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First long road trip towing 2021 RAM 2500 HD 6.7 Laramie

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Dan M.

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Ok all you Cummins tow guru's.

I am heading out for my first real road trip, 3 weeks, towing a 22ft travel trailer (Outdoor RV 22 FQS). Loaded out, guessing maybe 8000#. Crossing 4 mountain passes and some flat lands. Considering the price of fuel lately, just looking for some experienced towing advice and/or tips for achieving the best fuel economy. I am still under warranty and don't really want to add any new after market devices. However, I have heard good things about the K & N and Banks air filters helping improve mileage?

Tow haul mode, I would assume yes for mountain passes but what about flat land towing?

Using selective gear selection?

Exhaust brake?

I just did my first oil change at 4000 miles, switched over to Valvoline Blue full synthetic 5W-40 and Fleetguard filter. So far, I have done 4 local outing towing this travel trailer, all under 200 miles. Various terrain, from freeway to dirt road. I am averaging 12-14mpg towing using tow haul mode and exhaust brake on auto. Averaging 15-17mpg not towing.

No novice to towing, just always using gassers in the past.

Thanks
 
K&N - yes if you want to harm your engine, otherwise leave the air filter stock.
The best fuel saving tip - lift that lead food off the skinny pedal. Speed is what kills the fuel economy.
Leave the exhaust break on auto, it won't hurt nothing but will save your breaks and makes driving through the mountain passes so much easier.
I won't be using TH mode unless it's often hunting for gears. I personally noticed no difference at all using TH vs not using it when towing my trailer but then my trailer was only about 5000#
 
Thanks for the response, appreciate the advice. My last gasser was 7mpg towing with only a 200 mile range between fuel stops. Already loving the Cummins but just paid $5.33/gal for diesel today.
 
I'll echo the existing comments.

Aftermarket filters are snake oil. K&N is the worst and might as well be a screen door. The factory filter flows better than the others while still filtering properly. Good for up to 600HP.

Slow down. Use the EB on Auto for control with "coast". Full on is useful but it engages as soon as you lift your foot.

Agree TH only if it's hunting for gears, but lugging it won't get you any better mileage. The sweet spot is 2000 RPM, maybe 200 either way.

You can still lock out gears when not in TH. TH is going to raise the shift points and keep the EB on linger on downshifts.

You'll eventually get it figured out and get the feel for it.

hdrams.com

Please don't subject your engine to a K&N Air Filter

hdrams.com hdrams.com
 
Thanks! We are just finishing up a camping trip today. Topped off the tank after a week of exploring the surrounding area. I have some hills and inner city towing to get home today and also about 40 miles of freeway. I will play around with the TH on the freeway and check the fuel economy.

Any of you 2500 6.7 tow guys out there willing to share mpg's while towing, I would be interested to know if I am in the ballpark averaging 12-15 towing 9000# travel trailer.
 
While some people are dismal about aftermarket filters I don't share the same negative ideals ....do your homework and pick one that filters as good as the stock filters but flows air with less restriction.....jmo...I always use TH because it adjusts the shift points and really helps with slowing down as does the exhaust brake...1800-2000 rpms for the best economy....I lock out a gear driving my buddies SO truck approaching a hill...lock out 6th Right before you start climbing to raise the rpms and it'll pull right up with no problem...with my HO and 4.10's it's not a problem unless I'm towing over 15k ish then I'll lock out 6th for a mountain pass....just realize efficiency isn't fast so sit back relax and set the cruise in the right lane.....
 
From what I have gathered on here, 12-15 while towing 9k is really good. Most report in the 10 range while towing.
 
Thanks for the honest feed back.

As I mentioned earlier, all my past trucks have been gassers. Just coming up on 4500 miles on the new Cummins so still in the learning curve.

Time to break camp (Fort Casey, Washington) and hit the road.

Thanks everyone.
 
I have found that fuel mileage goes down dang near exponentially above about 65 mph. Not saying what speed you should/shouldn't do, but like people have said about the skinny pedal, and with the drag on your trailer increasing a lot the faster you go, all means less mpg.
 
Just returned home yesterday from a camping trip. Short road trip only 88 miles each way. Topped off tank each way just to get a feel for mileage before our long road trip in May. Various road conditions from freeway to inner city and 2 lane Hwy.
Going 12.1mpg, returning 11.4mpg.
Running in tow haul mode with exhaust brake on auto. More up hill then downhill on return trip. Holding speed at 67 on a 70mph freeway stretch I noticed no change in rpms from tow haul to no tow haul so just left tow haul on. Set cruise at 67 and rpms stayed just a touch over 1500 on the flat stretch of freeway.
May plan a short trip in April over our local mountain pass before our long trip to get a feel for mpg's.

2021 RAM 2500 HD Laramie 6.7, cab high canopy.
4630 odometer miles. Running Valvoline Blue full synthetic 5W-40 and Fleetguard filter.
Towing 22ft Outdoor RV model 22 FQS, 6150 dry weight. Equalizer hitch with sway control.
We dry camped this trip no dump out till closer to home, so 46 gallons fresh water (80 gallon capacity) going and gray and black tanks half full returning (both 40 gallon capacity)

Thanks all.
 
Dan M. said:
Just returned home yesterday from a camping trip. Short road trip only 88 miles each way. Topped off tank each way just to get a feel for mileage before our long road trip in May. Various road conditions from freeway to inner city and 2 lane Hwy.
Going 12.1mpg, returning 11.4mpg.
Running in tow haul mode with exhaust brake on auto. More up hill then downhill on return trip. Holding speed at 67 on a 70mph freeway stretch I noticed no change in rpms from tow haul to no tow haul so just left tow haul on. Set cruise at 67 and rpms stayed just a touch over 1500 on the flat stretch of freeway.
May plan a short trip in April over our local mountain pass before our long trip to get a feel for mpg's.

2021 RAM 2500 HD Laramie 6.7, cab high canopy.
4630 odometer miles. Running Valvoline Blue full synthetic 5W-40 and Fleetguard filter.
Towing 22ft Outdoor RV model 22 FQS, 6150 dry weight. Equalizer hitch with sway control.
We dry camped this trip no dump out till closer to home, so 46 gallons fresh water (80 gallon capacity) going and gray and black tanks half full returning (both 40 gallon capacity)

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

TH doesn't change in-gear RPM's, it just delays upshifts to a higher RPM based partly on load, downshifts sooner to keep RPM''s up for EB use. The EB needs RPM's to build backpressure.
 
I hover around 12mpg towing a 22FBS travel trailer thats about 6500lbs. Speed is the biggest factor for milage. If you're getting 12 or above I wouldn't change anything.
Im constantly fighting the speed. Since this truck pulls so comfortably its easy to look down and see 75mph! I try to hold in the 60-65 range if I won't get run over.
cheers!
 
12-14MPG with my 20 ft racecar trailer at 5000lbs. 65mph
10-13MPG with our last travel trailer 28ft, 8000lbs. 65mph
Make sure the tires are inflated to the max vehicle manufacturer spec, also the trailer tires.
I think 10W30 is better for gas mileage than 5W40, lower viscosity reduces drag.
High elevation travel should improve MPG due to lower air density and therefore lower drag forces. Fd= cd*A*air density*v^2 (I hope I remember that right).
Try to travel with the wind, not against it. Easily said but if you have the choice maybe you can choose a day with lower head winds.
Premium Diesel might be better for MPG but costs more. Make sure that you avoid winter Diesel with Diesel #1 mixed in.
Stay behind a semi and use it for drafting. The adaptive cruise should work well with that.
Look ahead and go off the accelerator early instead of using brakes the last second. Brakes are converting energy into heat, you do want to use the fuels' energy for making miles and not for heat.
Use cruise control, drive steady.

I am a cheapskate when it comes to fuel mileage, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. ( I am not one of the 22M Millionaires in the USA) LOL.
 
Thanks for all the feed back. This being my first diesel tow vehicle I am still in the learning curve, so advice is always welcome. Sounds like I am in the ballpark with my present mpg towing and not towing.
Has anyone noticed any difference in fuel economy as these 6.7's break in, say around the 50k to 150k mileage?
 
Dan M. said:
Thanks for all the feed back. This being my first diesel tow vehicle I am still in the learning curve, so advice is always welcome. Sounds like I am in the ballpark with my present mpg towing and not towing.
Has anyone noticed any difference in fuel economy as these 6.7's break in, say around the 50k to 150k mileage?
Click to expand...

If you're towing heavy, it should get to final finish around 6K or so. If light towing or just hauling could be up to 30K.

I can't say on mileage on the 6.7L, but my 5.9L picked up probably 2-3 MPG on it's way to 20K.
 
With the price of diesel right now I would be happy to grab an extra 2-3 mpg when towing. Still a great truck, no regrets with my RAM purchase.
 
I towed a ORV 24RLS (10,000#) from Port Angeles to south Texas and will be headed back shortly. Average 10~11 mpg running 60~65 mph. I’ve seen as low as 8 with a stiff headwind. With TH on it won’t shift into 6th till right at 65. So I don’t really use TH till I get into mountains or traffic. Just installed a 100 fuel gallon tank so don’t have to stop as often and can pick stations with better prices.
 
Thanks GBB,

You missed all the fun Pacific NW winter weather.:)
Thanks for sharing your trip info. We have a 3 week trip coming up, so trying to get a good feel for realistic fuel economy. I wish now that I would have looked into a larger fuel tank when making my purchase, 31 gallons goes pretty quick at 11 mpg. Hind site, right?
Safe travels coming home.
 
Dan M. said:
Thanks GBB,

You missed all the fun Pacific NW winter weather.:)
Thanks for sharing your trip info. We have a 3 week trip coming up, so trying to get a good feel for realistic fuel economy. I wish now that I would have looked into a larger fuel tank when making my purchase, 31 gallons goes pretty quick at 11 mpg. Hind site, right?
Safe travels coming home.
Click to expand...
Actually we live in Alaska just store TT in Port Angeles at my Son’s place. Another reason for 100 gallon tank can make it all way to Whitehorse running bobtail before needing fuel. Truck has the 50 gallon tank
 
Road trip to Alaska on the bucket list. I have seen it many times from the air and sea (commercial fishing) and the bar stools. Much older and wiser now...except for the 31 gallon fuel tank. Ha!
Again, safe travels home.
 
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