Mileage with Later Model F250's

[Wyokirk]

We tow our 31ft, 2008 Classic with a 2017 F250 Lariat, 6.2L gas, 6 speed transmission. With our current TV and trailer - loaded to about 7500 lbs, we range between 8 - 10 mpg depending upon terrain and wind direction. Investigating purchasing a newer model F250 Lariat that would have a larger gas engine. What range of fuel mileage (gas or diesel) do you people get.

[jeffb831]

8 to 10 is the typical gas mileage for a gas HD/SD truck when towing. I have a new Chevy 6.6 gasser and typically get 9 to 10 when towing on most trips. I've seen 11 when towing on a really flat leg.

[StuartsDad]

2024 F250 Lariet with 7.3L gas, 10 speed. Just completed 1100 mile round trip from SC to FL (flat terrain) pulling 2018 FC 28'. 11.5 mpg avg according to truck monitoring. Mix of interstate and state roads. 65 mph max.
Previous TV was a 2014 F250 Lariet, 6.7 L diesel, 6 speed.

[dshiffman]

2024 F250 Lariet with 7.3L gas, 10 speed. Just completed 1100 mile round trip from SC to FL (flat terrain) pulling 2018 FC 28'. 11.5 mpg avg according to truck monitoring. Mix of interstate and state roads. 65 mph max.
Previous TV was a 2014 F250 Lariet, 6.7 L diesel, 6 speed.

We also have a '24 F250 Lariat with 7.3, and are also pulling an '18 FC28. Either I have a heavier foot, or am on less flat roads, as we have only averaged 9.8mpg towing...

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Gas miles depend on a lot of things.

Some parts of the country are flat .... VERY flat. Even pretty modest hills knock off a mile or two from "the number".

Some folks never drive over 55 MHP on the interstate. They do better than folks who drive 10 MHP faster.

Spend a lot of time in areas that are *always* stop and go traffic or are you out on mostly empty highways always at "cruise speed"?

Bragging rights number on the F250 towing the 30' Classic? 12.5 rounded up to 13 MPG

Normal numbers? At or below 10 MPG.

Bob

[Greg N]

So I pull a 2011 31' Classic with a 2010 Dodge Ram diesel ad get around 12 @ 65 to 70 mph. I would think that the newer truck engines would do better.

[B17drvr]

2023 F250 Diesel.


I get 13 to 14 towing and 20 in town not towing.
Also replaced the oem fuel tank with a S&B 60gallon fuel tank. That gives me about a 700 mile towing range or 1100 non towing.


Towing a PB 28RBQ

[mamorteguy]

I have a ‘24 Lariat with the 7.3L and just finished a 1380 mile trip from the Central Coast to Phoenix and back and averaged 11.4mpg. I drive 55-65 in Cali and 65-72 out of Cali.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Greg N

So I pull a 2011 31' Classic with a 2010 Dodge Ram diesel ad get around 12 @ 65 to 70 mph. I would think that the newer truck engines would do better.

Not Much.
I pull a 2017 Classic with a 2017 F-250 Powerstroke.
Get right around what you do.
I live the 920 tourqe and the engine brake.
Having spent my working life in Infrastructure Construction I am partial to diesels.
At the end of the day it takes x amount of energy to move weight at x amount of speed.

[smmckean]

2024 F350 6.7 High Output 4X4 10 speed; pulling 2025 Classic 30. 12 to 14 mpg. The 6.5' bed offers 36 gal fuel tank, and the 8' bed is 48 gal tank. The 8' bed has a 176" wheel base which helps to minimize any possible sway caused by crosswinds, 18 wheeler buffing, etc.

[RManchester]

I'm no help but suffer from the same condition. I have a 2008 250 w/ 5.4 maybe one mph better but that's mostly because I run 62mph on flat. Any grade I have to slow down to keep my rpm reasonable. I'm ok with all that but what really gets me is when I'm disconnected I still only get 12 mph. I was scratching my head after my last rally wondering if I should drop back to 1/2 ton 5.0 or go Diesel. Every truck has its trade off. Good luck and if it makes you feel any better your not the only one! (Following)

[superChop]

New/Newer trucks don’t improve MPG ALOT. Maybe incrementally? We have been on three caravans, of multi-thousand miles thru CO, WY, MT mtns and our 2019 Lariat F250, 6.2L 2WD towing a 7800 lb 30’ International got between 8 & 10 MPG. Diesels get a few more, but add the DEF variable in there because that is a consideration. To upgrade from a proven warrior, the 6.2L to the new 6.8L std gas engine and the 7.3L upgrade gas, or the 6.7 diesel will not provide significantly improved MPG! I am at Land Yacht Harbor in Melbourne, FL, surrounded by 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton or better tow vehicles and we all share our MPG stories. 14MPG towing is a top number for diesel towing at 65MPH in flat country and 9-11 for gas engines at 65MPH. If you want to increase the range of your TV, install a bigger tank, or as another commenter added, get the 8’ bed in the Ford SD’s for a 48GL tank.

Please consider the benefit of gas over diesel on payload. My neighbor (who tows a 30’ International) took us to dinner last night and he has a newer F350 Platinum diesel 1 ton, 4WD with less payload than my 6.2L Lariat. Must be the heavier cameras that he has, or perhaps the heavier engine and drive train??

Finally, MPG should not be a cause for trading an existing SD for a newer TV. Hi mileage or maintenance problems are ALOT more important consideration.

For fun, I would recommend upgrading to get out of the Ford SD’s black interiors, which we learned in our 23 years in Phoenix, suck up the heat!

[Life is a Highway]

New our 19, 6.7 got 14 plus towing and after the EPA and Ford got done with their mandator flashes we now struggle to hit 12.9 towing a 30 ft loaded with water etc.

Here is why the mileage has dropped, All diesels are now eating huge amounts of their egr exhaust to lower NOX emissions. I will attach pics or my throttle body and intake after one year and only 7500 miles . Pics are before and after cleaning. I maintain and clean it each year. Oil changed ever 4-5K Diesel approved fuel additive added as per -

If I do it again it will be a Gas engine. Love my diesel, HATE how the emissions have killed it but i'm legal and will not delete.

[G8trwood]

2024 standard diesel. Truck keeps track of mileage for each trailer entered. Coming up on 10K with 25’. Truck is loaded pretty heavy. 13.9 overall average. North Fla to NC, N. Ga mountains and TN are typical trips. This trip I am at 14.6. Was at 15.1 coming up I-75 behind a semi at 68mph.

[JohnTF]

Increasing fuel millage --- a lot has to do with choices .
Where you go & how to get there - kinda leave out .
How you drive --- use the throttle as little as possible - and the brakes even less --- look far ahead & blend with traffic , leave as much following distance as possible [ so how you drive is your choice / not the one in front of you - no TAILGATING ] - leave the ego out of driving .

Now to the tow vehicle - probably the #1 thing is gear ratio --- in the rear end ,
it use to be that you would order what you want [ and knew enough to say ] --- now days you mostly choose whats on the lot .
Point being gear ratio - there are many , but common is 3:54 , 3:73 & 4:10 , each is good to match to your needs - common gas with tow package comes with 4:10 = advantage for engine / disadvantage to fuel millage .
If you go diesel - you have more torque = so you can take advantage of that and go for 3:54 to get millage back & still have the ability to tow [ depending on how much ] .
Diesels typically get better millage --- if all else is the same , lots of variables but between 3 mpg to 9 mpg .
Then if you chase tuning - I prefer 93 - 98 Cummins , a good mid-tune , a 3/4 ton , 4x4 with 500+ lbs in bed about 25 mpg .
Towing my AS about 22 mpg .

[slofoks]

Originally Posted by RManchester

I'm no help but suffer from the same condition. I have a 2008 250 w/ 5.4 maybe one mph better but that's mostly because I run 62mph on flat. Any grade I have to slow down to keep my rpm reasonable. I'm ok with all that but what really gets me is when I'm disconnected I still only get 12 mph. I was scratching my head after my last rally wondering if I should drop back to 1/2 ton 5.0 or go Diesel. Every truck has its trade off. Good luck and if it makes you feel any better your not the only one! (Following)

I agree. Every truck has it's trade off. We pull with a 24 1/2 ton Chevy with the 3.0 Duramax. I must say it is the very best truck I have ever owned. We bought a 2022 3/4 ton GMC Duramax and hated it. It was awesome for towing but the ride quality and the size were too much for us. The 1/2 ton has a max trailer tow package and it is rated for towing 13,000 lbs. On a trip to Michigan with the 3/4 ton we averaged 11mpg but I admit I was pushing it quite a but just because it had so much power, it was effortless. The 1/2 has a very smooth ride and we do a lot of solo driving as well. Last week we went to Phoenix with a stop near Palm Springs both ways. From home to Phoenix and back to Palm Springs the trip computer showed 26.8 mpg solo. The rest of the way home was facing head winds all the way so the average dropped to 25.7. Towing we average 12 to 14 depending on terrain and wind. I also added a Road Active Suspension that made all the difference in the world towing as the truck is light compared to the 3/4 ton. Yes, I don't go up the hills as fast but we still get there. A friend who works with extended warranties on cars and trucks said my Chevy is the absolute best truck out there right now as it has the least mechanical problems. Good luck!

[StuartsDad]

In my earlier post. I stated 11.5 mpg on a recent 1100 trip. I forgot there was also about 200 miles of non-towing side trips and errands included in that truck generated calculation for the entire trip.

[Doc Foster]

I have a 2022 F250 with 6.7L diesel, 10 spd transmission and 3.31 gears. I average 18 mpg around town and towing my 2015 30' International I vary anywhere from 12 to 16 mpg. It all depends if I am doing 55 mph or 70 mph and if towing on flat interstate or in the mountains. My last diesel F250 had 3.73 gears and 6 spd transmission, I averaged 2-4 mpg LESS with that combination.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

No debate that you get better MPG with a diesel. The OP appeared to be talking about a gas engine. A roughly 20% "boost" with diesel is not uncommon. That means you sort of need to keep the two categories separate when working this stuff out.

Bob

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

No debate that you get better MPG with a diesel.

But it's offset by higher diesel fuel prices, DEF, initial cost, and god forbid, repairs.

If you pay $10,000 more for a diesel, I'd question if you ever recoup that outlay.