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  • The world’s greatest tow vehicle!

    Embarking on our latest adventure I realized that our gas consumption has slipped below 10 MPG, requiring multiple gas stops and in turn many many complaints and tears from our beautiful children…although I love our Ram it does not have paddle shifters and often revs up the RPMs before downshifting, never taking advantage of the 8 gears it has at its disposal. Our GDP is 5,600 lb empty so I’m curious what are our options to improve MPG on our trips going forward. Thank you all for your help!
    Los Fragosos
    2021 Ram 1500 Laramie
    2021 Grand Design Imagine 2400BH
    2021 Winnebago View 24j

  • #2
    Nothing you are going to do will make a notable affect on your mileage. Fuel mileage stinks when towing.

    Not sure what you mean by the RPMs increasing before downshifting. RPM, speed and gear are tied closely together. At a fixed speed, your RPM are always going to be very close to the same for any gear. Shifting down will just increase RPM. If the RPM has increased, the truck has already shifted down.
    John & Kathy
    2014 Reflection 303RLS
    2014 F250 SC SB 6.2

    Comment


    • #3
      GDPadventures

      At 10 MPG when towing, you are in the normal range for most truck and trailer combinations.

      Most transmissions have a locking torque converter to improve mileage. When load increases beyond what the engine can carry at the selected RPM and transmission gear, the first thing that the transmission will do is unlock the torque converter. This will allow the engine to rev higher and might carry the additional load. If this is still not enough, the transmission will downshift to a lower gear. This might be the "rev before downshifting" that you are experiencing and if so, is completely normal but nothing that you can control. If you can lock out top gear, this would allow the engine to run at a higher RPM, closer to it's peak torque while towing. This should eliminate some of the reving/downshifting and (although not intuitive) running at a higher RPM might actually improve fuel economy.

      Rob
      Cate & Rob
      (with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
      2015 Reflection 303RLS
      2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
      Bayham, Ontario, Canada

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      • #4
        You mention paddle shifters. That says manually shifting through gears. If that’s true, you should let the truck automatically shift for optimal performance.
        2022 3100RD
        2019 F-150 V6 Twin Turbo 10 speed
        Over 55 years TT towing

        Comment


        • #5
          GDPadventures Your empty weight is a bit more than you say https://www.granddesignrv.com/showro...orplans/2400bh
          Have you ever scaled your rig set up for travel? Also you don't mention you trucks engine and rear axle ratio and capacity's. Possibly post a picture of you door sticker listing you truck capacities. My guess is you are right at, or possibly a bit over you trucks capability's. Non the less you towing gas mileage is in the normal range as Rob mentioned.Cate&Rob

          Some things that might help. Check tire pressures (I run max when towing on both truck and trailer). Are you using tow/haul mode on your trans? Have you had you truck checked out by your dealer? Some folks look into tuners too, but that would probably void your TV warranty.

          Last to reduce stops consider an aux tank to increase your range, but not knowing you current truck loading's, that may make thing worse. Last what is your normal towing speed? Reducing it can help.

          Also to keep the kids happy make a game out of the gas stop. My parents had us memorize what we saw and then tell them after the stop. They had rewards. Car games, treats, etc. But we had to earn them. If we were good during the day Dad found an ice cream place late in the afternoon.

          Hope this helps
          Keith
          Last edited by Yoda; 01-11-2022, 04:07 PM.
          2018 Reflection 150 Series 220RK 5th whee, Star White 2022 F350 King Ranch CC Long bed (HAL) (CCC 4062lbs), B&W 25K OEM Companion,. SteadyFast system, Trailer reverse lights, rear receiver spare tire holder, storage tube, sumo springs, Victron MultiPlus 12/120/3000, Solar, Custom 6K axles upgrade, and other modifications.

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          • #6
            I pull a 2970RL with my GMC 2500 HD Duramax Diesel. It tows like a dream. On the highway I get 10 mpg when towing, 20 mpg when I'm not.
            Bob & Lynne

            2020 Imagine 2970RL
            2019 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali HD 4x4 Duramax

            Comment


            • #7
              All very helpful feedback, thank you very much!! I misspoke when I said downshifting, I meant to say the truck continues to rev up RPMs when accelerating and doesn’t shift to a higher gear. I understand if I’m on a significant incline and towing but if I were driving manual in normal conditions, I would generally shift right around 3500 RPM but the auto trans I’ve got now often waits to close to 5000 RPMs. Isn’t that inefficient and in turn burns more gas?

              Perhaps switching to a truck with paddle shifters will allow me to shift at a lower RPM rather than let the engine overwork when it’s not needed?
              Los Fragosos
              2021 Ram 1500 Laramie
              2021 Grand Design Imagine 2400BH
              2021 Winnebago View 24j

              Comment


              • #8
                GDPadventures - while I have a different truck, we have the same trailer, and you are getting pretty much the same fuel economy as myself when towing. Our rig averages about 21-23 L/100km, which is right there at 10MPG. It hurts to say, but one trip I was upto (or down to depending on which unit of measurement you're using ) 28 L/100KM, or 8.4MPG....The wind was not helping on that day.

                ​In our TV, I will use tow mode, which will favour the usage of a lower gear to keep the RPMs up, which as mentioned above, provides better torque. With the EcoBoost I find the 'cruising' RPMs when towing to be around 2.5k, which seems to align with the torque curves I've seen online for that engine.

                TBH though, the 130L tank is included in the Max Towing package for a reason....
                2019 Imagine 2400BH
                2019 F150 XLT Super Crew, EcoBoost, 6.5' box, Max tow package with 3.55 ratio

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by GDPadventures View Post
                  All very helpful feedback, thank you very much!! I misspoke when I said downshifting, I meant to say the truck continues to rev up RPMs when accelerating and doesn’t shift to a higher gear. I understand if I’m on a significant incline and towing but if I were driving manual in normal conditions, I would generally shift right around 3500 RPM but the auto trans I’ve got now often waits to close to 5000 RPMs. Isn’t that inefficient and in turn burns more gas?

                  Perhaps switching to a truck with paddle shifters will allow me to shift at a lower RPM rather than let the engine overwork when it’s not needed?
                  Typically a towing vehicle will have a "tow/haul" mode you switch to when towing. When in this mode the transmission will change behavior. The idea is to keep the vehicle in the optimal power band for towing/hauling. This will usually mean higher rpm's before up shifting, or downshifting quicker for higher rpm's (particularly when going down hills) to help "engine break".

                  An example of how a transmission will behave differently in tow/haul mode: Our tow vehicle has a 10 speed trans. Under normal driving, from a stop it will go 1-3-5-6-7-8-9-10. If you are starting slower, it may go 1-2-4-6-7-8-9-10. When using tow/haul mode it always goes 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 and up shifts at much higher rpm's.

                  bottom line is when a tow vehicle is towing, it will not optimize for fuel economy, it will optimize for power. More power=more fuel.
                  Allen

                  2021 Momentum 21G

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Thank you all again! I have heard that switching to diesel would be more fuel efficient or perhaps going up to 2500?
                    Los Fragosos
                    2021 Ram 1500 Laramie
                    2021 Grand Design Imagine 2400BH
                    2021 Winnebago View 24j

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by GDPadventures View Post
                      Embarking on our latest adventure I realized that our gas consumption has slipped below 10 MPG, requiring multiple gas stops and in turn many many complaints and tears from our beautiful children…although I love our Ram it does not have paddle shifters and often revs up the RPMs before downshifting, never taking advantage of the 8 gears it has at its disposal. Our GDP is 5,600 lb empty so I’m curious what are our options to improve MPG on our trips going forward. Thank you all for your help!
                      I believe you meant to state Upshifting after revving? Paddle shifters only recently have been able to force an upshift depending how they are calibrated where this function is mostly reserved to performance cars. Also if the ECM and TCM is calling for a lower gear, it will be more efficient than lugging so let the truck perform the way is was calibrated to perform.
                      You did not state the speed you tow at as well where the faster your tow, the more fuel will be required to offset wind resistance. I tow at 62 mph on average as an example. Also winter grade fuel and cold conditions will result in the 02 system biasing rich since oxygenated fuel will burn leaner to aid in cold starts. Cold air increases wind resistance and cold fluids increased friction. So cold starts will destroy your average economy as posted on the DIC so reset this once warmed up and on the road to get a better reading on a longer trip. Or better yet, hand calculate the fuel economy but be prepared it may be worse. Final drive is another factor.

                      There is one more that you may want to try. Before your next trip, run the tank as low as possible and then fill up with 89 octane fuel or 2 points higher than recommended. Read your owners manual on the recommended fuel and what is recommended for towing. Most will not try a higher octane fuel where most of the time its not needed but if there is variation in engine build or a lack luster calibration, the math may prove that a higher octane fuel will save you money over regular while towing for the reasons stated. Use tow haul as well but keep in mind, this will hold shift points longer. Not an issue.

                      So after stating all this stuff, 10 mpg is not far off but if you slow down, try the higher octane fuel you may pick up 1-2 mpg. Otherwise fuel economy will return in warmer weather on summer fuel and with warm fluids.

                      Jim
                      Last edited by Guest; 01-11-2022, 07:30 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        GDPadventures The elevated RPM you are seeing as mentioned is to help keep from lugging the engine at lower RPM. It could be that the trans controller and engine controller are working together to ensure that after the upshift the truck has sufficient power to increase speed as HP / Torque increase with RPM to a set point, then they go the other way. Look around on line and see if you can find the torque / hp curve for the engine in your truck, you might be surprised to see how much the HP / torque changes over that RPM range.
                        Joseph
                        Tow
                        Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
                        Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
                        South of Houston Texas

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Sustained 5000 RPM is not normal under warmed up conditions on reasonably level ground.

                          Factors would be overloading, speed, engine size (V6?) and final drive (4.10:1?) or the combination of all these.

                          An HD diesel will cost far more than the fuel you are burning as well so terrain, how much time you tow and other factors are required to see if a savings could be had. The light duty diesel could be a good option for a 2400 though.

                          Jim

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by GDPadventures View Post
                            Thank you all again! I have heard that switching to diesel would be more fuel efficient or perhaps going up to 2500?
                            I have a diesel pulling a small Momentum 21G. typical camping weight is about 8000# loaded. We get between 9 and 10 mpg (7 mpg is there is a headwind).
                            Allen

                            2021 Momentum 21G

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              My 2021 Ram 5.7 gas routinely touches 5k rpm when pulling hard, as in getting on the interstate highway, or pulling up a grade. I don't worry about this, because this engine is designed for such operation. I say "touches" 5k rpm, because it doesn't stay there for very long. I would agree that sustained operation of your motor at or above 5k rpm would probably not be a good idea. Won't hurt the motor, but will probably increase the wear and tear factors. In fact, many people believe that getting the motor "up there" now and again is good for it. Normal operation not pulling a trailer or a load, 5k rpm is hard to get to without breaking the law.

                              As for fuel mileage, we don't worry much about that either. We get around 10 mpg pulling the trailer, and closer to 18 mpg without the trailer. That's the cost of the big vehicle and the work that it does. If we want better efficiency we use our Chevy Volt which hardly ever uses any gasoline whatever, and gets almost 40 mpg when it does. But the Volt won't pull a trailer. Therefore...
                              Ruth and Patrick
                              2022 Transcend 200MK
                              2021 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4

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