Fuel mileage

[tenacioushunter]

What might we expect for miles/gallon in a Ford F350 diesel towing a 1400 fifth wheel?

[mhs4771]

Most of us are averaging 9 to 11 depending on road conditions and speed

[alcolemanau]

I have a F350 2011, 6.7 SRW and I tow a Montana 3625 weighing 15,500 loaded. I average 10.5 to 11.9 depending on speed. I run 55-65, dependant on the speed limit and conditions.

[Art-n-Marge]

Did you mean 14,000 lbs fifth wheel?

It can depend on the year and model of truck, the motor and the differential ratio. I have an '06 F-250 with the F-350 springs and a 6.0PSD 4x4 crew cab, long bed with a 3.73 differential weighing about 8,500 lbs towing an '06 Monty that weighs 13,500 lbs. I don't tow with full tanks in the Monty. On the flats I average 13mpgs (did get 14 with a tail wind once or twice), but have an overall average of about 11. Hills and street driving can drop this to 9 to 10. I have a 38 gallon tank and this gives me about 400 miles of range which is the minimum I like to have for a vehicle trip.

Over the years, it seems the mpgs have improved by 1 or 2 mpgs and have been told it could be the diesel motor being broken in (currently at 75,000), and I like to think my way of driving to eek out the mpgs helps too. I drive slow and easy (60-63 mph) and not as much hotrodding (stops and starts) compared to my "younger" years.

I also don't tow all that often, even less now that the grandbabies have come along. I'm hoping others who tow a lot more often can provide their numbers. I hear that brand new Ford 6.7 diesel is the one to have. That motor is the strongest and is supposed to provide better mpgs than all prior Ford diesels.

[mainer]

We average 11 when towing. We too normally drive between 55 - 65 MPH.

[richfaa]

9 to 11 mpg.F-350 4;10 diff pulling @ 14K montana.

[Art-n-Marge]

Rich, you have a new Big Sky that only weighs 14,000? I thought you were a full timer. My Monty weighs 13,500 and I don't go out anywhere near what you do! That's amazing and I am very impressed with your discipline to keep things light.

[GregN]

I just completed a 3,114 mile trip with 1997 Ford F350 CC LB, pulling a 2006 3650RK getting 13 mpg. That included some long 6 precent grades.

[PatnRich]

My 2011 F350 SRW CC SB with 355 electric locking axel and 20" wheels gets 9.9 (bad head wind) to 12.2. Most of the time I'm around 11.5 mpg pulling 15,100 at 60-62 mph. I'm lighter when weekending. The 15,100 was on a Cat scale loaded for extended stay.

[richfaa]

quote:Originally posted by Art-n-Marge

Rich, you have a new Big Sky that only weighs 14,000? I thought you were a full timer. My Monty weighs 13,500 and I don't go out anywhere near what you do! That's amazing and I am very impressed with your discipline to keep things light.

we are not full timers but long timers. You really run heavy.Our 06 3400 had a GVWR of 15,500(Is suspension) and this Big sky has a GVWR of 15,800. our 06 loaded for on road was under 14k and we considered us heavy. We have not yet weighed the Big sky but we have culled out a lot of.......why do we have this stuff.

[bighornram]

I have run Rams. My 05' with a Quadzilla chip in it got 12 to 14 mpg pulling and 24 empty (calculated). My 2012 gets 9 pulling and about 16 or so empty. The mileage of the Rams dropped 4-5 mpg with the inclusion of the DPF and EGR emissions devices. I believe those were added in 07.5???

[mlh]

I've pulled campers with a 7.3, 6L, 6.4 Ford a Chevy D max and a 454 Chevy. The only one I saw much difference in was the gas powered 454 all the rest got about 10 MPG. They ranged in horse power from 225? I think, to 600+. Oh IL forgot I pulled a smaller fifth wheel from Va to Wyoming with a F150 5.4, not an experience I would recommend or will soon forget.
Lynwood

[restez]

Just returned from our yearly trip to eastern Canada with 3500 miles round trip and after tallying up all the receipts and costs figured out to 13.2 MPG. We pull at 63 to 65 MPH. That seems to be the sweet spot for the Duramax. Mind you now it is a 2003 so still gets pretty good milage. 21 to 23 empty on highway and around 16 in town. Going to have to keep this one until it falls apart!

[HOOK]

Restez x 2 with 06 chev 3500 dually diesel.

[restez]

Yup just love mine, plenty of power and still good milage, a win win situation! Plus no payments to boot!

[camper4]

12 overall average. Very much depends on mountains and wind. Mine has 119,000 miles on it.
I had a 2003 Ford 7.3 that got about the same mileage up to 60,000 miles. The Ford pulled a 2005 2955rl, though.

[CamillaMichael]

We got 11.5mpg average on our last long trip...note, I am very observant of speed (attempt to keep it under 60 mph) and take advantage of coasting down hills/mountains.

[Johnnyg]

Our 2008 F350 with 3:54 diff will average about 8.5 mpg.

[denandannie]

I have a non-diesel Chevy 8.1 gas engine. I am afraid to check the milage for fear of triggering a heart attack.
Seriously, though. I get about 8 when I can keep the speed down.

[Marty79]

quote:Originally posted by mhs4771

Most of us are averaging 9 to 11 depending on road conditions and speed

That's exactly what I get! I find the truck is really happy at about 63 to 65 at about 1700RPM.