murray

Slider,

I have 8,000 miles on mine. I'm towing a 28 1/2 5th wheel that weighs around 9,000 lbs. I agree with everyone else that recommends to slow down. At 60 mph I'm getting a little more than 13 mpg while towing in OD. By the way, you did not mention if you where towing in O.D. or not.

Alan

Haulin_in_Dixie

Look like I need to stay with my second gen, 12 mpg at 70 to 75 with 30,000 gross. Never got below 11 back when it was stock.

Slider

Thanks everyone for your comments I truly appreciate it. This really caught me off guard and I Never expected to see that type of mileage. I called the dealer this morning and they said they would look at it this Thursday, I asked about ECM upgrades, the service manager said they would look at the Firmware date and if any newer ones are available they would defiantly reflash the ECM.

As just about everyone as suggested, I will slow it down and try that. I did not think 70~73mph was to fast. If the dealer says there is a firmware upgrade as “MikeyB” has suggested I will be sure to post it.

“Murray” - yes I was towing in OD, all flat and level highways driving.

“Nitro71455” - Correct I was not doing 70+ with my half ton Chevy gaser, but I was able to maintain 65mph on flat highway cruising and get 11mpg.

TurboTed

I hope you get an improvement with the reflash. I have about 8000mi. on mine, and I towed my fiver last Sat. and was getting 15mpg. With my '02 cheby gasser I got 9mpg's and only about 12mpg without the trailer. However, if there was a strong wind, hills, etc. man did that mileage and power ever drop! For every 1000foot gain in elevation, your gasser loses 10% of it's HP. Your diesel loses none. I can see why you were really upset, but if your truck gets "going" the way it should, there's nothing like towing with the diesel. I had an'88 cheby 6.5 TD with only 175 diesel HP(3.73's) that out towed my 6L gasser with 4.10's. Imagine what it's like for me now with 305 diesel HP! (Hang in there!)

FiverBob

Slider,
Are you forgetting you have a 4.10 rear end - - designed for towing heavy loads. That will hurt your mileage when you kick up the speed. I average over 12mpg towing a 16000# fiver, but I hold top speed at about 65. If I run the computer for short duration tests, 60 - 65 yields 11.5, 70 yields 10.9, 55 yields almost 13. I get 20 solo if I don't run over 70. And, keep your foot out of it.

My Chev 3/4 ton gave me 7 towing a 3000# trailer at 60mph. My Dodge V10 gave me 6 - 7 towing my fiver. Be patient and relax - - let the dealer check it out - - get some miles on it and give it a chance. You will be happy.

gofastman

112,000 miles on it now and i get 24 to 26 mpg (60to65mph)
towing 11000, i get 13 to 15 at the same speed.
If i push it up to 75-80...forget it....i will drop by 5 to 8 mpg easy.
Relax a little while longer, i think it will all come to you in time and you will be as happy as we all are.
Allen

jigdog

slider i have a buddy thats got an 04 he gets about 17 on the road towing a little alum boat . i told him drive it like you stole it break it in and the milage will get better. He drive with a lead right foot too.

Tfeore

Slider, relax a little. Consider your speeds, I had the exact same engine in my old 00 Silverado. 27' TT 6% grade best I could do was 40 MPH, 6MPG and keep the R's to a respectable level.

Now the same grade; 65-70 MPH and I can't max the speed cause the hill aint big enough(She just keeps on pullin') Sure I give up my MPG but look at the difference in speed. If I would take it easy I could get 12-14MPG with the trailer.

I used the exact same logic you did to get rid of my Chevy, give'r some time and milage. I think you will be happy in the long run.

OneVeryHappyCTDOwner........

Haulin_in_Dixie

Allen I load a Blueridge now and again...

driver612

I had 312 miles on my 600 when i hooked on to a 36 ft 5th wheel . Pulled it 1050 miles and ran the speed limit all the way some 75. I got 10.5 miles. I have 6000 miles now and get 18-20 empty and 11-14 with a trailer.
Break in should be like you are going to drive it . If you want it to pull hard break it in hard.

A VERY HAPPY CAMPER

The Boss Hog

Slider,
Sorry your 600 is such a disappointment. The first thing you should do is dump the Dodge and ask for your Chevy back again. Then you should patent the thing because it is a one of a kind! I pull a 27' boat that grosses about 7500 lbs. With my old '01 GMC 1500 with 5.3, 4.11 gears and stock tires I could not maintain any speed in O/D on flat Florida highways and it would get 9 mpg running 65 mph in 3rd. My Dodge pulling the same boat can maintain cruise control in 6th at any speed from 45 mph on up to 85 (the most I've tried).

The Boss Hog
(think I'll keep mine . . . . . )

Slider

Don’t know what to tell you there Boss Hog! Just telling it like it is, no need for me to exaggerate, as I really like my Dodge, just in shock on the mileage I got with my first tow.

My Chevy did get 11mpg towing this trailer however there is a typo tho, tire size, I don’t have 37” they are 35” (actually 315 ProComp X-Terrains) I go to this lake 3 times a year and it’s been pretty consistent, 65mph @ 3100rpm flat and level driving. And yes I have the hypertech installed for tire size diff. Also I don’t think your suppose to tow in OD on the Chevy/GMC with the type of weight you are hauling.

Anyway thanks for the encouragement to trade-in the Dodge Boss Hog, maybe I will, but I think what I will do first is try what some of the members have suggested, like have it checked out at the dealer and then try towing at a slower speed.

Dieseljunkie

If you are so adament to not have a dodge again, you might as well get rid of it now. Just deal with it till you break it in. After the break in period, if your mileage still sucks, then you will have something to complain about.
Scott

skeeter

Listen to these guys and what they are saying its your first deisel . it has no miles on and you have not learned how to drive it yet. watch the right foot and slow down and the miles will go up

stevenknapp

Find the thread with the Cummins MPG guide. It's for big rigs but a lot of stuff make sense.

FWIW, I can get better mileage in my wife's explorer than she can, yet we both drive about the same speeds. I predict traffic better and use the brakes less. I know this does not apply much to the cruise on the highway, but there is more to driving style than speed.