Fuel Mileage

[Big Dave]

There has been all this talk on here about the difference in towing characteristics between SRW and DRW trucks. But what I would like to know if anyone has a rough idea of the fuel mileage difference between SRW and DRW both towing and empty???
Thanks

[Montana Sky]

I can only speak from my experience but I found that on average, I lost 1.5 mpg empty and 1 mpg towing when going from a 2011 Ram 3500HD SRW to a 2012 Ram 3500HD DRW. Both had the 3.73 rear end so other than the extra fenders and tires on the ground, the trucks were identical.

[Big Dave]

@Montana Sky
Thank you for the reply. I was thinking about 1.5 to 2 miles to the gallon difference.

I am interested in what others have to say>
Dave

[Artemus Gordon]

I got 12.3 from San Francisco to Redding, round trip this weekend. Mostly freeway, but 3 hours slow traffic! Full tank of fuel, 37.5 gal fuel tank, each way. I reset average after arriving in SF, and upon returning trip. 255 miles each way. 2014 F450. Note: fully loaded with Montana water tank full, about 11.7 same trip.

[DQDick]

We've averaged for the last two years right at 11.5 towing and 18.6 not towing. Since we like to take jeep trails out in AZ we only have experience with our SRW accented with desert pinstripes.

[Big Dave]

@ Artemus Gordon
@ DQDick

Thank you for your replies

[WaltBennett]

Since my SRW was a Chevy 8.1L gasser that got below 10 towing our old TT & about 12 empty, I don't think it really compares to the DRW F350. The '06 DRW with 4.10 rear end gets 17 to 20 empty and 11 to 13 towing our Monty. That's both computed and by the gauge over about 5k miles total.

[Big Dave]

@WaltBennett
Thanks for your reply

[Bigboomer]

Our DRW gets between 10 and 12 towing and 14-16 when not towing....just saying !

International use to build the Ford diesel's, ship them to Ford where they would tweak them to what they wanted but that stopped a few years back so now Ford builds their own.

When we used to tow with our GMC 2500 HD with the Duramax we would see 14-16 towing and 20 to 22 when not towing.

Nothing like a diesel with low end torque!

[Big Dave]

@ Bigboomer
Thanks for the information

[1retired06]

I would think comparable because the only significant weight difference between the two, is the heavier rims, two extra tires/rims, and for Ford, fiberglass fenders on the bed. I will say that I am getting better mileage, 21-22 interstate driving, and 12-13 towing the same rig, with my 6.7 dually then I got with my 6.0 SRW taking into account different engines and transmissions.

[Ramblin Roadrunners]

Ram changed their injector set up from the 11 models to the 12 models and a complete new system in 13. It is said that the 12 did not get as good of fuel milage because of the changes to the 12. Ram was making these changes before going to the DEF in 13. Its my understanding they added an extra fuel injector to the 12 to make it quieter. Mu .02 worth

[Ramblin Roadrunners]

You can go on the internet to the diesel forums and read all the info on the problems and fixes to the Ram 2012. I think I read some of the fixes were from the diesel perticulate filter issues. I'm pretty vague on what I remember.

[richfaa]

To many variables. Now if the truck started to run bad and I saw that we were getting like 5 or 7 MPG we would be looking for problems. 90% or more of our truck travels are with the Montana hooked up and if we can do 10/11 mpg, which we do we are satisfied. Pulling 23K or More has to use some serious fuel.

[TLightning]

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

...To many variables...

Agree. You'd have to compare the same make, model, year, rear end, etc. There really should not be much difference other thay the daully being a bit heavier.

[Artemus Gordon]

I wonder for clarification purposes, how some of you calculate miliage. Method I used to report mine in earlier post, was an average over a defined route in the real world. I know my instant miliage goes as high as 19 MPG or better. That is really not accurate in my opinion. In the high 11MPG to 12s MPG, more accurately represents fuel to mile use in real world. My rig on a flat road with tail wind might for an instance get higher numbers, but that's not a realistic number. If I reset my miliage and Econ settings while on freeway, the computer says I can go 600 miles! Never could I realisticly achieve near that figure. Am I wrong?

[scott-pati]

I get 10.5 towing doing 65mph. If I slow down to 55-60mph I get 11.5-12mpg. I get 15mpg at 70mph and up running empty. Speed limit here is 70 on the highway. If I could go 60mph I would get 18-19mpg.

That's with a 4:10 rear and 4x4 with the front drive shaft turning as well. I'm running a programmer and have an extra 125 hp, so I'm happy with that.

The 2013 and 2014 Rams have been engineered for better mpg's which are very good now. A guy on another forum who is well respected gets 12-13 towing and 19-20 hwy empty.

On my back roads which can run for tens of miles and no traffic or stops and doing 45mph I will get 19-20mpg.

Another thing to keep in mind is the model choice has a big weight difference from the base to the top of line model can be as much as 800lbs. Plus some people run over size tires too.

Another guy on the forums had the same model and extras as mine, except he had a srw setup and got the same mpg. There's to many variables to keep the mpg's straight.

[Big Dave]

Thank you everyone for all your wonderful feed back!
Dave

[jfaberna]

I just put my first 2000 miles on my DRW Ram 3500 (2014) so my mileage my get a little better when it's broken in. However, my mileage is similar to Scott's 15 mpg at 70 with passengers and hitch only, 16.6 at 65. Towing a 3402RL at 65, I get 10, 11 at 60 and 68 cruise control in the WV mountains, I get 9.7.

[mlh]

I have pulled my 2955 Monty from Virginia to Wyoming with a 6.0 L F250 Ford a 6.4L F250 with over 600 HP and a 3500DRW Dmax. They have all got about the same fuel mileage. Fuel mileage depends to a great a extent on where you are pulling and how fast you you won't to get there. I'm always in a hurry so fuel mileage is never any thing to wright home about.