I bought a Dodge today.

[LD1]

Now everyone needs to stop posting these 20 mpg figures before I go trade my 16 mpg 1/2 ton HEMI for a 3/4 ton oil burner.

My 2005 DRW 4x4 Quad cab long bed w/3.73's and auto only does 18 or so highway hand figured. The computer says 20-21 though:confused2:.

And this last time I filled up, was all towing and or hauling wood. Trailer @ 7000-9000lbs, and several loads of firewood @ ~4000lbs. That fill up was 11.3MPG. And I never reset the computer from before, so I dont know what it would have said.

 

[US American]

I think the Air Raid intake is an okay design from what I remember. You should be able to find a replacement filter from Air Raid if you need to. If you change brands, go with an S&B. Their setup filters great and has good flow. Reasonably priced and made in the USA.

Check out the 3rd Gen message boards at cumminsforum.com. It is the tractorbynet for dodge-cummins. Or Google any question you have about your truck and just add cumminsforum.com to the search.

I never trust the computer for mpgs (the lie-o-meter). Mine usually reads about 1 mpg higher than reality but some vary more than others. I always hand calculate my mileage.

Use quality oil, oil filters, and air filtration and the engine will outlast your grandchildren. Fleetguard Stratapore oil filters are better than Mopar filters. And there other products out there that are even better. I'm rambling now... Enjoy the beast!

 

[JB4310]

I have a post below about buying a Dodge Diesel. I bought one today. Its a 2004, Quad Cab, 3/4 ton, short bed, 24 valve 5.9l diesel. It has about 105,000 miles on it, silver in color, 4.10 rear end. I've only put a few miles on it but the computer is showing around 20mpg. It has exhaust on it and and edge chip on it. I'll have to read about the edge chips since I don't know much about them. We have a busy weekend planned so I'll try and post some pics next week.

Congrats,

How much did you pay?
You know the engine is good for the long haul, now go thru the rest of it to make sure it's up to the task.

JB

 

[RobertN]

Best I have ever done with my stock '01 CTD, auto, 4:10's was 19. I was really babying it too. Boy Scout trip from outside Sacramento to Tillamook, Or. So that 19 at freeway speed(65 or 70mph speed limit, always staying within 5mph of that). included flatlands thru the upper central valley, and mountains thru Shasta and the Siskou's.

I do fair trailering my tractor at about 7000lbs total. But WOW, what a difference towing my 5th wheel(27' 7000lb) or Boy Scout Troop trailer(14' enclosed 7000lb @~5000lbs). The 5th wheel and Scout trailer have big square bodies; I have actually though about finding a used Sprint Car wing for the truck

Mine is the early 235hp motor. Even with the lower power(it is still stock except BHAF, and 4" exhaust), the 4:10's have never been needed. I would not get those low gears again. If budget ever allows, I'll change it to 3:73.

I did find, that I got ok mileage even with the 5th wheel up to 62mph. From there it fell to pieces. We went from here(30 miles east of Sacramento) to Corpus Christi, Tx two summers ago. Ca is 55mph towing speed limit state wide. Having got a ticket once towing my tractor at 65, I stick with the speed limit or close to it. Getting in to Az, NM, and Tx though, you could tow at 65 or 70. The 5th wheel towed like a dream at 70-75, but the fuel mileage , like hit a wall at 62mph. I could run 13-14mpg on the flats up to 62mph. Then it dropped like a rock.

And this last time I filled up, was all towing and or hauling wood. Trailer @ 7000-9000lbs, and several loads of firewood @ ~4000lbs. That fill up was 11.3MPG. And I never reset the computer from before, so I dont know what it would have said.

 

[dodge man]

The 20mpg I'm getting is never driving over 50mph, but its also mixed in with some city driving. My guess is it will go down hill at higher speeds.

I traded my GMC in on the Dodge, but my guess is I paid about $20,500 if I hadn't traded.

 

[om21braz]

The 20mpg I'm getting is never driving over 50mph, but its also mixed in with some city driving. My guess is it will go down hill at higher speeds.

The 2005 2500 long bed 4WD I once had with a manual 6 spd. and 4.10 dif. would get right at 20mpg empty as long as I kept it below 65mph - during warm months. Just don't expect it during the winter. Also, check out the turbodiesel register web site - it's not free for all the info, but it's worth the price of admission.

Turbo Diesel Register

 

[redprospector]

I've got a 98 Dodge 24 valve with a 5 speed, 4x4, & DRW. Going down the hiway at 60 to 70 mph empty I'll get 16 to 18 mpg. If I keep her around 50 to 55 I'll get 19 or a little better. If I hook to a trailer (which is what I keep the truck for) mileage drops tro 11 or 12. Trailer size and weight dosen't seem to matter much, I can pull an old enclosed 14' trailer weighing 4000 lbs.......12 mpg. I can pull a 24' gooseneck with my JD 440b skidder grosing 18000 lbs........11 - 12 mpg.
I've also got an 01 Chevy Duramax with a 6 speed & 4x4 that's getting 21 mpg. but it never gets over about 45 mph.
Diesels are great if you need one, but you'll never pay for the option with mileage alone.

Andy

 

[grsthegreat]

I have a post below about buying a Dodge Diesel. I bought one today. Its a 2004, Quad Cab, 3/4 ton, short bed, 24 valve 5.9l diesel. It has about 105,000 miles on it, silver in color, 4.10 rear end. I've only put a few miles on it but the computer is showing around 20mpg. It has exhaust on it and and edge chip on it. I'll have to read about the edge chips since I don't know much about them. We have a busy weekend planned so I'll try and post some pics next week.

Gee, i so sorry to hear that.

just joking. I have a 1994 dodge 2500 cummins diesel. Love the engine, its just the rest of the truck that im not so thrilled with. several fuel pumps, a new transmission, about 20 front brake pads, lots of shocks.

My wife loves the truck, and so i decided not to sell the old girl (truck.. not wife) and had it totally repainted. Also added a new shell. The truck looks as good as it did in 1994. With all the engine leaks taken care of and the new transmission, it does feel like a new truck. Though it may have been cheaper to trade in the old girl (wife .. not truck LOL:laughing.

The amazing thig is i can get 22-24 MPG if i am not towing and doing about 55-60. Towing it gets about 18-19 mpg. My 2005 F350 gets about 15 MPG, so the dodge is thriftier, but the Ford blows its doors off with power ( ford v8 dodge inline 6).

 

[kenmac]

Great engines. I have the 2007 373 gears 5.9 325 HP 600 TQ . The great part.. It's from a 6 cyl engine:laughing: Plenty of room in the engine bay:thumbsup:

 

[tlbuser]

Now everyone needs to stop posting these 20 mpg figures before I go trade my 16 mpg 1/2 ton HEMI for a 3/4 ton oil burner.

Don't stop there, consider at least one more step up. Dodge 3500 C&C 6.7 w/Aisin and 4.10's towing a big box ~11000 @ 60-65 yields 13.5 mpg, empty 19.5 hwy. Stock, no mods.
Probably time to let some of that extra cash out for a breather anyways, rumor is it gets kinda musty if you hold on to it too long