3/4 ton mpg empty?

[KiotiKowboy]

My 2015 Silverado 2500HD 6.0 gasser is hovering around 13+ mpg. It has less than 500 miles on the odometer at this point.

Even assuming the diesel gets around 5 mpg better than my gasoline engine, the difference of approximately .20 per gallon less expense for non-ethanol vs diesel - and the additional $8K purchase expense for the diesel engine ... I'm alright with the trade-off on the mpg. Frankly, I hate working with diesel. Even pumping the stuff is downright nasty.

I haven't put this to pencil, to determine where the cost-effectiveness crosses lines. It would surely take years for me to justify having gone with the diesel.

Edit - If I didn't care about my engine, and ran corn fuel, the savings per gallon would be even more significant and drive the time-line further out.

 

[oldballs]

'99 F250, SRW, 4.10 gear, 5.4 V8 gasser, Automatic, 2 WD, Ext cab, 6.5' bed, .....best is 16mph, average is 14. Pulling 4,500 lbs is 12 mpg, but under 60 mph where the rpm is exactly 2,000.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[C4Ranch]

Thanks for all the input!

I'm torn on all the new 1/2 tow capacity claims. My max trailer weight is 10-12k#s. BUT, what concerns me most is the safety factor with all the weight.

I've towed ~9k with my 1/2 ton and it's downright scary how much I'm pushed around even with a weight distributing hitch... Talk about tail wagging the dog...

Compare that to my BILs mega cab CTD where it's solid as a rock pulling.

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . I've towed ~9k with my 1/2 ton and it's downright scary how much I'm pushed around even with a weight distributing hitch... Talk about tail wagging the dog. . .

Yessir. You've tried it, and didn't like it. So why go there again?

A 1/2 ton is not a 3/4 HD. It never will be. You WILL have some trade-offs. A little less fuel mileage and a little stiffer ride.

 

[fordmantpw]

Towing 10-12k, I would definitely go with a 3/4 ton. If you were at 9k, a heavy-duty payload 1/2 ton would work well for you, but 12k is really pushing a 1/2 ton further than I would like to push it.

For reference, I tow a 9500lb (loaded) fifth wheel. I have a 3/4 ton as I felt it was more than a 1/2 ton could comfortably handle

If I am easy on the pedal, I can eek out 18-19 MPG with my F250 diesel on the highway (if conditions are absolutely perfect, no traffic, 60 MPH). Any stop and go and it drops really fast, though.

 

[varmint]

Gee, if 85% of your driving will be empty, highway, why even drive a pickup? A newer little Toyota or Subaru or even a Chevy car will give you well over 30 mpg, so why haul around an empty truck?

 

[fordmantpw]

Gee, if 85% of your driving will be empty, highway, why even drive a pickup? A newer little Toyota or Subaru or even a Chevy car will give you well over 30 mpg, so why haul around an empty truck?

Because he likes driving a truck? Because he doesn't want to maintain 2 vehicles? Just because?

 

[vulcancowboy]

My '03 Chevy diesel with 154K gets 20mpg going back & forth to work (mostly back roads, few stops). Highway it jumps to 23mpg if I keep it around 65mph. Pulling a trailer around 10k it drops to 12mpg.

 

[sld]

3/4 ton as a commuter? Not a good choice. Run the numbers and see if an econo car makes sense. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Gee, if 85% of your driving will be empty, highway, why even drive a pickup? A newer little Toyota or Subaru or even a Chevy car will give you well over 30 mpg, so why haul around an empty truck?

3/4 ton as a commuter? Not a good choice. Run the numbers and see if an econo car makes sense. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.

Because no self-respecting wanna-be farmer would drive a sub-compact car!!!