RJMontana

I have had my 2000 cummins now for a little over a month and have logged about 3K miles so far(I love the truck so far, great move on my part). I have been averaging around 16-17 mpg on a weekly average around town and back and forth to work daily. I have been getting 19 mpg on the highway when travelling out of town with no load. This past weekend I was able to put about 650 miles on it while loaded with a 9 1/2' camper(about 2800-3000 lbs) and pulling my 18 1/2' aluminum fishing boat(about 2500-3000 lbs). My mileage went in the crapper and I averaged between 11.5 and 12 for the trip. Is this what I should expect with this load. My truck is a 2000 3/4T full bed with 6-speed with 63K miles on it. I serviced it soon after I bought it with oil/filter change and new fuel filter. I was hoping to get around 15-16 while towing to justify the expense of the diesel, I tow this load about 15K-18K annually going to fishing tournaments and that is why I jumped up to the diesel. Were my expectations to high?? Please let me know if this sounds in line with what you guys are experiencing and if not what I should look into. Thanks as usual for the help, RJ in Montana...

tmiller24

I promise I am no expert but, My friends only get 5 OR 6 mile per gallon on gasoline so I am very happy when my truck gets 12 towing an enclosed car trailer.

BoldtsWagon

I suspect you are getting what you could expect, you did not say what speed you were driving. The air drag is the big hitter with a slide in camper or towing (really bad with a tall fifth wheel). If you have Excel on your computer, go to the following link:<br><br>http://www.nwbombers.com/board/ikonb...=ST;f=4;t=1049<br><br>The link has a downloadable Excel file for calculating HP requirements and mileage for RVs. If you input your GCVW, RV width and height, and an assumed drag coefficient, the HP requirements for level pulling, hill climbing, head winds, braking HP requirements are calculated and graphed. Level grade fuel milage is also calculated.<br><br>After downloading, save the file on your computer and you can play what calculations. The graph showing mpg vs mph is specific for the 12 valve automatic, go to the calculations sheet to see the values for 24 valves, manual, automatic, and rear gear ratios. If you are handywith Excel, make a graph sheet with your drivetrain parameters.<br>

chuck3

RJ I have an auto Y2K. Pulling my trailer 27 ft about 7k + lbs I can get anywhere from 16.5 to 12mpg it all depends on a lot of things. I live here in mts like you and that makes a difference, headwinds will really hurt too, but I'm sure you know this so I'd say try it again and see what happens next time. All and all I'm real happy with mine. I do have some power mods that I think helps as long as I keep my foot out of it. chuck.

HC

I concur, wind resistance is the big hitter, not # of load (except maybe in the mountains). I get major drops just from putting loads on my camper shell roof rack, even if the load weighs almost nothing.<br><br>When I first got this truck, I took a trip (about 7k worth) driving hard with the roof loaded up, and got about 14 mpg. I was like you, disappointed. Then I checked my records from an almost identical trip the year before in a Suburban gasser. Less than 10 mpg!!! You can say 14 mpg is &quot;low&quot;, I now believe it is a dramatic 40% increase over my previous vehicle. And if I decide to tow, this vehicle is twice the rig; even if I don't, it will last twice as long.

B-Peterson

I have 2k pulling 26' 5th wheel, and boat behind that[15,000] Iam avg about low 13's

jec3

Mines a 2K auto and pulling a loaded 3 horse trailer I get about 14.5 going 65mph. I agree with others, wind resistance is worse than weight on mileage. Once you get the weight rolling it doesn't take as much to keep it rolling. Wind resistance is a constant force.

CoastalDav

My 2000 ETC normally gets about 18 running light on the interstate at 70. 75 nets about 17. Slowed down just under 70<br>it will do about 19-20 on the computer. Actual is less. <br><br>When in towing gear, at very close to max combined GVW it will do @55 in 5th 13mpg, in 6th@60-63 about 11 to 12. Anything over 64 to 70 mph is 10mpg. With the 3:54 rear, I need to keep the R's up so it does not lug. If I were doing this full time, I would put 4:10's in. I think it would give me 12-13mpg at 65mph and never lug the engine. The only other thing better than that is to instal a USA Gear Overdrive unit<br>and run that in the hi range when not towing or get a two speed rear. Sure would like to find one of them that would fit.<br><br>Dave

Srigs

I agree with jec3. Wind resistance makes a huge difference. I get between 14 and 16 pulling my 2 horse gooseneck at 65 to 70 MPH.

wheezer

I haven't towed with the Dodge yet, but the slide in will hurt your mpg. The Ford PSD I had previously towed a 5000 lb 5th and 5000 lb cutty cabin behind it. I traded the fifth for a 2200lb slide in and got the same mpg with the camper alone. It would get about 13 at 70. Wind/speed made a big difference. With no wind at 55 mph I could get 16 mpg with the 5th and boat. With 65 feet of wind drag and 75 mph I had seen as low as 5 mpg. That was going across the Salt Flats with about a hard crosswind. I didn't see anything above 13 on the highway after the slide in, towing or not.

deuceandahalf

RJ ~ you're doin' OK. I get 17-19 naked @ 70-75. With my little 24' flatbed, I get 11-13 depending on the load. 4-horse gooseneck w/four aboard (10-11k#) 10-12 @ 65-75. '53 dropdeck 8.6 to 11 mph, again depending on the load and windage. I have got 11 mph with the trailer and truck grossed at 28500 (across the scales) and 8.6 mph at 17000 hauling a 8 ft square box into a headwind; no wind/downwind wasn't much better. As those have said before me, windage is a major player. Be happy - you got yourself a great truck!