I always thought(and still do) the legendary jump in mileage is a bit of horse hockey that the dealers will tell you when you aren't happy with your mileage. My 91' Dodge Cummins got the same mileage at 98,000 miles when I sold it as it did when new. My 01' gets the same at 70,000 today as it did when new.
Also, the overhead computer always read 2 or 3 mpg higher that hand calculated mpg. After I "chipped" it long ago, the overhead readout actually shows a mileage figure that is usually off by less than one mile per gallon, compared to actual mileage hand calculated.
Sam
2001 Dodge QC2500 coal burner, 6spd,BD brake,other stuff!
Chipped, K&N'd, and loving it, see you at the top!
Ram4Sam wrote: I always thought(and still do) the legendary jump in mileage is a bit of horse hockey that the dealers will tell you when you aren't happy with your mileage. My 91' Dodge Cummins got the same mileage at 98,000 miles when I sold it as it did when new. My 01' gets the same at 70,000 today as it did when new.
Also, the overhead computer always read 2 or 3 mpg higher that hand calculated mpg. After I "chipped" it long ago, the overhead readout actually shows a mileage figure that is usually off by less than one mile per gallon, compared to actual mileage hand calculated.
Sam
My 06 just rolled 21,000 miles and I just took a couple of 200 mile trips. Driving 65mph I got 23.3 and 21.8 hand calculated with winter blend fuel. I drove these same trips,same speed, last summer with summer fuel and was at 19.8. I have noticed almost 2mpg loss with winter blend. If my summer hwy milage avgerage is 23 that would be a impressive jump from last summer. Lets hope so.
I've never felt the need to justify my trucks to anyone. I buy what I want with the money I work for. It's not that complicated really.
All four of my Cummins powered Rams got 18.5~mpg very light city avoiding rush hour whenever possible and 19mpg at 70mph using cruise control flat to rolling hills but no mountains. That mileage was the same from new until trade between 80-100k and 44k on my '03 vibrating driveline Cummins Ram. Towing netted 10.5~mpg at 68~mph with the Cummins Rams.
The '05 Hemi gives 14~ same very light city avoiding rush hour and 17mpg hwy at 70mph with cruise set. Towing the same 5th wheel, the Hemi gives 8.5mpg with a high of 9.6mpg towing 60mph on the flats and a low of 7.2mpg towing in hills of Mississippi and Alabama.
The overhead was real close to accurate on my '03 Cummins Ram and about 1.5mpg optimistic in the Hemi powered '05. Trust me (or don't) if it was anywhere near as bad as some suggest or the Cummins got nearly as good as some suggest, I would have already traded for my 5th Cummins powered Ram.
On the Dodge Ram websites, it would appear that the 6.7L Cummins doesn't get as good of mileage as the 5.9L did. I'd still like to have one and probably will one day. But it won't be for any lack of performance or cost of ownership of the Hemi powered Ram. It will be because, like my Harley, the Cummins with it's cult like following is a big chunk of legendary American iron and a pleasure to own. That and the chest hair is nice too!
It won't be for the mileage or the exaggerated claims of mileage.
'05 2500HD Dodge 5.7L Hemi 5spd auto/3.73 SLT. 96k miles
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins
'07 KZ Jag 28JFSS.
Hannibal, I see you went from a Cummins to the Hemi. How's it do with your FW? Any idea what weight you are pulling? I think my FW is a bit much for the Hemi, but I hear it is a nice engine. I'm also attracted to the V10, but don't see them much with the Dodge 2500. Maybe it's not even an option anymore?
I'm thinking of getting an 07/08 Dodge 2500 diesel, and just gathering bits of information along the way...............there is so much information and opinions on this forum! I would like to see what folks are getting on the 6.7 CTD. I've been happy with the mileage on my current TV, the Chevy DA, but it's always instructional to check what others think.
Doug and Kathy
2008 Chevy 2500HD extended cab Duramax/Allison 4WD
2007 Crossroads Cruiser CF30SK
"Nuestra casa con buena vistas"
rmontez wrote: .........and for all you who like to cause accidents and block traffic!! jk...
55mph - 18.3
I usually drive near the speed limit when solo, but try for setting the cruise on 58-60 mph with my truck when towing. I find it hard to believe that driving 55 mph even when solo indicates someone "likes to cause accidents and block traffic".
Am I the only one left who drives the speed limit? Or or you describing interstates where the speed limit posted is 70 mph? Even then I'd have to disagree with your statement that 55 mph would cause an accident.....other that someone passing in the right lane and not seeing a big ol' pickup in front of them! I have a rear view camera on my FW and have seen that many times. Sorta makes me wonder about the skill of American drivers...........and keeps me off the interstates for the most part!
Dodge dropped their V10 back in 2003 I think. 5.7L Hemi is the biggest gasser they have. Dodge put all their high performance eggs into the CTD, which seemed like a good idea at the time. A big block gasser makes a lot more sense now than it did when I bought mine 4 years ago, but I wouldn't trade for a gasser either.
RRUGG wrote: ...........Towing ranges from 11+ with a headwind to 13+ without. Most of the time it seems to be 12 point something. ......
I'm considering a truck like yours. I'm getting a bit more than 11 mpg average over the past year with my 2007 Cruiser which probably weighs about 9.5k loaded for the road. That's close to 10k miles with trips to Durango, CO and the Florida Keys. I tow 55-60 mph usually, with the proverbial egg between my foot and the gas peddle.
Just curious about your driving habits while towing? Your mileage numbers sound very good to me. IMO, those who get better mpg while towing probably drive like me (an old man!), although I am sure there are also individual engines that just do better than others.
mudhen wrote: .......This is the price we pay for having fum. If we didn't pull big rvs we wouldn't needtrucks that cost over 40K. We could drive Honda Civics........
Yep, gotta agree with that. I've been RVing for about 10 years now, and just got a larger FW March 2007. I use a Chevy DA to pull it, and when we're not RVing we drive my wife's little "econo car", a BMW 325. We are both retired but no full timers, yet we tow about 10k miles each year. I started going nuts watching the price of diesel the last several months, but finally realized this is the life I love, and I'll do it as long as I can afford doing this I will.
adVentureMan wrote: Hannibal, I see you went from a Cummins to the Hemi. How's it do with your FW? Any idea what weight you are pulling? I think my FW is a bit much for the Hemi, but I hear it is a nice engine. I'm also attracted to the V10, but don't see them much with the Dodge 2500. Maybe it's not even an option anymore?
I'm thinking of getting an 07/08 Dodge 2500 diesel, and just gathering bits of information along the way...............there is so much information and opinions on this forum! I would like to see what folks are getting on the 6.7 CTD. I've been happy with the mileage on my current TV, the Chevy DA, but it's always instructional to check what others think.
The Hemi tows the same speeds the Cummins Ram did towing our 10,040 lb at last weighing lightly loaded (11,400 lb GVWR) high profile 5th wheel but at 30~% higher rpm and about 30% higher fuel consumption. The truck has been totally trouble free with the exception of a condenser cooling fan motor at the tune of $118 and about 40 minutes with hand tools. I'm completely happy with the Hemi even after four Cummins Rams. Most wouldn't be happy with 4200rpm in 2nd up the steep ones where the Cummins does the task at 2900rpm in direct. Not a problem for the engine but driver cringe and migraines is the result for most. For that reason alone, I would not recommend the Hemi for anyone else towing heavy. I just happen to like the hot-rod sound.
I also wouldn't trade the '04 D/A for a 6.7L Cummins if mileage is a factor. http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=197666
I'm getting 18 to 19.3mpg on the highway at 75mph here in Arizona with the AC on. When I'm trailering at 11,000lbs at 70mph I'm getting around 10.2 to 11mpg. My 07 6.7L has 16K on it so far.
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I have a rear view camera on my FW and have seen that many times. Sorta makes me wonder about the skill of American drivers...........and keeps me off the interstates for the most part!
