Compared to what? The whole "better fuel mileage" thing highly depends on what type of trailer you are hauling, weight of the trailer, terrain conditions, tires, rear axle configuration, yada yada yada.

To say one brand of truck gets better mileage over another is really someone's guess and love for one brand over another.

I don't have a love of one truck, as long as the SOB does the job for me, I am happy.

My current truck is an '04 Chevy Duramax. It hauls my trailer with little effort and the Allison tranny gives this girl a testosterone rush!

Here's some actual experience.  We tow a Exiss alum. 34ft (incl nose) fully loaded.  Originally pulled it with a Dodge Cummins 5 speed 4x4 ext cab from the Midwest to the southwest over flat pull and mountains.  We had such a problems with the slightest grade change on the climb and then questioned if the brakes would hold out.  We added a Banks kit adding more torque and HP,  minimal change for the positive, we experienced rpm issues and constant down shifting.  Decided to can the Dodge!

Since have pulled the same trailer with a Ford Super duty crew cab, 6.0 automatic with absolutely NO SWEAT and mpg in the 13-16 range full load.  We also love the full glass viewing on the doors, it's SOOOO much quieter and I originally against the Automatic am amazed at what a comfortable trip without labor now.   I have nothing to do with Ford or Dodge, just a real life experience.

Best of Luck!

I have 3H Exiss that I pull with a Ford PSD F250. I don't over mountains, occasionally some hills but nothing big ,so I would expect just about any 3/4 truck to handle it. I don't haul a huge trailer so I don't need duallies. The Ford has been dependable and like I said, handles the job. My needs might be different than yours. I'd consider a manual transmission should I be going up and down big hills and mountain areas. I'd consider duals if I had a longer trailer. Thats what you need to figure out- what are you hauling and where you're hauling. Make of truck isn't as important as your hauling needs. Mileage can be a tricky thing since there are variables- compair apples to apples. Is shifting bad for the horses? Probably not unless you're a super lousy manual driver- otherwise I wouldn't be so concerned about that.

We have a 2002 Dodge 3500 6pd and we had a 2004 F-350 auto. The Ford pulled great when it wasnt in the shop getting about 8 mpg pulling elite 3 horse with 8ft. lq. Dodge gets about 14 to 16 and the manual tranny has saved our butt many of times. Ended up trading in the ford for a dodge 2005 dodge in feb. Dodge with manual is your best bet. Just my opinion. Good Luck!!

well that would explain some of your "perceived" better braking ability.

"well that would explain some of your "perceived" better braking ability."

How would pulling UP a hill account for better braking??  BTW, "perceived" is your opinion.  Unless you have pulled my rig with both of the trucks, you really couldn't know could you?

"the brakes have to be able to stop what ever weight the truck is rated to carry (GVWR)."

With this statement,your opinion that the increased braking ability is perceived is proved false.

well if you say so.

i would still disagree. according to your logic because there is enough brake power to stop a larger load, youre expecting to come to a much shorter stop with a smaller load, this is unlikely. traction is a large portion of this equation and of course the whole "objects in motion, tend to stay in motion" aka more weight takes longer to stop operating on the pricipal the brakes are adequate.

this is sort of like upsizing brakes on a car for autocross or racing. the larger brakes will give some increased braking performance, but the stopping distance is not usually much shorter. the payoff is in the lack of brake fade during repetive full power stops occuring while racing, not the single panic stop encountered on the street.

let me ask you this, and i realize youre under the assumtion that with a load the larger truck will stop quicker..........without a load whose truck will probably stop quicker? my little 4400# suv or your 8500#(?) f450?

BTW what does your truck weigh?

and to anyone else following this, this is really splitting hairs. 

i would also agree about the first part of that post. however most of the time no one is asking can they pull a 30' gn with their smaller truck. so we are not talking about the "same tail". we are talking about a "tail" the appropriate size acording to the manuf. hell my loaded trailer is only 6000#, most gn empty, weigh close to that.

also my particular trailer brakes can be adjusted through the brake controller to lock under full braking power. so in a panic stop if the tires are sliding, brake technology is really not relavant, as the avaliable traction has been overcome. i suspect current suspension tech would come into play here.