3/4 ton truck gas mileage?

[TheCougar]

I’ve been kicking around getting a camper for the family, but it would probably necessitate an upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck. I was under the impression that the newer diesel 3/4 trucks got good gas mileage just driving around on the highways (20-25mpg) - yes fuel efficiency matters to me, since that’s what it will be used for 95% of the time. I drive a 2014 Ram and I’m willing to bet 95% of the miles weren’t in the backcountry or towing something. Hell, I just drove 3500 miles round trip on my Montana and Wyoming Safari, and just about all of them were highway! Anyway, I’ve been doing a little research and I’m surprised to find that the internet contradicts the anecdotal evidence of my acquaintances who claim to get 25+mpg from their newer 3/4 ton diesel when they are cruising on the highway. What are you guys seeing from your newer trucks?

 

[deerhunter628]

My 2018 Ford Superduty diesel gets an average of about 18 mpg. I have heard they get better as they get higher miles.

 

[elkchsr]

My 2016 Ram 2500 gets right at 18 on the highway and I can get 20 if I drive about 65. My work truck is a 3500 duramax and it regularly does 22-24 going down the highway.

 

[Blockcaver]

2015 Ford F-350 super duty with 6.7l gets about 20 mpg ( US) on the highway empty and 13 mpg with a heavy 2500# Northernlite cab-over camper.

 

[Michael54]

Be careful with camper size pulling behind a truck. If they are above a certain weight limit you will be required to have at minimum a class A non cdl license. I had to drive to Ohio and bring my buddies truck and camper back to pa and it ruined his hunting trip.

 

[BeaverHunter]

My 2018 ram 2500 diesel crew cab long bed has a lifetime average(17000 miles) of 18.5 MPG. That includes all the time I’ve towed with it also. Does better than all of my buddies half tons and has a LOT more power.

 

[menhaden_man]

My 2016 Ram 2500 gets right at 18 on the highway and I can get 20 if I drive about 65. My work truck is a 3500 duramax and it regularly does 22-24 going down the highway.

I've got the new GMC 2500 Duramax and also get 22-24 on the highway pretty easily.

 

[Michael54]

Downside with diesels is they are a bear to start in the cold without a block heater.

Upside is they last forever, get great mileage, and pull like tanks

 

[tdhanses]

You’ll realistically get 2mpg better towing and daily driving with a diesel over a gas 3/4 ton. That’s my experience from owning a newer diesel and gas 3/4 ton. But you’ll also pay a $10k premium.

Personally unless you are pulling over 10k and constantly going over mountain passes I would get a gas 3/4 ton. Gas is cheaper, doesn’t require def and way cheaper to work on. Oil and filters are cheaper on a gas but not much overall.

Cost wise for fuel on the same 800 mile trip pulling the same loaded trailer between my gas and diesel, was a wash, pretty much equal.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

.My 2007 Ram 2500 Quad Cab Long Bed 5.9 Cummins 2WD (3.73 Gearing) gets 18 city and 23 highway not towing. Towing at max legal capacity (19,000 lbs truck and trailer weight) with no heavy cross or head wind it gets 14 highway.

.My 2016 Ram 3500 Quad Cab Long Bed Dually 6.7 Cummins 4WD (3.73 Gearing) gets 15 city and 18 highway not towing. Towing at max legal capacity (26,000 lbs truck and trailer weight) with no heavy cross or head wind it gets 12 highway.

 

[tdhanses]

Downside with diesels is they are a bear to start in the cold without a block heater.

Upside is they last forever, get great mileage, and pull like tanks

They used to last forever, the new emissions have really created cause for concern on long term reliability from all the manufacturers.

 

[Michael54]

They used to last forever, the new emissions have really created cause for concern on long term reliability from all the manufacturers.

Yea the DEF regen system is an absolute nightmare. Supposedly chevy is coming out with a new non DEF truck here soon. I'm hoping it translates to CDL vehicles soon. Almost All of my maintenance issues at work revolve around the def systems on out tri axles

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

They used to last forever, the new emissions have really created cause for concern on long term reliability from all the manufacturers.

Yep. Bought a brand new 2015 Chevy 3500 Duramax. Paid $58,000 cash for it fully loaded. Hauled it right at 26,000 lbs for 50,000 miles and the turbo went out. New turbo in for free from Chevy, started to go out again at 80,000 miles. Sold it and bout a 2016 Ram Cummins and haven't looked back. The cummins just goes, doesn't need anything, and is a torque monster.

 

[tdhanses]

.My 2007 Ram 2500 Quad Cab Long Bed 5.9 Cummins 2WD (3.73 Gearing) gets 18 city and 23 highway not towing. Towing at max legal capacity (19,000 lbs truck and trailer weight) with no heavy cross or head wind it gets 14 highway.

.My 2016 Ram 3500 Quad Cab Long Bed Dually 6.7 Cummins 4WD (3.73 Gearing) gets 15 city and 18 highway not towing. Towing at max legal capacity (26,000 lbs truck and trailer weight) with no heavy cross or head wind it gets 12 highway.

Add any wind and substantial grades and you’ll see those figures drop fast.

 

[tdhanses]

Yea the DEF regen system is an absolute nightmare. Supposedly chevy is coming out with a new non DEF truck here soon. I'm hoping it translates to CDL vehicles soon. Almost All of my maintenance issues at work revolve around the def systems on out tri axles

Interesting, wonder how they will get by the Def requirement.

Also the EPA is coming down hard on tuners, they were given the opportunity to wrap up deletes etc back in Sep and in 2020 you won’t be able to get a delete unless you go with a foreign company. You can’t even delete for race purposes now, and no support on the files anymore. PPEI stopped selling delete tuning Sep 16th.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Add any wind and substantial grades and you’ll see those figures drop fast.

Yep. I hand calculate all my mileage and travel about 75,000-100,000 miles across the western US every year. A strong cross wind or head wind is what really kills the mileage, not so much the steep grades with the diesels. It will go down to the 6-8 MPG range with a good wind.

 

[Whaledriver]

I had a Ram 2500 6.4l hemi and traded for the same truck with the 6.7l Cummins. DPF took a dump at just over 50k. Dealer worked with me and I paid 150 bucks instead of 3k. I see 18 mpg on highway, 15 city and 12 towing a 7k travel trailer in the mountains. My 6.4l would do 15 highway, 12 city and 9 towing. It did not do real well in the mountains (5k revs) especially on the passes. Main reason I have the diesel. To be honest not 100% sold on the 6.7l. Yes it does have torque but the emission stuff makes me nervous. Kinda wish I would have kept the 6.4l and just dealt with it dogging on the hills.

 

[davsco]

My 2018 Ford Superduty diesel gets an average of about 18 mpg.

that's where i am on my '12 f250 sd diesel mix of town and highway. towed a sxs out to colo and back recently and mileage dropped to around 12mpg, wasn't real happy with that, esp with a aluminum trailer and just a sxs.

 

[Trr15]

2015 Ram 2500 6.7l Cummins. Just drove to CO/WY and back (from TX) and averaged 18 mpg. It’s my daily driver and I get about 16 mpg in the city.


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[tdhanses]

I had a Ram 2500 6.4l hemi and traded for the same truck with the 6.7l Cummins. DPF took a dump at just over 50k. Dealer worked with me and I paid 150 bucks instead of 3k. I see 18 mpg on highway, 15 city and 12 towing a 7k travel trailer in the mountains. My 6.4l would do 15 highway, 12 city and 9 towing. It did not do real well in the mountains (5k revs) especially on the passes. Main reason I have the diesel. To be honest not 100% sold on the 6.7l. Yes it does have torque but the emission stuff makes me nervous. Kinda wish I would have kept the 6.4l and just dealt with it dogging on the hills.

That gas engine was meant to push hard at 5k rpm or just below redline when needed. Truthfully that was why I went back to diesel was the lower rpm power but it wasn’t worth it and I’m very happy I’m back with a gas, really like my 6.2L in my F-250. Yes it isn’t as great over mountain passes but it gets the job done, really in overall towing that is the only place I’ve wished I had a diesel but I don’t tow up mountains all the time so for the few times I do, it was worth it going back to gas. Just wish they put a 50gal tank in all 3/4 tons.