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08-26-2018, 10:00 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Beebe Ar
Posts: 79
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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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08-26-2018, 10:09 AM
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#2
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,355
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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
__________________
2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
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08-26-2018, 11:15 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: E. MT
Posts: 506
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Wind is a killer. Sometimes i think cross wind is even worse than headwind.
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08-26-2018, 11:45 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,477
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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.
__________________
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
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08-26-2018, 12:25 PM
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#5
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2014 SunSeeker 2300
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Southern Iowa
Posts: 263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody
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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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.
Alan
__________________
. We are now retired and living the dream! 2014 2300 SunSeeker without slides that we remodeled inside for better living conditions for two people.
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08-26-2018, 12:41 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Coos Bay, OR.
Posts: 39
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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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08-26-2018, 12:44 PM
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#7
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AKA: 'tiredTeacher
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,045
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Awilson
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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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.
__________________
Wright and Penny
(with Fitz and Lizzie, the camping kitties)
Richmond, Va.
2010 Tundra 4X4 5.7L V8
2014 Rockwood 2604WS
Life is a cruel teacher. She gives the test first; the lesson then follows.
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08-26-2018, 01:16 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3
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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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08-26-2018, 01:22 PM
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#9
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,355
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stealthguy
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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Much smaller truck for just light running and will get better mileage than a 2500. Later RJD
__________________
2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
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08-26-2018, 02:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 597
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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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08-26-2018, 02:48 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 1,098
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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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08-26-2018, 03:21 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 230
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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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Si Hoc Legere Scis, Nimium Eruditionis Habes!
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08-26-2018, 03:58 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Irma, Wisconsin
Posts: 174
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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.
__________________
2018 Salem 27DBK/2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie
Days past:1996 Coachman Capri-Ruby Ed. 27DS
2004 Ram Quad 1500
1995 GMC Yukon Sport
1986 Jayco1016PUP
Days Camped:'13-10 '14-20 '15-6 '16-9 '17-14 '18-3 '19-12 '20-14 '21-12
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08-26-2018, 04:54 PM
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#14
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ARLO
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: N Chili, NY
Posts: 908
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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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08-26-2018, 04:54 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6
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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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08-26-2018, 05:39 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drittal
Wind is a killer. Sometimes i think cross wind is even worse than headwind.
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X2
__________________
2019 Arctic Wolf 285 Fiver (Party House)
2019 Ford F150 3.5 V6 Max tow (SnowFlake)
Pixel, our Cockapoo puppy!
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08-26-2018, 06:54 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Home
Posts: 65
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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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2017 Compass 320RSC
2019 F-350 Lariat 6.7
and the Old Puppy
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08-26-2018, 07:27 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Greensboro NC
Posts: 1,140
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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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08-26-2018, 09:16 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright
Posts: 970
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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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2015 Palomino SolAire 20RBS
2022 Silverado 2500HD LT Duramax 4WD
2015: 18 days; 2016: 21 days; 2017: 19 days; 2018: 26 days; 2019: 8 days; 2020: 0; 2021: 10 days.
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08-26-2018, 10:12 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 97
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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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