Blazing Zippers
North Idaho
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Joined: 12/02/2010
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I would like to know a ball park MPG figure for a newer Ram 2500 diesel, towing a trailer and empty.
I don't want to start a typing war about which rig is the best. It looks like Hemi's are in short supply, but diesels are available for a price.
Thanks
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Joined: 05/06/2013
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‘Bout the same as any comparable light duty diesel of any of the 3 flavors in recent years.
Ballpark, high teens on the highway if your right foot isn’t too into it or you’re not drivin miss daisy.
Round town, mid teens.
Towing? Lol somewhere between 7mpg and empty mileage depending on the trailer and conditions.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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BarryG20
Castle Rock, Colorado
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Joined: 07/14/2015
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I do not have a Ram 2500 but a 3500. I am sure it weighs a bit more but no idea how much more. My 2022 3500 CTD, standard output with 68rfe trans, Crew Cab, Longhorn trim, 8ft bed around town for me is 16-18mpg depending on how much stop and go there is. Driving highway 65-70 it is around 19-20 have seen just over 21. Driving on the interstate at 80mph it is 18-19 mpg. The above is all above 6500 feet elevation and up to 10k elevation.
Adding weight in the bed does not effect mileage much at least at steady state driving ie highway. Throwing an empty trailer into the mix almost regardless of trailer type ie 10' utility with standup wire mesh ramp (1200lb weight), 18' flat bed equipment with stand up ramps (4000lb empty weight) or 12' dump trailer (about 3000lbs) it drops down to about 15-17 on highway, throw on a 9000lb tracked skid steer and its 15 mpg at 65mpg. Throw the fifth wheel on and it drops to 12-13 sometimes below 12 but I have never seen below 11. That dang air resistance seems to come into play immediately but the fifth wheel really takes its toll aerodynamically speaking.
The only one that surprises me is the small utility trailer. Every time I pull it is usually sporting a can am ATV at about 900lbs and get 15-16mpg not much better at all than the other ones empty at twice the weight and only a little bit better then when I am hauling the equipment trailer with the skid steer on it. And that combo weights more than my fifth wheel by 3000lbs (13k vs 10k).
The truck has no issue pulling any of them at all. I never have a stressful drive or think the engine is working that hard. My only stress pulling any of my trailers is other drivers doing stupid stuff. It just chugs along like the weight is no problem for the engine.
2016 Jayco 28.5 RLTS
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Believer45
Cincinnati, Ohio USA
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Joined: 02/18/2001
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2011 Ram 2500 Big Horn crew cab short bed standard output Cummins, 6 speed auto, 3.73 rear end towing 35 foot 2013 Rockwood Windjammer 30008W Vee-nose, weight 8400# loaded. Total combined weight on scale full of fuel all fresh and waste water tanks empty, ready to camp 15,320. Trip from Cincinnati Ohio to Panama City Florida and back running 65-70 we got 9.8 to 11.5 MPG depending on terrain. Running empty around town get 15 - 16.5 driving conservatively.
Dave / Believer45
2011 Ram 2500 Big Horn two wheel drive 6.7 Cummins 68RFE 3.73 rear
2013 Rockwood Windjammer 3008W
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Mmaxed
Montana
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Joined: 02/08/2007
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2020 Ram 3500 single rear wheel, standard output. 16-20 mpg running solo on highway. Depends on terrain, wind, speed, etc. 9-12 mpg pulling 34', 14k toy hauler.
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Learjet
Louisiana
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Joined: 02/21/2006
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Blazing Zippers wrote:I would like to know a ball park MPG figure for a newer Ram 2500 diesel, towing a trailer and empty.
I don't want to start a typing war about which rig is the best. It looks like Hemi's are in short supply, but diesels are available for a price.
Thanks
There are lots of different trailer that will greatly affect your mileage. Need more info if you want a correct answer!
2017 Ram Big Horn, DRW Long Box, 4x4, Cummins, Aisin, 3.73
2022 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Onan 5500, Disc Brakes, 17.5" tires
B&W Ram Companion
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Figure 9-11 mpg towing, and 15-19 mpg empty. Maybe a little higher or lower, just depends on the variables.
Howard and Peggy
"Don't Panic"
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rjstractor
Maple Valley, WA
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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Same as just about any other 9-14K GVWR diesel pickup regardless of brand and year. 20ish empty on the freeway, 15ish empty around town, 10-15ish towing depending on many things. Your mileage may vary, and the best way to improve it is to either fib or slow down.
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Bionic Man
USA
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Joined: 04/03/2009
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2023 3500 Laramie with the HO engine. All miles are towing my trailer which is about 12,000 pounds. This was with cruise set at 75 MPH. Sometimes a bit faster. With some wind.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/vHmM5NYl.jpg)
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010
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Blazing Zippers
North Idaho
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Joined: 12/02/2010
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Thanks to all----- This gives me an idea as to what to expect.
For note, the trailer I tow is a Outdoor 24RKS that grosses out at 9995 lbs.
It looks like I could expect about 10 to 12 MPG towing.
The last diesel I had was a Ford 6.0. It usually only went to and from the dealer for repairs, with an occasional camp trip squeezed in between. I've bypassed deisels since then, but the truck shortage has me peeking at them.
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