I am bacccck!

[Huskerman]

After I a brief hiatus I am glad to be back to the TDR!! While I was away I got stupid and traded my 1999 Dodge Cummins in on a 2000 Pukerstroker for the extra room. Biggest mistake I have ever made. What a piece of junk! I get 12. 9mpg around town, 14 if I drive like an old lady in a funeral procession! I used to drive my 24-valve 5-speed like I stole it and got over 16mpg!



Well after 5 months of misery I have the darn thing for sale and will be purchasing a new Ram! I need some advice. Fuel economy is very important to me since I am not currently towing--yet! What would you recommend: regular cummins with the 5-speed or the HO with the 6-speed. I won't be doing any bombing for a while so keep that in mind. What kind of mileage are people currently getting? Thanks for the help!



Shawn

 

[MUDDY]

youve come to your senses

i too have made the mistake of trying a psd. only i did it twice yep, the psd mpg sucks.



you cant go wrong with the ctd dodge. either 4500 5 spd or 5600 6 spd is a good choice. id choose the 6 spd as i tow heavy, but my 98. 5 has the 5 spd and im just tickled with it. 21 mpg empty, 8200 lb. 17. 3 at 11,200 lb w/cmpr. 13. 4-14 mpg at 17,500. 14 was what my psd got empty, on a good day

 

[rashwor]

Welcom back!

I am running a '99 CTD 5 speed (90,000 miles) and get between 15 - 17. 5mpg. Average is about 16mpg empty and don't tow enough to be able to tell you about that. I drive it like it was stolen most of the time. If the Redwings weren't so darn heavy, maybe I would be able to drive like I was in a funeral procession most of the time and get 18+; naw, these diesels were made to scream!



I wanted one of the 6 speeds when they first came out in late '99, but two few on the market and I could not wait. Drunk driver ran a stop sign and totaled my '92. If you get the 6, let me know how you like it. The only thing I don't like about them is that #6 should be up and out of the way (like PSD) and not down in the way.

 

[klenger]

I recommend the 6 speed. I don't think that the 5 sp or 6 sp makes any difference to milage. I had a 5 speed for about 6 months, and didn't like the gaps between 2-3 and 3-4. With the 6 speed, there is always just the right gear to shift into.



IMHO, I don't think Dodge should even offer the 5 speed. The power band for the CTD is just too narrow for those big gaps. The HO that comes with the 6 speed ain't so bad either. As far as having 6th gear down toward the seat, I never have anyone sit there anyway. I suppose it would be a problem with a Reg. Cab. I suppose your other decision is 4. 54 or 4. 10.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Welcome back, Huskerman, and Go Big Red!

 

[chuck3]

Get Back.

Back to the right side that is, and welcome. That HO 6 spd sure is a nice truck.

 

[Todd T]

Glad to see youve come bacccck around



see my sig for mileage, and I too drive mine like I hate it.



those numbers are absolutely correct, too. no guessing or rounding. I can account for ever drop, with reciepts.

 

[Mundgyver]

I have the 6spd with the Dana 80 and 3. 54 in mine and this last Thursday made a run down to Eugene, Oregon. I filled up in Wilsonville to the bitter top and then filled it again when I got back that afternoon. 202 miles on 8. 340 gallons of fuel = 24. 22 mpg. Speed for the whole run was 60mph. I too keep a log of all my receipts and where I fuel.

 

[ABrameloah]

Six in a row is the only way to go!!!!!!

Hey Shawn, you have to love the rams. I have a 2001. 5 HP 6 speed with 3. 55,s and have a little over 9000 miles and drive it preaty hard(70-80mph) and getting right at 18MPG and loving every sweet mile.

 

[nps]

Huskerman,



How bought them boys whuppin up on the Okies. Missed the game - ESPN only shows cricket and soccer on their Asian satelliet transponders, but I couldn't wait to get in this morning to check the scores on the web. Looks like alot of shakeup all around yesterday. Go Big Red



Got the 6 sp HO and 3. 54s on a 4x4 (sitting back home with mom driving it about 10 miles once a week to keep it exercised). When new took it pulling a 7K lb trailer through the hills in the east they call mountains and got about 14MPG at 75. Could hold 65 uphill and occasionally needed a 5th downshift. Also would hear the fan clutch kick in quite often. After the first pull straight-piped the exhaust and fan clutch frequency dropped to near zero.



Unloaded MPG varies by speed. 75=18mpg. 70=18. 5 65=20. Expect an EZ box may add 1-2 mpg. 65 is turning about 2k rpms (if I remember correctly).



Agree with earlier post - 5sp/6sp really doesn't matter for MPG cause the top ratios are nearly if not the same. 3. 54/4. 10 rear end will. I'm very happy with the 3. 54s coupled to the 265/75 tires. Don't plan to go bigger than 285/295s and think the 3. 54s will be fine. If you plan to do really heavy towing alot, or plan to put on really big tires, go with the 4. 10s.



Biggest difference with the 6 speed (besides filling in the holes in the 5 sp ratios Klenger mentioned) - way cool to go through all them gears with a load. Also impresses new riders when they look at the shift pattern and say "how many gears this thing got!"

 

[Huskerman]

GOOD NEWS!

I sold the Ford yesterday! Next up picking out my new Dodge. Right now I am leaning towards a new truck instead of used. I don't want to inherit a truck that has been abused. I am still leaning towards a 6-speed, HO. I have a local dealer looking around the northwest for new 2001's that haven't been purchased. The dealers are really trying to blow those out. I already found a 2001 5 speed quad-cab, two-tone, for $29,700. It has a power seat and towing mirrors but not much else options wise. I am not in a hurry.



Shawn

 

[jwskrintney]

Welcome back..... I made the very same mistake and am glad to report that I think I just sold my PSD tonight. I already have my 2002 Ram on order and am waiting impatiently for it to arrive. I have had both the five and six speed Rams in the past and I highly prefer the six speed... . it is a sweet deal for pulling and just driving like hell. Good luck on your decision and keep us posted.