Ram Eco Diesel towing 3500# 1300 miles

[Diamondpilot]

As many of you know I am a corporate pilot. Yesterday I flew out to Bozeman Montana to pick up 3 of our upper level management guys. They had driven a 2015 Crew Cab Ram Eco Diesel from Indianapolis to Bozeman pulling a 12' single axle 3500# trailer lightly loaded with company uniforms primarily.

Long story short on the flight home I asked them how they liked the Eco Diesel. They all loved the interior and ride. What they didn't like was the power. They averaged 12 mpg. Our trucks are all monitored by GPS through our safety depth so I am sure they obayed the speed limit. They also said in the Rockies it plain stunk. They stated it got passed by everything and all 3 felt they would have been better off power wise and at least as good economy wise in one if our late model 5.3L Silverado's or 5.0L F150's.

I kind of suspected the power portion but not that poor of economy.

Chris

 

[tractorshopper]

Yes, that's lower than I would have thought MPG wise. My friends and I hunt in Colorado. I have driven and pulled trailers there a number of times from Upstate South Caroline to past Gunnison, CO. My 2006 F-150 5.4 Triton pulled a tandem axle box trailer there with 4 wheelers, Rokons, and gear when it was brand new. Trailer weight about 7,500# total. I got 6 MPG out and 8 MPG back. That's the only time this truck was used ;-) In fact, I almost traded it while in Gunnison for Silverado 2500 diesel I was so mad. I only had 3,000 miles on the truck. It really struggled going up the continental divide. For camparison, my buddy's 2005 6.0 F-350 with same load a year earlier got about 11 MPG out and 13 back.

Last year, my buddy had a tuner put in the same truck. We didn't even use the highest setting possible due to worrying about getting too hot. The trip average was 16.5 this time.

 

[Trillium Farm]

I believe the anti pollution devices on the F150 is what did it. The F350 doesn't have as much crap on the engine and is able to breath better

 

[glinke]

We have that same engine in a 2015 Grand Cherokee. Not towing we can get almost 30 mpg in all around driving. We recently towed a 1951 Willys M38 on a U-Haul car trailer and got around 24 on flat Texas land. The carrier probably weighed more than the Willys.

 

[Diamondpilot]

We have that same engine in a 2015 Grand Cherokee. Not towing we can get almost 30 mpg in all around driving. We recently towed a 1951 Willys M38 on a U-Haul car trailer and got around 24 on flat Texas land. The carrier probably weighed more than the Willys.

That's really good. I'm guessing the box trailer and hills as a combination killed the Ram along with the 1000# of additional weight and bigger wind footprint.

Chris

 

[wawajake]

So what is a 12' single axle 3500# trailer "lightly loaded"? Is that 3500 pound rated trailer with 1000 lbs or 2000 or 3500? ....plus the three big guys plus all their luggage ...........seems like an anecdote that leaves out details to help diss Ram . (a mission in life it seems) These trucks have their purpose and are solving the needs of many pickup truck drivers that do not need a heavy hauler . (a substantial demographic piece of the pie).

 

[aczlan]

So what is a 12' single axle 3500# trailer "lightly loaded"? Is that 3500 pound rated trailer with 1000 lbs or 2000 or 3500? ....plus the three big guys plus all their luggage ...........seems like an anecdote that leaves out details to help diss Ram . (a mission in life it seems) These trucks have their purpose and are solving the needs of many pickup truck drivers that do not need a heavy hauler . (a substantial demographic piece of the pie).

For a truck that is rated to tow over 9000#, ANY load that is within the limits of a 3500# trailer plus 3 guys and their luggage should not be a big deal.
Figure 3500# for a fully loaded trailer, then 900# for the guys and 700# for their luggage.
That is 2100# on the wheels of the truck (900# of people, 700# of luggage and 500# of tongue weight) and 3000# on the trailer behind it.
Oh wait, that is over the 1900# payload rating of the truck... Whoops. Better get a real truck next time.

Aaron Z

 

[Trillium Farm]

Also the altitude didn't help unless you have a turbo

 

[aczlan]

Also the altitude didn't help unless you have a turbo

The EcoDiesel does have a turbo (or is it twin turbos?), so it cant use altitude as an excuse.

Aaron Z

 

[tcartwri]

For a truck that is rated to tow over 9000#, ANY load that is within the limits of a 3500# trailer plus 3 guys and their luggage should not be a big deal.
Figure 3500# for a fully loaded trailer, then 900# for the guys and 700# for their luggage.
That is 2100# on the wheels of the truck (900# of people, 700# of luggage and 500# of tongue weight) and 3000# on the trailer behind it.
Oh wait, that is over the 1900# payload rating of the truck... Whoops. Better get a real truck next time.

Aaron Z

You forgot 200# for the fuel super trucker....