Compact diesel trucks.

[QRTRHRS]

One of my good friends got a common-rail Mercedes turbodiesel panel van called a Sprinter for some landscaping work, it is the smaller model and it can tow up to 5,500 pounds and it gets fantastic mileage, dig this -->> 33 miles per gallon of ULSD!!!

This panel van with a pickup chassis would be totally AWESOME!!!!

Why they do NOT offer this in a pickup is beyond me, they'd sell like hotcakes.

Dodge - Sprinter - Cargo Vans - Passenger Wagon

They are offered in a cab and chassis version. I have seen them advertised with a box body, a stake body and a utility body but no "pickup body". I may be biased having an aluminum flatbed on my Dodge dually but I find a stake body much more useful than the standard pickup bed.

 

[_RaT_]

They are offered in a cab and chassis version. I have seen them advertised with a box body, a stake body and a utility body but no "pickup body". I may be biased having an aluminum flatbed on my Dodge dually but I find a stake body much more useful than the standard pickup bed.

That is so true. I miss my stakebody flatbed. The only downside for me was that the dump runs cost more because they would weigh me as opposed to pickups where the fee was a flat rate and always cheaper.

 

[thatguy]

Some people claim their 3/4 and 1 ton Dodges get 24 (mine doesn't; it gets 21 empty). I'd rather have the 3/4 and pay the 4mpg penalty.

My dad has a 1997 Dodge 3500 Dually - On a trip pulling a small popup camper i got about 22.5 mpg.. My 2002 Dodge 2500 has gotten over 20 on a few occasions (long trips, lower speeds).

Around town I get around 16.5 to 17. Around town with some longer trips thrown in i got around 18..

brian

 

[mjarrels]

I'm visiting in the Phillippines right now and just about everything is diesel from the ford ranger to the toyoto collora.

mark

 

[rswyan]

One of my good friends got a common-rail Mercedes turbodiesel panel van called a Sprinter for some landscaping work, it is the smaller model and it can tow up to 5,500 pounds and it gets fantastic mileage, dig this -->> 33 miles per gallon of ULSD!!!

We have a 2006 long wheelbase, high-roof Sprinter 2500 (single rear wheels) which we bought last year for parcel delivery/expedited freight. I don't think it gets quite as good a mileage as your friends ..... possibly because of the high-roof and longer wheelbase/heavier ..... but it does get up in the 20's if you keep your foot out of it.

The interesting thing about these vehicles is the engine (it is only a 2.7 liter) and the tranny (automatic 5 speed) - while the truck might feel somewhat underpowered initially off the line, it will accelerate surprisingly fast without stomping on the pedal and will fly down the highway at 70 to 80 mph with no sweat.

My 2005 Ram 3500 SRW 6 speed is only getting around 16 - 18 mpg in somewhat mixed driving (mostly highway) according to the overhead computer. I have a hard time getting it to 20 mpg ...... let alone over it. It only has 6K miles on it so maybe it will improve once the mileage goes up.

One of the things I love about the Sprinter is that it is very, very easy to drive - it's almost like driving a car .... only it's a little longer and higher. And it has one of the best mirror setups and rear visiblity that I've ever seen on a vehical.

 

[dmccarty]

Some people claim their 3/4 and 1 ton Dodges get 24 (mine doesn't; it gets 21 empty). I'd rather have the 3/4 and pay the 4mpg penalty.

We already have the F350 so we really need something that can haul more people the the Crew Cab as well as being a bit easy to park. We would like an Excursion. Kinda kills the parking issue though. With the mainly rural 55 mph driving I do now I usually get a bit over 20mpg. Lately 20.3/20.5 mpg has been pretty constant with a drop into the high 19's when its cold cold cold outside. I think the highest I have calculated was 21 and change.

Tried to talk the Wifey into a Sprinter. I still cringe when I think of that "conversation" The Boss is not at all concerned with "fashion" but she HATES, not strong enough of a word, see cringe comment, vans or anything that looks like a van. The Sprinter is really ugly but I think the ugly buys functional. The Sprinter has all of what makes vans ugly in spades. Wifey won't even look at a mini van.

Later,
Dan

 

[SkyPup]

We have a 2006 long wheelbase, high-roof Sprinter 2500 (single rear wheels) which we bought last year for parcel delivery/expedited freight. I don't think it gets quite as good a mileage as your friends ..... possibly because of the high-roof and longer wheelbase/heavier ..... but it does get up in the 20's if you keep your foot out of it.

The interesting thing about these vehicles is the engine (it is only a 2.7 liter) and the tranny (automatic 5 speed) - while the truck might feel somewhat underpowered initially off the line, it will accelerate surprisingly fast without stomping on the pedal and will fly down the highway at 70 to 80 mph with no sweat.

My 2005 Ram 3500 SRW 6 speed is only getting around 16 - 18 mpg in somewhat mixed driving (mostly highway) according to the overhead computer. I have a hard time getting it to 20 mpg ...... let alone over it. It only has 6K miles on it so maybe it will improve once the mileage goes up.

One of the things I love about the Sprinter is that it is very, very easy to drive - it's almost like driving a car .... only it's a little longer and higher. And it has one of the best mirror setups and rear visiblity that I've ever seen on a vehical.

I've been looking at the 2007 Winnebago View camper based on the Sprinter engine and frame with dual rear wheels and it is a very nice edtion, supposed to get 17-19mph fully loaded and still tow 3,500 pounds. Cost is about $80-85K.

How do you like the auto transmission?

Any issues with the 5-cylinder turbodiesel?

 

[GeaugaDeere]

OK Guys, here's the link to the story on the new Cummins V6 and V8 Diesels for DCX. I'm excited about them as I work for Chrysler (stamping plant), and I would love to put my wife in a Durango/Aspen that gets better fuel mileage than her 06 Grand Caravan. The 07 Grand Cherokee will be available with the Mercedes 3.0 V6 Diesel (Bluetec) that is smog legal in 50 states. The diesel was dropped from the Liberty because that 4 cyl engine was not Tier III compliant.

There's another great article in the mag/website about turning coal into diesel fuel, there's NO sulfur and the USA is sitting on a large majority of the earth's coal.

New Cummins V6 and V8 Diesel Engines - Exclusive Preview - Diesel Power Magazine

Hopefully there's a MAJOR redesign coming for the Dakota too, as a V6 Diesel would be a very nice setup in a truck that size.

 

[HGM]

Well, from what I know the future(next couple of years) will show several new choices of diesel powered trucks.. The cost increase and how it is hidden will be the issue.. The new particulate emission requirements will require more components and they wont be cheap ones..

That Cummins article was a verry good read and had great info for anyone looking to see what is coming for the industry and why.. Its a bit refreshing to see the new info on other MFG's and what they are having to do to meet emissions ... The Cummins V-8 in that link is quite similar in idea to the new Ford/Navistar 6.4L as far as injection and VGT(although Ford will have two turbos).. The piezo injectors are the rage and awesome/simple devices, you Cummins guys will need to pay attention to the Ford launch to see how they do.. The concerns for me would be the aluminum cyl heads and the EGR ports in them .. I wish them the best, but that alone sounds a bit problematic.. There will be growing pains for everyone(all MFG's) regarding the new regulations, I'm sure....

I've ridden in a couple of Sprinters and I was pretty impressed.. The power seemed decent and smooth.. I think the reason they havent taken off for private ownership(other than RV's) is like another poster said, they are ugly(JMO).. Its a European look that never really caught on here, but it appears to be a great drivetrain..

 

[GeaugaDeere]

Yeah, the Sprinter's not the prettiest thing around. Seems to be a great choice for contractors and taxi cabs.

Here's a very informative linke for some more information on coal to oil/diesel. One of the links states that there's actually enough coal in the USA to power the country for 811 years!

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