New ram in future

[barbwire]

New Ram:

Hey fellas, I am looking to order up a 2004 2500 Quad cab 4x2 with a HO Cummins 6 sp. I am looking at this rig for the possibility of getting the best fuel economy that there is on the market. I know that most of you are biased in your opinions as to what brand that would be the best, but I would like your opinions anyway. I am looking to pull a 20 ft. trailer most all of it's life with an average load of, oh say 3 tons with a possibility of up to 5 tons. The loads will be only half of the time, as I pick up little bits of the load along a route, until full, then head home. Anyway, I was hoping to get at least 18 mpg while pulling the trailer empty. Do you think I am dreaming?

With my 99 3500 410 gears I only get 10 to 12 at best at any given time, even with no trailer. Therefore I am leary about buying a new one, and not getting any better mileage. This is where you guys come in. Do you think I am being realistic by hoping for at least 18?

Also, I need a good lead as to where I might get the best possible buy on one. Any help or comments will be appreciated.

No distance is to far.

 

[Posm]

Barbwire

I do think you are dreaming if you want 18MPG while loaded with 5 tons. That plus a 1. 5 ton trailer and and a 3 ton truck puts you at or slightly over GCWR.

The empty mileage you are getting sounds very low, unless you have a lead foot. I have a Y2K with a 5 speed and I get 17 or 18 on the interstate unloaded. You should be able to get close to that if you keep your speed near 70MPH.

You did not say what kind of trailer you are pulling. Frontal area makes a big difference. I have a 3 ton load ( a round hay baler) that I struggle to get 11 MPG if I pull it over 70MPH, however I can get 14 MPG with my goose neck loaded with a GCW of 18,000LBS. The big difference is the wind resistance. The baler has the aerodynamics of a parachute and the trailer has a low flat load.

Hope this helps. Also, I would think about a 3500. The load limit is higher and the unloaded ride is supposed to be softer than a 2500.

 

[rashwor]

I am running a '99 3500 CTD and I get about 14 mpg loaded with 10,000#. Empty I run about 15 - 16 mpg. I am expecting the same when I trade for a 3rd gen next year. I think these are more realistic expectations. My new one will be a Quad 6 speed.

 

[DPKetchum]

The auto is a OVERDRIVE unit the 6 speed is 1 to 1. Auto will proberly post better mpg!

 

[scramblin]

Originally posted by DPKetchum

The auto is a OVERDRIVE unit the 6 speed is 1 to 1.

Are you saying that the 6th gear is 1 to 1 in a nv5600? From what I know the 5th gear is 1 to 1 and the 6th is . 2? something percent overdrive.

 

[Posm]

All three transmissions have overdrive. The auto has a . 69 to 1 ratio, the 5 speed has a . 75 to 1 ratio, and the 6 speed has a . 73 to 1 ratio.

 

[CATCRACKER]

as a general rule every 100#s takes . 5mpg dont quote me on that

 

[DPKetchum]

I stand corrected. your right!

 

[Ladders]

Cat said: "as a general rule every 100#s takes . 5mpg dont quote me on that"



Sew we better knot quote him.....





SOTSU!!

\\BF//

 

[barbwire]

Posm;

I guess that I was hoping for at least 18 while empty, even if it dragged down to 12mpg when loaded, it would still be better than what I get now. The trailer that I pull, is at this time a bumper hitch car trailer. The load is only about 2 1/2 feet high on the bed of it. So I don't know if it is much consideration as to wind drag. I would guess that it would certainly be less than a load of bales. Your gear ratio must be the difference in mileage, between your rig and mine, as mine has the 4. 10s.

I keep hearing about other Cummins owners getting into the 20s mpg with their rigs, so I thought it would be realistic, with my luck, to expect at least to get 18 while running empty while pulling an empty trailer. Guess maybe I am dreaming

I don't think that you could consider me as having a real heavy foot either, as my speed average is somewhere between 65 & 70. Another thing that baffles me about my mpg situation is that the terrain in the area of N. D. that I drive is reletively flat with some rolling hills. So it isn't like I am struggling up any mountains or anything.

I guess another thing to throw into the equation is that I was thinking of deleting the 4x4 on the new rig and just having a hind drive, hoping that will help with the mpg situation. I would keep the 99 for severe service situations.

I thank you all for the replies,but I will admit that I got lost when you fellas started talking about the ratios as per the auto trans. verses the 5 & 6 sp. manuals. I am not to well versed when it comes to that sort of thing.

 

[Garry Verheyden]

My dad gets 10-11. 5mpg towing our 35' triple slide out 5th wheel. It has lots of wind drag and scales at 15,500# loaded(24,000# truck and trailer). When it is empty it is averaging 15-17mpg. This is with a 6spd, 4. 10 gears, 4x4, quad cab dually. My sister has the 3500 quad 4x4 shortbox auto. She gets better mileage. If you got the 3. 73's instead of the 4. 10's, 2wd instead of 4wd, single rears instead of dually's this combination would greatly increase your fuel mileage both empty and loaded. I would guess 11-13mpg loaded and 16-19mpg empty. The biggest single gain you will get would be getting rid of the 4. 10's . With the weights you are pulling and having 6 gears you will not need 4. 10's.

Garry.

 

[barbwire]

Garry,

Is the rig listed in the signature line the one that is your fathers? If not, what is the year and is it a 3500? Thanks

 

[CATCRACKER]

remember that lower gearing make up for lack of horsepower so if you plan to bomb any then the 410 will be overkill. i got the 373 b/c i knew that i was going to 35" tires which puts me around 3. 40's. that seems lowe but add that to the big chip and 6spd you have a sreaming street and pulling machine. big rigs with high hp usually run 3. 55 or lower. high hp makes up for lack of gearing and will heed better mpg.

 

[Garry Verheyden]

Mine is the 96 in the signature. My dads is the 03 6spd,4. 10,quad dually. My sisters is the 03 auto. , 3. 73, quad shotbox. Both dad and sister's are 3500's. Dad had an 01 ext cab 4x4 6spd,4. 10 dually, the 03 gets about 1/2 to 1 mpg better than the 01 did. Still not as good as the 12valvers get. Get an edge ez and your milage will also increase a bit.

Garry.