MPG on New Truck

JimHam · 10-31-2016, 12:24 PM

I took the maiden voyage with my new Ford F250 Super Duty last weekend towing my Cougar 21RBS. With about 1600 miles on the engine and towing through the mountains of SW Virginia and North Carolina I averaged 12MPG. A big improvement compared to my previous truck, 2012 F150 with the 3.5L Ecoboost, which got just 7.5MPG towing the Cougar. The power was impressive with the 6.7L Powerstroke and the tow function and anti-sway made it a very pleasant trip. Left the trailer at the facility in SC because I am going back next weekend for another dog trial there and got 21MPG on the road without the trailer. I love this truck! Oh, and the tailgate just barely clears the electric jack motor on this truck so I can lower the tailgate all the way. The F-150 hit the jack motor right on the light on the front of the motor, would not open all the way and was a PITA when it came to getting my dogs in and out of the back end for pit stops on the road. The camper shell also clears the dog kennels by an inch or more because the cab on this truck is taller than the F150. Another plus.

theallde · 10-31-2016, 01:22 PM

Glad you like your F250, we love ours and it tows like nothing is behind the truck. We get about the same mileage as you do and we have 28,000 miles on our F250.

Replace the 26 gallon diesel tank with a Titan 50 gallon diesel tank and you'll really enjoy the ride.

xrated · 10-31-2016, 03:23 PM

I've got a 2011 F250 (6.7 Diesel) and have been towing a 7' x 16' enclosed trailer with a 2' long Vnose. The trailer is 6' 6" interior height and I've got a 13,500 BTU A/C unit on top. Going down the road with motorcycles, and all the stuff that we need for a weekend at the track, I'm at about 5500 lbs. I get right at 12.3 to 12.4 on most trips running right at 70 MPH on the Interstate.

This past weekend, we purchased an Impact 303 (34 1/2' Toy Hauler) and towed it home from Ringgold, VA to just south of Knoxville, TN....so over the mountains and the new trailer (a little over 9000 lbs and 12+ feet tall) and it only dropped down to 9.4 MPG. I am and have really been impressed with the 6.7 and the power of that truck.

Model A Driver · 10-31-2016, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theallde

Glad you like your F250, we love ours and it tows like nothing is behind the truck. We get about the same mileage as you do and we have 28,000 miles on our F250.

Replace the 26 gallon diesel tank with a Titan 50 gallon diesel tank and you'll really enjoy the ride.

The 26 gallon tank is the main reason I chose away from the F250 but I agree they are good trucks.

**JRTJH** · 10-31-2016, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Model A Driver

The 26 gallon tank is the main reason I chose away from the F250 but I agree they are good trucks.

Not that it matters for you, me and most of the "truck owners" that have recent model trucks (we probably won't be buying another one soon), but for anyone considering a 2017 Ford, they fixed the "small fuel tank issue" in the SuperDuty crew cab short bed trucks. The 2017 models have a 34 gallon tank in the F350/350 short bed and a 48 gallon tank in the 8' bed trucks. "FINALLY" LOL

Desert185 · 10-31-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Not that it matters for you, me and most of the "truck owners" that have recent model trucks (we probably won't be buying another one soon), but for anyone considering a 2017 Ford, they fixed the "small fuel tank issue" in the SuperDuty crew cab short bed trucks. The 2017 models have a 34 gallon tank in the F350/350 short bed and a 48 gallon tank in the 8' bed trucks. "FINALLY" LOL

I have 35 gal, which works well for me, but I have to admit that there are times when 48 gal would be nice.

**JRTJH** · 10-31-2016, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

I have 35 gal, which works well for me, but I have to admit that there are times when 48 gal would be nice.

Me too !!! I'd definitely like to have the bigger fuel tank, but along with it would come truck payments, extra sales tax, bigger registration fees and to top it all, a taller truck (my 2015 BARELY fits under the garage door, any taller and I'd be parking outside). Even if I could, (which my DW strongly "suggests" I can't) I'm not sure if I'd take the plunge.....

But in all honesty, even with the 28 gallon tank, our bladders don't allow us to go much further than a "towing tank" takes us. LOL

CaptnJohn · 11-01-2016, 04:59 AM

Great to see the tank size increase. The small tank is no problem until a long trip towing. A 30 - 40 gallon aux tank is in my future.

jsmith948 · 11-01-2016, 09:33 AM

Good info regarding tank size on the new Super Duty. Thanks for posting, John.
Our 2011 model has the 26 gal tank. We tend to stop more often than a lot of folks (older, travel with a dog, not in any hurry) but, I wonder if the new, 34 gal tank will fit under our truck? Might be cheaper than the Titan.
On our recent, 9250 mile jog to the east coast and back, we carried a 5 gal can of fuel - never needed it but came close a couple of times. Something to look into.

1jeep · 11-01-2016, 11:36 AM

If you had bought a long bed you would have a bigger tank, both my previous 2011 f250 and current were long beds with the bigger tanks. yes, I would love to have the extra 10 gallons the new ones offer in 2017 but as someone else mentioned I can only go so far before stopping for a bathroom break.

Ken / Claudia · 11-01-2016, 02:06 PM

The turbo diesels are just amazing with power and mile per gallon than any gassers I know of regarding towing. My 2001 is way old school compared to you guys with these newer trucks. Last few weeks I carried 14 loads of tile 100 miles each trip one way. Not really knowing what 2 pallets can weight. I asked my brother in law. He said 2700lbs to 4800lbs per load. Really more than I would like but, with some air in the bags the truck was still level. At 60 to 70 mph. I got 14.5 to 15.3 on different trips. Co worker has a 250 with V10. He thinks that is impossible. He said he gets 5 to 6 when pulling his 5fr. I told him I double that when towing. He does not believe it.

1jeep · 11-02-2016, 05:43 AM

ford V10 is/was a great engine, but also a thirsty engine!

mtofell · 11-03-2016, 08:35 PM

The fuel tank think is funny - I went from a 26 gallon on my old Chevy to 32 on my newer Ram and it's really a remarkable difference. Especially when towing. That 26 gallon seemed to be half gone before I left the town I filled up in. 32 is still not huge but a lot better. I can only imagine how nice 48 is.

zuley · 11-04-2016, 03:23 AM

Chuckling to myself as I read about the exteneded towing range you guys are looking for. Me myself, my personal bladder would not tollerate an extended towing range. Have to stop every 3-4 hours for a pee brake and to stretch my busted up hips. 400 km (250 miles) tow range is perfect for an old guy like me. Although we have never been in a situation where fuel stops are beyond that range.

Javi · 11-04-2016, 06:14 AM

When towing my 5'er I range between 9 mpg and 12 mpg depending on wind and terrain so my 37gal tank gives me between 270 and 360 (30 useable gallons) I've thought about adding a transfer tank or a Titan but I doubt it'll ever happen.

Desert185 · 11-04-2016, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zuley

Chuckling to myself as I read about the exteneded towing range you guys are looking for. Me myself, my personal bladder would not tollerate an extended towing range. Have to stop every 3-4 hours for a pee brake and to stretch my busted up hips. 400 km (250 miles) tow range is perfect for an old guy like me. Although we have never been in a situation where fuel stops are beyond that range.

Potty stops are easy. I'm towing my own potty. My worry has been towing into a headwind with fuel stops far and few between out west. I carry an extra 5-6 gals to supplement my 35 gals. Used it once.

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