old Z-71 4Wheel drive. It is an 8, but, it's been so long, I'm not sure what one it is without going out and looking. We decided to check on our mileage this trip since we haven't done it in a while. Pulling a Windjammer 3008W (about 35ft.) and cruise set at 60mph (based on Garmin readout). Averaged 9.47 MPG. We have to fill up and calculate since the truck doesn't have a mpg calculator so we know this is a pretty accurate number. If we go faster, I can almost watch the gas guage go down. Surprising, how the small increase in speed really tears into the milage. Yes, we did have winds (mainly cross) all the way back and went through two storms (trip is about 310 miles). Our old trailer was a 28 foot Newmar Dutch Star (Newmar only made them for 2 years) and that would average somewhere in the 10-10.6 range pulled with the same truck at roughly the same speeds.
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Old 08-26-2018, 02:48 PM   #11
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When I towed I never used cruise in hilly areas. I would let it roll down hill and get up extra speed to hit the next hill at around 70+. Then hold a steady peddle and let the speed drop to 50 before I gave it any more gas. Going down hill the mileage might get up as high as 15 mpg and mileage going up the next hill would drop to around 5 mpg. So depending on how many ups and downs there where, it averaged out to around 10.
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Old 08-26-2018, 03:21 PM   #12
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I agree re the non hill-use of cruise control. I only let my foot control the hills and mntns for more controlled shifts to avoid the unnecessary and gas wasting CC shifting. My mpg is ALWAYS better that way and avoids having my blu tec 3.0 from cramming us up somebody’s rear end. Once on the flats then CC gladly takes over...listen to Mark above.
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Old 08-26-2018, 03:58 PM   #13
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Salem 27dbk, pulled by 04 ram 1500 5.7 hemi. Just ran from the heart of michigans thumb to GrandRapids on 69 and 96. Never broke 60, running mostly 2-2500 rpm. Between 8 and 9 mpg. Just what it is.
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Old 08-26-2018, 04:54 PM   #14
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2014 F150eco/3.73/max tow-8.9 to 10.9depensingvon speed.. 16.0@ 75 mph, 18iah @ 65mph.friend with 3.30 fears gets about 20 mpg.
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Old 08-26-2018, 04:54 PM   #15
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I have a 2015 ram 2500 4x4 with 6.4 Hemi. I have found that the best mpg period that I have gotten is 9.7 pulling a 2018 Wildcat 38.5ft Fifth wheel at 11000lb+ loaded, with a tail wind. That is also the best I ever got pulling a 32ft Rockwood Ultra Lite fifth wheel 9500lbs again with a tail wind.( same truck) Both times I had the tow/haul in gauged. Wind would and does drive down the mpg to 6.5-7 mpg with both units again with tow/haul in gauged. Speed was 57 on secondary roads and 62-65 on Interstate and I did not push the hills learned that an long time ago. Use the cruise where it would work with out constant down shifting.
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Old 08-26-2018, 05:39 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drittal View Post
Wind is a killer. Sometimes i think cross wind is even worse than headwind.

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Old 08-26-2018, 06:54 PM   #17
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Thank you guys for all the upbeat news. I pull a 13k fifth wheel and average 12-12.5 mpg but that's with a diesel. Glad to hear we are all in the same fuel mileage neighborhood and i hope we all "don't care" and just enjoy the camping and travel.
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Old 08-26-2018, 07:27 PM   #18
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Cool, We got a thread about 6.4 semi fuel mileage and we get a 1/2 ton ram with a 5.7, an ecoboost and a few diesels thrown in! I wanna go find a thread about umbrellas so i can say my truck is black..L
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Old 08-26-2018, 09:16 PM   #19
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Sounds to me like you did pretty well pulling into a headwind going west. All tow vehicles have a sweet spot where optimum towing mpg is concerned. For most it lies between 55 and 65 mpg for gasoline engines. Diesels are a different animal and do much better in headwinds.

My 6.2L has a 63 mph sweet spot and gets 11 - 15 mpg - that is unless I am towing into a stiff headwind like you were then it goes down accordingly. At that point, I slow down to 55 to 60 mph and leave the cruise control off. I don't get there quite as fast but there isn't a really loud sucking noise coming from my fuel system, either!


Something else you might consider to get better mileage: go up one gasoline grade if you are using regular. Of course, if you are using Premium I suppose you could move up to racing fuel (100 Octane).


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Old 08-26-2018, 10:12 PM   #20
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6.4 Hemi milage

Tiwed with a 5.7 for 13 years. Milage always varys. Use tow haul and figure out how to best use gas throtal. Forget the cruse unless on flat road. watch your speed will help
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