Tow rigs and MPG

[ninedriver]

Just wanted to get an idea of what tow rigs everyone are using and what kind of mpgs you're getting. I'm thinking about "investing" in a diesel as my gas burner gets such poor mpg and as a result a limited range between fill ups. Any other tow rig pro's/cons are welcome as well. Discuss...

[smorris7]

2016 Ram 3500 dually 12.5 to 13.5 towing. 16 to 18 highway. Still stock.


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[mmandley]

14 Ram Cummins long bed 4x4
20 in the city
12.5-13.5 towing, I have the upgraded 5 link rear suspension with full air ride, it's a dream to pull with.

Caution on lift kits, leveling kits, larger then 34 tires. These all reduce your mpg.

All diesels have do and don't, watch out for items but as long as you keep them stock no real big issues.

[bluice311]

2015 F250 FX4 (6.7L Diesel) I get 13.8MPG with 75% city driving. I came from a 2008 Tundra Limited (5.7L Gas) that got 12.8MPG. I mainly switched to the diesel for more towing capability, so easy to merge onto interstate and with the exhaust brake/tow mode you don't even feel the boat behind you.

Pros: better acceleration/stopping power, full size bed, higher payload/towing capacity, "should" last longer and retain value longer
Cons: initial "investment", physical size (too tall/long for most house and parking garages), and more service costs (fuel filters, DEF, etc).

[onoitslolo]

I trade trucks like some of you do with boats, but I must say that I am a diesel fan. I had an 06 cummins that got around 23 mpg, and about 17 towing w/ 35's, had a 6.6 duramax that got 21mpg empty and about 15 towing, a 7.3 dually that got 16mpg empty, and about 13 towing. these were all 4x4 and none were stock except the 7.3. I am currently driving a 93 Silverado w/ a 350 that gets 12mpg regardless if it is empty or pulling the boat. But I will say that driving a diesel is a dream. It the difference in wakeboarding behind a v-drive vs an outboard. The cost is higher, but the reward is o so sweet. And you get the black smoke, and everyone likes that haha

[Broke Pilot]

I got out of the diesel world, emissions crap was just too much for me when the EPA cracked down on tuners and delete kits there for a while.
2015 Ram 2500 megacab 4wd 6.4L Hemi with a 2.5" level and 35/12.5/20 ExoGrapplers. Gets around 11.5 towing the boat, 14 unloaded.

[yearround]

I have a 13 ram 1500 with hemi whatever it is. I'll turn 100k this week. i get about 17 around town, 20 hwy, unless i'm running out where the limit is 80, then it does drop a bit. much of my driving is high elevation, 7000+, colorado mountains! towing the boat, 08 LSV, it is usually at 10-11 mpg when we make the long trips to far away lake powell etc. local lake is only 3 miles away.

Diesel is great, but i do not think i will ever own one, until i am pulling a big trailer on a regular basis.

that is my $25.

[rdlangston13]

Pulling with a 2015 Ford Expedition with the 3.5L TT V6 Ecoboost. At 65 mph I get 24 mpg unloaded and 12 mpg pulling the boat. As speed increased from there fuel mileage decreases dramatically. 70 mph unloade it drops to about 21 mpg, at 75 it goes to about 19.5 mpg, at 80-85 about 17 mpg. Towing at 70 it drops to 10 mpg.

[trayson]

We chose a gasser. 2013 F150 Ecoboost. Our boat/trailer together weigh 6,250 full of fuel. The truck has a 6" lift and 35's on 20's. So MPG isn't great-- about 8.5 towing over lots of mountain passes (sea level to 4,000 feet with a handful of steep grades over and over with a bed full of camping gear and 22 gallons of gas cans). But, I can do 65+ up the steep passes and not crest 3500 RPM's.

Around town we get in the low teens. We did a run once w/o the trailer that was interesting. Sea level to 5,400' elevation over 75 miles we got 12mpg. 5,400 feet back to sea level over 75 miles we got 16mpg.

Okay, here's the math for our family:
F150 Ecoboost on 35's with 6" lift @ 11mpg mixed for 8,000 miles a year with gas at $2.33/gallon = $1,695 in fuel per year.

Random Diesel at 17mpg mixed for 8,000 miles a year with fuel at $2.53/gallon = $1,191 in fuel per year.

For us, having a gas rig costs us an extra $504 per year.

A buddy of mine just bought a new (used) truck and told me that it was going to cost him $10k more to get a diesel. With our driving habits, that's 20 years until we break even. Even if the Diesel was only $5k more that's still a 10 year payback period. Doesn't make sense for us.

Admittedly, I've never towed with a diesel, but when my Ecoboost allows me to keep up with or pass any other tow rig (and many rigs not towing) on the mountain passes, what do I really have to complain about performance wise?

That's my 2 cents.

[mcdye]

2016 GMC QCab All-Terrain 6.2. Avg 20-22 city/highway combo. Towing 70mph ~ 13