Expected MPG with Dodge Cummins TD

[William O. Phillips]

We are shopping for a nice used truck. We are buying the 3000RK or 2980RL and want to add a diesel 2500HD truck. Is that enough truck to pull a loaded 3000RK or 2980RL? Should we be looking at more 3500s? Seems to be lots of Fords for sale and very few Dodge or GMC products......Hmmmmm, wonder if that has anything to do with the lower mileage on the Ford trucks?

Thanks much - Bill

[sgtpp214]

Having pulled our 2980RL for 4 yrs now I wouldn't even think of pulling with anything less than a 3500 diesel.

[richfaa]

Oh....No....

[Fire1]

I do not have many miles towing YET but so far 14.9 is the max with the 2007 Dodge reg. engine, almost 22mpg nakid.

2007 Dodge 2500 Crew Cab 4X4 automatic and I have a heavy foot.
Gotta love them Cummins

[bigmurf]

Rich: You think so?

[skypilot]

Bill: Depends on the year Ford you are looking at. The pre 2003 7.3L Powerstrokes are hard to come by and from what I'm reading now-days, rock solid. Mileage on them is getting up though. Starting in 2003 you had the 6.0 L come in -- some 2003s are also 7.3L!! In any case, 2003 and 2004 6.0L had a lot of problems and there are a lot of them on dealers lots with 'buy-back' stickers in the windows (says not to remove until finally sold and explains what Ford did to fix the vehicle before putting it back out for sale to the public). My PERSONAL OPINION is to stay away from these like the plague -- I had an 03 bought back, went into an 04 that lasted a little over 8K and now drive a Dodge because of the problems with the 6.0L. Dealer was fantastic, just couldn't keep the thing running. Now, starting last year, Ford went to the 6.4L engine. From everything I see and read, the engines are solid; the regeneration event (on any of the new ones!!--- regardless of Make (Ford, GM or Dodge) takes fuel and, as such, reduces the mpg everyone is seeing. All of the new vehicles are mules (i.e. pull like the trucks that they are) and each have their advantages and disadvantages. Other than the Ford 6.0L (again my personal bias) I would have no qualms buying any of the trucks out there today (used or new!).

Hope this helps -- as someone else once said - vehicles are like women - one for every man, just finding the one we can live with takes the time. (or something like that!!).

[FLSTS03]

Just goes to show how different each truck is even within the same brands and model yr. My 03' ford f250 6.o had over 80k when I traded for my 07 Ram 3500. Only went to shop once with ECL and reflash took care of that.Traded because I just like the dually and Dodge had too good a deal. Skypilots experiances were quite different. My new Dodge gets the same mileage as my old F250 and the Dodge is a 12200 gvw trk- F250 was a 8800 GVW, so I can't complain. My friend and fellow MOCer still gets 20-24 with his 06' 2500 with /dmax and diablo programer but the programer had no effect towing so he tows with stock setting. Both of us only get 10.5 to 11.5 towing.I'm a 1 ton dually, he's a 3/4 ton SRW, so again it could be worse. Went to the Cummins forum a few days back and it seems as if the off roaders have figured out how to defeat the EGR and DPF with kits. Got to love(IMHO) those folks what are free sprited, tossing warrenties to the wind, while making improvements that can or not, benifit us all. Steve

[mtheo]

It looks to me as Dodge should raise the price they charge for their trucks, I couldn't get that kind of milsage with my Chevy if I tried and I tow at about 60mph all the time. I would love to get 14 mpg towing

[PackerFan]

I have a 1999 Dodge, Cummins Diesel, 4x4, Long Bed, with 135,600 miles on it and pull a 2980RL. Empty my truck gets between 20-22 MPG and pulling the 5v'er I get between 12-14 MPG (Depending on hills, traffic and how many Fords and Chevy's are in my way!). I have added a VA Fueling Box to the engine and run AMSOIL products through out the truck.

I have to say that this is the best truck I have ever owned and have no plans on ever giving it up. You just can't beat a true diesel engine like Cummins.

The Dodge - Ford - Chevy Wars will never be over and there will be no prisoners!

[skypilot]

Took the dogs out for a walk this morning and on the way back stopped by the local Ford dealer -- has 3 used F250 and 1 F350; all have Ford buy-back stickers in them. No other used heavy duties on his lot. New he had 4 new F250s, had 2 F350 last weekend and they are gone (one DRW, one SRW).... Now, can't say that they were sold but the fact that there are so few of them would seem to indicate that there is a definite market for them out there.

As for my Dodge; I get 'Spring Trade Fever' bad every other year. I would so love to trade this year but the book value is so low on trade right now I think I'm going to hold on to my 06 a while longer. However, as I said in my earlier post, when looking I haven't seen anything (or read anything) that would make me shy away from any of the ones out there today (other than the 03/04 6.0L and that is just because of my bad experiences with them. Given the tens of thousands that Ford sold, I know that there are some other good ones out there besides the one that FLTS03 (note above) has .

Good luck in your quest for your new tow vehicle; whatever you get will surely be, as I called it, a mule!!

[c214dick]

I've been towing with my Dodge for almost 5 years now and my best was 13 mpg. Usually I get 10-12. Our last trip to Branson was an overall avg. of 11.7. I have since added airtabs but have yet to tow since installing them.

[richfaa]

To meet the emmission standards there will be a new round of engines in 10/11 so I we are still rv'in by that time we will look for a upgrage
to whatever???

[msmoonsatx]

Each truck, road conditions and weather all play a factor. I have found though through suggestions from others on this forum that my speep is a definitive factor. Driving at 55 mph on our last trip to Rockport Texas I got between 13 and 14 mpg in both directions. This was actual mileage. The road conditions were flat with a strong SE wind. I am driving a 2003 Dodge 3500 5.9L diesel 4.10 gear ratio 6 speed manual transmission. Without the trailer I routinely get an average of 20 mpg.

I will be keeping track on our trip to Branson.

[skypilot]

Driving 55 saves fuel - no doubt about it. However, on many of our highways here in Kansas, the traffic volume and lane width (i.e. 2 lanes with legal speed limit of 65) will cause severe traffic tie ups and accidents as truckers and those impatient 'few' pass those conserving fuel. In New Mexico, Texas, and others with speed limits of 75 and higher, even the interstate 4-lane network will be problematic.

As much as I hated it during the 70s and 80s, the only fix is for the National Government to mandate the reduction back to 55, and then have the police enforce same. That will create other problems I'm sure but individuals doing what is right will, IMHO create more problems as well.

[sreigle]

Paul and Janet, I didn't see anywhere what axle ratio is in your Dodge. That has an impact on mileage.

You are getting a bit better mileage than I do towing a 3400 with an 07 Dodge 6.7 Cummins. My normal towing mileage is 10 to 11.6. Once we got 13.3 on a 224 mile tow but I still don't know how that happened. Other than that one time we've never topped 12 for any significant mileage. We did have over 23 one time for the first few miles but that was all downhill. . Then we had to go back uphill.

Speed does make a difference but I find there are other factors (excluding wind and terrain). If we are in hilly country but not so steep as to cause downshifting, then running 60 gets me the best mileage. But, if the hills cause downshifting then I do better at about 63 to 64 mph as that speed causes far less downshifting in those circumstances.

The worst we ever got towing was 8.6 and that was the very first tow (starting with about 450 miles on the engine) and was in some mountainous/big hill country in eastern Ohio and PA.

Good luck. I am very pleased with the Cummins and hope you will be, too.

While skypilot's 55 mph scenario has a lot of merit, it would not be a good thing for me when we're towing. 55 mph on the level would probably get better mileage when towing but if there are any hills at all I'd probably never get into sixth gear and that would hurt my mileage.

[richfaa]

We run at 63/65 MPH when towing because that is where we feel comfortable and that is were the 08 Ford seems to be most efficient. We felt very uncomfortable in Texas with the 80MPH speed limit with folks blowing by at 90 and better.There is no doubt that at 55 we would get a improvement in MPG and we are now in no hurry so time is not a factor.However as long as the speed limits are where they are 55 on the interstate also makes me uncomfortable as it is just to slow and other traffic tends to miss judge your speed and climb up on your rear. I could live with the 55 limit if the need to do that arises.

We are still learning about regeneration and its effects on MPG and performance.. What we have learned is the the manufacturers marketing on the subject was not exactly the entire truth. surprise...surprise..

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

To meet the emmission standards there will be a new round of engines in 10/11 so I we are still rv'in by that time we will look for a upgrage
to whatever???

The Dodge Cummins 6.7L diesel meets 2010 standards already.

[richard66]

2006 3500 megacab 5.9 CTD 3:73 gears 2wd w/auto pullright/riderite/pacbrake stock size wheels and tires. I get 11 to 13 towing. Around 16 in town empty and as high as 21 empty on highway.

[richfaa]

The Dodge Cummins 6.7L diesel meets 2010 standards already." Rats.......

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by richard66

2006 3500 megacab 5.9 CTD 3:73 gears 2wd w/auto pullright/riderite/pacbrake stock size wheels and tires. I get 11 to 13 towing. Around 16 in town empty and as high as 21 empty on highway.

Thanks, Richard. Our mileage is similar except you do a bit better towing than we do. That's probably the difference in emissions gear.