Looking for truck with best gas mileage while towing 1 car trailer. Looking to stick with the 1500 Size. I currently have a 2005 ford f150 5.4l and get around 10mpg highway driving between 55-65 light footed. Pretty bad gas mileage since my brothers 2014 Ram 1500 gets 18mpg towing 1 car trailer. I know its a truck and its not gonna get the best mpg but i still want something decent. Plus I've own two ford already. Not the best mpg and the rough ride. Leaning toward getting a dodge or chevy. Wanna stick between years 2007-2011. Please no truck wars about which brand is best. All of them have positives and negatives. I just want the best truck for me, BTW Posting on all Forums. Chevy, Dodge, an Ford. Thanks in advance for advice.

 

Has somebody who has no history in trucks (this is my first)...

Maybe you can see the benefit of an "outsider" POV here.

First thing... it's a very good bet that the RAM does so well because it's a 2014... and not so much because it's a RAM.

My research seems to show that lot's of people who tow.. focus on the MPG when not towing... and accept the hit when doing it (they even tend to purchase premium gas - increasing their total cost)...

You want to limit it to a 1500/150 1/2 ton class... and within 2007-2011...

What I have observed is 2015 and even better 2017 plus is the sweet spot for MPG with TOW... and some have said to look at the Eco-diesel... which is in the newer RAMS I believe...

On gas engines... Ford does the twin turbo with start/stop... and Chevy seems to do something with 8 cylinder/4 cylinder with computer control...

And the recent 10 speed in 2017-18 Ford seems to be a coop between Ford and Chevy engineers (so have to figure Chevy is using it to on their new models). The RAW numbers implies that a 3.31 (much less 3.55) axle can give you similar numbers to what a 3.73 on the 6-speed... (don't know how well that translate to real-world but is shows how the tech is improving)...

Bottom line... your targeted date range limits you on getting the best MPG since it's coming from the newer engines with newer transmissions.

I have a 2016 RCLB with 3.55 axle; 3.5L NA (the base engine)... and on July 3rd, 2017 I was getting this driving on FL turnpike...

 

Of course that's without towing and at highway speed... light foot... and just sso that you can see it was not a pure fluke... on 05, 2017...

 

both were snapshots after I parked and includes a couple of miles "city driving" to the parking garage from my highway exit.

There's no way I would get these numbers from a 2-ton vehicle in the date range you specify. But I can get it with a 2016 Ford - with their BASE engine.

Imagine with a 2.7 TT eco-boost... and maybe even use 93 OCt fuel...

And the reasons I have these dates recorded... both of those days the "traffic" was light enough that I can drive... since pretty much every work day it's stop and go traffic... which gives me from 17.5 to 25 MPG (yes it's that wide a margin).

 

Probably should hand calculate to verify because 18mpg sounds optimistic when towing a car and 32mpg is very optimistic for a full size pickup.

 

I have been looking at the eco boost and they get amazing gas mileage empty, but with trailer I heard (based on what people say on forums) it gets 12mpg which is not much better than mine. An really wanted stick between those years. Unfortunately can't afford a 2015 Truck.

 

2017 F-150 Lariat 3.5 Eco 10-speed trans towing a 26' camper weighing approx 6500-7000lbs loaded and got 11.5mpg round trip, 480 miles each way at 60mph plus around 150 miles empty in between. I was thrilled with this. Prior to leaving, I was guessing 8-10mpg.

 

aerodynamics, weight, number of tires on the ground..... can not change that.

any possible increase in MPG while towing is the turbocharged mini diesel.... period.

remember 40 years go.. a standard car, towing nothing was getting 14 miles per gallon.

and your friend getting 18.. NO WAY. my opinion.
my friend with a 2016 Ram 1500 (v6 diesel) with a 4,000 pound travel trailer get 14...

 

That RAM would have a hard time getting 18 MPG Empty in prime conditions. No way in Hell did it get 18 towing anything.

 

There's SOOO many variables not being taken into account here, no one can answer this one.
One car trailer okay???? steel, aluminum? 16', 18', 20' etc? Enclosed or open? Total weight you expect to tow NOT including the truck?
Sea level or at Elevation? Towing at 600' elevation is significantly different than towing at 9000' or 12,000 mountain pass!
Gas or Diesel? Dodge has the new EcoDiesel it's no match for a 3/4 ton Diesel but it's an option.

What are you actually looking for, because you mention both of the following: MPG & Smooth ride. Keep in mind those are two completely different things when towing.

Also keep in mind when it comes to towing, getting everything moving efficiently comes down to low end torque.

I tow with a 7.3L Diesel CCLB Dually, Comfort wise it can't be beat. Towing, I average around 12.7 mpg with 7500# at an average elevation of 9500'. I also have enough truck to control everything should I have an oh **** moment while towing.

 

I agree strongly with the people above - no way did that Dodge get 18mpg towing a one car trailer: unless it was an open trailer, with no car on it, and going downhill.

No way.

 

He was towing this getting 17.5mpg in Tennessee

 

,
He NEEDS to purchase his FRIENDS truck. and have his Friend Drive it.
, 1 in 10 million.

 

Ok.........

 

To trade vehicles just for better fuel mileage while towing is one of the worst financial decisions one can make!!! The cost differential of the new vehicle vs the cost of the fuel for the old vehicle will likely NEVER be made up. Remember, you will still have to put fuel in the new rig! And you can buy a LOT of fuel for the cost of the new truck.
Now if you just want a new truck, that is a different story.