Real MPG (no fish stories) towing 520c w/heavy duty crew 4x4 Diesel

[Fishysam]

I have not heard terrific things about the v8 Cummins. Most say it's the worst of each category... don't feel the torque, don't feel the HP, don't get good MPs, keep in mind a lot of this could be there transmission. But you can literally hook up to your dads truck and take it for a whirl.

[Bamaman]

Currently tow with a 2016 Ram 4x4 1500 Eco-Diesel, towing with the wind, speed limit, 16 mpg, against the wind 15 mpg. During the work commute 24 mpg, interstate trip, up to 29 mpg. That's phenominal unloaded miles per gallon.

Completely understand no heavy duty will get the mpg like this. Towing power not an issue, 1/2 ton just doesn't tow the same as a heavy duty. There is not a logical reason I "need" a bigger truck (just like a boat), just a "want". However, I have to gather as much information as I can to either talk myself into it or out of it. My heavy duty 3/4 ton diesel will get 15 mpg towing a 5000 pound trailer--about equal to your 1/2 ton. I've got a 80 hp econo tuner with a different transmission program.

So if you tow with one of the big 3 heavy duty diesel(sorry, love diesel so no gasser) 3/4 or 1 ton crew cab 4x4's I'd love to hear your experience with daily commute mpg, and towing mpg. Most the internet data is towing a 10k lb load, I do carry too much crap in my boat, but nothing close to 6k lb:) My truck is the last of the 7.3 diesels, and it gets 20 mpg on the open road. Many of the more modern higher horsepower diesels also get about 20 mpg at normal highway speeds.

Any of the modern gas engines will pull a bass boat just fine too. And their efficiency is up about 1-3 mpg across the board for all the manufacturers.

[rangerranger]

2018 Ram 2500 Megacab 4wd Cummins. I’m getting 13.5 towing my Z520C. Without the trailer 22.5-23.5 highway at 70-75.
very happy with the rig so far but only 11k miles on it.

[Pound4Pound]

2013 F250, fully deleted, 35" tires on stock suspension. Pulling my 521 I'm seeing around 13-14, empty I'm around 17-18. I've got 160k on it and planning to take it to 300k before I get another. Probably like most guys on here I have zero need to own a diesel engine other than the fact I like them, and that's reason enough.

[22RangerZ520R]

Probably like most guys on here I have zero need to own a diesel engine other than the fact I like them, and that's reason enough.

[TOUCH OF CLASS]

Ram eco does get 20 pulling boat and 30 unloaded don’t know why you need a one ton to pull a bass boat.

[bassin70]

I get 14-15mpg towing, but I don't care........

The purpose of a 3/4 - 1 ton truck is not fuel economy just like the purpose of a bass boat is not speed...

I don't understand why everyone is worried about mpg in a 3/4+ ton truck or any truck for that matter, they weren't designed to be fuel efficient! They were designed to work/tow! You want fuel efficiency, buy a Toyota Prius!!!

Same thing with constantly swapping out props, carrying low fuel, etc just to gain 3-5 mph top end speed on a bass boat... I could care less that my Ranger does 70 and your "brand X" does 75 mph. A bass boat wasn't designed for speed, but for fishing. You want a speed boat, then leave your rods at home and trade in your bass boat for a cigar boat!

In case you can't tell, the "truck mpg" and "top end speed"/"I can only get 69 mph instead of 75 mph out of my Ranger" threads drive me nuts........

Thank you for your input. I specifically stated in the title of the thread what the subject was, a trick I've learned is that if the subject title doesn't interest me I don't open it. So I guess like your disdain of MPG/Speed posts, I too have a disdain for comments that add nothing to the post.

The original post stated that I understood fuel economy is not the goal, I thought I made that pretty clear but apparently not, simply doing my due diligence to know all the cost factors going in.
Gorgeous set up you got there.

[bassin70]

Thank you for the insights, much more informative for what I'd be using it for than any other sites I've reviewed. Numbers are a lot better than I was thinking.

[bassin70]

My 15 Duramax get about 12 towing my 520L and about 16 with out, on the road gets about 18, I have a lit kit on it also with big tires.

Rodney I'm guessing you are towing a lot of hills in Kentucky?

[bassin70]

2013 F250, fully deleted, 35" tires on stock suspension. Pulling my 521 I'm seeing around 13-14, empty I'm around 17-18. I've got 160k on it and planning to take it to 300k before I get another. Probably like most guys on here I have zero need to own a diesel engine other than the fact I like them, and that's reason enough.

I hear you, I got the eco diesel as a compromise of want and need, needed a truck but wanted a diesel, just miss the 2007 2500.

[joebone1]

14-15 on my 06 6.0 pulling - i tow like an animal, i put my foot into it and run 65-70, 18-19 without the boat, although i don't really drive it much without.

like someone else said - i don't sweat the mileage - i drive a 3/4 ton because it weighs twice as much as the boat, it has big brakes and it sits high.

[sjcorpst]

14-15 on my 06 6.0 pulling - i tow like an animal, i put my foot into it and run 65-70, 18-19 without the boat, although i don't really drive it much without.

like someone else said - i don't sweat the mileage - i drive a 3/4 ton because it weighs twice as much as the boat, it has big brakes and it sits high.

GMC Sierra 2500HD with 6 Liter. I hear ya on the big truck, it just goes. Didn't buy it for gas mileage and I don't get any either.

[CaymasRodney]

Rodney I'm guessing you are towing a lot of hills in Kentucky?

No sir, I do have a heavy foot though , the mileage went down after going up two sizes in tires and wheels. My 2009 Duramax would get 16 towing all day long and 21 on the road, I did have it chipped though, wish I had keep that truck!!!

[22RangerZ520R]

Anytime

And thanks.

Thank you for your input.

Gorgeous set up you got there.

[snodogg]

2016 2500 duramax. 13.3 mpg average. Towing z521c

[fishfarm]

2004 f350 dulley open exhaust upgraded turbo and super chip. 14mpg while towing and 16 not towing

[TopgunZ521C]

2016 Cummins here stock height I see 19 to 22 just rolling at 70mph and towing the z521c 16 to 18 depending on speed if I'm on cruise at 68mph on flat level surface I see 22 to 24 mpg I bought my truck for a couple of reasons 1 being torque for towing up and down hills here in Northern California 2 life of the motor and I do my own oil and filter changes 3 it just makes more sense to have a truck that can do everything I need when I need it, I've had 2008, 2011, 2014 Fords and came out of a Ford f250 2014 figured I was done with diesel after several issues with my truck, bought a GMC 2016 gasser and it would fall on its face towing up hill grades 5.3/ 3;42 gears 8 speed great truck just not for me , went back to the Cummins, I'm not bashing or trying to start a passing contest but of all the diesels I love my Cummins the best this is my 4th Cummins and would never go gasser again if you want a truck that can do it all get yourself a diesel if you don't need it Gertrude a gasser just my opinion I give 2 shots what other people have or how fast how lifted etc it's my choice I pay the note.

[godsdozer]

2012 Dodge Ram mega cab with CM truck bed (flat bed) pulling a 2005 Ranger Z22. Tools , 100 gallon transfer tank, Ingersol Rand compressor mounted on bed. Fully deleted with DRD MM3 tuner 30,60,90,120,200 HP options. I use the 30 HP tune all the time since I do not have head studs. Before delete, 12.5-13.5 hand calculated. After delete 16.5 hand calculated. It doesn't matter if I am pulling the boat or not. its the same.

[bassburch]

What's a "deleted" diesel?

[Casslaw]

What's a "deleted" diesel?

Oh Boy!

Emissions crap!