2003 Owners: Mileage Reports

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Originally posted by Parshal

I have a 5 speed with the 3. 73 rear end.

Parshal, your mileage is excellent. Hey, tell me how you like the 5-speed. I am thinking of a new '03 and will likely get the HO/6-speed, but the 5 speed has merit too: less shifting, costs less, weighs less. Is there still quite a RPM drop going from 3rd to 4th? That was my only dislike about the 5-speed I had on my '98 24-valve. I really like the 6-speed on my current truck with the gear spacing. I know the HO engine has the added benefit of more piston cooling but I see no reason why a standard Cummins won't live up to some BOMBing if the temps are kept in check.



I'm interested in your thoughts/comments. You may post them on this 5-speeds thread I started instead of this MPG one.





Vaughn



PS: Parshal, I see you are on a 2-post-per-year limit, seeing how you signed on in July 2000 and have only posted 4 times . I think you've reached your posting cap for 2002. I'll check back in 2003 for a reply



PSS: On your Profile it shows your Post Frenzy Rate is 0. 0049 Posts Per Day LOL

 

[b.ferrara]

Originally posted by Jeremiah

Those are very good numbers! Hopefully, the gallons burned and miles traveled will agree with the computer numbers.

Hey jere joiner that's the exact set-up i'm thinking about, ho, 6spd

373's the omly thing cant make my mind up about is srw or drw.

I guess you'll be hearing from me in the next month or so, to see how the baby runs .

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by b. ferrara

Hey jere joiner that's the exact set-up i'm thinking about, ho, 6spd

373's the omly thing cant make my mind up about is srw or drw.

I guess you'll be hearing from me in the next month or so, to see how the baby runs .

Lemme help ya out a bit: Buy the duallie if you haul a big 3,000-lb. camper and need the lateral stability. Or if you haul payloads of 4600 pounds or so. Or if looking cool is at the very top of your agenda and you especially enjoy washing your own truck (or paying someone else $25 or $30 to do it by hand - they won't go through an automatic carwash). Plus, they ride a bit rougher.



Otherwise, buy the SRW and live happily ever after



Yeah, stay in touch. It's supposed to arrive 11/1, or so the dealer said. You know how that goes ... I got the VON and will try to check on delivery status myself today.



But I'm not gettin' anxious or anything Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Jeremiah

Lemme help ya out a bit: Buy the duallie if you haul a big 3,000-lb. camper and need the lateral stability. Or if you haul payloads of 4600 pounds or so. Or if looking cool is at the very top of your agenda and you especially enjoy washing your own truck (or paying someone else $25 or $30 to do it by hand - they won't go through an automatic carwash). Plus, they ride a bit rougher.



Otherwise, buy the SRW and live happily ever after



Yeah, stay in touch. It's supposed to arrive 11/1, or so the dealer said. You know how that goes ... I got the VON and will try to check on delivery status myself today.



But I'm not gettin' anxious or anything Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.

Just took delivery on my new '03. Mileage in Denver was 14 mpg but crept upward as I climbed westward on U. S. 285. 400 miles later it has stabilized between 20. 1 and 20. 6 in mixed driving but mostly in the mountains between 6,000 and 9,000'. I couldn't be more thrilled! This truck is everything I had hoped for!

 

[sknight]

I left Houston for Big Bend in a '03 one ton SRW with a 3. 73 with 1100 miles on the truck, 1400 lbs. of Harley, loading ramp, and camping gear in the bed (not much weight, but that Electraglide fairing creates lots of drag) and averaged 17. 1 mpg driving 70-75. I have 4900 miles on it now and I'm averaging 20. 1 unloaded driving the table top flat Gulf coast. I didn't do this good on my '01 'til I got to 18,000. I like it. Much better than my old '88 F150 which got 14 mpg on it's best day. Plus I'm not working on it twice a week.

 

[Fireman]

Latest tankfull

Yeilded 17. 7 Better, but still needs improvement.



Fireman

 

[krabman]

I took delivery in Kellogg ID and drove home to Oak Harbor WA, a 460 mile journey. I varied my speed on the freeway between 65 and 75 mph and got off the freeway every half hour to roll through the gears. I also crossed the pass at Smoqualmie so it wasnt a flat cruise control run. End result was an average of 18. 4 mpg. Truck had 16 miles on it at the start. Havent made it to the second fill up yet. Last truck was a 360 with the 3. 90 gears and the best tank I had was just a hair over 14 so Im pretty happy with the new ride.

 

[Parshal]

Originally posted by Jeremiah

Just took delivery on my new '03. Mileage in Denver was 14 mpg but crept upward as I climbed westward on U. S. 285. 400 miles later it has stabilized between 20. 1 and 20. 6 in mixed driving but mostly in the mountains between 6,000 and 9,000'. I couldn't be more thrilled! This truck is everything I had hoped for!

I've discovered I get better mileage driving through the mountains west of Denver than I do on the interstates east to Kansas. It must be the 80 mph speeds! Seriously, though, I get better mileage through the mountains with a light load than over the flat interstates without a load. The best I've gotten so far is 20. 4 mpg.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Parshal

I've discovered I get better mileage driving through the mountains west of Denver than I do on the interstates east to Kansas. It must be the 80 mph speeds! Seriously, though, I get better mileage through the mountains with a light load than over the flat interstates without a load. The best I've gotten so far is 20. 4 mpg.

Trucks, like the people who drive them, like the mountains better. That's why there are so many people and trucks running around up here. But it's true that fast highway speeds elsewhere make a dent in fuel mileage. Increased drag and higher rpms are the culprits.

 

[tpicard]

Howdy fellow ram fans,



I took delivery of my new truck 10-31, I've put about 1800 miles on it with mileage varying 13. 1- 14. 8. This is running 85 mph on the interstate. I suspect this will go up, it has on the other ctd's I've had. All the miles were empty and no trailer. I'm very happy with the truck it is assume. I never had a complaint with my '00 or my '97, but this truck is leaps and bounds above them in every category. If the mileage comes up that will just be bonus.

I now know what all of you were talking about.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by tpicard

Howdy fellow ram fans,



I took delivery of my new truck 10-31, I've put about 1800 miles on it with mileage varying 13. 1- 14. 8. This is running 85 mph on the interstate. I suspect this will go up, it has on the other ctd's I've had. All the miles were empty and no trailer. I'm very happy with the truck it is assume. I never had a complaint with my '00 or my '97, but this truck is leaps and bounds above them in every category. If the mileage comes up that will just be bonus.

I now know what all of you were talking about.

Well, there's nothing like a dose of reality to settle a person down. My first fill-up revealed I got 16. 55 mpg instead of the 20. 5 the computer said I was getting. But I don't know if the dealer gave me a "real" full tank or not, so there are variables. I'll know more the next time around because I am the one who filled it up this time. But it runs like a dream!

 

[Casey Balvert]

I have aroung 1200 miles and got 16. 9 on the last tank, my third. Cool weather and a lots of short trip stuff. Interestingly, except for the first tank, I have found the computer to be within . 1 mpg on mine. I try to fill it to the same level each time. I just completed a 6 hour trip to see my daughter. Mostly highway (60 mph) except for an hour of bumper to bumper traffic due to a Santa Claus parade. When I got home the computer read 19. 2 or 24 to the Canadian gallon. Not bad for a 7000 pound hot rod. Cheers.



Casey

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by CBalvert

I have aroung 1200 miles and got 16. 9. Cool weather and a lot so short trip stuff. Interestingly I have found the computer to be within . 1 mpg on mine. Cheers.



Casey

My aim the next tank is to "push" the truck as hard as I can. Maybe load it up with 3,000 lbs in the bed and go climb some hills. I read in the Owner's Manual where it's best to work 'em hard on the front end if you expect the back end to be kind to you. Well, it didn't quite say that, but you get the drift.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I am on my fourth tank. Third that I have filled. The computer is also off by . 1 I have run at 14. 4, 14. 7, and 15. 3. All of that is with some towing. I am on the fourth that I have filled and it is at

16. 6. That was all hwy but some heavy traffic for about an hour and a half maybe two. I was at 18. 8 before the traffic. I pulled about 10,000 the other night and it runs better for sure. Cant wait to pull my truck on the flatbed up a good grade and see how it runs after that. I will also get some hay next week and that will be close to 18,000 in tow Cant wait to see how she does. Gauges will be in by then too... ...

 

[Prairie Dog]

I have not towed yet but my worst has been 19. 9 and best was 22,

 

[$BANKS$rupted]

Prarie Dog, What is your rpm at 75mph with the 3. 73 rear? I have 4. 11 and am considering changing. My best milage has been 20.

 

[b.ferrara]

373 or 410

i've finally made up my mind to go with ho, 6spd, 373 but would still like to know what bankrupted asked. What are the rpms at

70 mph with the 373 and with the 410 thanks guys.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

I have not towed yet but my worst has been 19. 9 and best was 22,

I don't know what you're doing, but don't change a thing!

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: 373 or 410

Originally posted by b. ferrara

i've finally made up my mind to go with ho, 6spd, 373 but would still like to know what bankrupted asked. What are the rpms at

70 mph with the 373 and with the 410 thanks guys.

This is Jeremiah. I think 70 mph is 2200 rpm in 6th gear. Can't tell you about the 4. 10. Will let you know for sure tomorrow about the other.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by $BANKS$rupted

Prarie Dog, What is your rpm at 75mph with the 3. 73 rear? I have 4. 11 and am considering changing. My best milage has been 20.

Banksrupted, are you running a Banks conversion on the '03? I didn't think they were doing 'em yet.