jensenracing77

I am trying to find this on google but not seeing what I am looking for. What is your real world MPG in a newer diesel truck pulling a loaded enclosed car trailer? Looking for real numbers on a stock truck and tires. I may be renting a truck to drive across country pulling a car trailer and weighing my options.

gear head

There's a lot of variables that come into play with this question, aerodynamics being the biggest factor. I can say that I get about 13 -14 mpg in a Ram Cummins towing a 34ft gooseneck car hauler loaded with car, tools, spare parts, etc...

jensenracing77

Thanks, That is mostly what I was looking for rough ideas. It will be a 3/4 ton diesel but don't know what brand. I have been figuring all the ways possible to get out West and take my family with me. I have a truck but it is an extended cab and not going to work for 4 people going 4100 miles. Shipping the car and driving the 30 MPG van has its own problems.

matt69olds

I have pulled a few enclosed trailers with my Cummins powered Ram. All of them were 30-34 ft. First was a fully loaded snowmobile trailer in sub zero weather (we were on a snowmobile trip). Second was when I moved my father/mother in law to southern part of Kentucky. That was by far the heaviest load, my mother in law was fond of marble!! I have also hauled my Olds a few times.

Each was 11-13mpg, hand calculated. Unfortunately, none of the trips were a direct apples to apples comparison. The snowmobile trip I’m guessing was the lightest load, it was also in the winter when mileage normally drops. The Kentucky move was probably the worst mileage, the trailer was heavy abs in the mountains.

The overhead “lie-o-meter”console routinely shows I get 26-27mpg. The only way a 7400 pound 4x4 Megacab will get 27mpg is if it’s being towed!!! It wasn’t very accurate new, it’s much more inaccurate with the tuner I have in it. It also gets 70-80 miles more per tank than stock, abs obviously runs much stronger. Win win in my opinion.

Hope that helps. Don’t listen to the chest thumping guys who swear their tricks get 18mpg fully loaded, ain’t happening!!!

Ap6954

Eric I pull my 6000 lb open car trailer and car and get about 17-18 in fairly flat roads. My camper that weighs about 8500 and more wind resistance I get about 15 on the same type roads with a bit more hills like TN. Truck is a 2021 f250 4x4 with the diesel. These are mainly highway 70 mph numbers.

gear head

A 3/4 ton will get it done for sure. The later model Rams 4 door cab is very roomy, definitely a comfortable drive with 4 people. Keep in mind when you hit the mountain passes between Utah and Colorado or Wyoming your milage will go in the toilet. If you stay to the south the passes aren't so steep.

jensenracing77

We will be going I-40 an not I-70. Still some hilly country but not as bad I don't think.

Koda

I got 15 in a 3/4 dodge pulling a 442 recently. Enterprise truck rental has NICE trucks, but long distance adds charges and they're pricey already.

jensenracing77

Looks like that is who I am going with. I told them what I was doing and they are cutting some of the excessive fees. If I go with them it looks like it will be roughly $1700 for the 4100 miles. Well, Actually 4300 miles, We are stopping at the Grand Canyon on the way home.

They increased my mile limit to 3000 from 2100 and reduced my over mile fee to .20 per mile instead of .24. Also reduced the trailer fee to $10 a day instead of $20. Just have to finalize it when we have a date and confirm we are renting a truck. There are many things I do not know about this trip yet. I am just planning for several scenarios. I will have more information next week.

Koda

The good news is that gas ram 3/4 gave not one care that there was a u haul auto transport and a 442 back there. 55 mph Terre Haute to Evansville, easy. It took a long time to stop the truck itself, not so much and the trailer, but just the truck.

General trailer rules of always take more time and more room than you think you need apply. Pilot and Love's will be your best friend, guaranteed easy access and food with the gas.

442Dude

I pull a 40' Keystone Montana that weighs 16K lbs all over Colorado to include up and down the passes and get 12 MPG in my newer GMC 1-ton Crew Cab Sierra with the newly designed Duramax. Wouldn't trade it for anything. The truck gets 20 MPG empty. And I pull at 80+ MPH. Fuel economy would likely increase if I went down a bit in pulling speed.

rectifier

What kind of car were you trying to protect ?

jensenracing77

This was for when we took our 62 Olds Jetfire out to jay leno's for one of his You Tube videos. Used my cousin's enclosed trailer and rented a truck. They were supposed to give me a diesel but was out of them when I got there. They give me a bran new 2021 Dodge gasser and got 6 to 8 MPG. When I got back I give them my gas receipts and they took my bill down a lot since they were supposed to give me a diesel. My 2002 chevy 8.1 gets 10 pulling the same trailer. I will never buy a Dodge gasser after that, thats for sure.

66_Jetstar

I've noticed diesel MPG claims are very similar to fishing stories.

My 05 LLY 3/4 ton gets 16-18 mpg empty. Towing its down to 13. It'll generally climb any hill without downshifting though.

Vintage Chief

Your mileage is identical to mine & consistent across the board. All Navistar (IH) diesels: 2003 F250 (6.0L) pulling 6500 lbs, 2001 F350 (7.3L) pulling 6500 lbs, 2001 F450 (7.3L) pulling 10,000 lbs. I may have gotten as low as 9-10 mpg w/ F450 running up/down the Rockies.

66_Jetstar

I have also gotten sub 10 mpg with mine. I was pulling a 24' enclosed trailer. I was helping my brother move. The trailer was loaded to the gills, the truck was loaded heavy as well. I was coming north from the Carolinas and I had the truck by the throat the whole trip.. it was one of those trips where I had zero interest in driving, it seemed like every mile took 10 minutes. That got me 9 mpg.

Vintage Chief

I was dragging a fully loaded 40' (5th wheel) toy hauler w/ my Indian motorcycle in the back storage. If I recall correctly I had a GVCW (F-450 + toy hauler) of 26.5K lbs. I spent a fair amount of time in TOW mode through the Rockies (both up & down).
GVCWR = 37K lbs. I was up there but still had some headroom remaining.