Chrysler & Cummins Restart Light Duty Diesel

[WyattEarp]

You guys will love this and in my current state of mind had forgotten, on my Dr. trip i had to Neurologist(auto accident) when leaving Winston Salem, NC. me and dad were sitting at a red light waiting to get back onto 421N, when i hear something and it pulls up, Dodge 1500 SLT EC if i remember correctly, okay i did a dble then a triple take 1500 badges and it wasn't a gasser boys! it was a diesel and sure did sound like a Cummins to me even in a V6 setup its hard to not know what that was. This was on the 6th of this month... And trust me I know what i saw, i didn't think they were out yet but maybe so or could it have been a special order setup i don't know but it was a 1/2 ton no mistaken that.

 

[CUMMINZ]

My wife told me years ago when I first started buying DCs that I was an idiot for paying out $5-6k extra for a diesel and it was money we would never re-coup. She is right. Now that we tow heavy it is a good thing.

 

[WyattEarp]

I hope someone can reaffirm what i saw that day, i looked at dad and he looked and me and we both just smiled, i thought hmmmm, just what dad needs. I haven't had a chance but am going to the build a truck page for Dodge and see if its available, i gotta know.
The old 12Valver i have is priceless to me and wouldn't let got it for nothing, i agree the diesel is higher but if it fits your needs and purpose its well worth in the long run.

 

[rscurtis]

I think the market is with a smaller, more economical truck, not a diesel version of a current half-ton truck. They are the same size as a HD, do have lighter running gear, and with a diesel option, could get slightly better mileage than a HD, but probably not enough to make a difference. You also have the problem of losing market share on the HD pickups. A Dakota sized truck, OTOH, with a 4. 5 200 HP Cummins would give real mileage benefits, and would open up what is a small market to new customers. This is where I think Mahindra is on target. Even Toyota, who several years ago was rumored to be entering the HD diesel market, saw the writing on the wall. It would appear they were right, as that market is now saturated with $ 60,000 trucks that the average working person despite 80-100 hour work weeks could never hope to afford.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

The Mahindra isn't a viable option. You'll be lucky to ever see that ugly POS on these shores. It keeps getting pushed back, and last I knew, the US distributor for Mahindra is or has sued the parent company. Bye-bye Mahindra, never wanted ya here in the first place.



Also, manufacturers are getting away from the small trucks, so the market for them is drying up, has been for years. The market IS for the 1/2 ton diesel. GM is (has) axeing their small trucks, Dakota is going unibody, Ford... who knows? Toyota and Nissan are really the only players in the segment, and they won't have a diesel anytime soon.



A 1/2 ton diesel would be a godsend. Give me a 1500 Ram Laramie, V8 Cummins, the new 8 speed auto, and urea injection, and I'll probably keep it stock and enjoy 30+mpg while doing so... and I'm not alone.

 

[rscurtis]

And keep dreaming about your 30MPG, because that's all it is, a dream. When fuel goes back to $5+ per gallon, the market will be there for the small diesel pickup, just like it is in much of the rest of the world.

 

[rscurtis]

Just saw a media link on the Diesel Technology Forum to an article in Pickup Trucks.com that Ford is poised to crack the 800 Ft. # torque rating on the 6. 7. Still dreaming about that 30MPG now?

 

[CUMMINZ]

I do think the new Ford engine is going to be a good one BUT-- I say a F350 dually in Charlotte today and it has the 1st generation Dodge type fender flairs. Absolutely ugly.

 

[SNiebaum]

I hope someone can reaffirm what i saw that day,

depending on body style it was either:

A. ) A truck someone converted.

B. ) A test mule; I've heard that test trucks do exist with the V8 Cummins in them...

C. ) Someone put 1500 badges on a 2500...

What I'm saying is that Dodge does not sell a Ram 1500 diesel in N. America...


and I'll say this for the Ford 6. 7L, it seems to have had a better release than the 6. 0L and probably the 6. 4L. Will it be a smashing success?? I have no idea. The outrageous fuel mileage that the auto rags reported pre-release have not been found by actual owners on the various Ford forums. The power is certainly there but no one knows on longevity. The SCR still seems to be an unknown with at least some owners reporting that they're using urea at a faster clip than Ford had 'planned' on... doesn't seem to be a widespread issue. Only time will tell.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

And keep dreaming about your 30MPG, because that's all it is, a dream. When fuel goes back to $5+ per gallon, the market will be there for the small diesel pickup, just like it is in much of the rest of the world.

Just saw a media link on the Diesel Technology Forum to an article in Pickup Trucks.com that Ford is poised to crack the 800 Ft. # torque rating on the 6. 7. Still dreaming about that 30MPG now?

Absolutely. Depending on how its setup (urea or not), in a platform shaving a couple thousand pounds versus the Super Duty, theres no reason 30 can't be attained in a half ton pickup.



I don't think anyone is talking HD trucks here though. I thought this was a diesel halfton thread? Make it 350hp/550 trq or so, and 30 isn't so unobtainium. My opinion.

 

[rscurtis]

I realize this is a half-ton thread, I just pointed that out to show where the market is headed. 800# of torque is not the way to fuel economy. As for your several thousand pound lighter half ton, while it could be possible, don't count on it, as vehicles today are already overloaded with useless accessories. The only way you'll see it is a stripped down version with radio, heater, and no bed, just frame rails. THEN you can have your 30 MPG. Years ago, before the first 6. 2's hit the streets, I built a 2-WD Chevy Blazer with a 5 cylinder Deutz diesel. It delivered a milepost corrected hand calculated 34 MPG on the highway- but that was at 55 MPH- and that was with an air cooled engine renowned for its fuel effieiency. Today, while driving 55 is a proven fuel saver, it is not at all practical, and I doubt that will return as a national speed limit.

 

[DennyDay]

Power wagon?

Came across this in a RiteAid in Foley, Al Yes its a model chinese made had Power Wagon on both doors and a Ram emblem on the hood - - Is this a preview of things to come?

 

[SNiebaum]

Came across this in a RiteAid in Foley, Al Yes its a model chinese made had Power Wagon on both doors and a Ram emblem on the hood - - Is this a preview of things to come?

Dodge created a concept that looked like this and I think it had a 7. 2L Cat in it... just was a concept deal. PickupTruck.com - 1999 North American Internation Auto Show / Dodge Power Wagon

 

[WyattEarp]

Maybe i can shed some light on the 1500 as no one else where i have posted seems to be commenting, on 7-7 me and my father had went to my scheduled appt. @ doc. in Winston Salem, after appt. came back and was getting ready to get back onto 40West and while waiting on traffic light i hear this sound of similar but different, i took a glance in the lane next to us prob. 8ft away and at first thought hmmm new diesel and then i thought wait that sounds different and upon checking it out further it was a 1/2 ton 1500 with a what sounded like to me the speculated V6 cummins, it was not a mercedes or anything else but a Cummins, i did a dbl and triple take, this was a 1500 down to the axles it was a slt Laramie loaded, brand new truck im guessing 2010. Now i know what i saw and some can speculate while others can deny but me and my father both know what we saw, has anyone else seen such??? I want to know!!! cause i know im not crazy.

 

[AABEN]

depending on body style it was either:



A. ) A truck someone converted.



B. ) A test mule; I've heard that test trucks do exist with the V8 Cummins in them...



C. ) Someone put 1500 badges on a 2500...



What I'm saying is that Dodge does not sell a Ram 1500 diesel in N. America...





and I'll say this for the Ford 6. 7L, it seems to have had a better release than the 6. 0L and probably the 6. 4L. Will it be a smashing success?? I have no idea. The outrageous fuel mileage that the auto rags reported pre-release have not been found by actual owners on the various Ford forums. The power is certainly there but no one knows on longevity. The SCR still seems to be an unknown with at least some owners reporting that they're using urea at a faster clip than Ford had 'planned' on... doesn't seem to be a widespread issue. Only time will tell.

No but would be able to buy one over sea if you are a officer in the service and had it ship home. When I was in the navy the officers could ship there cars and trucks home for not one red penny. So IF they are being sold over sea that could happen.

 

[AABEN]

Dodge created a concept that looked like this and I think it had a 7. 2L Cat in it... just was a concept deal. PickupTruck.com - 1999 North American Internation Auto Show / Dodge Power Wagon[/Q



It is OK now.

 

[WyattEarp]

could have been a test truck thats what i was thinking, as far as a 2500 rebadged truck, nope, this had 1/2 ton axles so that wasn't it, the guy driving looked to be in mid 40's and up was on a cell. V8 diesel i don't know, to me and knowing what a 6 sounds like i would say no on the V8 just my op.
It could have been a Vet who had one shipped over very possible, but i know what i seen and i have seen 2500 and this was not one. But i tell you what it sure sounded nice and was a sharp truck...

 

[rscurtis]

I think you can forget about shipping anything like that stateside, assuming it exists in another country, as many small diesels do. The Economic Punishment Agency will immediately put the kibosch (sp) on that idea. If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it.

 

[SNiebaum]

McAfee showes that web site as bad ! !

my full bore McAfee SiteAdvisor has no problems with it

 

[AHarris]

It baffles me that they won't build a 1/2 ton diesel truck. That's exactly what I need... and I suspect a few hundred thousand other guys like me who need an economical daily driver which also doubles as a decent tow motor when needed to pull a decent sized camper. When Dodge/Cummins ever gets off their butts and builds one, I will buy it.

I hope it's an inline 6 or 4... I don't like V8 diesels.

Make it simple, smooth and low maintenance.

Forget the Fiat crap! Why don't they do something based on the 4bt? Now that would interest me!