LatrobeHO

I have an 03 3500SRW 4x4 6speed, 4.10 gears, and recently took a 2 day trip of 2,000 miles, towing a uhaul 5x9 open trailer, which was empty both ways (long story - which I will omit here), trailer weight was about 1,200 pounds.

I kept the cruise on most of the time and averaged around 67-69 mph, and used the A/C.

I haven't calc'd the mileage yet, but the trip computer was telling me around 14.2, which was quite a bit lower than I expected. I reset the mpg computer every 500 miles or so, and it would consistently go to around the same area, 14.0 to 14.5.

The truck now has 10,040 miles.

I have to admit I was expecting much better mileage than this; any ideas if this is normal?

scopedoctor

First time towing?

Fill'er up and check the actual mpg's. Then you will know if the trip computer is correct or off. Mine is off about 2 mpg's, but I only have 1800 miles on my 04.5.

Blair

coobie

Towed my 2200 pound trailer and 450 lbs lawn mower 200 miles with my cummins 5.9 HO auto 3.73 gears.My mileage was 15.3 mpg.driving 60-65,coobie

Casey Balvert

Wind resistance has a LOT to do with it. While I get over 18 solo with my truck, just leaving the wing on the cab (use it for towing our fiver) cost me over 3 miles to the gallon. Even and empty trailer can cause drag. FWIW.

Bigredmachine

I towed a 3 horse slant load trailer (with three saddlebreds - about 1000# each) last weekend, 200 miles @ 70 MPH, got 13.5 MPG. Big Red now has almost 5000 miles, mileage keeps going up, 19.5 MPG combined

SageBrush 1

Mines gotten better with time. I'm up to 15 mpg running "light". A 6K trailer gets me in the high 12's at 70 plus. I started with the mid 10's pulling a flat deck 6 to 8K and 12 mpg empty. If I run 65 mph or under, I'll get the 16's running solo. Around town I'm in the low 14 range now with the bed empty. Its lower than most report, but its pretty good for such a truck IMHO.

Joe N.

My mileage stayed around 15 to 15.5 on the highway for the first 7000 miles and then started getting better. I just completed a trip of 800+ miles and got 17.7 MPG on the first leg and that included a 30 to 45 minute idle through San Antonio during rush hour. The trip home was 18 MPG even. That trip was unloaded. The only load I have pulled was when I pulled my trailer to south Texas. Got 9.9 on that trip pulling approximately 10000 lbs.

fltfndr

so far mine's never gotten over 14.8, that was empty and strictly highway though not broken in yet. Today I got 13.7 pulling about 3500lbs running 65-68mph. Wishing for better.............

SuperGewl

Weight is not always the determining factor. Wind resistance plays more of a factor. You can pull a 2k barn door and get 8mpg or pull a 10k 5VR and get 12mpg as long as the wind resistance is less. Race cars call it drafting and areo dynamics.

That open uhaul trailer caused the airfolw behind the truck to be desturbed enough to create drag and make you get bad fuel mileage.

For each load that you pull and or carry you have to find that speed which allows you to get the best speed to mpg. So keep on truckin untill you have mastered the art of towing