how to calculate amount of fuel for trip

[moore]

Can anyone tell me how many miles per gallon of diesel? Will I get w/ my 3500 Ram Laramie Longhorn pulling 38' Montana 5th wheel on high way? Trying to plan my first trip, and I am worried about running out of gas. Thank you for your help.

[flybouy]

That's a tall ask. My crystal ball is broken currently so I'll ask some questions.

Where are you planning on going? Mountainous terrain? Back roads with lots of curves? Thru city or towns with stop and go traffic?

How do you normally drive? Drag race from stop light to stop light? Open it up on the highway and cruise at 75 - 80 mph?

All these things can and will have a dramatic effect on mileage. I don't know what size your fuel tank is but here's what I do. I have a 38 gallon tank in my truck. To be on the safe side I figure ~10 mpg so that's a 380 mile range. If I average 50 mph that's a 7 1/2 hr drive. For me, that exceeds my comfort level for a day's towing. I plan on about 250 miles/day and refuel unhitched before heading out again.

[notanlines]

Moore, I’ll step out a little further than Marshall and tell you 9 realistically and 11 slow and easy. (Makes Marshall correct). Just plan on refueling in the truck lanes, steer very clear of the auto lanes, move the rig when you’re done, and enjoy the trip.

[Silver_]

I would agree with the 9 realistic at highway speeds and better if you take it slow.

I just pulled 1300 miles round trip to Denver and back from West Texas. Pulling uphill to CO, I averaged 8-9mpg with a stiff cross wind. Coming back downhill, I had to buck a 30-40 mph sustained headwind with gusts to 50-60 for 10 hours. I got 6-7 mpg in that crap.

With a 48 gallon tank, I can realistically expect 400+ miles on a tank in normal conditions. As such, I look to fill up every 300-350 miles or anytime I get to around a quarter tank remaining.

Map out your drive and use Google maps street view to check out the local stations where you want to fill up, looking for those truck/diesel lanes as mentioned.

[K_N_L]

Agree with the others so far. About 15k loaded for me and average between 9-10 mpg running in the mid 60’s. Less in mountainous or a head wind. Gets closer to 11 if on 55 mph roads.

[moore]

going from Johnson's Corner, CO to WYO camp ground in WY. I am concerned about the long died zone between CO and WY. Where there is no place to get gas. This will be my first, "long" trip with my 38' trailer. Not sure what kind of gas miles my truck will get. Thinking about getting extra gas can.

[JRTJH]

The total trip is 75 miles. You'll be going through (or around) Ft Collins, Wellington, Cheyenne and then east on I-80. If you fill up before you leave, unless something is "drastically wrong" with your truck, assuming you have a 30 gallon+ tank, at 30 gallons, if you only get 3 MPG, you'll use 3/4 of a tank (22.5 gallons) you'll still have about 1/4 tank remaining.

Assuming (worst case) of 6 MPG, you'd only use 12.5 gallons, which is just over 1/3 of your 30 gallon tank. If you get 10MPG, you'd use 7.5 gallons, barely 1/4 of your 30 gallon tank....

If you have a 38 gallon tank, it's even less of an impact...

You'll be fine.

[Ken / Claudia]

As I remind my wife, the truck uses fuel called diesel, not gas.
He will not use any gas on the trip. Was this a special math question, I won.

[Silver_]

Yeah, if it's really only 75 miles, you can probably make that trip round with having to fuel up without any sweat. I would top it off before leaving in each direction and not worry a bit. You'll get an idea of how fast it's drinking as you go. It's actually a great distance for a first road trip as you can safely gauge your fuel use rates for future longer trips.

[dutchmensport]

9 miles per gallon, 10 if you are lucky.

[hankaye]

Moore, Howdy;

I take it you will travel up I-25 to I-80. Plenty of truck stops along the way. Fill up before you get on the Interstate then when you get there. do the math. Repete the process when you go anywhere, Keep a running log of your fuel (never gas with a diesel), usage. Then when you go elsewhere you'll have a good idea and if it appears to be way off it will be a warning if something goes wrong engine wise or maybe someone "borrowed" some without asking.

hank

[JRTJH]

Hankaye, HOWDY !!!

It's been ages, welcome back, we've missed you !!!!

[hankpage]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Hankaye, HOWDY !!!

It's been ages, welcome back, we've missed you !!!!

X2 ........... , Hank

[K_N_L]

Keep in mind there are lots of apps that you can use to find the nearest fuel. Loves and Pilot have apps, I like Truckers Path as it shows fuel and other stops like rest areas and will give you the distance away along with prices, etc.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by hankaye

Moore, Howdy;

I take it you will travel up I-25 to I-80. Plenty of truck stops along the way. Fill up before you get on the Interstate then when you get there. do the math. Repete the process when you go anywhere, Keep a running log of your fuel (never gas with a diesel), usage. Then when you go elsewhere you'll have a good idea and if it appears to be way off it will be a warning if something goes wrong engine wise or maybe someone "borrowed" some without asking.

hank

Hi Hank. I echo the welcomes from a fellow New Mexican (more or less).

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by moore

going from Johnson's Corner, CO to WYO camp ground in WY. I am concerned about the long died zone between CO and WY. Where there is no place to get gas. This will be my first, "long" trip with my 38' trailer. Not sure what kind of gas miles my truck will get. Thinking about getting extra gas can.

You need to change your vocabulary before you destroy your DIESEL engine.

Your TV takes DIESEL, if you got to Oregon and say fill with gas to the attendant you will get gas, not good!

I addition if you think gas, you your self may pump the wrong fuel into the tank.

[hankpage]

Originally Posted by moore

going from Johnson's Corner, CO to WYO camp ground in WY. I am concerned about the long died zone between CO and WY. Where there is no place to get gas. This will be my first, "long" trip with my 38' trailer. Not sure what kind of gas miles my truck will get. Thinking about getting extra gas can.

moore, Much will depend on the year of your truck, axle ratio, head winds and hills, but mostly on the weight of your right foot.

My average over ten years of the same 1250 mile trip was 13.88 mpg ( with pencil and paper). My trailer is much lighter and the East coast interstates have few real hills and I experimented with different cruising speeds for mpg and comfort. At 68mph cruise control rarely would downshift on hills and open highway.

That said, with a 35 gal. tank you should not have any problem finding fuel if you plan to get fuel around 250 miles. I have been using FlyingJ truck stops for twenty years. Most have separate RV lanes and dump stations. Loves, TA and Pilot are also close to interstates are easier (IMHO) to get in and out of than mom and pop stations and in most cases fuel does not sit around as long. Having room to park and rest awhile is also a big plus to me.

Plan your trip than check the websites of truckstops above for their locations along the way . You may be surprised at how much diesel is out their.

Relax, travel safely and enjoy your trip, Hank

[GHen]

The app “gas buddy” will show you all fuel locations on your route and most of the prices. I have found fuel where I didn’t expect it just a few miles off my route. It’s also great to decide which side of each state border has the best pricing.

[notanlines]

Sarah, I believe what you have discovered here is that you have no problem. And avoid the diesel fuel cans at all cost. NOT a good idea. You will have no need of them and they can only be smelly problems.

[Roscommon48]

pulling, figure 10mpg. that will be fairly accurate.