Dodge trucks

[GT Accuracy]

If you want the cream of the crop, IMO, look long and hard at the 01 and the generation it's in of Ford 250 and 350's with the 7.3. That thing is bulletproof. Family members of mine have them and get offered WELL WELL ABOVE Blue book by dealers looking to trade them in. There is something about that engine / tranny that makes them godly.

 

[BW64]

I have 2 friends that pull 35 foot fifth wheels. both have 2016 models diesels. One a Ford F250 & the other a Dodge 2500. Both are averaging 10 per gallon pluss the cleaner that goes into the diesel is expensive & must be added more than the dealer recommendations. Maintenance is expensive & often. Both friends said never again for a new diesel. Just relaying what I was told.

BW

 

[timeout]

There are two things a man will lie about, his sex life and gas mileage! Knew a guy once with a 4WD Dodge. That truck actually made gas. He had to stop every 100 miles and remove the gas cap to burp it to remove the excess. Not only did he lie about the mpg's, but it ran like crap as well.

 

[jwink]

Last Thursday I just traded in my 04 dodge hemi with 220385 miles on it (it rusted apart) engine and trany have had no issues. Abused it often with way too much firewood in it (like as much as I could stack in the 8 ft bed), averaged 10-11 hauling, 16-17 on the highway. I bought another new dodge with the same engine and trany set up. Didn't ever bother me that it couldn't do 85 mph while hauling, was quite satisfied with 65 mph which it would do with no problem.

 

[ebb]

The local GMC dealer talked me out of a diesel, he said that they did the math and unless you towed all the time and put 50,000 miles a year on it, it wouldn't pay for itself over a big gas engine truck.

 

[stacy]

ALL I CAN SAY IS HAD ALOT OF GAS TRUCKS BUT MY 08 MEGA CAB HD 6.7 CUMMINS 375HP 700FP TORG SURE CARRIES THE LOAD VERY WELL FROM EQUIPMENT TO FAMILY WITH PLENTLY OF PETAL LEFT PULLING LOADS 12 TO 14 MPG 17 TO 19 FAMILY TIME WITH ALL 5 OF US THE BEST I'VE EVER GOTTEN WITH THIS TRUCK AT 8000LBS WAS 22.4 ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH IN 6TH GEAR

 

[T.Rhodes]

I have an '03 Dodge 3500 and pull a 3-horse gooseneck. I'll get~ 14mpg loaded, no mountains, an hold it to 65mph. I'll 20-23 same conditions empty.

No doubt maintenance is more...oil changes, fuel filters, easy stuff, are DIY for me, but you have like fussing with a truck.

Frankly, I wouldn't compare diesel fuel costs to regular...very few trucks run on regular. Regular is just barely flammable.

 

[drover]

My experience - I have a 27 ft bumper pull that I like a lot so it has been pulled a lot of miles, I wore out the auto transmission on a 99 Chevrolet 5.3 pulling it and the same with a 2003 Chevrolet 5.3 - lots of pulling but I did not abuse either vehicle. I generally run 65 or so on the interstates and 55 - 60 on secondary roads, I was happy anytime I got 10 - 10.5 pulling with them, if I remember the gear ratios right they were 3.52's.

In 2011 I bought a Dodge 1500 with the 5.7,auto transmission and 3.73 gears. Still pulling the same trailer but the Dodge has tons of power, about a 100 horsepower more than the Chevrolet 5.3's had and also about a 100 ft lbs more torque, the vehicle has right at 85,000 miles on it now about the same mileage the Chevrolets had when the transmissions started failing but absolutely no problems with the Dodge. But the most important point is that with the Dodge 5.7 I am getting 9.5 average MPG towing the trailer and have much more power, if I it had 3.52 gears like the Chevrolets had I am sure it would have gotten near the same mileage.

Like some other have mentioned I looked at the diesel and penciled it out - unless you are constantly towing the payback on the diesel is just not there.

drover

 

[Geno C]

Having pulled with a fair share of gas trucks with all kinds of loads, light/heavy and awkward, there's a reason semis have dual wheels in the back. It might not get as good of mileage as a single wheel but if you're towing in the wind at all or on rutted highways you'll definitely appreciate the added stability. My best friend has a single wheel f350 cclb 6.7 diesel and averages a bit over 19 empty. I'm about 16 in my dually. The 3.55s in his help compared to my 3.73. You notice the different towing heavy right away though. Another friend of mine is a Plummer and just bought a cclb f350 with the 6.2 gasser. He only hauls his 10k trailer a couple times a month and not that far so he felt it made sense dollars wise. Once again, we put his trailer behind my truck and it's night and day better. The dodges are the same way. Going to a gasser you will notice the engine straining more than the diesel. They brakes should be the same so stopping should be comparable. If you don't tow much and.not real far a single wheel gas truck will do the job. Weight distribution hitches and loading the trailer properly help stabilize things. Tires inflated to the maximum pressure listed on the sidewalks is also a major factor in a safer feel going down the road.

If you tow a lot and heavy, this is the best way to go. http://s266.photobucket.com/user/genogunsmithing/media/Mobile Uploads/2017-02/D2234FBE-5083-41A2-A5FE-5E03E03E1A75.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[6xcshooter]

If i was going new i"d get the ford.

 

[L1986]

Just bought a dodge 2500 with the 6.4 in it. Mega cab 4x4. 7500 miles so far and I've averaged 13-14 mpg. I would say 75% is highway miles. Pulling my 25ft boat I am around 10mpg....less if I push over 70 mph. Absolutely love the truck and tons of power and torque but no way in hell you are going to get above 15mpg much less towing unless maybe you drive under 60 all the time. I usually run 70-75. Hopefully the mileage gets a little better with time but I'm not counting on it. If I was pulling more than the occasional boat or horse trailer I would suggest a diesel like everyone else has. Just my experience...YMV. Again I do love the truck though.

 

[AndyA]

I have a 2014 Dodge 2500 crew cab with the 6.4l engine and am pretty happy with it. It replaced a 2005 cummins that was going to need some work and the body had gotten rusty. Diesel is better for towing but overall I am pretty happy with the 6.4 gas. I get 17-18 mpg on the freeway at decent speeds but mostly 14-15mpg with around town. Towing a 28' camper drops it to 9-10 mpg. I bought it new and it now has 85000 miles on it. Replaced the heater core under warranty but now there is a noise in the front end which I think are wheel bearings. I use it for work and regularly load 3200 lbs into the box. No problems handling the weight and the ride is decent.

 

[NewLiberty]

I have a '99 F350 dually with the 7.3 powerstroke and 4X4. All though I don't often pull anything I have gotten 11mpg pulling a two axel 5th wheel trailer with a tractor on it. I get 17mpg just buzzing around in warm weather, slightly less than that when it's cold. The old powerstroke is the best diesel on the road, I think they quit making it in 2003 or so, the new ones suck according to my mechanic.
If you're going to pull you need to go diesel, the gassers just aren't economical.
Mine is for sale by the way..... I'm going with a '51 ford PU since I don't go anywhere anymore.

 

[Mr Underbridge]

Here in Western NY pretty much every one drives a truck. Diesel trucks give me the impression that they tend to fail spectacularly and in an expensive manner when certain things break on them vs gas engines which break down get towed have the part replaced and are back on the road again.

 

[billlarson]

For towing diesel is the only way to go.

True Statement..........

 

[JRS]

Test drive an F-150 with with the 3.5 EcoBoost engine Regular unleaded, good gas mileage, plenty of hp along with 470 pounds-feet of torque The 10 speed transmission allows you to stay in the power band at all times. Will easily, comfortably and safely handle your 9000 pound trailer. That little Twin-Turbo V6 makes more hp and as much torque as your V10 makes, and does so at a much lower rpm Other items to consider is insurance premiums, and registration cost between a 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and 1 ton truck. Where I live, registration cost for a truck is based on the curb weight of the truck, along with it's use, and they look closely at the sticker on the door jamb. I considered buying a F-350 dually, but abandoned the idea and bought another F-150 after adding-up the additional yearly cost, along with replacing 6 tires rather than 4. Unless you plan to use the truck for heavy hauling on a regular basis, or can justify the additional expense, heavy duty really isn't necessary. My F-150 averages 25 mpg on the highway cruising at 75 mph.

 

[Mr Underbridge]

Ha! I recall back in higschool drooling over 220HP of a 5.0 mustang! Ah the 90's.

 

[Shaggy357]

I have a 99 Dodge with the 5.9 Cummins. Has about 175K miles on it and pulling my 7k trailer I get about 14-15mpg on the hwy, if I keep my speed reasonable and my foot off the pedal. 21-22 is normal empty....down to about 12 mpg if I am climbing mountain passes.

My buddy and I used to go to a lot of shoots with his 5th wheel and Chev with a 6.0L. Averaged 8-10 mpg on the downhill. He bought a new, longer, and heavier 5th wheel and also got the newer Chev with Duramax and Allison tranny. Pulling the longer and heavier trailer, he gets 12-15 mpg and can pull the hills like a friggin car. The Allison may drop a gear or two, but that truck will pull that trailer up and over a mountain like it wasn't there passing cars on the way.

I have been thinking retirement. If I can afford it, I will get a Kodiak or Chev 4500, 5500 with Duramax and Allison. It will get a little less mileage than the 3/4T Chev, but has better turning radius and better brakes. I could also get a sleeper for it. Deadheading trailers and boats to areas close to matches could make my travel pretty cheap.

 

[Barlow]

I've had a lot of Ford F150's over the years and they all pulled camper trailers well. Biggest I had was a 28.5' with a big slide. I pulled it from Wisconsin to British Columbia coast and back. Power was no problem (5.7 iirc) but mileage was around 7-8 mpg and it was not heavy enough, as the wind blew me all over the road. I have a 2010 Tundra with the big V8 and it pulls same type loads with ease. Unless you pull near daily I would go with gas. The upkeep on diesel's can get costly. But to each his own. Good luck, Barlow

 

[Geno C]

I have a 99 Dodge with the 5.9 Cummins. Has about 175K miles on it and pulling my 7k trailer I get about 14-15mpg on the hwy, if I keep my speed reasonable and my foot off the pedal. 21-22 is normal empty....down to about 12 mpg if I am climbing mountain passes.

My buddy and I used to go to a lot of shoots with his 5th wheel and Chev with a 6.0L. Averaged 8-10 mpg on the downhill. He bought a new, longer, and heavier 5th wheel and also got the newer Chev with Duramax and Allison tranny. Pulling the longer and heavier trailer, he gets 12-15 mpg and can pull the hills like a friggin car. The Allison may drop a gear or two, but that truck will pull that trailer up and over a mountain like it wasn't there passing cars on the way.

I have been thinking retirement. If I can afford it, I will get a Kodiak or Chev 4500, 5500 with Duramax and Allison. It will get a little less mileage than the 3/4T Chev, but has better turning radius and better brakes. I could also get a sleeper for it. Deadheading trailers and boats to areas close to matches could make my travel pretty cheap.

http://s266.photobucket.com/user/genogunsmithing/media/Mobile Uploads/2016-05/DE70E85C-EB87-4966-939C-E3B055BD5F3E.jpg.html][/URL]

See the top kick in the background? That's my dads. It has way less power than the newer trucks and gets 5mpg pulling is trailer at 70mph. His is a 4x4, they ride terrible unless you get air ride! The bigger brakes are definitely nice though. They stopped making them a while ago and parts are starting to get harder to find and more expensive. Something to consider before you make that leap.