There is a thread over on www.workingtruckworld.com regarding truck fuel mileage- yours- not "I've got a friend" , or "I know a guy", but what you drive, what you pull, and what your real fuel mileage is. If enough of us post our info, it might help somebody make a somewhat informed decision about trucks sometime.

Here's the link:  http://workingtruckworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=372&posts=4#M2596

That is why I ask Bill to link this thread to HTW.  Because alot of folks on this HTW forum do not know about the truck forum that is the sister site to this one.

Also the way I wrote the thread, I am asking for "your personal" outcome, not your friends or someone down the road or even what the overhead computer tells you, I want to know real world hand figured results!

Last but not least this will draw some folks that have truck questions to the truck site to look around.

Two identical vehicles, two different drivers = two different fuel mileages. Every rig is different than another. Where it is hauled is usually different, the speeds may differ, the wind may be different, the tires may vary in brand and pressures. One vehicle may be using synthetic lubricants, one may have different modifications. When was the last time the air filter was changed?

Is the trailer 7' or 8' wide? How high is it? What shape is the nose piece? Does it have a LQ with many protrusions creating a large parasitic drag? Does it have an A/C or hay rack? Is the trailer commonly towed with the windows open or closed? What if anything is normally carried in the rack?

There are too many variables to reasonably expect, because I get x number of MPG, you will do the same with a similar truck.

Gard

First of all I wuld like to say this thread was to be used as helpful information, not a "BASH" thread to start a pi** match.

Spooler I will have to disagree with you about the 6.0 fuel mileage the other memeber posted..... I have bought, sold and owned many of these trucks with all types of set ups and YES a person with the right set up can get the fuel mileage that was mentioned in the post with very little to NO modifications!  ei: the last one I had was a 2004 F-350 single wheel crew cab with the 6.0L, 5 speed automatic and 3.55 gears and unloaded the truck would get 18+ all day long with the cruise set on 68 and little in town driving.  However while loaded I would only get 12 or so.  And this is a truck with a 167-k miles and the only mod was the EGR delete kit!

Gard I agree with you 100% about difference in drivers.  My truck is the perfect case, when the better half drives the fuel mileage drops about 1mpg loaded and up to 3 mpg unloaded.  (Miss LEAD foot).

So if we can not post without turning this into a bash thread, lets not even post at all and keep our remarks to ourself!

I had to chuckle when I read what you said about your better half! I could have written that exact same thing!

Not a member overthere so will post here. Right now, a new Chevy 4500-4.33 rearend Dmax, that has 11k on now. Pulling 8x30' 18k LQ 4 horse, we are getting 9.8 on a calm day running 70ish. On a windy day, into the wind, around 8. Also pull a 7x20' stock and than it gets right at 13.5. Have not driven it without the trailer so no idea. We had a '05 4x4 Dmax 3500 pulling same got 11 and by itself, got 17--had 2k pound bale bed on it. '03 2wd DMax got 12 with LQ trailer and 19 by itself.

'05 was chipped with 4" exhaust and that did increase mileage and power by 1.8 or so..no it would never pay for itself and does cause warrenty issues.

Is this one of the 08 up trucks with the new DPF crap on it or is it a pre-emmis. trucks without the crap?

Have a 03 f350 6.o  auto srw 4wd cc 3.73 pulling a 8'x40' 4horse lq with hay rack and gen on roof.  Fully loaded 26.5K. Flat land I would get 7.5  Smokey mts 6.5.  I typically pull at about 70.  I run downhill and crawl uphill.  Unloaded I get 13.75.  Hooked to a small trailer I get 10.

Pulled same trailer with a Kodiak 4500 2wd crewcab with a 4.88 gear auto with banks pda tuner and free flowing exhaust and got 7-8 mpg.  Unloaded this truck got 14.

Also pull same trailer with a 03 F350 7.3 auto drw 4.10 4wd cc and get 8 in the smokey mtns and 9.5 everywhere else.  This truck is slightly modded.  It has a free flowing intake and exhaust. No chips.  Unloaded I get slightly better than 16.

Dang!! I bet your M2 does better than that....

The 6.4L Powerstroke in the 2008-2010 Fords do not get very good mileage.  Some say it's the Particulate Filter with regens that causes the poor mileage, others blame the larger EGR on the 6.4L.   Which ever the reason, they get 2-3 mpg worse than the 6.0L.

Ford is supposed to fix that with the new 6.7L Scorpion engine that is due out next spring. Like GM and Dodge, Ford is going with a urea  injection on the new engine to comply with the new 2010 emissions. Navstar is staying with the Larger EGR to meet the new emission standards. One of the big selling points that everybody is comparing is that the new urea systems will produce better mpg than the EGR systems.  The Urea systems will require a second tank that will periodically need to be filled with a urea solution. GM says their systems will hold around 5 gallons and need to be refilled about the same time the engine oil needs to be changed.  I have not seen anything about how large the Ford or Dodge urea tanks will be.  Nor have I seen anything about what Urea will cost.

One advantage for Dodge and GM is that both have proven diesel engines that they are just adding the Urea injection to. Ford has abondon it's long time engine Partner and built it's own diesel engine from the ground up. It's a fresh look at how to build a diesel engine.  It's feeds the intake through the outside of the block and the exhaust come up through the center. ( Basically the airflow is back wards of conventional engines). This way they place the turbo at the closest point to the hot exhaust gases from both banks of pistons. They claim better power, faster turbo spool up from this configuration. Ford claims it's the most tested engine they have ever delievered. But I think I'll let a few other folks be the beta testers before I buy one.

All three of the big three are withholding horsepower/torque numbers. The 1st company to announce will have the lowest numbers, as the remaining two manfactures will release their numbers at something just higher to make sure they win the boasting rights.

Do you know what gears your F-450 has, 4.30's or 4.88's?  This is the only thing keeping me from buying the F-450, I really do not need the gears, I just want the bigger brakes, tires and wheels....  Too bad they can't put 4.10's in them...

Spooler is correct on that. The 6.7L Cummins already meets emmissions for pickups. Dodge will use the Urea in the chassis cabs.

"Like Ford and GM, Chrysler will use diesel exhaust fluid to scrub NOx from the exhaust but only in its new 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 commercial Chassis Cabs. "

The article with the above quote also forcast Diesel Exhaust Fluid ( urea) will cost around $2.75 a gallon and 8 gallons on the dodge sysetm will last approximately 4000 miles.

The DEF fluid also starts to freeze around 11 degrees. So they have built heater lines to circulate engine coolant through the DEF tank and alongside the line running to the DEF injectors. But just like getting your cab to warm up on a cold day, the engine coolant takes a few minutes to warm up.

Yea!! I'll give it about three years till those heat exchanger lines inside the tank start pitting and or cracking.... Engine coolant and Urea mixing.... Injecting engine coolant rather than Urea, etc. etc....

'99 Dodge 2500 with 3.55 gears and Cummins engine. Pull an '88 model 4 horse steel trailer with "living quarters". Homemade. Trailer is heavy, very heavy. Unloaded I get 18 in town and 23-25 on hwy. Pulling the trailer I get about 12. I am very pleased with my truck. Kinda want a newer model with same engine and 4 doors.

I'm staying with my 7.3 as long as possible. The cost, reliability, maintenance and fuel economy of the new diesels, don't favourably impress me.

Gard