Truck gas mileage question

[big musk411]

I am in the market for a new truck. I am looking at getting a 04-06 Ford or Chev full size. What kind of mileage do you guys get with the various engines? I get about 16-17 in my 2000 Ford Explorer and think I can deal with 13-14mpg but not much less than that. I tow a relativly small boat, but will hopefully be upgrading the the next 2-3 years to a medium sized one[17-18footer]. I drive mostly highway.

Thanks in advance!

[caseymcq]

I have a 2004 GMC Sierra SLT with the 5.3 and 3.73 gears. I can consistantly get over 18 mpg in the spring, summer and fall. I tow a Alumacraft Navigator 175 with a 75 hp Yamaha and depending on the terrain I will get anywhere from 13 to 16 mpg.

[LwnmwnMan2]

I run (2) 2006 Dodge 2500 with the diesel.

Not pulling anything, we can run 20 mpg down the freeway, 70ish.

I pull a 24' Featherlite, about 9,000 lbs of mowing equipment in the summer, and get 12.5, consistantly, starting stopping everything.

I also have a 16' dump trailer I use for firewood, 14k lbs, and get about 11 pulling that.

I'm sure you're not looking for anything that big, but I WILL tell you that I just traded in a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500, with the diesel at Forest Lake Dodge, they gave me $27k for it.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the truck, let's just say the sales manager owed me a favor or (2) for some work that I did at his house.

Just saying, in case you're interested in a Dodge. There's about 26k on the truck.

[delmuts]

i run a 02 F150,4x4. with the 5.4. hi way milage is right at 17.4. haven't checked it while pulling my ranger.

[not_nuf_time]

Chev hd 4dr 6.0 liter engine 11-14 mpg

[Valv]

LwnmwnMan2 do you have auto or manual transmission on your Dodges ?

[hanson]

I've got to echo what 'caseymcq' said. My 99 GMC Sierra 5.3L is in the same ballpark has his 04 as far as mileage is concerned.

[ib_jigged]

I have a '02 F150 Supercrew w/5.4 3.73 gears and get right around 18 on the highway and not that much worse pulling my 16' Lund Pro-angler.

[Eckie]

I have an 04 F150 supercrew with the 5.4...16-18 on the highway (depending how much lead is in my shoe at the time)...it drops to 13-14 when pulling my 19ft glass Larson. It's a great truck, and I was never a Ford man...I am now.

[GotOne]

I have a 2002, Ram 1500, 5.9, 3.92 axle ratio. If I don't turn it off at the gas station, it will not fill up-it is a gas guzzling son of a bxxxx. 10 to 13.7 mpg all around with or without pulling an 18' alumacraft. Really like the truck, hate the mileage. I have 20" tires on it-will stepping dowm to 17" make a difference in gas mileage?

[Eckie]

I had a Durango prior to the F150...I feel your pain Wallabee...it was horrible...I'd be lucky to get 13 mpg with a 50 mph tailwind.

Dodge and good gas mileage should never be used in the same sentence.

[Flatlander]

Merriam Webster Dictionary-

1 a : to evade by a sudden or repeated shift of position <dodge tacklers> b : to avoid an encounter with <celebrities dodging the media>

2 : to evade (as a duty) usually indirectly or by trickery <dodged the draft by leaving the country> <dodged questions>

- dodge a bullet also dodge the bullet : to narrowly avoid an unwelcome, harmful, or disastrous outcome or occurrence

Dodge-Enough said.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Valv -

I always run the autos.

I've never had a problem with them, and the one I drive either has the mowing trailer hooked behind, or an 8.2' Boss V plow on the front.

I've had a '94, '95, '96, '01, '02, '03, '05, and now the 2 '06's.

I run one for 2 years, put 50k miles on it with work, then let my dad run it for another 2 years, where he puts another 20k on it.

I can then trade them in after 4 years and they've only got 70-80k miles and still get $20-24k for them, depending on how much the dealer wants to deal.

I've had Fords and GMC's mixed in over the years, but have had numerous problems, including a Powerstroke that would not start if the humidity was above 50% and the temp was below 32, which is not good for snowplowing, and a GMC that was in the shop 6 times before 60k miles.

Anyways, it's like boats, cars, ATVs, everyone has their experiences with whatever brand, and you need to stick with what you like / are used to / works for you.

[GotOne]

Will my mileage improve if I put 17"s on my truck and get rid of my 20" wheels?

[Blaze]

Quote:

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Dodge and good gas mileage should never be used in the same sentence.

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After reading Flatlander's definitions, I guess it all makes sense.

Dodge good gas mileage. That's exactly what you do when you buy a non-diesel Ram truck!

[Valv]

LwnmwnMan2, thanks for the reply, I was wondering since talking to many people they seem to find the newer Cummins have worse mileage than the older.

So far the best ones were the '98s 12valve with 5 speed, you could get 22mpg/24mpg easy, I am debating if jumping to newer ones or find older models.

[big musk411]

Thanks for all the responses. I really like the Chev/GMCs the best, but the F150s seem to be a little chieper. I am not a Dodge fan at all. My Woman has a Titan, the thing is sweet but it gets about 14. I would just assume get a small car and drive the Titan for fishing, but have already been warned not to . Right now I am leaning towards the F150, but maybe I can find a deal on a Chev by the time I actually purchase.

Thanks again!

[LwnmwnMan2]

Quote:

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LwnmwnMan2, thanks for the reply, I was wondering since talking to many people they seem to find the newer Cummins have worse mileage than the older.

So far the best ones were the '98s 12valve with 5 speed, you could get 22mpg/24mpg easy, I am debating if jumping to newer ones or find older models.

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Valv -

It's hard to find, but that '03 that I just traded in, actually had 3.50 rear ends. I could get 25-26 mpg with that truck if I baby'd it, running on backroads with the cruise set at 55-58.

The problem now is, 99.99% of the trucks come with something called 11.50 rearends, or something like that, which I'm assuming is a metric reading.

I don't really care. When I buy a truck, I know how to read the stock numbers so I can know if a truck has been on the lot for more than 8 months, then get an extra $1500.

They're work trucks first, so as long as they're diesel, 4x4 quad cabs with certain things like air and CD, that's all I care about.

[LMITOUT]

Quote:

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The problem now is, 99.99% of the trucks come with something called 11.50 rearends, or something like that, which I'm assuming is a metric reading.

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It's a 10.5" rear end. They come with 3.73 or 4.10 ratios.

[walleye_dog]

Wallabee, probably not. Had a buddy that had an 03 with the 20" wheels, he would get maybe 11-12 mpg so he tried some different tire sizes and it really wasn't noticable. So now he drives a Chevy. Oh and by the way, the father-in-law has an 05 chevy hvy half with the 6.0 and he averages around 12 mpg.

[MuskieJunkie]

First let me say I am not singling anyone out, I’m not even talking about this post specifically because I see it on this site and hear guys do it all the time.

Has anyone ever noticed that people greatly exaggerate the gas mileage of their trucks? Maybe if you were running at 50 mph on a highway you would be getting something like these outrageous claims but you don’t average that kind of mileage. I have owned all kinds of trucks, diesel, gas, mid-size, full-size, pickups, SUVs, and many different brands and I have never seen mileage like what some people claim. When I bought my truck (2005) I researched til I was blue in the face which brand got the best mileage, I bought that one (I won’t say which because I don’t want to start a brand war) on the highway I might get 17/18 mpg (like the manufacturer stated) and I usually average 15/16, when I tow that drops to about 13. So when I hear people say they AVERAGE a number north of 17 or 18 I just have trouble believing it. I think people take the best mileage they have ever got (which could have been a math error) and they walk around town saying my truck averages X. That's just my 2 cents.

[MNice]

Well, I check on every fill and I am constantly above 18 in summer and it drops to around 17 in winter. My commute is 32 miles between New Prague & Chanhassen plus all my other short trips. I feel the biggest influence on mileage is your right foot!! I just drive the limit or slightly above, I don't cram on the brakes at the last minute or floor the gas at every stop light. My best every mileage was 22 with 4 guys and the back full in Canada where 50 MPH was about top end.

01 Chev x-cab 4x4, 4.8 V-8

[trackerbrent]

I have a 2004 F150 4x4 5.4 just like the rest of Minnesota it seems. The best I have got is 18.4 mpg on a trip to Canada, loaded with gear and people, but no trailer. I usually average 15-16 mpg mixed highway and city. Pulling a snowmobile trailer in the winter, I have seen 10.2 mpg and around 13-14 mpg pulling boat in summer. Not good. Mileage for towing sure drops. I know Chevy's get a little better, but the price of the Ford was right. I only have 22,000 on it and I was wondering what people thought about it getting better millage as it gets broken in more? Or is this only true on diesels?

[Flatlander]

I can honestly say that I get a hair under 15 while I'm driving around town. When I head back home to northern WI, I get a hair over 15, and that's with the cruise set at 62. So, I would agree there is a bit of embellishment when it comes to a lot of these mileage claims. Perhaps it's just MY truck that gets poor mileage. Not wanting a brand war, but it is one of those Japanese trucks(not honda or toyota ). So if you're looking at this particular truck, don't believe the 18-20 mpg claims. I'm just hoping to see 16 some day.

[jltimm]

i couldn't agree with you more Muskiejunkie. Alot of people tend to stretch their mileage claims on their full size pickup.I know one thing, if you are gonna buy a full size pickup for alot of towing or work, get a diesel.They get better mileage,tow great,last longer, and their resale value is good also.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Quote:

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First let me say I am not singling anyone out, I’m not even talking about this post specifically because I see it on this site and hear guys do it all the time.

Has anyone ever noticed that people greatly exaggerate the gas mileage of their trucks? Maybe if you were running at 50 mph on a highway you would be getting something like these outrageous claims but you don’t average that kind of mileage. I have owned all kinds of trucks, diesel, gas, mid-size, full-size, pickups, SUVs, and many different brands and I have never seen mileage like what some people claim. When I bought my truck (2005) I researched til I was blue in the face which brand got the best mileage, I bought that one (I won’t say which because I don’t want to start a brand war) on the highway I might get 17/18 mpg (like the manufacturer stated) and I usually average 15/16, when I tow that drops to about 13. So when I hear people say they AVERAGE a number north of 17 or 18 I just have trouble believing it. I think people take the best mileage they have ever got (which could have been a math error) and they walk around town saying my truck averages X. That's just my 2 cents.

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The diesels do, if you keep your foot out of it.

If you run 55-60, you'll get 20+ consistantly.

As soon as you start running 70ish, you're down to 15, 80 and you're down to around 12, whether you're pulling a trailer or not.

The trucks nowdays, if you have the computer above the mirror, it's pretty easy to watch how you should drive in order to get the best mileage.

It's the first thing I do when I test drive a truck.

Get in, start down the road, set the cruise, reset the computer for whatever speed I'd like to know what the mileage is going to be.