I know there's a lot of threads about towing. I haven't found the answer I'm looking for though. I just bought a used 2008 Ram 1500 quad with the 5.7 Hemi. It has 104xxx miles on the body and transmission but the engine was replaced at 98xxx miles because the old engine had a piston issue. I know it's not a new engine but it's not the old engine either. Anyway, I pull a two-horse horse trailer with a dressing room on it. It's @3500lbs loaded with horse and supplies. It's a 25yr steel "classic" trailer. Can I not use the overdrive button on the highway? I'm only getting around 8.5mpg at 70mph pulling it with the o/d button on. I was getting the same gas mileage when I was pulling it with my 4.0l 6cyl Mercury Mountaineer. I thought I would be getting a little bit better mileage than that. Thanks!

 

make sure your not putting it in over drive lock out mode as this will inhibit 4th and 5th.

 

That's a lot of aero drag at 70mph and depending on terrain think you might be close to normal.

I can see anywhere from 9 to 16mpg towing a 3300lb, 6x12 box trailer on the highway.

9-10 if I'm running 70+ out in the open. If I slow down closer to 60 with tow mode off to get in top gear and stay in line with the large trucks to get some draft assistance I can get 15-16mpg.

I've found slowing down seems to get me there faster since I'm not stopping as much for fuel. I'm not in a 1500 either. I'm in a Dakota w/ 4.7 and a 4.56 gear so I'm pulling more revs at speed. I would think you can get 12-13 pretty easy slowing down and getting in a truck line.

 

Slow er down to 60 or less and yer MPGs will improve exponentially. Trust me, it works!