Truck fuel mileage?

[dusty3030]

Good point. All of the truck type tires I purchase are LTs. I had not even considered a P type tire on a HD truck. Geez.

Buying used or new you have to look at everything close.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

My heavy towing needs are only occasional and most of the time the truck will be inside with the tractor once our new place is built and all of the outside landscaping, etc. is completed, will not be a daily driver....

I'm confused. If the truk is not intended to be a daily driver, and your towing needs a minimal, why do you care much about mileage? I would want quality/reliability, mileage be damned!

 

[sdef]

I'm confused. If the truk is not intended to be a daily driver, and your towing needs a minimal, why do you care much about mileage? I would want quality/reliability, mileage be damned!

Agreed. Also part of my thought process. Of course the truck will be used for others things, not just HD towing. It breaks down to- with my limited funds, if I purchase a new $50k+, gas or diesel 1/2 ton truck, it will also be used for a daily driver type vehicle- which would require better fuel mileage and would be the last new vehicle I purchase. Or if I purchase a used 3/4 ton gas truck, it will be primarily used for non daily driver activities and fuel mileage does not make much difference. The significant dollars saved in purchase price could be used for other things. However, maybe a used 3/4 ton/1 ton diesel could thread both needles, which is the information I am seeking.

It seems that over time, HD P/U truck gasoline mileage has increased noticeably, while HD P/U truck diesel fuel mileage has dropped due to increasing emission standards (ex. Ford 6.4 PSD), not to mention the complexity has increased and in some cases reliability has decreased (ex. Ford 6.0 PSD).

In the end a gas engine HD truck is probably my best bet due to initial cost and maintenance costs.

 

[dusty3030]

On topic but slight drift I would love to buy my father in laws towing and hauling truck but he will never turn it loose. 2001 F250 XL , 4 door, 4wd 7.3L diesel. That is a rock solid truck he only uses to pull his camper and boat with and will never sell it. It stays under cover, no rust, heavy duty winch front bumper and brush guard and only 150,000 miles on it. He's retired and has a little beater Saturn car he puts around town in.
That truck will be the last he will ever buy most likely and he bought it new nearly 15 years ago.

 

[Gafn]

Thanks. I am looking for the emissions cutoff point and you have pointed me in that direction. I would like to stay away from a DEF truck also, I think. And concerning the fuel mileage, it is a discriminator that could drive me to diesel and the higher diesel prices vs. gas engines. Your BIL's mileage is unacceptable to me for my uses and the extra cost of a diesel engine. I would only purchase a diesel if better fuel mileage justified the cost over a gas engined truck, that is considerably less expensive to purchase (and maintain). Fully realizing a diesels capabilities are overkill for my uses. However, I do overkill a lot on my life.

I can only speak about Dodge - as that is what I have.
2007.5 - last year of the 5.9l Cummins - no emissions, later 2007.5 and up has all the emissions on it.

My truck I have owned since new, I have the Superchicps Powerpaq on it.
Daily mixed driving in the hills of northern GA in the Tow setting - gets 23 MPG empty.
Recently went over the mountain to my Brother n laws pulling 9500lbs - got 15 MPG.
This truck is a 2500 crew cab short bed.

You mention a diesel is more expensive to maintain - other than oil changes the parts on a gasser or diesel 3/4 or 1 ton are the same cost. I run Rotella full synthetic and change my oil at 12000 miles, so in the end it is a wash - in my opinion.

Hope this helps....

On edit - I also have a FASS (Fuel Air Separation System) on the truck - this increased the MPG by 2 - 3 MPG the day it was installed.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Agreed. Also part of my thought process. Of course the truck will be used for others things, not just HD towing. It breaks down to- with my limited funds, if I purchase a new $50k+, gas or diesel 1/2 ton truck, it will also be used for a daily driver type vehicle- which would require better fuel mileage and would be the last new vehicle I purchase. Or if I purchase a used 3/4 ton gas truck, it will be primarily used for non daily driver activities and fuel mileage does not make much difference. The significant dollars saved in purchase price could be used for other things. However, maybe a used 3/4 ton/1 ton diesel could thread both needles, which is the information I am seeking.

It seems that over time, HD P/U truck gasoline mileage has increased noticeably, while HD P/U truck diesel fuel mileage has dropped due to increasing emission standards (ex. Ford 6.4 PSD), not to mention the complexity has increased and in some cases reliability has decreased (ex. Ford 6.0 PSD).

In the end a gas engine HD truck is probably my best bet due to initial cost and maintenance costs.

I did this trade for myself last year. 2 vehicle solution: HD truck for HD work and small car for commuting, or 1 vehicle solution: half ton truck. I tried estimating gas usage, taxes, insurance, some maintenance costs, etc assuming that 75% of my miles would be on the car, the rest on the truck. Ignoring purchase price for a moment, it was about a wash, no significant savings one way or the other.

You'll have to do the comparisons for yourself obviously. I would start by deciding if a half ton would even meet your towing needs. 11K lbs is a lot, at the upper limit of half tons, and depending on the details (GCVWR, payload, etc), might be over. Once you have decided on the class of vehicle necessary, then do the cost comparisons.

For reference, I have a 2014 Silverado 1500 crew cab and average ~17-18 mpg during the warmer months and 15-16 mpg during the winter. I have a friend with a 2013 silverado 2500 crew cab 6.0 gasser who swears he gets 13mpg no matter what, and another buddy with a 2006 silverado 2500 crew cab duramax who get 17-18 mpg average.

My personal opinion is that diesel doesn't pay for itself unless you really need its capabilities. Meaning, you are towing heavy loads and putting on a ton of miles.

 

[dodge man]

I own a 2004 Dodge 3/4 ton, 4x4, short bed, 4.10 gears.

From the 2003 model year to the end of December 2006 are all Common Rail Cummins and have a lot less emissions than the later ones. Depending on the exact year, they may or may not have a catalytic convertor, and even if it does, they aren't a problem. I also follow the Cummins forums somewhat and see claims all over the place. I get somewhere between 12 and 17 mpg unloaded with mixed driving. I've never ran a full tank of fuel through mine so I don't know what pure highway mileage is. I would NEVER count on any diesel truck getting over 20 mpg. I know my overhead meter says 23 mpg. Its very wrong and you can't go by them in a Dodge diesel. The earlier 12 valve Dodges are capable of getting 20 mpg but they are hard to find in good condition.

Tow rating, mine is rated at something like 12,000 lbs. A 1 ton would be a little better. With Dodge, the only difference between a one ton and 3/4 ton is the rear springs. It has an added overload spring. Ride difference would be minimal, brakes, axles, everything else is the same.

Ford diesels? The 6.0? Couldn't give me one. I know people will say they have good luck with them but the failure rate is just too high. All I can say is you have been warned.

Chevy? They made some really good D-Maxs. There are some years of the D-Max that are considered the best.

If I were looking I would find a Dodge with a Common Rail Cummins that predates all the emissions stuff. Find one with low mileage and go get it. The prices are insanely high for these Cummins and D-Maxs that are considered the "holy grail" years.

 

[Gafn]

Dodge Man - your right on that overhead.... Mine says I am getting 30mpg.
Your comment about a diesel not getting over 20mpg - well without modifications perhaps you are correct...
However...
My truck is a 2007 with the cat - converter, and hand calculated mpg is 23, repeatable, if I am heavy footed - that gets smashed hard...
I have a FASS, a programmer, and a modified air intake.
The truck weights 7400lbs, and has 3.55 gears, unlike your 4.10, gives better fuel economy.
I have 110,000 miles on the truck, and the above listed mpg is what I get - you may NEVER count on it, but this is what I get.

 

[dodge man]

A FASS probably doesn't increase your MPG but it sure can deliever the fuel and filter it a lot better. 3.55 gears aren't stock, either 3.73 or 4.10's were, I'm sure that helps a lot also. A programmer can also help a lot also if set up correctly. I'd say if you get 23 mpg that's above and beyond what the average person gets. There is a guy with a common rail Cummins that gets some insane fuel mileage, I'm talking something like 40 or 50 mpg but he is using extreme hiper milling techniques.

 

[Gafn]

Wow - Dude... I give up ...

I have been lying about everything... even though I keep logs of ever drop of fuel that goes in my truck, my math skills are pure chit...
I must be freaking blind as well... there is no way I get the mpg's I do - Dodge Man has so stated it...

Just get an admin to delete all my lies(posts)....

To the OP - just PM dodge man on what to buy - as he knows everything, and any other response about anything diesel is just a lie unless he verifies it directly or from one of those diesel forums....

Personally I have installed my exact setup on 4 other family members trucks, and we all get dang near the same mpg - but what ever I must be just telling stories...

Happy truck hunting