Calling All Hot Shots

That's good mileage for that truck. The one ton dually I have gets between 10 and 11 mpg loaded or empty. Part of the problem is the body. It's a stake body which I enclosed with plywood for carrying mulch, stone,etc.. I have noticed I can pick up about .3 mpg by just pulling the tarp over the empty body as it traps a lot of air increasing drag. It also has a 4:10 rear that doesn't help, but I'm sure your truck has at least that being a 5500.
The 6.4 liters are not known for fuel mileage for sure.
There are ways to increase the mileage on these trucks like the DPF delete kit and a tuner for about $1400.00, but it's illegal and would void the warranty. Since I only have 20k miles on it, I'm reluctant to do it.

I'm not sure about Ram or GM, but Ford is playing with the rear gear ratios to increase the fuel mileage on their diesels. If you check the window stickers on the F350 SRW diesels with the Lariat package, i.e the pimped out version, you'll see 3:31 to 3:55 rear. Check the same size in the work truck package, the XL's, you'll get the 3:73 rear, which is much better for towing. With the 4:10, you hardly know you have anything behind you.

 

Including the truck, trailer weight, what is the max you can weight out loaded and be legal?

 

Part of the reason they are cheap is they can haul 8 or 9 cars at a time on a tractor trailer car carrier and they seldom run around empty. If you specailize in antique or collector muscle cars, you may get a better price, but you would need an enclosed trailer for that. Otherwise, car dealerships move a lot of cars around and you could advertise on e-bay or craigs list for cars or other items.

 

I've seen a few rigs like SMB's here in the East, but I suspect most of them are using enclosed box trucks and vans maybe do to the greater variety of industry in the northeast, the lousy winter weather and even security issues as well.

 

You are using a new truck.

Mine has the 5.9.

I feel for you. I have friends with 6.7's.

 

What's wrong with the 6.7's ???