19.8 mpg good/bad?

[mtrippi]

I have a 2001 reg cab 4x4 diesel ram(auto with 3. 54gears) I get 19 mpg all the time. I drive 75mph on the highway for 70 miles a day then I drive another 20 in towns for work. Would a cap or bed cover improve my mpg? Every other dodge diesel owner I talk to says they get the same.

 

[LSMITH]

I have a soft tonneau cover and it did not help at all. I think the bed cap would hurt unless you put a wing on the top to break the suction that forms behind it, it has in my past experience. If anything would help I think it would be a hard tonneau.

 

[Bob Wagner]

what should you expect?

you ask if 19. 8 mpg is good or bad for a 7000lb 4x4?



thats very good



i hope you calculate by hand

 

[NVR FNSH]

I wish I got 19. 8 mpg!!!!!!!!



the cab hi shell should help your mileage a bit. I know it helped on my '85 Toyota 4WD PU. Think it was worth ~2 mpg.



Brian

 

[KatDiesel]

I'd say its good.



My last three tanks have been 16. 23, 16. 10, 16. 52 mpg.



I have the 4. 10 gear ratio tho.



If you haven't added much "extra" weight, you should weigh 6500lbs with 1/4 tank of fuel.

 

[emarsh]

I added a bedcover and it made absolutely no difference in fuel mileage!

 

[BaileyFlyer]

I was getting 18 to 19 mpg on my 2001 2500 4X4 when it was new. Topper didn't change the milage at all. After I put on the Banks stinger plus, it jumped up to 21 (21. 6 is the best I have seen).

 

[obert]

My '98 quad 4x4 does 16. 5 - 17 with daily to and from work- at 70+ mph (with 3. 55 gears it runs about 110mph). I have a 5speed , but a hevy foot, and some times in traffic i mash on it just to watch the boost gauge move, whitch dont help



full of fuel and 400 lbs of tractor weights in front of tailgate (it was winter when i weighed it) the cat scale slip said 7800#.

So probly 7400# now in no-snow weather...



Over the hyway on long trips-- 200 mi+ -- I got as much as 24mpg. Also been under 10 with the trailer. Dont ask what that weight was... ... :--)

 

[jimk]

tonneau cover

I have a 95 extended cab,4x4, that has 85k miles that gets 19. 5 but never 20 and the a hard tonneau cover and the cover never made any difference that I could tell.

I bought a 99 quad cab ford ranger with 10k miles for my wife as she likes the automatic, I had a tonneau cover installed on the ford and it is great for getting groceries and other things, how ever did not help mileage, however it is ok as it gets 24 with the 4. 0 and stock chip for now.

The only thing that I have found that helps mileage is timing, have not tried a different camshaft or different turbo.

I do fell that if I had a 5 speed in the 95 that I would get 21 or so but no proof, just a guess.

I plan on finding out as the 95 will be gone as soon as I can find a 98 with a 5 speed. lol Jimk

 

[Chipstien]

19. 8 mpg good/bad

Your joking right? If I got that I would be jumping up and down and screaming for joy. 16 average here.

 

[illflem]

BaileyFlyer, I had similar results with the Banks Stinger Plus, 3 mpg better, average at 22-24 mpg on both trucks. People here say that Banks are too expensive but with over 250k combined miles with the Banks I am quite certain it has paid for itself many times over.

 

[obert]

jimk, Dad has a '94 with a 5 speed and averages 19-20. his is as stock as they come. He has 4. 10 rear, 2wd reg cab. he could get better if he ran the speed limit, or closer to it. ( a slow sixty- f**king- five MPH in the buckeye. )

 

[jbone]

Didn't see your sig. before repling, by as you can see by mine those 4. 10's sure cut into the mileage----but---put the EZ on couple of weeks ago and mileage has increased, used to get two weeks between fill-up, going about 2. 5 now--and you can feel it... have been careful about jumping on it until above 2000rpm, but 'Thumper' sure is stronger and think mileage increased... . my 2 cents... ... ... ... R, J. B.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Well, most of you are doing better than I. I get about 12. 5 pullin the TT and usually about 18. 5 mt. If I run 75 mph I usually get 18 or so on flat land. My rig really does well if I stay at about 60 mt, I will get almost 21!



Are you guys realizing fuel mileage increases when you install the boxes? It seems that many of you change your driving habits after you turn 'em up. I can understand it, but I am interested in knowing if real gains can be made with not changing your driving habits.

 

[Murietaman]

99 4X4 3500 4. 11 GEARS. I GET 20 PLUS IN THE SUMMER AND 17 PLUS IN THE WINTER. HAVE GAYLORD HARD COVER ON BACK. DIDNT MAKE ANY DIFFERANCE IN MILEAGE. MY LAST TRUCK WAS AN 85 WITH 3. 08 GEARS AND GUTLESS WITH 12 MPG. NO COMPLAINTS HERE.

 

[drees1]

My '96 5 speed 4. 10, gearvendors OD 2wd 3500 ex cab w/ camper mirror swung out gets 19. 5 daily, and up to 21. 5 on long trips at 70 - 73 mph. 10 - 13mpg towing 20,000 gross. A high Swiss topper did not change it one way or the other. My timing is stock, 13 deg, I think. I might try 16 deg, that would help.



For the weight and size of our trucks, they do very well, almost twice as good as a v10 gasser.



Doug Rees

 

[KennyM]

I get upper 19's all the time, my last tank I crept up to 20. 2. Ken

 

[jeepit]

You guys are fortunate. I just sold a 2500 auto 4:10 that got 11 average and 8 while towing. I am now looking for a 2002 6 speed. Hope to find one yet. Anything is an improvement from that!!

 

[RPetersen]

2000 QC 4X4 6 SPD I get 18-19 around town with a light foot, and 2-3 mpg better on the hiway... but then I have a cup smoothie from Geno's, that probably added 4-5 mpg

Rodg in Bellevue

 

[mtrippi]

I just priced the caps and forget it. $1200. 00 what a joke. Even used $800. 00 is too much. The only thing I ever put in the back is 3 ladders,cleaning suppiles, and 5 sand bags. I think I will get a folding cover($400. 00). When my friend (who drives like an old man ) drives my truck he gets 21mpg. The record was 22. 4 with him driving. that was at 55 mph from town to town.