RAM/Ford small diesel towing issue??

[Rbertalotto]

Quick question......Been watching a few videos on the RAM 1500 with 3.0 ECO DIESEL and Ford F150 with the new small POWER STROKE

Both of these trucks get 25-30 mpg when not towing

When towing 7000 pound trailer they get 11-13 MPG as witnessed by a number of testing videos on youtube

It seems to me these engines are blowing their brains out towing. Going up hills they are doing upwards of 3500 RPM

Huge difference in fuel consumption......

In comparison, My 2006 RAM 2500 with 5.9 Diesel would get 18mpg non-towing and 13mpg towing. Both usually at 1800rpm....And my new RAM 2500 with 6.4L Hemi gas motors does 18mpg non-towing (1500rpm) and 11 mpg towing(2500rpm)....... (both towing same toy hauler trailer @ 7000 pounds)

What say you.....Will these little diesels last with that type of use?

 

[phsycle]

More I consider diesel in 1/2 tons, less it makes sense. One test I saw, which was towing up a steep pass, the mpg was pretty much 5 mpg for both the gas and diesel. But the diesel was slower, unable to maintain speed at certain points.

I don’t tow a ton so even if I got a 3/4 ton, I’d go gas. That’s impressive you got 18 mpg though.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

The 3.5 EcoBoost out pulls the baby powerstroke and absolutely destroys it when empty.

 

[Explorerinil]

Look at the ram rebel 2020 in eco diesel, best fuel economy, most power in a small diesel and great towing ability for what it is.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I don’t tow a ton so even if I got a 3/4 ton, I’d go gas. That’s impressive you got 18 mpg though.

I get 9mpg doing 70-75mph. 2017 GMC 2500 4x4 with the 6.0. Empty I can eeek 15mpg out of it...lol.

 

[vintageracer]

My expectation is that anyone buying a small diesel engine equipped 1/2 ton truck does so because they think are a diesel person. They want the fuel economy associated with the small diesel engine and 1/2 ton truck configuration for their daily driving use.

Towing?

No true diesel towing person is going to buy a 3.0 litre diesel to pull anything on a regular basis other than their utility trash trailer or a smaller RV trailer. If they do that once a month that would be a lot.

There is no perfect high fuel mileage vehicle and high fuel mileage/capable towing vehicle made by anyone and that's unlikely to change anytime in the near future.

It's always a compromise.

Which one is more important to you?

The fuel mileage or the towing capability?

Pick your poison and live with it!

 

[Rbertalotto]

Look at the ram rebel 2020 in eco diesel, best fuel economy, most power in a small diesel and great towing ability for what it is.

Agreed, it is a great daily driver and quick trip to dump or Home Depot truck. But I'm extremely concerned with the much added strain on these small diesel engines as shown by the huge increase in fuel needed to tow even modest loads. Not to mention that most have very poor payload ratings that are mostly consumed by tongue hitch weight. Check out the Nissan with Cummins diesel with an anemic payload rating. And many of these 1/2 ton 'Cowboy Cadillacs" are maxed out with creature comfort options which eat into payload ratings even more.

Mike , above, make a very good point on the "1/2" ton buying public at large.

 

[billiebob]

My expectation is that anyone buying a small diesel engine equipped 1/2 ton truck does so because they think are a diesel person. They want the fuel economy associated with the small diesel engine and 1/2 ton truck configuration for their daily driving use.

Towing?

No true diesel towing person is going to buy a 3.0 litre diesel to pull anything on a regular basis other than their utility trash trailer or a smaller RV trailer. If they do that once a month that would be a lot.

There is no perfect high fuel mileage vehicle and high fuel mileage/capable towing vehicle made by anyone and that's unlikely to change anytime in the near future.

It's always a compromise.

Which one is more important to you?

The fuel mileage or the towing capability?

Pick your poison and live with it!

nice when I can read and repost exactly what i was going to say