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Posts: 171
Location: indiana | Looking for some ideas that are proven in our towing of boats. what kind of add ons or aftermarket products do some of you use to get the best performance and mileage out of your trucks. looking specifically for info on 5.7 hemi engines in 2006 ram quad cab. thanks, todd |
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Posts: 3507
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I ran the 5.7 first generation Hemi for 10 years. The BEST add-on you can get to maximize mileage and performance is a light foot on the pedal. The engine will do well up to 60 mph for mileage, but when you start going faster than that pulling a load, or alone, your mileage will start to drop significantly.
You probably could get a K&N filter intake, larger exhaust, and a chip, but that is a bunch of money to spend for only a mpg or two...
Steve |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | like VMS said light foot. I drive a 2012 chevy avalanche not towing I get 16.5 @ 82mph towing 18foot boat @ 75mph I get around 12.2 . I could get better if I drove slower but that will never happen so I don't worry about gas mileage |
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Posts: 43
| i have a 2001 dodge ram, pulling a 18 crestliner.
i have the larger exhaust 3", k&n filter, chipped, 35" tires and 4.56 gears in the axles
the one thing that i found works really well in my dodge is Royal Purple oil in the engine,
and royal purple in the axles, trans and transfer-case. Royal Purple is not cheap but worth it
I have 189,000 on my truck and i get 15-16 mpg. All of the upgrades work very well together.
once you get over 65 the gas mileage drops like a stone. I would rather arrive 30 mins later than
burn a lot of gas. "you will have to pry the keys to my dodge out of my cold dead hands"
this truck was built to chase muskies were every they live, my truck and boat are on the "show us you musky rig"
black dodge "this is how we roll" is the title
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Posts: 1096
Location: Hayward, WI | My 2012 gets better mpg if I fill up with 89 octane, I figure it is worth it as long as it is no more than $.30 more a gallon over 87. Keep tires on truck and trailer properly inflated. Not sure on this but I think mpg is better towing with a well fitted cover on the boat. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | I had my transmission rebuilt for my tow back up here. There's a ton of simple upgrades that can be done during a rebuild. Simple stuff like planetary upgrades, etc....but that's a tranny rebuild...but it made my truck tow like a champ.
At a simpler level, I installed air bags and that was awesome. Just the simple manual install...no pumps or cab gauges or anything. Took me like two hours total and was simple as could be. And with a half ton truck, you can see it sag without the bag. With them, wow, it really helped towing through mountains and keeping the truck level on a two-week tow. |
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Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | If you dont have one already, add an autometer trans temp gauge/sensor. and if you don't have a trans cooler, add one. Very important to have when towing. Programmer may help a little on mileage but sometimes they arent so effective. |
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Posts: 131
Location: Lake St. Clair | I tow my Tuffy x-190 with tandem axel trailer with a 2013 powerstroke. Now being that its a work truck, I got it with max tow package and payload for work. This makes it a little overkill for towing the boat, but a light foot will still get you better mileage! I tow my boat about 10k-12k miles a year and will never tow over 70 mph. Towing at around 70 mph I get 15-16 mpg on a stock powerstroke. No chip, no upgrades. I know we aren't talking diesels here but my point is, the biggest advantage you can give yourself is keeping your foot out of the carb!!! |
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Location: 31 | fishcrazed - 1/31/2014 7:01 PM
Looking for some ideas that are proven in our towing of boats. what kind of add ons or aftermarket products do some of you use to get the best performance and mileage out of your trucks. looking specifically for info on 5.7 hemi engines in 2006 ram quad cab. thanks, todd
I was talking to Tom Betka a while back and recommended this vehicle monitor for towing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120957194333?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trks...
“The ScanGauge II features the exclusive X-GAUGE™ programmable gauge system; you can monitor parameters such as transmission temperatures†, trip data and fuel economy information. " |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | Any advice besides sell for my 454 7mpg motorhome  |
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Location: 31 | jerryb - 2/12/2014 8:57 PM
Any advice besides sell for my 454 7mpg motorhome ;)
I'm right there with you brother… but just looking at gas mileage can be painful, so my advise is simply not to do that :). I justify the MPG and cost of the rig by comparing my total expenses round-trip, versus using a regular vehicle, eating out, and a motel room.
Not only can you pick up and go almost anywhere/anytime without making reservations, once you get there you are self-contained and able to maximize rest, and time on the water. Heck, most of the time I just put my boat on the trailer and park it at the landing. It's actually a bit of a secret weapon, and I'm surprised more professionals don't utilize them because the versatility and convenience is unparalleled.
Edited by Jerry Newman 2/14/2014 9:55 AM
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | Agreed, there's a lot to be said for the cost of having the freedom to go to a lake and pick up and move on to another. Never have liked to be tied down, but that's another story. ;)
On the other side of the coin a few years back I did a 14 day trip to Eagle and put a total of 12 miles on the ole "bread box" the entire time I was there.
Make sure you check out the "Structure Fishing show" this Saturday at 11:00am Direct TV 665, Comcast 37 in the Chicago area. A Muskie segment will air on March 1st.
Best of luck in 14! |
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Location: 31 | jerryb - 2/14/2014 9:53 AM
Agreed, there's a lot to be said for the cost of having the freedom to go to a lake and pick up and move on to another. Never have liked to be tied down, but that's another story. ;)
On the other side of the coin a few years back I did a 14 day trip to Eagle and put a total of 12 miles on the ole "bread box" the entire time I was there.
Make sure you check out the "Structure Fishing show" this Saturday at 11:00am Direct TV 665, Comcast 37 in the Chicago area. A Muskie segment will air on March 1st.
Best of luck in 14!
I'll check that out, thanks. |
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Posts: 114
Location: Kingston, Ontario | First episode of Structure Fishing show available free on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYuAKMFhm8E |
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