Hey Guys,

My Dad just traded in his second gen 1996 2500 xcab 4x4 5spd CTD for a new 3500 4x4 SRW XCAB 5spd CTD.

His mileage, while towing the same trailer, has gone down from almost 15mpg to 11mpg with the new truck. It's not a High Output either (not avail in Ca). I have heard from others that the mileage on the new trucks isn't as good. I also get around 15mpg with my '97 towing a 9000lb trailer and 21mpg empty.

Is it true?? Tell me what you are getting towing a ~8000lb trailer and empty too.

Thanks,

John

 

You could always spend 3 minutes perusing the different forums here; I think there's only about 5 active thread(s) on this exact issue.

 

Yea, I always go back at least 5-6 pages and if I can't find anything I write a new post.

John

 

[quote author=towin1JT link=board=17;threadid=18536;start=0#msg173877 date=1061218311]
Yea, I always go back at least 5-6 pages and if I can't find anything I write a new post.

John
[/quote]Not one? Here's one

Anyways, I got 19.5 empty on my last trip with the truck on the highway; and figure I get around 13 or so pulling my 9K boat/trailer. I've never run a full tank thru the truck pulling it.

 

Just answer the man's question... :P

 

[quote author=Hoss link=board=17;threadid=18536;start=0#msg173885 date=1061219012]
Just answer the man's question... :P
[/quote]I did. ?

 

;D

 

Well, here's a partial answer. Unloaded, I get about 18.5 with about 20% city driving and +/- 70mph on hwy. A/C always on in S. Louisiana Not complaining, but I had hoped for a little better MPG. I only pull a cattle trailer on weekends, and haven't remembered to fill up before and after to check MPG.

 

Best I ever got 27. Last highway tank 25. Mixed I am getting 14 to 19. I have 20k on it now. I drive like an old fart. (says my wife) Lousy mileage towing, which is not too often. Mileage will get better as you put miles on it.
Mine is a HO 6spd 2wd with no wind catching devices on it. ;D

 

I ran about 7Kmiles with a travel trailer usually running about 70mph and averaged 11.5 mpg. Empty on the highway running about 68 I get about 22mpg, If you keep it down around 1800 rpm's you will get the best mpg. See sig for truck specs. ;D

 

Last time I towed my trailer I got 11.5 mpg at 75 mph. I dropped it to 68 and mileage jumped to almost 14. When not towing I average about 15 sitting in traffic everyday and 18 hwy if I can drive 65. Over 65 and I'm down to 16-17.
BTW my trailer weighs about 4500 lb empty and part of my trip had about 3000 lb of equipment that I was delivering.

These trucks will get better mileage as they break in, usually around 20000 miles (I've heard). I have just over 8000 miles on mine so far and It's been a great truck.

 

Just towed about 6k trailer 550 miles between 75 and 85 mph got about 12 MPG. Around town I get about 17. HO 6spd 4wd. Oh yeah, I've only got a little over 2k on the ticker.

 

I just drove 300 miles today empty and I forced myself to drive slower to see how good the mileage would get. Going to Delaware w/ the cruise set at 70 I was getting just shy of 18. Coming back I drove anywhere from 58-63 MPH, trying to keep the RPMs at or below 2000. Well, I got the best mileage to date with 19.1 average for the whole trip. This tells me that my trip back at mostly 58-63 mpg really got 20+MPG!! It's getting better already and I haven't touched the truck yet.. ;D

 

I am getting 19.5 on interstate at 75 mph empty, and 14 towing trailer at 65 mph. I am averaging 17 mph around town and some interstate driving.

 

I've obtained an average of 21.2 mpg with the truck since I bought it new in May. There are now ~7500 miles on it. Haven't towed anything with it yet. First tank was the only one I've had that was under 20 mpg (19.7). We got nearly 22 mpg taking my son back to his college in Chicago earlier this month (and that was with the truck loaded with his personal belongings). On the last tank I checked (i.e., top of filler tube to top of filler tube), I achieved 23.2 mpg calculated (272 miles on 11.7 gallons). That included my daily 8 mile commute to and from work. Not nearly as good as our Jetta TDI, but not bad for a 7200 pound 4X4 truck, and I'm pleasantly surprised!