Hello. I just did a 3000 mile trip from N.C to Florida. I kept track of my fuel mileage the entire trip. I set my avg. MPG from the start, I avg. 17.1 the entire 680 mile trip to fla. I picked up a trailer is Ga. it was a 8x20 that weighed in at 2600 lbs. It worked my truck to death. It was very hard to keep it at 70 MPH and really would hold 60-65 without down shifting every 30 seconds. I got only 7.1 MPH in the hills, and 8.3 in the flats. I have a 3.92 rear, auto and Hemi. I am not really impressed at all. I have 5K on the odometer, run semi synthetic, and 93 octane?? I am moving into my Chevy temporarily till I decide what to do. PLEASE tell me it get better, otherwise it will become a grocery hauler...

 

Not to be rude but 93 oct fuel will net worse fuel millage while towing.

 

No problem...I cannot believe at all, that it can be that much if any??!!

 

mine does get better mileage on the lower octane but if i can avoid it i will never tow a trailer with my dodge (3.92 rear).. i tried that when i went and picked up my jeep a few weeks ago and didn't like the results. i have an 07 GMC Sierra with the 5.3 that tows better than the dodge.

 

Yeah these engines aren't much for towing, but those are some of the lowest mpgs I've seen especially with a light load.

I leave the towing to the cummins, I can tow 20k and get better mileage than I can towing a ton with the hemi.

 

Shoot,

I hope I am not as surprised when I start towing my camping trailer in the spring. It is a light weight 3500 LBS and I got the Ram for towing it based on the articles I saw and the deals being made on the '09s. Here is a link to real world testing where the Ram does real well in comparison.

http://www.insideline.com/dodge/ram-...and-video.html

What RPMs were you turning when driving back? The hemi is really thirsty and if you run high RPMs you will pay for it.

 

Are you guys serious that the RAM with a 5.7 liter V8 and 400 hp and 400 ft of torque can't pull a 2,600 pound trailer???? Obviously you have practical experience with this truck and I do not but I find not being able to pull 2,600 pounds unbelievable and ridiculous. I am about to buy one of these and need to reliably be able to pull 4,000 pounds during the summer months.

Guess I need a Tundra . . .

NC

 

It will pull several times that weight no problem.....just takes alot of fuel to do it as with any gas engine.

 

I bought the Hemi Ram because I had hoped it would tow my 4000lb RV better than the Dakota 4.7. I was averaging 10mpg plus on the Dak at 60-65mph with 4:10 rear end. Haven't tried the Ram yet with the 3.55 rear but from what I read it don't look purdy.

BTW, the Dak weighs in at only 500lbs lighter than the Ram.

 

3.92 at 70mph is your problem. While lower gears mean you can tow more weight, they also mean you are spinning the motor faster.

I get around 10-12MPG towing my 3500lb boat at 70-80mph (3.21 gears)