Diesel trucks

[Pullin' Chocks]

John and Linda,
You have a lot of good info and suggestions in your thread. We will add you also may want to consider the truck bed rail to trailer clearance. The Dodge is a really high bed and sets many trailers back on the rear trailer wheels. Going over uneven roadways can bring the truck rails dangerously close to the coach or worse. Look at the GAWR for the rear axle of the truck you select. We were off on our pin weight estimate by ~1500 lbs and that caused us some problems (truck squat). We added air bags and fix the squat, but we are Fully loaded on the rear truck axle. Have fun, it's a blast out here!

[450Donn]

2007 Ram. 17 highway at 70
10.5 to 11.5 town
13 is commuiting
Honest numbers

[V-Man]

I know you asked about 350/3500 duallies, but I haven't driven the new truck enough to tell yet (only 98 miles on it so far ).

2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins diesel with auto transmission:
Towing: average 10mpg, worst 9.1mpg, Best 15.4mpg; Best towing mpg was slight downhill grade for a long ways and a 40mph tail wind. Worst mpg was the trip in the opposite direction - slight uphill with 40mph head wind!

Unloaded city: 16-18mpg

Unloaded highway: 18-22mpg (depending on how light the foot was!)

I'll report back when I get some accurate figures for the new truck. Owner's manual says don't tow until over 500 miles. (Glad I didn't buy a new one during the camping season!)

[jonbrown]

I can compare my service trucks in my marine business.
I have a 1999 and 2002 f250 7.3 , on stock program pulling my 10,000 lb. boat I get about 8-9 mpg. Empty is 16 with some wind helping. My 2007 and 2008 chevy 6.6 duramax 3500 4 dr. 4x4 trucks get about 19 hwy empty 8-9 pulling the same boat.
My 6.7 ltr 2013 f250 4 dr. 2 wheel drive gets 16 all day long empty and 7-9 avg. pulling same boat. And our dodge 3500 4dr. 4x4 gets about 17 maybe 18 empty and 8-9 loaded same boat. I only buy what is a good deal when I need to buy a truck. I look mostly for cost to operate per year in terms of maintenance. The DPF fluid has stopped us on the side of the road many times. The dodge and 2008 chevy are the most sensitive to particulate filter or CAT trouble. That is all expensive. The ford 7.3 runs 500.00 a year per truck to maintain. Most of that is batteries. The 6.7 hasnt needed anything yet , but it shouldn't. The dodge is for sale , not because it is a bad truck , the cummins I like. I think it is the plastic dodge stuff that breaks the most. The chevys are for sale although they run me avg. 1100 a year . @ 462,000 and 484,000 mi. Self explained. Ford 7.3 are still new and slower @ 569,000 & 624,000. Dodge is 326,000 . And 6.7 ford @ 110,000 .
So in truth they all pull they all eat. They are all good. Test drive and get a preference. Buy only what you need, maybe not 4x4? Or whatever. And make sure when you pull off of the lot. They have a heavy tire. Trucks look silly with car tires on them. Make sure you have great mirrors, dodge provides some huge ones. The ford and chevy are alike somewhat.
Hope that all helps.

[09 harley]

It sounds like the mileage numbers provided are accurate. Some posts show claims that are much higher. People don't like to admit not having numbers under 20. I'm in the process of truck shopping and was stunned to see Consumer Reports say that the new Ram's were substantially below average for reliability.
What could the reasons be? The Ford was rated as recommended. Is the pollution add on hurting the Ram? Have a friend who loves his Ram 2500 but is continually having pollution control related issues. Says he needs to spend $12-1500 to delete the systems. Should operate properly without needing to be deleted.

[IC2]

With the exception of some Job 1 2011(early ones)Fords, the diesel has been virtually bullet proof. Some of those Job 1 engines have failed with broken LH side valves. Some owners are having EGT (exhaust thermocouples) problems and some that have 'tuned' theirs have had turbo failures. Mine is a 2011 Job 1 but so far (67K miles) nary a whimper but it's 'only' 390Hp and 790 lb ft torque vs the later 400Hp and 800 lb ft (I've 'hammered' both versions and I couldn't feel either of those missing 'Tens' of mine).

Dodge - I suspect that's growing pains caused by Fiat not doing their homework as well as they should have and will soon catch up.

[TDI-Minnie]

I'm sorry, who is making Ford's diesel this year. I can't keep track.
At least we know the Dmax is still made by Isuzu.

[tankcj]

Not towing, sig truck gets ~18.5 mpg on the hwy and ~11.5 stop and go city and I drive like a grandpa...hey I am a grandpa!...

2 years 28k miles and one trip back to the dealer for an ECM reprogram for emissions. So far this is in line to be the best vehicle I have ever owned and I have no brand loyalty...I've owned all sorts of brands.

[IC2]

Originally Posted by TDI-Minnie

I'm sorry, who is making Ford's diesel this year. I can't keep track.
At least we know the Dmax is still made by Isuzu.

The Ford diesel is their in-house design and manufacture and has been since 2011. Code named Scorpion and replaces the Navistar 6.0 and 6.4

[Highway 4x4]

I had a 03 Ram diesel for 11 years and I thought it was the best truck I ever had. Now I have a '14 Ram and it just blows the 03 out of the water. The smog devices have been a non-issue. To each their own, someone has to keep the others in business.

[lynnmor]

Originally Posted by IC2

Mine is a 2011 Job 1 but so far (67K miles) nary a whimper but it's 'only' 390Hp and 790 lb ft torque vs the later 400Hp and 800 lb ft

A computer flash is available to update you to 400HP. It may have already been done if you had it back to the dealer for service.

[IC2]

Originally Posted by lynnmor

A computer flash is available to update you to 400HP. It may have already been done if you had it back to the dealer for service.

Yep, I know. I'm the second owner and my dealer wouldn't dig in the OAISIS file history when purchased. I suspect that it was done, and since you reminded me (forgot at the last couple of services) I will again ask when it goes in next for oil and filters.

[tuffr2]

All three trucks are good. Pick the one you like. Figure on a dually 10mpg towing and 15mpg solo. If you can get by with SRW like if you decide to go full-time in an Airstream trailer. For SRW figure 17 solo and 12 mpg towing.

Advantages of using an Airstream trailer is you can use SRW truck, put a cap on the truck to carry your stuff. You have a a SRW truck to sight-see with. You will get slightly better MPG.

Disadvantage - not as much living space.

[jimcumminsw]

All three manufactures build a decent unit but when I went looking at them to buy a new tow vehicle I decided on the Ram Cummins pick-up truck. Here are my reasons: I opened the hood on a 2008 Ford ¾ ton truck; I looked for the engine. All I saw was tubing and wires now where was the engine; this was not visible to me. I said what a nightmare this would be to service; closed the hood and walked away. Service cost dollars.

I then looked at the Chevy/GMC trucks here too was a service nightmare in my opinion.

I than looked at the Ram pick-up truck; opening the hood and seeing the Cummins engine in the ¾ ton truck. I said to myself that this was an engine that I could service and maintain as it was placed in the engine compartment. So far my fuel mileage cost is $0.26/mile and my service cost is $0.07/mile in 80,000 miles of usage. I do have dual fuel filters installed on the truck for fuel cleanliness which are changed every 15,000 miles; oil and filter every 7,500 miles/6months. Axles and transmission oil are changed every 50,000 miles with both transmission filters also.

My fuel mileage for towing is between 11 and 12 MPG and on highway it has been as high as 20 MPG but usually around 16 MPG combined city/highway.

Jim W.