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Thread: Tow Vehicle

  1. #21
    Rolling Along dloase's Avatar
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    What tow vehicle do you have? What gear ratio do you have (3.42, 3.73, or 4.10). Do you have single rear wheel or DRW? What MPG do you get towing and what MPG do you get not towing.
    2008 Chevy 3500HD
    3.73 as stated many times only available with the Duramax
    DRW
    I average 14MPG. The truck doesn't seem to care too much. Loose a little when towing (<2), gain a little when not towing (<2). Wish I could get some of the 20's others claim, but I have my Solstice for economy, truck for work/pleasure.
    David & Linda - Plainview, VA
    2008 3500HD CrewCab DRW
    2014 369RL #258
    2007 Solstice
    2008 TrailBlazer
    2016 Kia Sorento
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  2. #22
    Seasoned Camper
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    2016 Ram 3500 DRW CTD 3:73 rear. Pulling a little Imagine 2800BH with a golf cart in the bed of the truck. First trip with this truck this past weekend, had 1500 miles on it when we started, ended with just under 2500 miles. Averaged 11.3 MPG letting the cruise control do the work at 65 mph. Hilly terrain half the drive both ways. The first 1500 miles, running mostly around town empty, little highway, was averaging 16.5 MPG.

    Previous tow vehicle, a 2015 GMC 1500 Crew with 3:42 rear, same trailer no golf cart. Same trip as above I would get 8.5 to 9.5 depending on wind.

    I cant begin to describe how much nicer and more relaxing the trip was with the 3500, no more outside influences moving me around, no more constant downshifting on hills and even overpasses. Yes, its a bit more work driving the big truck everyday, but I am actually enjoying it 95% of the time and in my opinion that 5% that is a little inconvenient is well worth it when travelling with the camper.
    Take care,
    Chris
    2017 Momentum 350M
    2016 Ram 3500 Laramie CTD Dually w/ B&W Companion Hitch

  3. #23
    Seasoned Camper
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    The newer trucks using DEF are known as fuel hogs. I will stick with my old 2006 & enjoy better mileage. Since I do not even have 100,000 miles yet(96,721 to be exact)I will be driving it for a long time to come.
    AKA Keith & Irene
    2006 Ram 2500 Laramie CC/SB/SRW 4X4 W/Cummins(of course!) 48RE(wishing it was an Aisin)& 3.73 Gears
    Oscar & Frankie(the Dachshunds that don't know they're not people!)
    2015 Reflection 337RLS w/Demco Glide Ride Pin Box & Hijacker AutoSlide Hitch
    Dexter Nev-R-Adjust brakes
    1969 GMC 1500 w/2003 LS engine & 4L65E trans conversion, 3.73 Gears & PowerTrax Locker &
    Power Disc on all 4 Corners
    1963 Ranchero bone stock
    1959 Ford F100 w/GM subframe & Pontiac Drivetrain

  4. #24
    Long Hauler Canyonlight's Avatar
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    We are pretty close to what Second Chance Rob shared. Non towing highway 65mph speeds no wind or hills we get 22-23 and town is consistently 13-14. Same highway conditions towing our 303 and we get 11-12. Regen cycles (about every 1000 highway miles w/o pulling) drop economy by about 20% for about a 1/2 hour of driving. Pulling increases regen frequency due to using more fuel/def fluid.

    In our recent 1700 mile round trip to CO Rockies from SD, we averaged 10.6. We had 100 miles of mountain pulling; strong to moderate side wind conditions for at least 700 miles; quite a bit of idling time (grandson sleeping in car seat/slow or stopped Denver I25 and I70 traffic/etc.); and drove closer to 70 than 65 most of the time.

    This is our first diesel so I do not have first hand experience comparing non-def vs def fuel economy. However, from what I have read in several other sources and on this forum it seems def vehicles (at least GM anyway) seem to have better overall fuel economy not worse. The def generation vehicles also seem to have higher torque and HP ratings.

    Dan
    Dan & Carol
    2014 303RLS Reflection #185 (10/2013 build)
    2012 Silverado LTZ Crew Duramax 2500HD
    2700/16K Pullrite Superglide

  5. #25
    Seasoned Camper
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    I may be wrong but all I've read says the increase in power is from computer programming, better cam profiles along with better turbo & fuel injector design to increase efficiency.

  6. #26
    Seasoned Camper mksnyder's Avatar
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    2016 Dodge CTD SRW. 6-Speed Automatic 68RFE Transmission, 3.42. I get between 11-12 towing the 337, and almost 20 non-tow. I was getting 9 and 18 with the 2007 2500 without the DEF. Could be the transmission, could be the engine is working less could be the DEF, either way, I'm happy with the performance of the truck.

    I agree with Chris above on the step up to the 1 ton truck, except the difference in day-to-day driving doesn't seem to be any different for me, since the cab and bed are the same as the 2500.
    Marlin & Laree Snyder
    Piper (Golden Retriever)
    Baker City, OR

    2016 Reflection 337RLS (Piper's new dog house that she condescends to allow humans to inhabit occasionally)
    2016 Dodge RAM 3500 Shortbox Mega Cab 6.7L Diesel SRW
    Mopar (Ha! Curt) 25k Hitch


    http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/...pswxidsicb.gif

  7. #27
    Seasoned Camper
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    DEF is injected into the exhaust stream, it is not mixed with the fuel or burned in the combustion process. So it has no effect on power. The reason most have decreased fuel mileage is just like in the early 70's, you have to use more fuel to get better emissions.

  8. #28
    Site Sponsor
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    Quote Originally Posted by K&I337RLS View Post
    The newer trucks using DEF are known as fuel hogs. I will stick with my old 2006 & enjoy better mileage. Since I do not even have 100,000 miles yet(96,721 to be exact)I will be driving it for a long time to come.
    My experience with Cummins diesels over the years goes like this. '92 Dodge 2500 5.9 engine, club cab, long box, 4x4, manual transmission: 16-18 mpg general driving, 18-20 mpg highway. '06 Dodge 2500 5.9 engine, crew cab, long box, 4x4, manual transmission: double the horsepower and torque, general driving was about the same, highway- the same, towing a 21' fw 10-14 mpg. '12 Ram 2500 6.7 engine, crew cab, long box, 4x4, manual transmission: 14-16 mpg general driving, 17-18 highway, no rv towing. '14 Ram 2500 6.7 engine, short box, 4x4, manual transmission, DEF: 16-18 mpg general driving, 18-21 mpg highway, 8-12 towing 32' mid-profile FW. The '92 weighted about 6000#. The '14 weights about 8660#.

  9. #29
    Seasoned Camper
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    We have a 2010 Dodge 3500, SRW, 3.73, 6.5' bed. We tow a 303RLS and get 11-12 mpg. I don't know about mileage not towing but the first tank fill was 18 mpg before I pulled a TT. It is probably about 85% towing use. I am several hundred over the truck's GVWR. A dually and a 4500 or up would have been a better choice in the beginning if I had thought about the future. . When we bought the 303, we actually wanted the 318, but I ran the numbers-too heavy for a 3500 SRW. Pushing 12,000 miles on the Dodge now...my last truck.
    2016 303RLS
    2010 Dodge 3500 SRW 4X4 Crew Cab, 3.73 axle ratio (now pushing 20,000 miles)
    Pullrite Superglide 16K
    Six five gallon fuel cans, converted away from CARB compliance, which reside, as needed, under my BAKflip G2

  10. #30
    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KeithS View Post
    When we bought the 303, we actually wanted the 318, but I ran the numbers-too heavy for a 3500 SRW.
    Might be too heavy for a 2010 (not familiar with the specs for that truck) but the newer 3500 SRW's can handle the 318RST with payload capacity to spare- at least mine does. The manufacturers have raised the towing capabilities steadily over the years.
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

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