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Old 07-02-2018, 10:49 AM   #1
Justme44
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best mileage

Looking at a new pickup, diesel. What is the best make at mileage under load?
 
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Old 07-02-2018, 11:01 AM   #2
jcurtis934
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If any of the three diesel trucks vary much in milage towing, I would be very surprised. But there are lots of things that will cause differences...trailer weigh, towing region, weather, lead foot vs not, truck rear end specs, etc. Way too many variables to get a apples to apples answer. Buy the truck that supports your forever needs...unless you have much disposable income.
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Old 07-02-2018, 11:35 AM   #3
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if fuel mileage is prime concern get a lower number rear end. ie 355 vs 410
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Old 07-02-2018, 01:17 PM   #4
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There isn’t much difference in these trucks. The engines are all very close to the same, HP, torque, size. They all have the same manufacturer’s injection system. The difference in fuel mileage depends on the driver the terrain and how fast you pull your camper.
Go buy the best truck for you and forget about mileage. Why buy a truck that gets slightly better fuel mileage if one does if it isn’t the best truck for you. Test drive them all, study the brochures then drive them all several more times. Then you can truly get the best truck, for you. It’s yo money. You aren’t buying a truck for me or your buddy or for MOC members. It will be yours!
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Old 07-02-2018, 01:27 PM   #5
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Agree with Lynwood and others. That said, our 2011 Dodge gets 12mpg on average with the trailer back there.
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Old 07-02-2018, 02:47 PM   #6
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Agree with Lynwood and others. That said, our 2011 Dodge gets 12mpg on average with the trailer back there.
I have no doubt that is true but if I were to pull your camper from my home to Wyoming I wouldn’t get over 10. From here you go up a mountain then along New River through the mountains to I64 to the Wv turnpike 70 mph to I64 to I70 at 70+ mph to I80 now it’s 75 mph and through Wy and up and over the mountain before you get to Laramie at 8800 feet elevation. Mileage depends on how and where you drive. No truck made will get 12 with me driving.
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Old 07-02-2018, 02:53 PM   #7
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Fuel mileage towing a heavy fifth wheel is very much like fish stories.
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Old 07-02-2018, 04:56 PM   #8
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I have no doubt that is true but if I were to pull your camper from my home to Wyoming I wouldn’t get over 10. From here you go up a mountain then along New River through the mountains to I64 to the Wv turnpike 70 mph to I64 to I70 at 70+ mph to I80 now it’s 75 mph and through Wy and up and over the mountain before you get to Laramie at 8800 feet elevation. Mileage depends on how and where you drive. No truck made will get 12 with me driving.
Lynwood
Very true. We get 10 or less going from Kansas to Albuquerque (all up hill). The oposite is true coming back thus the average.
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Old 07-02-2018, 06:01 PM   #9
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You could let 5 people drive the same truck on the same highway under the same weather conditions and get 5 different results, likely varying as much as 3 mpg from high to low. I know mine can vary 2 mpg depending on how I am driving at any particular time or day on the same road/weather conditions.
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Old 07-02-2018, 06:08 PM   #10
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my 2016 GMC sierra denali duramax allison, 23mpg unloaded, 12 to 13 pulling Montana
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Old 07-02-2018, 06:38 PM   #11
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You could let 5 people drive the same truck on the same highway under the same weather conditions and get 5 different results, likely varying as much as 3 mpg from high to low. I know mine can vary 2 mpg depending on how I am driving at any particular time or day on the same road/weather conditions.
Very true. It took quite a bit of expermenting to discover that for our truck 62mph is the sweet spot for best mileage. Over or even under, not as good.
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Old 07-02-2018, 06:56 PM   #12
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Most people tell you the best mileage they ever got. They are like people who reload ammunition. They shoot one good group and carry the target around in their wallet for decades. Don’t show me one group. I wont to see the the 5 you shot after that one. In other words what is your average.
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Old 07-02-2018, 08:15 PM   #13
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I have no doubt that is true but if I were to pull your camper from my home to Wyoming I wouldn’t get over 10. From here you go up a mountain then along New River through the mountains to I64 to the Wv turnpike 70 mph to I64 to I70 at 70+ mph to I80 now it’s 75 mph and through Wy and up and over the mountain before you get to Laramie at 8800 feet elevation. Mileage depends on how and where you drive. No truck made will get 12 with me driving.
Lynwood
I think i missed a turn back there. Did you say over that mountain or around that mountain.
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Old 07-03-2018, 06:01 AM   #14
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I really don't care what the fuel miles per gallon ends up being. I'll be going "there" anyhow. At least, whatever it is, it sure is a bunch better then the previous truck with a V10 gas engine where you planned your next stop as you pulled out of the current gas station (6-7mpg).
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Old 07-03-2018, 07:34 AM   #15
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I think i missed a turn back there. Did you say over that mountain or around that mountain.
No I said through the mountains. This a above my pay grade but let me try to explain. The New River contrary to its name is one of the oldest rivers on earth the third oldest. It was here before the mountains were so it cut its way through the mountains as they formed so it goes through the mountains and the road follows.
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Old 07-03-2018, 07:49 AM   #16
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Did not buy the Truck for great MPG.We knew that pulling a @ 23K GCVW it was not going to be good. The F-350 weighs 9K plus on its own so solo is not all that great either.

We do @ 10MPG at the end of the towing day. Depending on where we are towing sometimes a bit more sometimes a bit less. We travel at 62/65 as that is where we feel comfortable and we are in no particular hurry.

My F-350 is a 2008 Diesel and the newer Fords do get a bit better MPG but is still is not great. The truck pulls the Montana just great and that is what we purchased it for.
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Old 07-03-2018, 09:05 AM   #17
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The best way to figure out YOUR best mpg's it to hook up and do a trip. I just did a 6,000 mile trip to Iowa from Ca. and got 10.7 mpg's. I did some sight seeing which helped my mpg's but thats what you are looking for. I have a 15 6.7 and couldn't be happier with my fuel millage. Just can't understand why diesel is so expensive. Even more than premium gas by about $.50 more. I guess the country doesn't want us to see it anymore. Diesel here is $3.81
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Old 07-03-2018, 09:25 AM   #18
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We average around 10 to 11 most of the time. If pulling hills it go's right out the window! If it is that big of a concern We don't know what Montana you have but maybe you need a smaller one. as everyone has said it's going to be different no matter who drivers the same truck on the same road every time!
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:49 PM   #19
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We owned a Bluebird Wanderlodge with a 8V92 Detroit and got 6 (yes, SIX! ) miles per gallon. And it really hurt when you fill that 300 gallon tank!
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Old 07-03-2018, 09:41 PM   #20
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We would all like great mileage but the facts are towing heavy trailers with high HP/torque engines isn't going to deliver great mileage. On the positive side we have nice TV's that get us most everywhere with decent mileage. Diesel is a great fuel and I believe more efficient than gas as a general rule.

Diesel is more expensive than gas because our wonderful elected officials wanted more tax money but didn't really want the people to see it first hand. They crafted a bill which charges a tax on BTU output per gallon of diesel. It effectively delivered the tax money by charging everyone that uses diesel from the farmer to the transportation/delivery people to the regular citizens that use diesel. This is just what I remember and I have been wrong before but back in the day diesel was cheaper than gas as it didn't have all the refining costs. I think it was in the 90's that the prices flip flopped.
I am still going to pay the extra to have a diesel TV because I like all the benefits except the cost.

All three have good engines and I would say GMC then Dodge and last Ford in that order for MPG. That also is just a guess and as said before each particular rig and the respective driver make up a lot of the MPG formula.

Ok off the soap box.

Tom Marty
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