C&C vs pickup economy

[CAllen]

Looking at buying a 2014 3500 dually for work. I am wondering about fuel economy of detuned cab & chassis vs similarly equipped but more powerful dually pickup. I plan on up fitting either choice with a towing/hauler flatbed.

 

[mpaulson]

Just a warning, the C&C feel like a dud compared to the pick ups. My business partner and I both bought 2014's at the same time his being a 5500 and mine a 3500 385/850 version pick up and he hates his. I leave him behind on every hill even when I'm a fare bit heavier. If you are one who likes to have power and pull the hills or accelerate quick, go for the pick up. I've ridden in his truck empty in the city and on ramps onto the freeway he tells me he has it floored and I can't believe him, but he does and it's pathetic. His last truck was an 08 dually and it had way more jam that the 2014. Our fuel consumption seems to be about the same except that I get to the gas station first.
Maybe order a pick up with the box off option.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Looking at buying a 2014 3500 dually for work. I am wondering about fuel economy of detuned cab & chassis vs similarly equipped but more powerful dually pickup. I plan on up fitting either choice with a towing/hauler flatbed.

For a comparison from a user of both, see TDR Magazine Issue 85, pages 102-103.

Bill

 

[CAllen]

Thanks for the replies and the link. By the numbers the C&C 6.7 should be strong compared to my '02 HO truck but all I hear is complaints.

 

[RVTRKN]

There's another thing you need to compare the two with, as the registration might be different in your State, as the C&C might be considered a true commercial application and cost more in registration as well as insurance like my C&C in Comifornia. I had to appeal to AAA insurance for my insurance, because they don't insure commercial vehicles. If they had not allowed me to insure it as a personal vehicle it would have went from 500.00 a year to 2 grand a year. In Comifornia you must declare the GCVW and if your over that you get fined, unlike a regular pickup here, as you can tow pretty heavy and be legal. I have declared 15k GCVW, because that's close to what a reg pickup is registered for, and I refuse to put the door sticker on it that indicates my declared weight, unlike a regular pickup that is not required to declare the GCVW or have the sticker on the door. I was not aware of this when I purchased my C&C and would have bought a 2007 3500 DRW 5.9 regular pickup. BTW I'm required to go through scales empty or not, but I ignore that as well, after all, it's private use only.

 

[mpaulson]

Good point on the insurance and being considered "commercial". On that note as well, at least here in Canada, the extended warrantee would have costed my business partner an extra $2000 or so to get the same coverage as me because Ram considers the C&C as " commercial" use as well regardless of what you will do with the truck.

 

[mpaulson]

Thanks for the replies and the link. By the numbers the C&C 6.7 should be strong compared to my '02 HO truck but all I hear is complaints.

That was what we thought at the time of ordering as well. His 08 had 350hp & 650ft# with 3.73 gears and it pulled good(stock also), the 2014 5500 has 325hp & 750ft#, so 25 less hp, but 100ft# more and 4.44 gears which one would think should be better pulling, but it's not, so logic doesn't apply here I guess.