Diesels.. what your fuel milage?

[TURBO 6]

Looking to buy a new diesel truck to pull my car and drive to work. I had an 02 chevy z71 which got 9 mpg towing and 13 not. It also struggled in the hills and up bridges. Also if there was a head wind. Car and trailer weight combined is 5000lb.
I have a 100 mile rountrip commute to work so I'm wondering which diesel get's the best milage. Thanks!

 

[TurboDave]

I've logged the following numbers with my Excursion (8,000#).
Power Stroke Diesel (chipped)
Highway cruising (not towing)... 20mpg
Highway towing (24' enclosed car hauler, loaded)... 11.5mpg
City driving (not towing)... 15.8mpg
City driving (same trailer)... 11.0

Highway towing (18' open car hauler, loaded)... 14.5mpg
City driving (same open car hauler)... 12.9mpg

 

[jpratt]

94 Ram Cummins 4x4 not dually.
20 MPG pulling empty trailer
15 MPG pulling trailer and GN
These number are highway. NO idea what I get in the city.

 

[TURBO 6]

Cool, keep em coming!

 

[seeyabye]

02 Ford F-550 wrecker 13,000 lbs unloaded gets about 13mpg avg. Would do much better in a 250 pickup. This one is the 7.3. A friend has the 6.0, he makes more power, is quieter, and gets better mileage. Personally, I would rather have the Duramax with the Allison auto.

 

[TurboJunky]

2003 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 2500 HD 4x4
6.6L Duramax Diesel

20 MPG Hwy not towing

12 MPG towing 38' fifth wheel with a combined weight (truck & trailer) of 20,000 Lbs. This was from a certified scale our weighmasters use to weigh out commercial trucks.

I haven't weighed them separately but believe the pickup to be around 7,000 and trailer @ 13,000 lbs.

 

[TURBO 6]

How fast are you guys driving to get 20mpg? I've heard of late model Cummins getting 22mpg going 70mph.

Right now the best price I have is on an 05 Dodge 2500 Quad cab with a 6 speed for $27,500.

I'm not set on the Dodge, though.

 

[TurboJunky]

I keep it around 65-70 mph. Diesel fuel mileage goes downhill quickly with high RPM's since they're a low RPM / high torque motor.

 

[TurboDave]

When not towing, 70
When towing, not more than 65
With the 373 rear gears I have, it seems to do best when keeping the rpm at 2,000 or less.

 

[NastyGn]

2003 Dodge 2500 quad cab.

Pulling a 24' enclosed trailer at 70 between 11 and 14 mpg.
this depends on the wind direction. The trailer is a box.

In town back and forth to work 18 mpg
Hwy driving with out the trailer between 70 to 75 mph. 19 to 20 mpg.

 

[gnsrule]

My '99 F450 P/S work truck gets around 280 miles a tank, which is close to 7-8 mpg. Thats toolin around 14k #'s worth of tools, welder, fuel, torches, etc ... I belive its a 36 gal tank. Me scootin around at 75 plus all day long doesnt help either.
My '94 Dodge 4x4 Diesel gets around 360 miles p/ tank towing the car w/ an open trailer @75 or so. I belive thats also a 36 gal tank.If I keep my foot out of it, I think I get 15 or so.
I'll be finding out soon enuff tho, I'm going on a road trip to Detroit tomarrow and picking up a trailer. I'll let you know the results.

 

[Dusty Bradford]

02 Chevy 2500 Allison Crew Cab 4x4 with Juice box

17 around town, back and forth from work

19 interstate 75-80mph
20+ interstate 65-70mph

12.5-13 Towing 8500# trailer at 75mph

Never checked the mileage with my open trailer and car but you don't know it's back there.

 

[v6turbojunkie]

2001 Powerstroke F-250 with +80hp chip and a few other mods

Not towing-
Interstate- 15.5 MPG at 75-80 mph
18 MPG at 65 mph
City- 12-15 MPG

Towing GN on open gooseneck trailer-
Interstate- 15.5 MPG at 65 mph
12-13 MPG at 75 mph
City- who cares

You'll never struggle on hills again if you buy a diesel.

 

[TURBO 6]

Thanks ! Looks like it's not too hard to get 20 mpg with any diesel. The main thing is keep it at 70mph.

 

[vicious6]

About 32 MPG with a Mercedes 300D Turbo!!!!

 

[LV GN]

01 duramax with allison 5 spd. 40 hp chip. about 18 empty and 13 to 15 towing. chevy has the best transmission for hd towing. but any turbo diesel tows great. much better than gas motors. you cant lose.

 

[Raven]

2004 Duramax

I have an '04 Chevy Crew Cab, Short Bed 4x4 with the Duramax (LLY code) and the Allison auto. The truck also has limited slip and 3.73 gears.

My around town driving usually comes in around 16 mpg with highway driving around 19-19.5 (unloaded). I drive 70-75 on the highway.

Towing, it varies but the worst I've ever got is around 16 Hwy towing a big enclosed trailer.

 

[idaho gn]

my old school 98 chev gets around 10 mpg towing an open trailer and if you know how i drive i think thats ok

 

[TURBO 6]

To me I think it's best to get a diesel for the milage. I know guys with Hemi's getting 13 mpg commuting to work. Looks like the gas trucks get worse milage daily driving, not to mention towing.

 

[LV GN]

Originally posted by idaho gn
my old school 98 chev gets around 10 mpg towing an open trailer and if you know how i drive i think thats ok

i'd say!