Re: low fuel mileage
 

Hi Guys,

Took a long road trip (Topeka, Indy & Earlville) from Northern California to Indy and back, which totaled 6100 miles.

My tow rig is a 1999 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD with DRW, 5 speed (now 6 speed) 2 wheel drive, 3.55 rear gear and a 28' Pace Shadow trailer with a combined loaded weight of just under 21,000 pounds.

The trailer is a tag with no additional height which helps keep it out of the wind.

The only non-stock items are a 4" exhaust, exhaust brake and a K & N air cleaner element.

Driving at 65 mph most of the time we averaged 13.1 mpg for the entire trip. I think that keeping the trailer low enough that it's out of the wind is a big help to the mpg.

As an added note the change from a 5 speed to a 6 speed, later on was a welcome addition to improve the driveability of this truck while towing.

My truck now has 224,000 miles on it and still gets right at 20 mpg not towing

Just my 2 cents,
Bob

PS:
Now to find the quietest straight through 4" muffler made.

Re: low fuel mileage
 

That's about what you can expect from that truck. I have had numerous diesel dually's and they all get about the same mileage. 9-10 towing a big heavy trailer. Mine weighs about 16K. you might get a bit more if you have a tail wind of tailgate a semi. My buddy has a 5.9 dodge and it gets about 10 - 11 mpg right next to me. I have had Fords and Duramax. They all get the same.

Re: low fuel mileage
 

Did an accurate check of fuel mileage from this past weekend. Drove some hiway at 65 mph and some back roads at 55 mph. The math says 9.7 mpg.