half ton diesel - why?

[HBarlow]

Interesting to play with ''build your own'' Ram 1500 on the Ram trucks website. Sucks is the short-short-short bed with CrewCab. That rules it out for me unless they change it. I need a Crew cab and need at least a 6. 5' bed, not a 5' something. Would actually prefer a 8' bed. I haul quads in it if not dragging the camper and/or trailer... also it was very easy to end up with a $40K truck, might as well just jump to the 2500 Cummins at least for me. It looks like if you carefully select options and levels a 2500 Cummins would not be to crazy $$$ over a diesel 1500.

I would bet that a lot of folks who are pleased that a diesel 1500 will be offered and are currently thinking of buying one will be forced to reconsider when they see the MSRP of one.

They're likely to be priced within $800 of a Ram 2500 Cummins if similar packages are selected.

 

[EGroeneveld]

i'm down sizing my r. v. to something a half ton can tow…

having an diesel option gives me the best of:

1) a long lasting, high torque engine, that gets better fuel economy than a gas engine and 2) a lighter truck that rides better.

pulling a light 20-24' trailer with a 1 ton, doesn't make much sense...

True enough for you. Everyone has differnt needs and wants. Sounds like it will work great for you. The sooner RAM announces pricing, bed length options, payload and tow ratings then we can really have some fun comparing

 

[EGroeneveld]

I would bet that a lot of folks who are pleased that a diesel 1500 will be offered and are currently thinking of buying one will be forced to reconsider when they see the MSRP of one.



They're likely to be priced within $800 of a Ram 2500 Cummins if similar packages are selected.

Agree but for some people they just want a 1500, $$$ be damned. It might be garage or work parking reasons, ease of entry, ride, etc... .



I personally have never owned a 1/2 ton truck unless you count my 5 Chevy K5 Blazers i've had. All my pickups have been 3500 dually Crew Cabs. Even my Excursions were F250 based.

 

[JJPage]

Just got this in my email
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...es-industry-first-half-ton-diesel-pickup.html

 

[EGroeneveld]

Just got this in my email

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...es-industry-first-half-ton-diesel-pickup.html

Am I the only person that remembers GM 6. 2 diesels in 1/2 ton trucks? Ram is not the first, it has just been a while!

 

[RustyJC]

Am I the only person that remembers GM 6. 2 diesels in 1/2 ton trucks? Ram is not the first, it has just been a while!

Dodge was putting Mitsubishi diesels in late 70s D-100s in response to the OPEC embargo.

Rusty

 

[ACerf]

I think any of us that love our diesel, but want to down size. I think that this VM motor will be a nice addition to the RAM line. Maybe it would knock Ford down a peg or two! I am not interested in towing a 34' fifth wheel any more and my 3500 is in my opinion to much truck for 20' pull trailer.

 

[Bob4x4]

Dodge was putting Mitsubishi diesels in late 70s D-100s in response to the OPEC embargo.

Rusty

That was one gutless truck-0-60 20 seconds as I recall. Have to admit I never had to fix one for a running problem though

 

[HBarlow]

Rusty,

Actually those cute little D-100 1/4 ton pickups were Mitsubishi trucks rebadged and sold in the US as Dodge D-100s. I liked them and would enjoy owning one today. IIRC they were non-turbo but not sure, maybe someone here owned one.

 

[Bob4x4]

2 different trucks Harvey. There was a full size p/up with a straight 6 and the later we had the d-50 with a high rpm turbo 4 cyl

 

[jgillott]

I believe they were rebadged Mitsubishi Forte's. A buddy of mine had an '84 if I remember correctly and I think it did have a small turbo on it.

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, I remember now. The baby truck made by Mitsubishi was a D-50 as you said.

 

[Simplysmn]

well dodge had the d 50 and Mitsubishi had there little truck also but I believe they shared the same 4 cyl diesel motor .

 

[HBarlow]

The Dodge D-50 was a rebadged Mitsubishi. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Ram_50

 

[Bob4x4]

I owned three different D-50s an 80 pre-runner,84 caged 4x4 and an 87 but all were gasser 2. 6l

 

[Simplysmn]

Yeah the 2. 6 was a good Motor

 

[S.Morris]

The D50 turbo diesel engine was also used in the Ford Ranger of the day. As I recall the turboed version was not all that reliable... ... . I had a friend who had 3 of them. Another good friend had a 81 Ranger with the non turbo diesel and 4spd manual. It was a very base truck. It ran for years and years and was a great little (slow) run around truck that got consistantly in the low 40's (imp) for mileage

 

[AHarris]

Had an '87 D-50 with the 2. 0 gasser and a 5 speed. 270 thousand miles before I sold it to a buddy who ran it over 400K before rust got the better of it. Those were damn good little trucks!

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I love this move, and have wondered why diesels haven't taken off here like they have in Europe. I think diesels in passenger cars and trucks should be a huge part of the solution to the insane C. A. F. E requirements.



My father had a 2005 Jeep Liberty with the 4-cylinder VM diesel in it, and got 150,000+ trouble free miles at 24-28 MPG.



I looked at a TDI before my last vehicle purchase, and will certainly consider it for any future purchases, hopefully there are more diesel options available for me to test drive.

This is VERY interesting to me, I own a JEEP Liberty with the V-6 gasser and MIGHT get 18MPG on a tailwind downhill drive, more like 16 for short hops. These are the numbers some folks dont understand when diesel efficency is mentioned. THERE is a huge MPG gain possible with the right diesel engine VS a gas rig. .

 

[HBarlow]

I didn't remember ever seeing a Mazda/Ford Courier in the US with a diesel engine so I searched Wikipedia. There was one offered in the late '70s but it was a Perkins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_B-Series

On edit: I read the rest of the wikipedia link and discovered there was indeed a Mitsubishi diesel engine available in the Ford Courier in the '80s. I guess I never saw one or just didn't remember.