Any RAM diesel owners here??

[Donny]

My current truck, a 1500 Ram w Hemi 4x4 w RAMBOX Crew Cab is a great truck, until I put a trailer on it, and a load on it or in bed! The most it can handle without dropping to the ground is a Mustang body that's ready for Media Blasting.

So, there's only 2 2500 diesels with same options I currently have in Texas! One of them is right here in town. So, my question is, would I be getting at least the same avg mpg in the diesel that I currently get with the 1500? I avg 14.9 in my 1500. So, weighing it all out, its a more expensive truck, if it gets the same (or better) mpg (esp when hauling a load), I wonder if it would be worth it?

 

[roadrunnerman]

Donny check out www.firestoneriderite.com They have an air suspension system for your truck that might help.

 

[Cranky]

How much tongue weight are you loading the trailer with? I see a lot of guys who pull cars way too far towards the front. Anyways, I'm done with 1/2 ton pickups and bought a 97 diesel about 12 years ago and still have it. I'm done with gas trucks too. That said, the older trucks get better mileage than the newer ones. Best I get with mine is 25 highway and 19 in town unloaded. Worst in town was 17 and 22 highway. That's running empty. Worst on the highway pulling a 3000 lb car on a trailer that is around 1100 was 17 running 75-80...

 

[1970GTX]

I have a 2000 Ram 4X4 with the 24 valve cummins with an automatic and a 3.54 Dana. This truck now has about 155000 miles on it. Last spring I towed an empty enclosed car hauler 300 miles to pick up my GTX and hauled it all back home another 300 miles all on the same tank of fuel. Car hauler loaded was just over 8000 lbs. I average 20 mpg and about 650 miles to a tank. Mind you it cost about $150.00 to fill it. The older 12 valve cummins get even better mileage. I too am done with gas powered trucks. I plan to join the million mile club with this one.
Dan
Also, up here diesel is cheaper than 89 octane gas by about 30 cents a gallon.

 

[Meep-Meep]

YES! What you are experiencing with your 1500 is the same exact thing as I did. The truck is great, but actually put something in the bed AND hook up a trailer and you're on the snubbers (and pissed). At the time I didn't want to spend over $60K for a Laramie 2500 or 3500 so I thought I'd get by with the 1500 - because after all my 02 Durango was my tow vehicle and did quite well at it. I tortured the 1500 for about a year until my MoPar parts buddy called to chat and told me about a great deal on a new 3500 he was getting. The price was over $18K cheaper than I could get locally so off to Idaho I went. You may want to speak to Jeremy Foresee at Peterson Stampede Dodge in Nampa ID. Fly out and drive back. Or do what I did and drive your 1500 there and come back home in a new truck.

Now to answer your question. I have the 2102 3500 single wheel with the 6.7 diesel and my fuel usage is very similar to the 1500. And both trucks are 4x4 crew cabs. For commuting I get about 15 - 15.1 compared to the 1500 at 16.5. The best HWY I got with the 3500 not hauling or towing was 18.5 compared to 19 on the 1500. Towing MPG with the diesel is about the same at 14.5 - 15 and that average included going up the grapevine (HWY 5 to LA), which is several miles up hill. Towing for three hours on flat land at 60 MPH both trucks were around 16 MPG.

The HEMI 1500 has ample power for towing but that diesel with 800 ft lbs at 1500 RPM is a locomotive. And I have the 3.42 gears in the diesel, which limit my towing to 9600 lbs. Bottom line that diesel has done everything I asked it to do without complaining and I'm no longer pissed off when I "use" my truck. Fill it up with a couple of thousand lbs of scrap metal? Sure. Put a motorhome on my trailer and tow it with the diesel? Yep. Fill the bed with cast iron and steel parts for a swap meet; fill the cab with people AND hook up 6000 LBS of car and trailer. You won't even feel it except the ride will be a little smoother.

 

[Moparsmitty]

Yep, the 1500s are designed to ride smoothly when they are empty and haul/tow an occasional load up to the limit described in the owners manual. IMHO these trucks are marginal for hauling loads approaching the weight limit. If you are going to be hauling heavy loads on a fairly regular basis I would suggest trying to find a good deal on a 2500 or larger truck. You might get a little less mileage with the bigger truck, but I think it's worth it.

 

[Budnicks]

:iamwithstupid: the air bag or load levelers will help tremendously on the Ram 1500, you could also always change the rear springs too, easy peasy swap.... A Ram 2500 or 3500/1 ton Dually would be better of course... I've owned quite a few, recently had 95 4x4 Ram 2500 & a 98 4x4 Ram 3500 both w/12 valve 5.9 Cummins turbo, they were great trucks, got 300k+ miles out of both, they were also my daily drivers too... But diesel was also 2/3rds the cost of gasoline back then too... I now own a 2002 4x4 F-350 7.3ltr Diesel Dually, I absolutely hate to even drive it, unless I'm hauling a trailer, it stinks like diesel, it's freaken load as hell, it rides like ****, like a freaken' tank & that would be insulting the tank... IMHFO it doesn't get enough better mileage to offset the diesel cost vs driving my gas 99 4x4 Dakota SLT 5.2ltr, yes the F-350 it can haul & tow allot more weight, but it ain't no daily driver either {my Pops loves to drive the POS, thou}.... But you have to weight the added cost of diesel, the added cost of the more expensive truck, added cost of insurance, to see if it's worth it, especially if you only tow or haul occasionally, if your hauling or towing all the time... Yes I would say "for sure, that the diesel rig is the way to go"...

 

[Donny]

Budnicks, you hit it exactly what and where I was thinking, but, all are great and valid comments! The times I do require a good towing vehicle, I want it to be able to deliver! If I can get the same (or even better) driving it empty like the 1500 is empty, then, perhaps it's doable? Diesel is higher here (as everywhere), and, with USAA to insure the truck I have my eye on, that would be 18 dollars more a month. That may actually break me...might have to forego a few Cheesteaks! If I pull the trigger, for sure, pics will be posted.

 

[ZR9B]

04 3500 4dr long bed 4x4 hwy 18 mpg city 16 mpg...3.73 gear....now the dream o meter says I get 22mpg and 20 mpg....on paper it is a different story ....I had the hemi before and will never get a gas truck again...

 

[Donny]

Hey roadrunnerman, I have looked at the Firestone system, but, for a new truck, I don't think I should have to do that to it!

 

[Cranky]

Bud, there's a big difference between a 1 ton dually and a 3/4 ton or even a 1 ton single wheel for that matter. I'm not a big fan of dually trucks either unless I'm pulling a large trailer and then I really like the stability the duals give but for the most part, the 3/4 ton I have now does a fine job and it doesn't beat me up.

 

[Grabinov911]

Hey Donny I'd echo what the other guys have said about mileage. I have a 2004 Cummins Dodge truck (3/4 ton quad cab).

The one thing to consider is that the year of the truck (if you're considering used) makes a BIG difference. Up to 2004 is one thing (very good mileage), 2004.5 thru 2007 is the next generation of emissions and horsepower (more of both) at the cost of probably 1 mile per gallon. 2007.5 thru 2010 probably costs another mile per gallon, and 2010.5 and beyond costs another 2+ MPG or so. Up to 2004 these trucks commonly got 18+MPG if driven reasonably, and I can get close to 20 on the highway at 65. Because of the Diesel Particulate Filter, among other things, a 2013 truck with the same options will probably only get about 13+ MPG under the same conditions.

 

[Budnicks]

Bud, there's a big difference between a 1 ton dually and a 3/4 ton or even a 1 ton single wheel for that matter. I'm not a big fan of dually trucks either unless I'm pulling a large trailer and then I really like the stability the duals give but for the most part, the 3/4 ton I have now does a fine job and it doesn't beat me up.

yeah I know, I've had all of them, I don't care for the ride either, actually my 4x4's all had slightly better ride quality than the 2wd/Rwd, because of softer springs, but road/corner handling not so much thou... Dually's are great for hauling 5th wheel trailers too, better stability in the wind especially, great in snow too, especially with 4wd, if you have enough room to maneuver or let alone turn the long bastards around anyway... They also suck in parallel parking or in parking lots too, they're always getting banged up, hard to fit in tight spots, especially Fords don't turn for ****, you need a city block to turn the damn things, let alone the parking lots , you know the ones made for todays tinny a$$ little throw away POS foreign cars...LOL... But if I want my kidneys all shock up, I'll just drive my RR around instead...

 

[ZR9B]

I should say...mine is a 2004.5 with an edge controller....my mpg was at 2000 rpm..witch is about 73 mph....If I go 65 the mileage goes way up....but I cant seem to drive that speed.

 

[Duda]

If you hurry 2013 is the last year for dodge trucks not to require the DEF diesel exhaust fluid additive. It's no big deal to me cause we already have several other trucks that require the DEF, just an FYI. I have my original 1991 retired dodge diesel with 550,000 miles on it and no engine work what a great truck she was with 20 mpg in town or the hwy. I have 2 2000 & 1 2001 dodge dispels that all had great motors and they get about 17 mpg. I have several ford f-550 that are so bad that we are switching back to dodge now that they make the 4500 & 5500 model diesel. There is no comparison from a diesel to gas. Should I buy the 426 Hemi or the 318 ????????? Same thing get the 426 Hemi or the diesel. Just my thoughts.

 

[1970beep]

My daughter has an 06 quad cab cummins 3/4 ton that she gets close to 25 mpg on the highway without a load. She just pulled three good size horses about 90 miles and averaged about 19 mpg. She loves the truck and from what I have seen it is impressive. She mentioned to me that after 07 (I believe or maybe 08) the cummins went from a straight six to a V6? not sure but that may have effected the mileage some. She was told by several farmers and mechanics in her area to get the straight six (5.9 litre I think ) as it was the better engine. Just passing her info on and not my own knowledge (PS shes a gear head!!)

 

[64BEL]

When I ordered mine in Feb of 2000, diesel was cheaper than gas - as it should always be. Even though we're all getting gouged, now, I'm still not giving it up. Over 13 years later and 140,000 miles - it's barely broken in. I can get about 20mpg on the highway empty, but only about 15.5 as my daily driver to work, etc... Not bad for a 7000lb 4x4 truck. I used to get better mileage, but I think the low sulphur crap has cost me a couple of mpg. I really couldn't be happier with this truck. It was the first pickup I ever bought and I think it may be my last. I don't plan to get rid of it. I also think it's likely the last brand new vehicle I'll ever buy. I'm getting ready to put some money into it to get some minor rust areas taken care of to keep it in great shape. Can't beat the sound of a straight piped pre-common rail injection Cummins, either.

 

['68 383 Charger]

I have a 2008 2500 long bed 4x4 and it pulls my '68 charger like the trailer is empty, no problems at all. i get consistent 14 MPG. The 2007.5 and new pickups have the 6.7 Cummins that have the DPF, EGR and other emissions equipment and they do not get as good of mileage and the earlier pickups with the 5.9 cummins.

 

[Charger686970]

i love my 03 2500 4dr 4x4 diesel just wish it was a 12v i hate computer controlled stuff more junk to go wrong. 12v mechanical nothing to go wrong. the 318 in my 98 grand cherokee is fun but it is my winter ride so the diesel does not rot out cause of the road salt. the diesel get's stored in winter.diesel for a truck is better all around in my opinion. keep the gas motors for our muscle cars

 

[kb67mopar]

I have to say that my next truck will be a diesel as well. Now I can say I do not have the squat problem with my 04 1500. I have put quite a few cars on trailers behind it and never had it squat past level but its still a leaf spring rear end vs coil springs in the new ones. The Hemi does well but mpg suffers. I average around 14.5 during my everyday and 12 city 17 hwy. I am seriously considering a 2014 eco-diesel with the factory airbag suspension option...25+ mpg with the v6 turbo diesel. 420 lb-ft of torque should do my duty. I would prefer a 2500 series but it gets used for daily driver duty too and starts to get pricey on gas/fuel if I am averaging 15 mpg.

for what its worth upgrade to a diesel if you are using it for work, it will pay for itself hands down.