pwabbott

Yeh, kingofdodge7131. Towing is the best way. I started mine out towing after 'bout 500 miles hitched 10,800# 5er to her and took 1100 mile trip. Fuel mileage increased by 15% on that trip alone. These engines love to work. If you can't tow, at least load the bed with 1500 to 2000#, work her, keep the rpms up in the 1600 to 2000 range. If you don't work them while breaking in it will take 25,000 to 50,000 miles of driving to the mall, Seven-Eleven, and the like to get the job done.

Hunter

DC does not specify how much of a load. Just that it needs one, was kinda curious about that myself. When your truck rolls in, read the manual and make your own determination on what they are saying<br><br>I am gonna &quot;load her down&quot; with 9,000# of RV<br><br>Hunter

kingofdodge7131

Hey thanks guys, loadin her downs no problem i belong to a hick farmin family of iowa haha. Go fill up the ole water trailer with water 1/2 way so it wont crack when she freezes haha. IF we had some **** snow i could really see what the puppy would do.

pwabbott

If you had a little snow, a load would be good for traction. One guy out here puts 3 four ft of old railroad rails in bed over axle. Claims he seldom shifts into 4 x 4. We've got a few &quot;Iowa Dirt Farmers&quot; out here, retired but they all have their tractors for snow removal.

Mopar_Mudder

When I &quot;broke in&quot; the 2000 3/4 ton it had about 1500 miles on it. Through on the trialer and my truck on it, thats about 9,500 lbs. Drove from Wiscsonsin to California and back with it hooked on, thats about 5000 miles total. Drove 32 hours straight none stop other then for fuel the first leg. It was pretty much broke in by the time we got back

Mopar_Mudder

Well the first tank of fuel through here and it was 13.8, boy I hope it starts to get better

Hunter

Ok boys<br><br>Mileage goes to Shiiit when you only tow on hills!<br><br>I live kinda in the coastal range of Oregon, and wanted to break Daisy in good and get all the little gears all in bed together etc. so when I head for Old Mexico I will have no problemo!<br><br>Well, in the last tank I filled, have been running into a local bigger city etc. for Doc's appts. etc. and then to the scales on top of the hill (been changing the torque on the hitch etc.) and just trying to get the girl to work a bit before her she gets her juices changed and we take of seriously. Well, crap, the mileage went to 11!<br><br>But, that is shorter trips on 6-7% grades. <br><br>I will say this, I smelled paint burning I had not had the pleasue of smelling before.<br><br>And, does the turbo &quot;growl&quot; get more intense with more miles on her or is that due to more weight on her?<br><br>Growl, I kinda like in fact :-)<br><br>Hunter

Mopar_Mudder

11 aint bad, when I tow my truck around I average 9 with the 2000 3/4 ton automatic

pwabbott

Hunter, <br><br>The first 500 miles towing my 2003 only got about 11 mpg. After that each tank the mileage improved. At the end of 1100 miles I averaged About 12.4 over the entire trip. That would mean the towing mileage for the last leg alone had to be about 13 mpg. Also keep in mind I was towing 10,800# 5er. Whereas you are towing a lighter TT. The weight difference is not as important as the wind resistance of the trailer when hooked to your truck. With my 5300# TT I got lower mileage than with the 5er, the difference being the 5er had less wind resistance.<br><br>Be patient, the better mileage will come. Towing over the Syskiyou grade, 8 miles of 6-7% grade will probably loosen her up enough to give better mileage. <br><br>Phil