3rd gensI

[CChartier]

I have been reading some of the 3rd gen posts. It seems to me that they are having issues with poor gas milage. I'm getting 18 to 19 per gallon. granted it is a 5 speed, but these newer rigs are coming up with 13 MPG. My problem is that with a family on the way I will need four doors and better safety features. so whats a guy to do when looking for a newer rig??

 

[bgilbert]

How bout a new 4 door car? Nice Toyota Camry, safety features, 4 doors and good gas mileage.

 

[CHolman]

I have a 04 and I average 19 mpg @ 65mph and around 20. 4 at 60, "hand figered" I do have a after market brute force intake and 5" stacks and a downloader, but even before all that I got 16mpg. People don't believe me because it's a 3500 dually, 6 speed, but hey it's not my fault they have to drive mopeds to work and leave their Hemi's and 5. 4 liter tritons at home.

 

[ARhine]

How bout a new 4 door car? Nice Toyota Camry, safety features, 4 doors and good gas mileage.

and about 1/3 the cost.

 

[MMiller]

and about 1/3 the cost.

yeah but will it pull my 32' gooseneck, and 2 full size trucks.



I'm kinda in the same situation. I hate having to take two vehicles when the family and the trailer go somewhere. I can't justify a new crew, and the wife won't let me build an older crew.





Michael

 

[guava]

I have been reading some of the 3rd gen posts. It seems to me that they are having issues with poor gas milage. I'm getting 18 to 19 per gallon. granted it is a 5 speed, but these newer rigs are coming up with 13 MPG. My problem is that with a family on the way I will need four doors and better safety features. so whats a guy to do when looking for a newer rig??

My 04. 5 gets 16. 7 MPG at 70-75 MPH. (full canopy too) I hand calc every gallon because I was worried about what the new ones were getting. Slowing down and some of the efficiency mods would probably make a significant difference.



If I could go back, I might have bought a 03 or 04 if I could have found one but there wasn't any. I needed it for the family since the 93 reg cab just couldn't pack the kids in.



Truth be known, I drive the 93 10+ times more than the new one.

 

[lil red cummins]

not having any problems with mine. runs anywhere from 22 @50, to about 19@70 (as displayed on the overhead) i only reset it at fill up which is somewhere around 600 miles, so actual mileage may be higher or lower for short periods of time. the average gives a good overall indicator.



yes, mileage is better in the city as long as there are not too many stoplights.



overall, mileage on last 3 tanks has been:



20. 9, 20. 0, 20. 5. these are hand calculated mileages. they are very close to the overhead readings.



air conditioning drops it between 1/2 & 1 mpg roughly



these are not scientific numbers by any means, but i believe they fairly represent my truck.



jim

 

[SRadke]

Find a used 03-04, pre "600" and you should get fair mileage.



-Scott

 

[Headshot zod]

Remember the 24v's are about being "quiet" and "emissions friendly". Granted you won't see that here in the forums.

 

[TKingsbury]

Remember the 24v's are about being "quiet" and "emissions friendly". Granted you won't see that here in the forums.

That is too funny, 24valvers are almost as noisy as a 6. 0 ford! :-laf . As far as needing more room, EarlKann is flirting with selling the crew conversion he just did. Still needs a bit of work, but the hard part is done for sure. As far as safety features go, the best safety feature I know of is a quality wheel man.

Travis. .

 

[Doug Czaja]

I know where CChartier can find a 305/555 cheap! 21MPG best, 16mpg worst.



Doug

 

[bgilbert]

Doug, I'd rather buy "Snowflake"!!!

 

[HonkinDiesel]

Thats why I went for the VW Jetta TDI for the wife a couple years ago.



But if you are looking for a new bigger vehicle check out the Jeep Liberty CDI or if you want a real fuel miser check out the Smart cars Four-for-Four avilable in North America this fall to next spring.



It is very sad but unfortunately there really isn't a big selection when it comes to diesels. The manufacturers are slowly waking up to the idea of offering North Americans more selection of diesel vehicles like they do the rest of the world. I would suggest to E-mail the big 3 and ask them why they don't offer more here. Maybe that will get off their hoofers if enough of us demand it!



Good luck on your search, I know I'll never buy a gasser again. No regrets!

 

[cerberusiam]

That is too funny, 24valvers are almost as noisy as a 6. 0 ford!

Nope, not true at all. The new CR 24V Cummins and the new 6. 0 32V PS are very well behaved in the decibel department.





Was true on the older Cummins and PS but not any more.

 

[Doug Czaja]

bgilbert,



I like the payments on Snowflake better... . Free. 99!! :-laf



DC

 

[Jdonoghue]

I have been reading some of the 3rd gen posts. It seems to me that they are having issues with poor gas milage. I'm getting 18 to 19 per gallon. granted it is a 5 speed, but these newer rigs are coming up with 13 MPG. My problem is that with a family on the way I will need four doors and better safety features. so whats a guy to do when looking for a newer rig??

I bought a 2001, I've got 3 kids, 6, 3, and 17 months. Plenty of room back there for now, by the time they're old enough to need more room, we'll have moved out to the country and I can build something bigger that's Cummins-powered. We looked at a 3rd gen, but thought it would be better to get something a couple of years old and save some cash. It worked out really well, this thing usually never gets less than 20 miles per gallon, and that's all driving short trips around town. I've seen 23MPG a couple of times.

 

[TKingsbury]

That is too funny, 24valvers are almost as noisy as a 6. 0 ford!

Nope, not true at all. The new CR 24V Cummins and the new 6. 0 32V PS are very well behaved in the decibel department.





Was true on the older Cummins and PS but not any more.

I'm with you on the common rail cummins, but the 6. 0PS is loud as well as the ISB that I was referring to.

Travis. .

 

[Van Blom]

Are you guys talking about 4x4's or 2x4's? Probably makes a bit of difference