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Old 09-20-2021, 06:19 AM   #21
roadglide
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Originally Posted by NJ High Country View Post
We have a 2020 3500 DRW. We have averaged 12mpg traveling from NJ to the finger lakes area of NY which included some towing through elevation changes. Cruise control set to 60mph, exhaust brake on. We haven’t weighed our rig yet. Truck front tires 70psi, rear 80psi. Trailer tires at 110psi.
We have averaged 11 mph on this 6000 mile trip . I leave trip 1 alone that tell me total miles on the truck over the trip . Trip 2 I use for actual towing mpg that gets reset for different destinations. The 2000 miles from mich to NM in a round about way was towing only at 8.4 .
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Old 09-20-2021, 08:17 AM   #22
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I tow a 43’ triple axle Fuzion with SxS loaded to about 18,000 +/- with a 2020 GMC 1-ton Denali Duramax 10-speed. 8-10 mph is my average including plenty of mountainous roads. Everyone I’ve talked to with a similar setup gets about the same mileage. Slow down a little and enjoy the scenery. I bought the truck to handle the load, not for the mileage. My best unladen mileage has been a remarkable 25.5, but averages 18-19. Under a heavy load it will naturally be cut nearly in half. Really don’t care because the truck is perfect in every other way. I have discovered that old RV’ers are much like old fishermen around the campfire… “should have seen the one that got away…”
Wow, 25.5 impressive what rear gear and SRW or DRW? I think I got my 2016 Ram 3500 DRW HO, Aisin and 3.73’s to 19 once on a long highway run.
I know many Ram 2500 owners report getting 20+ mpg unloaded, but they have 3.42’s.
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Old 09-20-2021, 09:33 AM   #23
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When my now antique truck was about a 1 1/2 yrs old I drove from MD to the NC coast and after refueling and doing the math averaged just under 20 mpg. Full disclosure I drove at night (less traffic), set the cruise control to just under 60 mph and was basically unloaded (just me and an overnight bag). The terrain is basically "down hill" from where I live to the flats of VA. My "normal" fuel burn not towing is 12 to 14 depending on variable factors and typically 10 to 12 towing.

I've ready many discussions on new truck milage, comfort and quiet but haven't found it worth the money to change what I have. Our F150 KR is our grocery getter and the F250 is used most for towing and we don’t "cross the country" twice a year like some do. It works for us, YMMV.
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Old 09-20-2021, 01:16 PM   #24
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I have a 2012 D-max. I weigh just shy of 23k, (truck, trailer, toys, water, firewood, ect). I get 10 mpg at 60-65 mph, and 9 mpg 65-70 mph, and worse above that or if windy.
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Old 09-21-2021, 09:40 AM   #25
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Tow/haul mode always. Locking out 10th, locking it out of 9th and 10th, leaving it in drive and just letting the transmission shift as it needs.
Pretty sure Tow/Haul modes just adjusts shift patterns it doesn't lock out overdrive.

From GMC Towing Tips:
"What does the tow haul button do GMC?

In short, the tow haul mode protects your transmission when hauling heavy loads. This tow haul mode will adjust your Silverado's transmission shift patterns, reducing the number of shift cycles. Tow haul mode enables you to take better control of your vehicle while hauling heavy loads up and down steep terrain."
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Old 09-21-2021, 10:40 AM   #26
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As a general rule, it takes a certain amount of energy to move a certain amount of weight (energy = work capacity) a certain distance. It doesn't much matter which of the truck lines you buy, they all have internal combustion engines, transmissions and rear ends that work together to convert the "liquid BTU's" (fuel) to heat and then convert that heat into mechanical energy that's harnessed to move the vehicle and what's strapped to it.

Seems that, within a fairly close range, all three big 3 diesel manufacturers offer truck that are similar in HP, torque, transmission capabilities and very close rear end ratios. What that means to most light truck diesel owners is that it doesn't really matter if you buy a GMC, a Chevrolet, a Ford or a RAM, you're going to get "pretty close to the same MPG capability from the "very close HP/torque/rear end combinations. You might find a slight variation of 1 MPG or so, but towing a similar weight over a similar route at a similar speed in similar conditions, they're all going to be similar in MPG calculations.

Start adding "chips and tunes" and expensive mods, you might improve the mileage a bit, but how many miles would you need to travel to 'break even" and what risk to operating the vehicle "at the extreme" do you have with the mods ?

It doesn't matter much whether there's a bowtie, 3 letters, a blue oval or a goat head on the grill or even if it's 4x2 or 4x4, towing a 12K fifth wheel, you can look to average between 9-11 MPG when towing, around 14-18 solo "in town" and around 18-20 on a long solo trip when driving around 70MPH. While not "exclusively guaranteed mileage" these figures will cover nearly all the "modern diesel trucks" from the last 5 or 10 years.
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Old 11-18-2021, 02:35 PM   #27
Lindyn
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Fuel mileage!

Most everyone gets better fuel mileage than me. I'm towing with a 2022 GMC Denali, 3500HD DRW's, towing a 2021 Montana, 3762BP the weight total is 26,180 +or-. Depending on fuel levels, I have a Transfer tank, tool box combo, which has 75 gal capacity. My fuel mileage is 8 to 10 mpg. Depends on many things that will determine your fuel mileage.

Happy trails.
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Old 11-18-2021, 06:31 PM   #28
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My fuel mileage is nearly cut in half when I tow my travel trailer. I get 7 mpg at 70 mph, 8 mpg at 65, 9 to 10 at 60 mph and 10 to 12 at 55 mph. The tow mode prevents the overdrive from operating so speed reduction is the best remedy for mileage. To get the best mileage slow down, stay out of headwinds, and avoid hills ;-)
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Old 11-18-2021, 06:49 PM   #29
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8-10mpg with a modern choked up diesel. Period….. I’ve towed with them all… Chevy, Ford and Dodge. I haven’t towed anything heavy with a Honda or Toyota so… however I did deliver a 2020 Tundra to one of our foresters and it got 10mpg only towing itself
If you want better you’ll have to spend and delete…
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Old 11-18-2021, 06:55 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lindyn View Post
Most everyone gets better fuel mileage than me. I'm towing with a 2022 GMC Denali, 3500HD DRW's, towing a 2021 Montana, 3762BP the weight total is 26,180 +or-. Depending on fuel levels, I have a Transfer tank, tool box combo, which has 75 gal capacity. My fuel mileage is 8 to 10 mpg. Depends on many things that will determine your fuel mileage.
Lindyn, everybody doesn't get better mileage than you. They simply lie about it. Bragging about fuel mileage is as old as motor vehicles themselves. You are getting what is normal for the big three.
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Old 11-18-2021, 07:03 PM   #31
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Lindyn, everybody doesn't get better mileage than you. They simply lie about it. Bragging about fuel mileage is as old as motor vehicles themselves. You are getting what is normal for the big three.
This is the reason the old (04) 5.9 dodge 6spd is the holy grail. I used to get 13.5-16 with mine. With a 17k Raptor triple axle in tow. That’s legit mileage, no fluf. New 6.7 dodge with less hp/tq gets the new standard 8-10. If you want to make a modern diesel perform like the old days… you have to delete and tune.
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Old 11-18-2021, 09:00 PM   #32
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This is the reason the old (04) 5.9 dodge 6spd is the holy grail. I used to get 13.5-16 with mine. With a 17k Raptor triple axle in tow. That’s legit mileage, no fluf. New 6.7 dodge with less hp/tq gets the new standard 8-10. If you want to make a modern diesel perform like the old days… you have to delete and tune.
Yep!
I've got about a hundred acres of oceanfront property near Phoenix I'll sell you also!
That had to be down hill with a tail wind & the main sail deployed.
I had an '05 GMC Duramax dually with the 5 speed transmission & a '13 Duramax dually with the 6 speed, neither deleted or altered, both got 8.5 to 13 mpg towing a couple different 16.5k lb 5th wheels, with a combined weight of 26k +/- on both rigs, at about 68 mph/1700 rpm (the sweet spot on both), both got 13-17 mpg without towing.
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Old 11-19-2021, 07:36 AM   #33
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The best mileage I ever got with my 93 F250 diesel (7.3L NA engine) was 11MPG towing the Holiday Rambler. Typical was around 9.5-10MPG

The best I ever got with my 99 F250 diesel (7.3L Turbo engine) was 11MPG, but it would downshift much less and was faster to get to speed, especially at high altitude. Typical was around 9.5-10MPG.

The best I've ever got with my 2015 F250 diesel (6.7L Turbo engine) is 11MPG, but it's faster to get to speed and has more "towing power" than either of the 7.3L engines. Typical is 9.5-10MPG, but it uses just as much fuel per mile and has NEVER approached 13.5-16MPG.

If I had a truck like that, I'd find an aftermarket engineering company to "reverse engineer that truck and sell the "secret technology" for millions.....
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Old 12-12-2021, 05:14 AM   #34
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I couldn't imagine towing my 42' 15K 5th wheel with a 3/4 ton truck.
We average 62 mph with out 2021 DRW Denali Duramax and get about 10MPG. We are going on a trip from Northern California to New Orleans next year so I will really figure out the MPG on that trip.
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Old 12-12-2021, 06:46 AM   #35
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We have the 2022 GMC Denali, 3500HD DRW's, when fully loaded 111 gals of fuel, during our 850 +or- trip from Tennessee to Avon Park Florida, our average was 8 to 10 miles mpg. Our total weigh is 26,000 lbs. We had a 2021 SLT 2500HD for about 3 months, the fuel mileage minus the extra 75 gals of fuel we averaged 9 to 11 +or-. The 2500HD had no issues with the towing and stopping. I wanted extra fuel tank, so we finally found the 3500HD. The 2500HD would have been over the pin weight for the 2500HD.

We normally run either 68 mph or 70 mph. The higher the speed the less fuel mileage. When not towing the mileage is 16 to 18 +or-. Again more speed less fuel mileage. This mpg is about the same for every 3500HD we have owned. However, I didn't buy the 3500HD for fuel mileage.

Happy trails.
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Old 12-12-2021, 07:32 AM   #36
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I love these fuel milage conversations, they typically are entertaining and revealing.

Fuel milage is to a greater degree influended by a combination of variables such as: driving style, road surface/conditions, environmental conditions, vehicle load and condition. The actual differences in comparable vehichles typically isn't major. The differences of years ago are reduced by the modern computer controlled engines and transmissions for the maximum efficiancy given the net goal.

For anyone to claim their truck "A" is superior to your truck "B" because of their mpg results are laughable in my thinking. While the EPA fuel ratings may differ you must compare apples to apples in that "theoretical " comparison, ie. same driveline ratios, weights, camparable engine hp/torque etc.The ends of the "bell curve" when reading anecdotal mpg reports should be ignored. You must consider the validity of the information being passed along in these reflections.

When I read the reports of "very high" mpg fuel milage I think of 2 predominant possibilities. First I think the person reporting perhaps is relying on an in-dash meter or has made an error in computing their results. The other possability is the "obviously overly exaggerated " embellished numbers. Some folks just love to tell stories or feel compelled to make beleive they have something superior to everyone else. I find the latter the most entertaining, like listening to fishing stories or "locker room" stories of a romantic "conquest".

Obviously this just my opinion based on observations during my life experiences, yours may differ.
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Old 12-12-2021, 08:45 AM   #37
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Originally Posted by Lindyn View Post
We have the 2022 GMC Denali, 3500HD DRW's, when fully loaded 111 gals of fuel, during our 850 +or- trip from Tennessee to Avon Park Florida, our average was 8 to 10 miles mpg. Our total weigh is 26,000 lbs. We had a 2021 SLT 2500HD for about 3 months, the fuel mileage minus the extra 75 gals of fuel we averaged 9 to 11 +or-. The 2500HD had no issues with the towing and stopping. I wanted extra fuel tank, so we finally found the 3500HD. The 2500HD would have been over the pin weight for the 2500HD.

We normally run either 68 mph or 70 mph. The higher the speed the less fuel mileage. When not towing the mileage is 16 to 18 +or-. Again more speed less fuel mileage. This mpg is about the same for every 3500HD we have owned. However, I didn't buy the 3500HD for fuel mileage.

Happy trails.
. My Denali has two mileage settings A and B . I never reset A while on a trip . This year 5 k mile trip A I got 12 mpg . Trip B is reset at at each layover if I use the truck there a lot of time the truck won’t move because I ride the Harley. Trip B is averaging 8 1/2 mpg . I’m right at 23000 lbs GVW.
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Old 12-12-2021, 01:01 PM   #38
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Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
I love these fuel milage conversations, they typically are entertaining and revealing.

Agreed. You just spent $60K on a new truck and another $40K on a camper so you can go do and see things you never could before and the conversation devolves to fuel mileage?! Makes me wonder what the poor people are talking about these days.....
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Old 12-12-2021, 01:02 PM   #39
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Fuel mileage!

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Originally Posted by roadglide View Post
. My Denali has two mileage settings A and B . I never reset A while on a trip . This year 5 k mile trip A I got 12 mpg . Trip B is reset at at each layover if I use the truck there a lot of time the truck won’t move because I ride the Harley. Trip B is averaging 8 1/2 mpg . I’m right at 23000 lbs GVW.
That is awesome mileage. I don't remember ever getting 12 mpg, when towing a 5th wheel. However, most of the RV's I have owned, were very heavy.

Happy trails.
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Old 12-12-2021, 01:13 PM   #40
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Agreed. You just spent $60K on a new truck and another $40K on a camper so you can go do and see things you never could before and the conversation devolves to fuel mileage?! Makes me wonder what the poor people are talking about these days.....
I bought two Trucks this year, the first was a 2021 GMC SLT 2500HD, the second was a GMC Denali 3500HD, DRW's, I paid MSRP on both Trucks, however I was paid more on trading the 2021 GMC SLT 2500HD than I paid for it.

The communist Chinese build the chips an we American pay for it.

No Truck I bought since 2005 paid the MSRP. I always get the invoice price and the dealer gets the buy backs. However, this is the first year I have bought a Truck from anyone other that Terry Sligh Chevy in Oneonta, Ala. Terry couldn't get Truck either.

I paid no were near MSRP for the 2021 Montana 3762BP.

I do not pay interest, 0% works for me. My John Deere tractors and equipment are all at 0%.

Things are gonna get much worse.

Happy trails.
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