mpg and weights for a 6.7 2011 Ford and DRV 5th wheel

[jcasey]

Just a report:
We have a 2011 6.7 F-350 Supercab Dually that weighs 9,000 lbs. This includes one person, two Honda 2000 generators, the Husky 5th wheel hitch and a tool box at least half-full of "stuff." Our 2011 36' DRV Mobile Suites, lightly loaded with nothing in holding tanks, weighs 16,000 lbs.

The main point is that we are about 5,000 lbs under the maximum weight (truck plus trailer) recommended by Ford.

This compares to being 1,000 to 3,000 lbs over the recommended weight with the 2005 Mobile Suites and 2005 Ford F-350 Supercab 6.0 diesel dually.

In terms of fuel use, it is quite possible to attain over 10 mpg--even 11 mpg. However, I cannot give a more accurate figure for a typical road trip yet, because of the mountains we have encountered in our first trip--from Estes Park to the Grand Canyon and back. (We did attain 10.8 mpg on that trip.) Of course, besides terrain, the weight, the rear-end gear ratio, the wind and mph speed are big factors that influence mpg.

[wingnut60]

jcasey,
Thanks for the info on your weights. But one thing--the truck and trailer are very even numbers, are they actual weights?
Joe
My loaded-to-gills 450 weighs 10400 and same status MS weighs 17400.
But, I don't travel light...

[jcasey]

Yes, according to the scale I used, the weights happen to come out in those surprisingly even numbers. I might double check the weights again, however, for the concern you suggested.

[wingnut60]

Not a concern, just wondering whether or not you were using some published numbers.
I am thinking about an '11 or '12 450 since my '09 is getting up in miles.
Thanks,
Joe

[rv'n]

What rear end gear ratio do you have in the truck? That also make a difference. I have a 4:30 in my current truck and went from 8-9 mpg with my old trailer up to 9.5 to 10.3 on my Suites.

[wingnut60]

What was the previous truck? Or did the mileage jump just changing trailers?
Joe

[jcasey]

My previous truck was a 2005 F350, 6.0, super cab, dually Ford.

The mileage increase with the 6.7 2011, compared to 2005, was caused, in part, by the newer design of the 6.7 Ford engine and transmission, the 2011's increased torque, and by driving a little slower. The rear-end ratio is also different: the 2005 was 4:10 and I think the 2011 is 3:73.

However, the 2011 DRV is slightly heavier than the 2005 DRV, which could influence lower miles per gallon. We also try to keep the "stuff" we take with us under control to keep weight down.

If you want more exact miles per gallon info, I can give you the exact miles per gallon on each of the trips with the previous equipment (2005). However, I haven't done many trips yet with the 2011 equipment so the mpg history is a bit thin. I will pass it on, however, if it might be helpful.

The 6.7's towing capacity is noticeably higher than my former truck, the 2005 6.0. The higher towing capacity of the 2011 is roughly 5,000 more lbs. than the capacity of the 2005.

[rv'n]

What was the previous truck? Or did the mileage jump just changing trailers?
Joe

My mileage jumped just changing trailers. Do not know why as my driving habits still stayed the same, driving around 62 mph, trying to anticipate light changes and just easing on the go pedal instead of stomping on it.

[BobW]

What was the previous truck? Or did the mileage jump just changing trailers?
Joe

There is a ratio between age and mileage. The older you get the higher your mileage gets.

[wingnut60]

Thanks to both--Joe

[The View 5046]

Fuel mileage, I know of no person who don't want better fuel mileage. But as long as the EPA is telling the manufacture how to build the Diesel engines the fuel mileage want increase.

I do believe if your towing heavy 17,000 and up and the mileage is between 9.5 to 12 mpg your doing fair, and when bobtailing your getting 14 to 20 mpg again thats not bad. Those numbers are from this past summer in a 2011 Chevy 3500HD DRW's towing the 38' Mobile Suites in Colorado and New Mexico and the trip from Tennessee and the return total miles 6,850 and over some 9 thousand feet in elevations..

As for hand calculation or using the DIC my 2011 and 2012 Chevy are within a tenth. In the past I never kept up with fuel mileage, but when I went back to the 1 ton GM trucks in 2011 I did check the mileage. I think it could be better but considering I'm towing a square box down the road the mileage isn't to bad. EPA is the cause of the fuel mileage issue.... Happy Trails.....

[rv'n]

There is a ratio between age and mileage. The older you get the higher your mileage gets.[/quote]

That may be in your case but in my case everything is hand calculated. It may be going from 16" tires to 17.5" tires but like I said I do not know.

[Wisc-Mike]

Although we have only put on about 1,000 miles on our new 2011 F350 6.7L 2WD 3.73 rear Dually pulling a 2012 MS 36RSSB3, I thought I would share the mileage we observed.

1st 350 miles trip home from dealer: 11.4 MPG
2nd trip to northern Wisconsin 200 miles each way. 11.0 MPG
3rd and 4th trips only 60 miles each way with mixed highway/city with strong head winds: 9.5 to 10.0 MPG

These are actual calculated mileage figures from fill ups. Dash mileage is about a half MPG optimistic.

We put a 1,000 miles on the truck before it's 1st tow. Just over 2,000 miles total now.

The truck runs great! Lots of power and quiet.

[jcasey]

Since you are from Wisconsin and we bought our new 2011, 6.7 F350 SC DRW in Wisconsin, I offer some information to a Packer/Badger fan.

For the first 1,000 from Osseo, Wisconsin to Estes Park, CO we attained 16.35 mpg with no trailer attached while driving 65 to 75 mph--nearly all on the interstate.

From Estes Park, CO to the Grand Canyon and back, we drove about 2,100 miles and attained 10.875 while the 16,000 lb trailer was attached.