We Didn't Expect This - Here's What adding a Camper To Your Pickup Does to Your Fuel Economy! 

If you can afford that rig, you're not going to really be worried about fuel economy. :)

Doesn't keeping your road speed between 55 and 65 MPH get you the best fuel economy? It's where I drive and it sure does for me, no mater what I drive. Note added Oct.27/21 I am NOT saying that you should drive at lower than posted speed limits,.. I do NOT live in the U.S. and therefore I do NOT hinder, or get in the way of people who want to go faster than OUR posted LEGAL speed limits. When they pass or overtake me on these roads, then I have the road all to myself! So, for those of you who are 'all up in arms' here, chill down a bit and READ what I am saying.

You have to love that 50 gallon fuel tank until you go to the pump now days. I still wouldn’t trade my diesel for any other engine. That is a nice looking rig Andre thanks for the video and thanks to TFL.

It should be noted that the 37's also change the final drive ratio so I would expect better fuel economy from that and it appears it is enough to offset the extra drag. Obviously no one builds a truck like that for fuel economy but it is a nice bonus.

Great video Andre. Very impressed with the fuel economy of the RAM. Considering the non aerodynamic camper and the large tires makes the fuel economy number even more impressive. My previous gas pickup only got slightly better economy running completely empty!

Lol, I recently purchased the same truck but with the HO/AISN combo and you are correct, My main concern was power, trans reliability and not drive ability, fuel economy was not a high priority.....HOWEVER, it sure is nice that it averages about 20 to 21 on the fwy, and about 18 in the city unloaded. It was a very nice and unexpected suprise comming from a truck that was averaging 15 mpg on a good day with a tail wind.

I have a 2019 3500 crew cab, 6.7 HO, Aisin transmission, 3.73 axle and get about 19.3 on the freeway with the cruise set at 80. Pretty impressive for a heavy duty pickup.

Road trip last week in my ‘02 7.3 Powerstroke…730 miles. Killer tail wind for 400 miles. It was glorious

Loved my 48 gallon tank in my 2019 F350. It would get 9.5L/100km(24.75mpg US/29.73mpg Imp) for a theoretical range of 1188miles. I have gone 1500km(932 miles) on just over 3/4 tank many times, I don't drive fast(65mph). Filling that tank today would hurt, as diesel around my part of Ontario is $1.27‐1.48/L($4.80‐5.59 US Gallon) $230‐ 270 a fill. The current 36 Gallon tank is still $150 to fill, but I get just over 800km(500miles) to a tank locally(55% city/45% highway) In the 2020 F350 with a 3.31

Last summer we drove this same truck for 2 months all across California and Oregon. I don't mean a truck just like this one, but THIS actual truck from Four Wheel Campers. They loaned it to us for the summer. I was really surprised by how good the gas mileage was during the whole trip. Especially with those massive 37s!

Our '05 RAM 3500 with the 5.9 Cummings, aluminum flatbed & boxes, FWC slide in Hawk, fully loaded gear/water & dog scales right at 10K pounds. Tires are 35"AT's. Running around 60-65 MPH on highways in 2WD averages 15MPG.

SOLD!! I’d like to see you do a comparison of 4x4 F350 and Ram 3500 HO unladen with 6’4 beds. These trucks are getting a bit spendy but will last forever. We’ll done Andre

I wish my Ram did that well! But I also go 75 on the highways when I get outside of Denver, and that definitely doesn't lend itself to low fuel consumption.

I have a 14 dually with Aisin and 3.73 rear. So fyi not all duallies have 4.10. We avg 15 - 17 mpg. Most of the time high 16. With our arctic fox 1050 truck camper and uhaul car carrier with a jeep renegade trailhawk onboard we avg 12 mpg from Alabama to Arizona. At about 60-65 mph. Another easy way to know the engine and transmission is if you have the aluminum axle cover.

I got news for you Andre Cummins motor ain't broke into it's got a hundred thousand on it it will continually get better fuel economy until it gets to 100000

That’s super impressive, my 2020 3500 HO ccsb srw does 18-20 unladen highway and 11-12 with my hard side truck camper (~3000lbs wet). The SO trucks get a bit better mpg than the aisin trucks, but the aisin is totally worth it.

Forget the 50 gallon. You can get a 60 gallon aftermarket tank from S&B

16MPG is about the best I get with my 5.9l Cummins Megacab. I10 between TX and CA has 80MPH speed limits with the long grades which don't help economy. Just installed a free spin kit and fixed my sticking brakes so hopefully, I can average at least 18MPG.

I wonder how much an air deflector in front of the camper top would help. I found that something boxy on my roof will reduce my MPG by 10-15%.

I can agree with this. I own a 19 Ram 2500 Mega Cab with the Cummins and have a 4 Wheel Pop Up camper that lives on my bed full time. The fuel mileage is basically what Andre here calculated 👌

I can drive my 08 Suburban HD from Valencia CA to Spanish Fork Utah. 39 gallon tank 643 miles 70 /75 mph. Towing different story 9/12 mpg same route

I have a 2021 3500 HO and carrying a Palomino 1251 (1750lbs) I would get maybe 16.5 traveling the same speed. My trip this summer to Colorado from PA we ran tank after tank at 80 to 85 mph pulling a 6x12 enclosed trailer and got 15 with it. I have 35x11.50 tires. In CO traveling from Crested Butte to Gunnison and back the trip meter had me at 22mpg. Truck was empty and not pulling anything. Empty traveling always 5 over speed limit in PA either I-80 or I-81 I get 17 with it. Easing around my rural home area it routinely sees 18.5. It's mountains here. I'd say 75 is definitely where the mileage noses over. All mentioned MPG is based on computer. Got the truck in June I have 15k on it. It's a tradesman with a Thuren Suspension on it and it's great.

Awesome work Andre! MEEE WAAAANTTTT!!!!

This is exactly the video I was looking for

is that the motor u guys talked about yesterday that has the fire hazard?

Love the 50 gallon tank in my ‘22 F350 with the Godzilla. 🤟🏻

Apples and Oranges! You would need to pull off the camper and make the same run right after that run with the same truck. One truck was a 2 wheel drive one was a 4 wheel drive and I think you said that this truck had 37's. Love you videos but this one was a lousy comparison for MPGs.

Sweet rig 🍻

I don’t think that anyone buying that set up is even a little bit concerned about the mpg

Very interesting

At a difference of 9 mpg (24 minus 15) versus the unladen RAM, this camper costs $0.08 cents per mile more than the unladen truck, in fuel (assuming $3.169/gal as in the video). So if you run let's say 300 miles per day across the country that equates to $24.00 per day that could have been spent on a hotel. That doesn't get too far obviously, especially for a family of four. Not accounting for higher up front cost of the one ton pickup and the camper itself, either

nice truck

For camping with a truck camper, I've found the one ton is a better sized truck. I currently have an 08 Dodge Ram 2500 QC SRW long bed 4x4 with the 6.7 Cummins. I carry a Lance hard top 915 model camper which is fine for two adults and one or two children. Since my kids are now adults and out on their own, my wife and I plus our two dogs go in the current truck. The 3500 or a Ford F350 will replace the truck I have now when the manufacturer's are able to provide one. The reason for the one ton is the size of truck campers has grown and the weight has also grown. Since the prices of "new" trucks is worth the price of a house a person is better off buying the most they can get for the money. If I had purchased a 3500 instead of the 2500 I would not have needed to spend the extra $2500 beefing up my current truck. I enjoyed your video and your drive north. I lived in the Denver area at one time and have lived in various parts of the state at other times. Now I live in New Mexico but I do make trips to the Denver area to see my oldest son who lives there.

"Its pretty much the same engine" if you're meaning the size then yes pretty much the same but now it makes more horsepower and torque even with the 68rfe transmission

Nice truck.

Andre, the mpg is ok but the cost per mile with the new higher price diesel is going to break the average owner.!

Colorado, where you can be at almost 6k feet with mountains way in the distance and it still looks like you are driving across Kansas.

that's impressive for that heavy of a truck

Very nice

That's actually quite impressive. I think for that money though I would just get a Merc 4x4 van conversion

You overlooked a crotical parameter during both tests - wind speed and direction, especially at 5,280ft in elevation. A tail wind of 30mph can add 5mpg at 65mph. A head wind can cause you to lose the same. Rather than a 24/16 split, you could actually be seeing a 19/17, 20/12, etc. Pleae repeat the tests with wind speed and direction for accuracy.

I wonder if you could get even more MPG if you put an air baffle in front of the camper overhang.

Great job on the video! I'm curious...how would a 5500 do with this set-up? I know nothing about diesels and I'm looking to build this exact rig, with camper set-up, but I'll also be pulling a 24 or 26' trailer. I'm looking at the truck build now and for the added weight of the trailer was looking at the 5500 DR truck to do the job. Thanks for your insight.

Wow Andre was so young! Lol. Don’t worry Andre we all got old lol.

Im curious if you put a wind deflector on the roof if it would help the mpg’s.

Okay, to where do I send my resume? TFL has the best and most fun jobs!!

Ths is the turly fasstest camper truck money can be I like loking the reviews of the trucks like this one in the video

Should’ve did a new video of a standard 4x4 ram truck doing the same loop

Now if you take the delta in purchase for the diesel and figure the delta in fuel economy at what point(in miles traveled) is the diesel fuel savings paying off the increase in purchase price? And then understand that servicing diesels as they age is an expensive proposition. Replacing injectors cost over $10,000, a new crate 7.3L Ford is under $9,000.

Denver to FoCo seems a little short for a good fuel average. Should have gone to Cheyenne and back. People want to talk to me about my FWC at every stop, too.

I'm curious how much of the difference is due to the larger heavier tires vs the extra weight and wind resistance.

When I put a camper shell on my Ranger my highway mpg went up slightly, and city mpg went down slightly.

My 06 LBZ Chevy 2500CC Duramax 4X4 would get 19-20MPG unladen...Even 19MPG towing a 7K open car trailer....Put a Lance 865 on it....13-15MPG....didn't mind that too much....The thing I don't like about Truck Campers is the 12-13ft height has you always concerned about bridge heights...Tried to put a Northstar 600ss on a 2020 Colorado ZR2....Turned that thing from a 18MPG gas guzzler to an ABYSMAL 12-9MPG FUEL PIG! Sold that Northstar in less than a month of ownership...I like the Four Wheel "Project M" pop tops but, $12K for an "bed topper"???? Well I put an Aluminum service cap on my ZR2....Maybe if "sanity" returns to the RV world...I'll go shopping for a Project M but, for now an air mattress in the aluminum camper serves my needs.

Since you went in a circle trip, is it the most accurate when you fill up the second time, to go to the same pump. I always wondered about that. Pumps are somewhat different from each other, just like people.

Dually trucks still come standard with 3.73 gears. You have to add the 4.10 option independently or add the Max Tow package.

Here showing LOVE for my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHANNELS period Thank You for another great video once again gentleman, thank you and have a Blessed day everyone

My favorite is Andre sorry Nathan and Tommy

Is the airfilter clean? that can affect MPG

That’s still good gas mileage for the added weight and bigger tires. But honestly, for $31-40k, I would definitely buy an actual travel trailer, which I’m going to do.

Get it on up to 70mph ( which is the majority of the states speed limits) and then watch the MPG drop like a rock.

Guys, TFLT is truly a brilliant channel. Production quality is off the charts and content is brilliant. You guys are up there with the old Top Gear, I thoroughly love the content. Keep it up, as an Australian I took 3 Lincoln Town Cars up the Ike gauntlet - all ran out of puff from 8000 feet. Not so great race was epic and funny.

50 miles! What does that show?

New 4x4 6.7L Cummins aren't getting near 24MPG empty. Dually, gas or diesel, is available with either 3.73 or 4:10. Diesel SRW is 3.73 only. Gas is available with either. Everything on the 19+ HO is bigger. Trans, transfer case, rear axle (12").

Did the older truck use Def? If not that lowers fuel mileage too.

So what kind of jack does it have since it has a spare behind the cab?

Now do a real world test. Such as 4 people with enough gear for a 3 day weekend out in the boonies. You will find a real world result closer to 10 MPG ;)

Great vehicle great video Here in Australia we mostly have diesels with long range tanks because of vast distances to be covered in the outback A range of 700 odd miles 1200 kms is normally the standard Love the camper setup You said norweld ? Is that the Australian norweld? Or an American version We have norweld campers here in Australia They are terrific quality! Cheers

Pretty impressive, my half ton with a tune doesn’t get that much!

2016 Ram 3500 here as daily, and freeway I can get 22mpg (diesel). With no weight, average 19. (All stock)

I had no idea how little interior sound dampening Ram had. I can hear those tires whirling pretty bad.

The camper can be slope at the top and side will give more miles per gallon.

I fulltime with a 2000 silverado 1500 extended cab longbox 5.3L pullling a 2020 forest river NO BO 19.1 travel trailer toy hauler with a 2017 polaris RZR 900xc total weight 13200lbs my mileage average is 10MPG

Do you notice a Difference in the Fuel Economy from the Bio Blends ?

When is a new video on Bukhanka?!

Awe Andre used to be so young and cute 😄

Ram just had a major recall on there trucks, any info???

Impressive since I get 17 combined in my Tacoma.

37s with a huge camper catching Lots of air, that’s fantastic mileage.

$70,000 truck. $30,000 camper. Getting back to nature and living the simple life ain't so simple.

Yeah so I got 30 mph in my 2015 Mustang GT with standard shift at 60 mph. But I will gladly give up mpg to get there. Bored to death at 60 mph. Feel a lot better at 80 and 25 mpg.

They should have built that on the shorter cab. The 4 door looks funny..

Large fuel tank, does anything in the camper feed off that tank?

Sweet another wonton kemper video.

The truck and science is nice. But can we take a second to celebrate Andre on his weight loss? Lookin good man! Whatever you're doing, keep it up, its working!

You guys have great content love your channel but. I was T-boned by a woman who was looking at her phone while driving and I get the chills every time you look at your phone while you are driving Sorry for the rant but I would like you guys to do a video about distractions when driving

That’s pretty insane.

$3.16 for diesel! I just payed $4.79 a gallon in So. Cal

Time for ram to get some 10 speed Tranmisson

Sorry , but i dont think 50 miles is enough to get a good number. You guys used to do 100 mile trips , and i think those were better and painted a more realistic picture of mpg.

I see some complaints in this comment section regarding the mileage test not being accurate because it is done on level ground as opposed to hills. Friends, it is what it is. You can see that it is flat, if you don't have flat (I don't) then your mileage will vary. The EPA test is done on a dynamometer over a programmed driving cycle (for highway the average speed in the cycle is 48.3 mph and the distance is 10.26 miles but the speed variation is more like your grandmother driving in heavy traffic than cruise control at the speed limit. Further, the EPA determines fuel consumption at the tailpipe by measuring carbon emissions, not fuel level in the tank. So, the EPA test is not feasible and not real-world anyways, so they do what they do. I appreciate the results even though I know that in my hilly terrain I won't be able to achieve it. The difference between a flat course and one with, say, a 1000 foot elevation change (round trip back to the same elevation) would make for a good video topic. Also, the difference between a cold engine start in a 10-20 mile trip (commuting to work) and a warm engine for the same trip would also be interesting. Anyways, keep up the good work.

Still better mpg hwy than my bone stock 8.1 gas silverado hahaha

‘Most scientific way’ Drives 50 miles... lol Just drive a full tank (or two or three) and average out gallons over miles. Pump variances can mean a lot with only using 50 miles of fuel.

Do New Mexican ram diesel trucks need DEF like USA and CAN

Don't the tires mess with your speedometer or did that get accounted for.

I would never want a camper that big with a srw. It’s just seems to top heavy. Ide want a dually

Cummins comes from the factory pre run and broken in. Do your comment about being broken in is true for the chassis not the engine.

Damn…my v6 manual ranger get 18 mph on a good day lol.

You can see. The springs are under rated That would make it wallow pretty badly .

You can remove some of that government "green" BS and tune that engine and get at least 4-5 more MPG's.

Did you fill up at Kroger with fuel discount, after getting Donuts, potatoes and Vodka?