REAL World MPG's

LWATSON

future trans limpers
Jul 30, 2008
2,587
1
36
55
Scotland Neck NC
I get about 12.5 mpg towing my 9k fifth wheel. I can tow 9k on my utility trailer and get 15-16. It feels like I'm pulling a parachute when I'm hooked to the fifth wheel.
 

Cornell

LBZ for life
Sep 11, 2006
1,601
0
0
Minnesota
I averaged 20.6 mpg over 860 miles this weekend. Drove to Madison Wisconsin and back.

I was going anywhere from 65-74mph the whole time with a few stops and idling for a half hour or so during the trip. I would have gone 80 the whole way but that state is stupid. Sweet 65mph highway speed limit :rolleyes:
 

WolfLMM

Making Chips
Nov 21, 2006
4,005
25
48
38
AL
I averaged 20.6 mpg over 860 miles this weekend. Drove to Madison Wisconsin and back.

I was going anywhere from 65-74mph the whole time with a few stops and idling for a half hour or so during the trip. I would have gone 80 the whole way but that state is stupid. Sweet 65mph highway speed limit :rolleyes:


empty;) I'm pulling a load. This boat makes my truck look like a hot wheels:rofl: no lie!
 

Dalyfarms

New member
Jan 12, 2010
76
0
0
Centrailia Mo
I have run into a situation 3 times Pulling, this last Sunday I was hauling a 7420 John Deere, used about 1/2 a tank in 50 miles, I pulled over, shut the truck off, let it set for a few min then started it and finished the tank. I got another170 miles from that tank. I keep checking for fuel leaks, fuel in the oil, and blowing black smoke, no reason to use that much fuel, and no sign of where it is going. but shutting the engine off and restating seems to stop the exsesive fuel usage. If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them.
 

WolfLMM

Making Chips
Nov 21, 2006
4,005
25
48
38
AL
I have run into a situation 3 times Pulling, this last Sunday I was hauling a 7420 John Deere, used about 1/2 a tank in 50 miles, I pulled over, shut the truck off, let it set for a few min then started it and finished the tank. I got another170 miles from that tank. I keep checking for fuel leaks, fuel in the oil, and blowing black smoke, no reason to use that much fuel, and no sign of where it is going. but shutting the engine off and restating seems to stop the exsesive fuel usage. If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them.

You know whats odd, I got better mileage (120 miles on one tank) on my second fill up. The others two fill ups were not as good 70ish miles per tank.

I have noticed this truck regens. a lot!
 

Dalyfarms

New member
Jan 12, 2010
76
0
0
Centrailia Mo
I have had this same experiance 3 time this last sunday I was pulling a 28 foot trailer with a 13 thousand lb tractor, the other two time I was weighing less than 16 thousand truck ,trailer, and load combined, It just has me baffled as to where the fuel is going. using that much I should see black smoke. I know it can be burning all of it. I have also wondered if the fuel gage isn't misreading.
 

duramaximizer

#1 Abuse Enabler ;)
May 4, 2008
1,187
1
38
Edgerton, Ohio
The big thing I noticed was my MPG dropped a lot when I went to 265 recap tires. The stock 245 averaged 1.5 MPG better than the 265's. Yet the 285's seemed the same as the 245's.

I am around 15-16 now with 265 tires on. When I had 245's on and the DPF on, I got the same mileage. I had 245's and no dpf for a while and my mileage was the best at 17+-.

The dpf is a minimum 1 mpg.
 

BillyTatum

BigRed
Mar 18, 2010
3
0
0
42
Tyler TX
I get 12Mpg towing my 32 Bumper pull weighing in around 9k, it stays in OD and hums right along just fine.. empty I get about 15-16 (because I can't do less than 80) haven't checked it since i put the 285's on
 

WolfLMM

Making Chips
Nov 21, 2006
4,005
25
48
38
AL
Just towed the boat down. Here's the skinny.

Got 8.1 mpg at anywhere from 70-90mph. Depended on traffic.
This time I let the truck decide what gear to be in. Shifted in and out of 6th a lot, every little hill, bump, etc.

Overall I am more impressed with this trip than the last one ( 1st post). Truck pulled the boat pretty well. Only a few minor hickups on the way down.


On the way back I got 16.4mpg unloaded running 95mph.

Been couped up in the truck for 14 hours (round trip) I am tired!!

Ps, I will post miles and gallons burned later on.
 

thetwinsduramax

New member
Apr 14, 2010
6
0
0
Albuquerque, NM
That mpg is horrible. I can run 75-80 and still get 10 with my 5er. If i take it easy 65 or so its around 11.5-12, calculated. Hell I got better mileage with my 1/2 ton gasser pulling my 5er. Definetely complain to the stealership.
 

LBZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
Jul 2, 2007
9,903
149
63
46
B.C.
WolfLLY, next time put the sail down and pull the tiller up. Also double check that you ain't dragging the anchor as well!!:joker::rofl:

That's a big FN boat and depending on the wind, I would guess your numbers ain't that far out to lunch considering the mileage these newer trucks get empty.
 

WolfLMM

Making Chips
Nov 21, 2006
4,005
25
48
38
AL
This boat is a lot heavier than any 5ver I have ever pulled.

LBZ, no anchors dragging here,:rofl: I already checked:rofl:
 

boss_hog

New member
Jan 19, 2015
22
0
0
South Carolina
These numbers make me feel good about just getting
Another 6.0 gasser. I have a 2007 cc /lb 4x4 6.0 and
A 2015 cc/sb 6.0. Haven't pulled much with the 2015
Yet but my numbers are with the 2007 best unloaded
Tank 18.2 all highway, 14.5 average mixed. Towing 32ft
Tongue pull tt 8220# and 1900# in the bed heavy tools
70 mph from charleston sc to bristol Tn over the mountains 8.4 mpg. On the way back 60mph 12.1. Same tt with no tools behind my previous 2010 1/2 ton 5.3 10.4 mpg up. 12.6 mpg down 60 mph both ways because of the handling of the smaller truck wasn't near as good. 2015 towing my offshore center console at 60 mph 10.4 mpg. 9.7 @ 65 and 7.7 @ 70. Best tank not all highway 15.7 unloaded average 14.2 mixed. 2500# steel car trailer and 4600# equipment low wind resistance 13.7 @68 mph straight highway flat ground. Never had s diesel but almost got one but the price I couldn't ignore. As for as resale I traded my 2010 1/2 ton that paid 26000 for new for 25000 it had 42000 miles. The 2015 sticker was 40795. Paid 34000- 25000 for trade = 9000 for new truck. Also 1.79 for gas and 3.09 for diesel
 

othrgrl

Diesel Addiction Owner
Mar 10, 2008
2,151
4
38
Wilmington NC
www.mydieseladdiction.com
These numbers make me feel good about just getting
Another 6.0 gasser. I have a 2007 cc /lb 4x4 6.0 and
A 2015 cc/sb 6.0. Haven't pulled much with the 2015
Yet but my numbers are with the 2007 best unloaded
Tank 18.2 all highway, 14.5 average mixed. Towing 32ft
Tongue pull tt 8220# and 1900# in the bed heavy tools
70 mph from charleston sc to bristol Tn over the mountains 8.4 mpg. On the way back 60mph 12.1. Same tt with no tools behind my previous 2010 1/2 ton 5.3 10.4 mpg up. 12.6 mpg down 60 mph both ways because of the handling of the smaller truck wasn't near as good. 2015 towing my offshore center console at 60 mph 10.4 mpg. 9.7 @ 65 and 7.7 @ 70. Best tank not all highway 15.7 unloaded average 14.2 mixed. 2500# steel car trailer and 4600# equipment low wind resistance 13.7 @68 mph straight highway flat ground. Never had s diesel but almost got one but the price I couldn't ignore. As for as resale I traded my 2010 1/2 ton that paid 26000 for new for 25000 it had 42000 miles. The 2015 sticker was 40795. Paid 34000- 25000 for trade = 9000 for new truck. Also 1.79 for gas and 3.09 for diesel

Once you own a diesel truck that you actually use as a truck (which it appears you do) you will never be able to deal with a gas truck again. Believe me I have had countless customers try and it never lasted. For one 2.06 vs 2.76 here for low grade gas vs diesel. So for 400 miles you would get a best of $0.113 per mile (400/18.2=21.978 gallons x $2.06=$45.27/400). I would say average for my customers for strictly highway is 22mpg, with many getting more if they try and have a decent setup for mileage. At 22mpg it is 0.125 miles per dollar. I will gladly pay the extra $0.012 per mile to drive a truck that pulls like nothing is behind it, has 425 rwhp and 800 ft lbs with a simple tune, and will last a half million miles if taken care of properly.

Towing you got 8.4mpg so it would be $0.245 per mile. A load like that I would normally get 13mpg so $0.212 per mile. So any time I am towing not only do I have a trans meant for it and the torque and power to not notice it, but it cost me less per mile. The price isn't just the engine, it's the Allison trans, trans cooler, etc that comes with it.
 
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NC-smokinlmm

<<<Future tuna killer
May 29, 2011
5,192
356
83
At Da Beach
That mpg is horrible. I can run 75-80 and still get 10 with my 5er. If i take it easy 65 or so its around 11.5-12, calculated. Hell I got better mileage with my 1/2 ton gasser pulling my 5er. Definetely complain to the stealership.

Boats are a different animal buddy. They have huge bows and t tops that act like sails. My old Denali quadrasteer with a 6.0 got 4.4 mpg pulling my 26 footer. I took it to key west once and had to stop every 80 miles to fill it up...:roflmao:

Hey Wolf, you going to Key West yourself to fish the sail tourney?
 

clrussell

pro-procrastinator
Sep 23, 2013
5,928
399
83
Boats are a different animal buddy. They have huge bows and t tops that act like sails. My old Denali quadrasteer with a 6.0 got 4.4 mpg pulling my 26 footer. I took it to key west once and had to stop every 80 miles to fill it up...:roflmao:



Hey Wolf, you going to Key West yourself to fish the sail tourney?


I'll agree ^^ when I bought my x star we took a buddies lbz to go get it.. 800 mile each way, averaged 80mph : 17-18 empty
10-11 towing it home,,

We could have drove slower and got better mileage but we were in a hurry