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EcoDiesel 1500 Towing Mileages?

52665 Views 30 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  Keiferbass
Curious about real world towing economies, we all know there is a drop off in economy when towing but what kind of dropoff is the ECO seeing IRL?

The only concrete figure I have seen out there is from Diesel Power Mag when they did thier sibling rivalry between the 15 and 25. Over 260 miles, loaded to 105% of its GCVW it pulled down 19.46 MPG. Fantastic when you consider that guys with the Ecoboost 150 see mileage drop off to single digits under moderate towing.

But now if you mosey on over to fuelly the trucks that have met the 5 fill up cut off average out to 22 MPG. If we're to take Diesel Power at face value it means that the 1500 loaded to past its official capabilities will only see a 2.5 MPG drop off in economy?

As fantastic as that is you cant fault me for being a little doubtful, when something sounds too good to be true it usually is. Now if you have information that can validate that minuscule 2.5 MPG drop off I'm all ears :D
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At what speed?

Will find out at the end of the month when we go on a trip.

I can go 80mph with my 6.7 pulling my 25' trailer (only if needing to pass an idiot who doesnt know about cruise control!!!). A friend has the ecoboost and I leave him way behind while he pulls his 25' trailer. Another friend with a 20ft doesnt like to push their Silverado over 65, he say it takes a tremendous hit on his mileage.

So on my 6.7 its 6mpg hit at 70, and 4mpg hit at 65. I expect more so the 19.5 mpg does not seem far fetched.
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this is probably more important to most than regular driving

that was the whole point in gettin the diesel [email protected]!
At what speed?

Will find out at the end of the month when we go on a trip.

I can go 80mph with my 6.7 pulling my 25' trailer (only if needing to pass an idiot who doesnt know about cruise control!!!). A friend has the ecoboost and I leave him way behind while he pulls his 25' trailer. Another friend with a 20ft doesnt like to push their Silverado over 65, he say it takes a tremendous hit on his mileage.

So on my 6.7 its 6mpg hit at 70, and 4mpg hit at 65. I expect more so the 19.5 mpg does not seem far fetched.
65 mph

So we hitched up a trailer to see just how well the new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel tows, and if the Ram 2500’s new five-link rear suspension negatively affected its already impressive abilities. We chose a trailer that weighed in at 7,020 pounds, slightly more than the 6,700-pound capacity of our Ram 1500, but a realistic example of what the average customer might tow. For the Ram 2500, we kept the same trailer load for the sake of comparison. The route chosen took us along urban highways and over, and down, a 5,000-foot pass. Again, both trucks were driven at 5 mph over the posted trailer speed limit (60 mph), and both had Tow Haul mode activated.
I like that grades varied as well, I really was doubtful about the ECO at first, but everything just keeps proving me wrong :D
I'm hoping that evidence proves this 19.5mpg figure to be correct. I don't think that anyone could be disappointed with the Ram 1500 pulling in that number while its towing. I know I'm not.
Im not too concerned about this, if you gotta tow you gotta tow, plus we already have one of the more fuel efficient engines here, still a win. But this is an area I can see a hybrid system help out in since electric power is instant and it's powerful, low end electric power would be sweet.
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Im not too concerned about this, if you gotta tow you gotta tow, plus we already have one of the more fuel efficient engines here, still a win. But this is an area I can see a hybrid system help out in since electric power is instant and it's powerful, low end electric power would be sweet.
maybe one day, but complexity is vulnerable. Agreed, if you gotta you gotta, but how do you think those f150 guys feel who bought the premium "efficient" engine and pull down singles towing ;)
well id hope you bought the truck to do some towing

so personally id want to know what mileage is like
I think that the Ecodiesel will have great towing mileage even with a lot of extra weight in it, but that isn't necessarily the case with every truck. I think its important to know that the Ecodiesel engine is still efficient when its pulling lots of weight, otherwise what's the point of getting the Ecodiesel in the first place?
Great trip here with over 4000 miles towing with the new ED. Sorry if this has been posed before but did not see it in this thread.

EcoDiesel, A Maiden Voyage - DODGE RAM FORUM - Dodge Truck Forums
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Great trip here with over 4000 miles towing with the new ED. Sorry if this has been posed before but did not see it in this thread.

EcoDiesel, A Maiden Voyage - DODGE RAM FORUM - Dodge Truck Forums
Beauty, some great info in that thread...

Stats for the drive from Republic to Edmonton.
656.9 miles
14.2 ampg
50 amph
Elapse time of 12 hours 59 minutes.
Most of the trip he was hauling a 5,400 lb trailer but towards the end of his journey he actually got up over his GCWR, 13,756 of 13,500 lbs. Really, actually great info in that thread!
yea, exactly. 14 is still fantastic but a ways off from what Diesel Mag pulled down. I suppose the difference is feet! But he averaged 50 mph while the DP guys averaged 65 mph? what gives???
towing different weighs? what was the diesel mag report towing?
DP hauled 105% of the ECO's combined weight rating for the entire journey. This guys has had various weights as hes been picking up and dropping stuff off the entire way. For his last leg he got over combined weight rating as well however...

The average of 50 however could of been heavily influenced by steep grading which would obviously lower speeds as well as mileage...
He also had some big headwinds in the western US. 50mph plus.
The 50 average is because it's his total for all miles driven. That includes driving in many towns, seeing his buddies, etc. etc. The average can be very low in just a short distance. Drive down the highway at 65 or your local speed limits and reset your averages then drive through a couple small towns and a couple stop signs. The average will plummet.
If you've ever driven to Alaska it's a Mo-Fo...all up and down...high elevation...steep grades...I've done it twice. The last time was in a 86 Diesel Suburban...6.2L. That trip made it scream like a bitch. Seriously. That's pretty good for the mountain roads...it's not like he was cruising across ND with a tailwind.
If you've ever driven to Alaska it's a Mo-Fo...all up and down...high elevation...steep grades...I've done it twice. The last time was in a 86 Diesel Suburban...6.2L. That trip made it scream like a bitch. Seriously. That's pretty good for the mountain roads...it's not like he was cruising across ND with a tailwind.
But nothing can compare to a North Dakota head wind. LOL you cannot even take a Norwegian shower around here the wind will dry you off before you even got wet. LOL
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