Is anyone towing with a 2011 Ram 1500 w/ 4.7 engine? I just picked up my new Cruise Lite 221RBXL and towed it home yesterday. Sure seemed like the truck guzzled a bunch of fuel and shifted gears a lot. The fuel mileage display spent a lot of time in the 10 mpg and under area. I was running about 70-75 mph on the trip.
Welcome to towing! The frontal area of a travel trailer makes the truck work pretty hard. FWIW, the speed rating on camper tires is only 65 mph and you'll find that towing mpg is much better at 60 - 65 mph. It's said that you improve 1 mpg for every 5 mph you slow down. Also there is no rule that you have to mash the accelerator to the firewall to maintain speed upgrade. Slow down a bit and enjoy that part of camping too.
you exceeding your trailer's tire ratings and also wasting fuel.
slow down under 65mph and you'll get better mileage and you be safer for you and us.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
slow down and watch the mileage go up. on a 100 mile trip, you are only gaining 5 to 10 minutes max, if that. have a blow out, or a cop stop you to discuss various driving techniques while on "his" hiway, your 5-10 minutes goes right out the window.
I have the same truck as my everyday driver, but I would never use it to tow much of anything. The hemi has lots more power, and would probably get better gas mileage. The 4.7 is a great motor for tooling around, but simply doesn't have the torque for towing.
You did pretty good getting 10 mpg going at that speed.
I had a 2002 Dodge 1500 with a 4.7 and it was a pooch if I hauled anything behind it. If you have the tow haul mode on your shifter use it. It does not do any good for it to be shifting all the time.
Congratulations on the new camper.
I had the same truck when we started camping but mine was a 2004 Dodge with the 4.7 with a Cherokee Lite 28a. Your shifting will improve as others said to stay with your foot out of it. Going up and down hills let people pass the truck will appreciate it. The weight of your trailer empty is ok but don't go for the full cargo. I don't care what Dodge claims the tow capacity is,if it is not the 5.7 it will struggle. I was so concerned about my truck (which was great as a daily driver) that I ended up looking for a new truck.
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