<p>I know that trucks come in a dizzying array of configurations, but what would you think is typical for a Ford F-250 or a Ram 2500? How many MPG should you expect to lose from a half-ton / 150 / 1500 model? I like the idea of getting a truck bed camper at some point but I don’t know that I’ll definitely follow through. The 3/4-ton would have greater capacity to handle a camper but at what cost (compared to a half-ton)?</p>
<p>About 13 in town or if its hilly. As low as 8 mpg if you put big tires on the thing. Maybe 18 on flat highways. F150 will be about 2 mpg better than F250. </p>
<p>My boss drives the 2500 diesel - surprising amount of torque, runs great for a 200,000 mile vehicle.</p>
<p>Big brakes and a transmission cooler are key if you are planning on towing/camper. I like this better than furniture discussions.</p>
<p>Whatever you get, make sure to check the grill for owls now and then:</p>
<p>[Owl</a> Gets Stuck in SUV Grill, Survives | Video - ABC News](<a href=“http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/owl-stuck-suv-grill-survives-18477511]Owl”>Video Owl Gets Stuck in SUV Grill, Survives - ABC News)</p>
<p>Owls aside, as Magnetron said, don’t skimp on breaks and transmission cooler. We really liked F-150, but it was too big for our garage bay, so we settled for a Tundra. :)</p>
<p>Good info - 2 mpg wouldn’t be that drastic a sacrifice though the overall mpg is pretty bad. Ram is advertising a truck with 25 mpg highway, but on closer inspection it’s more of a truck-shaped automobile; only 2,000 or 3,000 lbs towing capacity.</p>
<p>That 3,000 pounds is what it will carry in the bed. The V-8 will tow 11,500 lbs which is a BIG trailer.</p>
<p>Ford F150 Ecoboost and the Dodge HEMI with cylinder shutoff will get you up to 25mpg on flat, no acceleration highway driving by shutting down 4 of the cylinders. Dodge and Ford drive differently and have different blind spots - you really need to spend some time in each.</p>
<p>Most suburban people who get the larger trucks, F250 or 2500, don’t really need or use the greater capacity. Plenty of farmers are pulling horse trailers with 2wd Rangers.</p>