I would disagree and agree on fuel consumption with the big gasser. I did
not notice any fuel lost pulling a type two trailer.
I still only got 10.9 MPG with the Hemi engine. However, here was no engine
strain at all and made it effortless in pulling the load. It goes back to
the torque and horsepower level of the engine.
--------------------------------------
Steven St.Laurent
C4I System Engineer
Engineering Branch, PSD, MCTSSA
MARCORSYSCOM, U.S. Marine Corps
Office (760) 725-2506 (DSN Prefix: 365)
"Information learn is power for the intellectual mind...".
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon [mailto:jonsdak@midmaine.com]
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 11:12 AM
To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
Subject: Re: DML: Help, Dad Needs "Convincing" To Go Dodge!!
Sorry, but I've got to disagree. A big block, Hemi or V10 would get 10MPG
or less pulling loads that the Cummins does, at 20MPG. When you hook a
heavy load to a gasser, economy goes down the tubes, quickly.
The Cummins doesn't even notice a load that in most cases would make a
gasser strain.
-- -Jon jonsdak@midmaine.com http://jonsdakota.tripod.com 1996 Dodge Dakota Sport 4X4, 3.9L V6, 42RE, 3.92:1 8.25 axle, "BackRack" Headache Rack, Dodge Motorsports decals, steering wheel cover, and front license plate, diamond-plate bedrail covers, Lund VentVisors, Lund BugShield, Jensen MP-3310 CD/MP3 Receiver, Pioneer TS-G1347's in front, TS-A5713's in rear, Bulldog RS-82 Remote Starter<raymond.irons@gm.com> wrote in message news:OFBA85862A.F64D9B74-ON85256CCD.003AC6E3@mail.gm.com... > > > <snip> My Dad is going to buy a new truck to replace his trusty '91 F-150. > He's > gonna buy one as well as a large 5th wheel travel trailer to do some > traveling (he's a retired CHP Officer) Anyways, we're looking at about > 10-13k > lbs trailer weight, but he's looking at the new Ford Power Stroke. I'm > trying > to get him into a Ram 3500 single rear wheel, he does not want a dually or > a > crew cab, just a extra cab. He's really set on that new Ford/IH diesel, but > what can I tell him to sway him at Dodge? > > Ed, > My Dad is a retired rural letter carrier and he has had several 5th > wheel travel trailers. His first tow vehicle was a 69 Dodge with a 318. His > trailer was really too big for the 318 to pull safely. He wanted another > Dodge to replace it in 79 but by then Dodge had quit making the big block > motors and the largest engine you could get in a truck was the 360. So he > went to Ford to get the 460. He owned 2 Fords, one 79 F250 Supeer Cab and a > 89 F350 Crew Cab dually. In 95, he traded the Ford in on a Dodge Ram 3500 > Club Cab dually with the V-10 and he couldn't be happier. He and I had the > opportunity to take a road trip in December and we got on the subject of > truck and towing. Dad just turned 78 and he said he is getting too old to > tow his big 5th wheel around so he is selling his trailer. He told me he > read an article, I think in the magazine Trailer Life, that in order for > any diesel engine truck to break even for the additional initial and > operating costs you'd have to drive the truck over 180K miles. RIght now > with fuel costing what it does, its probably more mileage than that. The > diesels just do not get that much better gas mileage, in most places fuel > actually costs more then regular unleaded gas, you have a greatly different > maintenance schedule, there are more filters to change, it takes more oil > to fill the crankcase, there is a whole list of things you could go into. > Tell your Dad to do some more research and look at getting the Ram 2500 > Quad with the Hemi or the V-10. If he is dead set against the Quad cab, > tell him to start looking around for a used Ram Club Cab with the V-10. I'm > sure there are quite a few around in good shape that could be bought for a > reasonable amount. > > HTH, > > Ray Irons > Dover, DE > >
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